PINE PLAINS — Residents called for Town Supervisor Brian Walsh's resignation after released records revealed he communicated with surveillance company Flock Safety multiple times about installing cameras in Pine Plains.
Town Board members offered a contrasting message, emphasizing a desire to move forward to work on other projects at their regular meeting on Thursday, March 19. Walsh responded by saying he would share information freely with board members, but otherwise did not offer a detailed statement.
Board members proposed and approved a resolution formally limiting license plate reading cameras and other "public safety" cameras without prior Town Board approval in response to the controversy. Town attorney Warren Replansky prepared the resolution prior to the meeting at the request of board members.
Critics said during public comment that Walsh's actions and statements in light of the recent revelations have eroded trust in his leadership. Walsh has faced scrutiny since Feb. 3 when Flock Safety representatives began marking locations for license-plate reading cameras at three locations across town. Those markings revealed an $80,000 contract with the Atlanta-based company signed by former Pine Plains Police Sergeant Michael Beliveau and Walsh's multiple emails and phone calls with representatives of the company.
Walsh said in statements to the New Pine Plains Herald after the markers for new cameras went up this February that he hadn't spoken to Flock Safety since June 2025. He said he was aware of a six-month trial that Beliveau had arranged with Flock Safety, and that the town was not engaged in a contract. Released records revealed Walsh had communicated with Flock Safety as recently as November 2025, and that the trial agreement that Beliveau signed would automatically roll into an $80,000, two-year contract with the surveillance company.
Public comment drew numerous calls for Walsh's resignation, alleging he lied about his involvement and awareness of the proposed trial and contract. Conservation Advisory Council Chair Gail Mellow issued a sharp rebuke of Walsh's actions.
She said Walsh repeatedly lied about his role in procuring the cameras and accused him of deflecting blame to Beliveau.
"Walsh lied to our community," Mellow said. "And I think, in doing so, smeared dirt on the honor of serving the town."
Residents fill\u00a0Town Hall on Route 199 in Pine Plains for the meeting on Thursday, March 19. Photo by Nathan Miller
"We have lost so much ground in four years," Nuccio said. She recalled working as a secretary for Walsh's predecessor, Darrah Cloud, saying the town government accomplished more under Cloud's leadership. "We were doing things in a progressive way."
Some called for sympathy for Walsh, describing his actions as a mistake that the community should move on from. Supporters included law enforcement personnel describing the benefits of license plate reading cameras in solving crimes and avoiding dangerous situations.
Town Board members gave their own statements prior to residents' public comments that centered around accountability and moving forward. Councilwoman Jeanine Sisco offered the first statement on the controversy of the night.
Sisco said the board found it difficult to get answers from Walsh and Flock Safety during the recent controversy, but it was clear that proper procedures were not followed. She said board members received emails and recorded telephone conversations between Walsh and Flock Safety on March 9 — over a month after the stakes brought the agreement to light.
"Information was withheld," she said. "There were serious missteps."
The councilwoman then clarified that the Town Board is prohibited from disciplining or dismissing an elected official under New York law. She said board members plan to move forward and work with Walsh to follow proper protocol.
"I hope you can appreciate how much time and energy has been spent trying to understand what has occurred," Sisco said. "Now it's time to move forward."
Councilman Kevin Walsh took a harder stance, calling out a lack of written confirmation from Flock Safety that all agreements had been cancelled and what he described as obfuscation from the Supervisor.
He said Brian Walsh misled the board and documents have come to light showing the Supervisor communicated with Flock Safety representatives on multiple occasions between November 2024 and July 2025 and again this February after the cameras came to light.
Kevin Walsh nonetheless acknowledged the board has no power to remove Brian Walsh from office.
"Some are calling for us to do things we are not in power to do," Kevin Walsh said. "We will continue to do our best to bring the situation which has caused much consternation to a conclusion."
Karina Powers teaches traditional dances from Mexico in Millbrook.
Powers received a master’s degree in Mexican folklore dance from Escuela de la Danza in Baja California, Mexico. Since moving to the United States, she has built a career in performance and teaching. She has not only served as a dance director and performed as a professional vernacular music singer in California, but she has also worked towards her Doctorate, which she will receive in October.
As the founder of her company, Powers works tirelessly to make sure her dancers have everything they need, including costumes, proper flooring, music and a space to practice. Her husband built wooden panels, called tarimas, for students to dance on with their folklórico shoes. Millbrook Mayor Peter F. Doro allows Powers and her group to practice in Millbrook Hall, where she brings the tarimas to every practice along with costumes and proper footwear.
Powers dreams of owning her own studio where she can practice with her group, offer more classes, store costumes and create a space for her dancers to do their hair and makeup before performances. She said she hopes people learn about her classes so her company can grow and she can teach dances from a wider range of Mexican states while having greater access to traditional dress.
As a single mother and professor, Powers’ mother, Carmen Méndez, put her children in dance classes and signed them up for track and field, always keeping them goal- and career-oriented. She helped Powers with her company by creating all of the costumes her dancers wear in their performances. After her mother’s death in 2021, Powers said she has dedicated herself to carrying forward the passion, work ethic and love of dance her mother instilled in her.
“I miss her terribly, and I’m here because of her,” Powers said. “That’s why I want to do this, because of her. She gave me a lot, with the costumes, with her support. I do it for my mom.”
Karina Powers and her students practice in Millbrook Hall.Lucia Iandolo
Dancers in Powers’ group are dedicated to learning the art of dance from different states in Mexico on Tuesday and Friday nights at Millbrook Hall. They travel from many different places in New York to participate, with some dancers traveling more than an hour to make it to rehearsal each week.
“It’s a lot of work, but they learn it. I believe they love it, and it’s a way to come together, to do something good, to do something healthy, and to have people around you who appreciate this kind of art,“ Powers said.
Powers has studied with professor Eloy Jiménez Figueroa since childhood and said his mentorship inspired her to become the teacher she is today. She added that while she may not be the best teacher, she learned from the best.
While living in California, Powers taught elementary, high school and college students, as well as adults. She was recruited to teach traditional Mexican folkloric dance because of the region’s large Mexican community. Today, she encourages people of all backgrounds to explore the rich traditions of Mexican dance.
“This type of dance is not only for people from Mexico,” Powers said. “This is an art and the arts unite nations.”
Powers hopes to continue sharing that art in Millbrook and one day teach in the Millbrook Central School District. Powers and her group will perform at the Millbrook Library on Nov. 21, presenting traditional Mexican dances and inviting audience members to participate.
As a professor, dancer and singer, Powers stays grounded by believing in something greater than herself. She says that praying and putting herself in the hands of God has helped anchor her. She hopes to teach and dance for as long as her body allows.
“My mom, for me, is an angel. I put myself in her hands, and I have faith,” Powers said. “I have faith that God, or something good, is going to be there for the group and for myself.”
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