NEW BERLIN – In late January, the Village and Town of New Berlin received word it wasn’t getting a state grant that would’ve paid for installation of surveillance cameras out in public.

Currently the village has four inactive digital cameras installed in the area of Main and Genesee streets. The devices are in place to record the road and nearby parking areas, but are off-line pending further investment by the municipality, said Mayor Wade Schrag. He said the village is still looking for a more affordable way to activate the cameras and that any decision to hire a contractor will first need board approval.

Schrag said the cameras would be placed along the main roadways, parking lots, public parks and at important facilities, such as the wastewater treatment plant.

“Their purpose is safety and security. To make law enforcement’s job easier in prosecuting offenses and deterring crime,” he said.

On Jan. 3, the New Berlin Liquor Store was robbed and its owner assaulted in a daytime attack. The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office and the New Berlin PD are still investigating the incident and no arrests have been made.