Concern About Unit 306 Doorbell Camera Installation

[bpelleti@comcast.net]

Dear Board Members,

 

I'm reaching out because I have a real concern about a doorbell camera that was recently installed by the occupants of Unit 306, and I'd like the board to look into having it removed.

 

I've attached a photo that shows the situation pretty clearly. Our doors are extremely close together, and the camera is mounted on the common wall right between them. Every time I step out of my own front door, I'm on camera. Same goes for anyone who comes to my unit, and for Dave in Unit 308 as well since it surveils his door, too and he passes right by it when using the stairs.

 

The building already has cameras at the entrances, loading dock, lobby, and atrium — all the right places for a secured building like ours. Once someone is past those entry points they've already been through a locked door and an intercom system, so I'd question whether private doorbell cameras inside the building are necessary at all. And unlike our building's system, a personal doorbell camera sends footage to a private account with no HOA oversight.

 

On audio — Massachusetts is a two-party consent state under MGL Chapter 272, Section 99, meaning audio recording without everyone's consent is illegal. The board addressed this with a prior unit and required audio to be disabled. That's worth keeping in mind here too, though my primary ask is removal of the camera entirely.

 

More broadly, the Massachusetts Privacy Act (MGL c. 214, §1B) gives residents the right against unreasonable interference with their privacy, and Massachusetts condo attorneys have written specifically about situations like this one. Two useful resources:

https://www.amcondolaw.com/all-eyes-on-you-and-maybe-ears-too-massachusetts-condominiums-raise-privacy-concerns-over-doorbell-ring-and-security-cameras

https://goldmanpease.com/security-cameras-vs-right-of-privacy

 

I've been comfortable with the camera decisions the board has made in the past — Dave's roof camera was put up because people were trespassing onto his roof deck, and the first floor camera on the door of Unit 102 was in a very different context as it didn't film the door to any other unit, but rather looked out over the open atrium area. This one is different. It's right at my front door and it affects my sense of privacy because it is quite literally in my face when I come and go and pause to lock/unlock my door.

 

I'd really appreciate the board looking into this and asking that it be removed. Happy to talk further if that's helpful.

 

Thanks,

Barbara/Unit 307

 

 

[Heather Hacker]

Barbara -  Thanks for reaching out.  We're meeting next week and will add this to our agenda to discuss.

Thanks

Heather

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[bpelleti@comcast.net]

Hi Heather,

 

Thank you for the quick response and for adding this to the agenda. I appreciate the board taking it seriously and I'm happy to leave it in your hands.

 

Thanks,

Barbara

Unit 307

[Devin Desautels]

Hi Barbara,

Thank you for providing this information. As Heather mentioned, we have added this item to our meeting agenda for next week for the board to discuss.

--

Sincerely, 

Devin Desautels, Senior Property Manager

Northborough Property Management, LLC
27 South Street, Unit 1
Northborough, MA 01532

de...@northboroughmanagement.com
Phone: 508-393-2155 ext. 14

Unit Owner Community Website:
https://northboroughpm.managebuilding.com/

For all requests for Massachusetts Certificates (6D), Lender Questionnaires, Association Documents and Appraiser requests please log-on to www.HomeWiseDocs.com.

Office open by appointment only.
Business hours: Monday - Thursday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm | Fridays 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

[bpelleti@comcast.net]

Thank you, Devin

[Devin Desautels]

Hi Barbara,

I met with the Board yesterday evening, and it was decided that we will request that the owner of Unit 306 remove the camera. Should they deny this request, we will follow up with the association's attorney to determine the next legal steps.

[bpelleti@comcast.net]

Hi Devin,

 

Thank you so much to you and the Board for the quick response and for taking this seriously. I really appreciate the thoughtful consideration and prompt action.

 

Thanks again,

Barbara

Unit 307

Unit Owner Community Website:
https://northboroughpm.managebuilding.com/

 

For all requests for Massachusetts Certificates (6D), Lender Questionnaires, Association Documents and Appraiser requests please log-on to www.HomeWiseDocs.com.

 

Office open by appointment only.
Business hours: Monday - Thursday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm | Fridays 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

 

--

Sincerely, 

 

Devin Desautels, Senior Property Manager

 

Northborough Property Management, LLC
27 South Street, Unit 1
Northborough, MA 01532

de...@northboroughmanagement.com
Phone: 508-393-2155 ext. 14

 

[bpelleti@comcast.net]

Hi all,

 

I wanted to loop in the board as I haven't heard back from Devin since sending the below on Monday — he may be out or just swamped. The camera remains in place and I'd appreciate any update on where things stand.

 

Thanks,

Barbara / Unit 307

 

 

From: bpel...@comcast.net <bpel...@comcast.net>
Sent: Monday, May 18, 2026 11:41 AM
To: 'Devin Desautels' <de...@northboroughmanagement.com>
Subject: RE: RLOFTSBOARD: Concern About Unit 306 Doorbell Camera Installation

 

Hi Devin,

 

I wanted to follow up on the board's decision regarding the camera outside Unit 306. It's been a couple of weeks and the camera is still in place — I just wanted to check in on the status and whether a timeline has been established for its removal.

 

Thanks,

 

Barbara / Unit 307

Unit Owner Community Website:
https://northboroughpm.managebuilding.com/

 

For all requests for Massachusetts Certificates (6D), Lender Questionnaires, Association Documents and Appraiser requests please log-on to www.HomeWiseDocs.com.

 

Office open by appointment only.
Business hours: Monday - Thursday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm | Fridays 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

 

--

Sincerely, 

 

Devin Desautels, Senior Property Manager

 

Northborough Property Management, LLC
27 South Street, Unit 1
Northborough, MA 01532

de...@northboroughmanagement.com
Phone: 508-393-2155 ext. 14

 

[bpelleti@comcast.net]

Good morning all,

 

I wanted to resend my email from last Wednesday in case it got lost in the shuffle. The camera outside Unit 306 is still in place and I'd love to get an update on where things stand when you have a chance.

 

Thanks so much,

Barbara

Unit 307

 

 

From: bpel...@comcast.net <bpel...@comcast.net>
Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2026 10:49 AM
To: 'rloft...@googlegroups.com' <rloft...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: FW: RLOFTSBOARD: Concern About Unit 306 Doorbell Camera Installation

 

Hi all,

 

I wanted to loop in the board as I haven't heard back from Devin since sending the below on Monday — he may be out or just swamped. The camera remains in place and I'd appreciate any update on where things stand.

 

Thanks,

Barbara / Unit 307

 

 

From: bpel...@comcast.net <bpel...@comcast.net>
Sent: Monday, May 18, 2026 11:41 AM
To: 'Devin Desautels' <de...@northboroughmanagement.com>
Subject: RE: RLOFTSBOARD: Concern About Unit 306 Doorbell Camera Installation

 

Hi Devin,

 

I wanted to follow up on the board's decision regarding the camera outside Unit 306. It's been a couple of weeks and the camera is still in place — I just wanted to check in on the status and whether a timeline has been established for its removal.

 

Thanks,

 

Barbara / Unit 307

 

 

Unit Owner Community Website:
https://northboroughpm.managebuilding.com/

 

For all requests for Massachusetts Certificates (6D), Lender Questionnaires, Association Documents and Appraiser requests please log-on to www.HomeWiseDocs.com.

 

Office open by appointment only.
Business hours: Monday - Thursday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm | Fridays 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

 

--

Sincerely, 

 

Devin Desautels, Senior Property Manager

 

Northborough Property Management, LLC
27 South Street, Unit 1
Northborough, MA 01532

de...@northboroughmanagement.com
Phone: 508-393-2155 ext. 14