Skip Navigation
This table is used for column layout.
 
June 11th, 2013


MASHPEE CABLE AND ADVANCED
TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY BOARD
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD
TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2013
TOWN HALL – WAQUOIT MEETING ROOM







Present:        Andrew Eliason
Lolita McCray
                Dan Riley

Absent:  Peter Cohen


Also Present:   David DelVecchio, Director of Information Technology
                Tom Mayo, Assistant Town Manager
                

Andrew Eliason, Vice Chairman, called the meeting of the MCAT Board to order at 1:03 p.m.


Roll Call was taken.  


Approval of Minutes

Dan Riley motioned to approve the minutes of the meeting of May 14, 2013; Lolita McCray seconded the motion.
VOTE:  Yes-3.
Roll Call Vote:  Andrew Eliason, yes     Lolita McCray, yes     Dan Riley, yes

Budget Status Update…Andrew Eliason said nothing changed—status quo.

Mashpee Community TV

Andrew advised he contacted Amy Davies, Mashpee TV Director, and building is still in construction.  Andrew said if you go in Facebook there are updates to give an overview as to what is going on.

Dan Riley said he e-mailed Amy Davies and for those who volunteered Mashpee TV is going to start classes in the summer.

OpenCape/Cape Net

Dan Riley reported that he met with Dan Vortherms, the CEO of OpenCape.  Dan said Mr. Vortherms is currently a resident of Mashpee.  There was a lengthy discussion of OpenCape/Cape Net during this MCAT meeting, as follows:

  • Dan Riley said Mr. Vortherms has the challenge to work out pricing and it would be helpful to him if Mashpee would provide the information requested on page 61 of the Barnstable County Telecommunications and Information Technology Survey.  Mr. Vortherms told Dan Riley that pricing information as to what town is currently paying would be beneficial to him. David DelVecchio said Mashpee did provide some information for the survey, but David will provide that information again as well as pricing information requested on the page 61 chart.
  • David explained that none of the municipalities is going to sign onto Cape/Net if cost not a negligible cost unless they have no choice.  Mashpee and most of the towns on Cape are in good IT position; however, Dennis and Falmouth have dire needs so will probably go forward.
  • Tom Mayo pointed out OpenCape was funded through a  federal grant.  In a report Tom read on the Internet, the Inspector General reminded OpenCape that they got this program and used taxpayer money because their mission was to enhance the public’s IT infrastructure…being competitive never the mission.
  • Tom Mayo noted that now Comcast is offering competitive pricing; whereas they didn’t before.
  • David explained that in addition to pricing there are questions to be answered—such as are we buying Internet service through NetCape; who maintains it; and what are the monthly bills, if we have to use NetCape.
  • David stated OpenCape’s fiber runs are installed and boxes ready to go, but we’re waiting for pricing.  David said all the fiber is here but who maintains it; what is the maintenance contract; who has responsibility for it; and who is going to fix fiber cable.
  • David said the company that owns right to re-sale services is NetCape.
  • Tom Mayo said David has raised important questions—especially when you have life-saving entities relying on this.  Tom explained there is an emergency wireless network backbone for emergency services if anything does go down.
  • Tom reminded MCAT that $25,000 was approved at Town Meeting to connect laterals to Police Department, Fire Department and COA.  
  • Town Hall, High School and Library were connected but everybody else has to pay—that’s the problem.   What will it cost, who maintains, etc.
  • Dan Riley commented that Mr. Vortherms mentioned that installing laterals at different locations presented different challenges.  
  • Tom Mayo said he thinks it’s great Dan Riley got Dan Vortherms’ attention.  Tom reminded MCAT that David DelVecchio is the point person on this matter.  MCAT totally agreed.  Dan Riley said he only offered to get some feedback and David was agreeable.
Control Room…No problems.  Only comment was that air filters in the net projectors need to be cleaned on a routine basis.

Next Meeting…The next MCAT meeting is to be held 1 p.m. on Tuesday, September 10, 2013, Town Hall Waquoit Meeting Room.  Although no meetings being scheduled for July and August, MCAT will schedule a meeting if necessary.

Adjournment…Lolita McCray motioned to adjourn the meeting; Dan Riley seconded the motion; and the motion was passed.  The meeting adjourned at 2:10 p.m.


Respectfully submitted,


Jean Giliberti
Recording Secretary