It’s a chilling story: A man who is angered during an interaction with a town employee in Alfred Town Hall threatens to come back with a gun and shoot her.
And it’s not a tall tale: it actually happened earlier this month.
Although the man was apprehended by police and taken to jail, it’s raised questions about security in municipal and other government buildings in the county.
In Alfred, it’s certainly caused concern. Selectmen Chairman John Sylvester said the select board plans to meet with Maine State Police to determine what options are available to improve security in the building, which was built in 1862 and includes several separate offices where town business is conducted with members of the public. Sylvester told the Journal Tribune in a recent interview about the issue that the threat is the first of its nature, of which he is aware, in his 21 years serving in Alfred’s municipal government.
Others also told the newspaper that they’re concerned about safety in such buildings ”“ and they’re taking steps to increase security.
In Biddeford, for example, City Clerk Carmen Morris said glass barriers in the clerks’ windows at Biddeford City Hall were installed about a year ago. The same goes for Sanford, where glass windows were created during the recent renovations at City Hall. The doors in the building can be locked automatically, if need be, and in Biddeford, city employees have panic buttons accessible.
At the York County government building on Route 4, County Manager Greg Zinser said a locking system on the door that leads from the foyer into the main offices was installed, and people have to be “buzzed” in by a clerk to enter the offices.
Even though many of these measures provide a barrier or a deterrent, someone who is determined to cause harm or who is mentally unstable could certainly find a way into buildings or around glass windows.
Beyond the reality of the limits of such security measures is the issue of balancing the public’s right to access municipal and government buildings and the employee’s right to be safe in their workplace.
One example of security measures impeding the public’s right to know involved those buzzers at the York County government building, where county commissioners meetings are also held. On at least one occasion ”“ before directions were posted guiding the public to a door that opened directly into the commissioner’s meeting room ”“ members of the public found they couldn’t get to that room when front-door access was unavailable, after the building’s offices had closed for the day.
It’s a complicated issue, and it will certainly involve more research, which is why it’s important the state and Legislature get involved. A commission should be formed to delve into the issue of security in public buildings, while maintaining public access, to help guide municipal and county buildings going forward, because the issue is here to stay.
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Today’s editorial was written by City Editor Robyn Burnham Rousseau on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
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