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Old Lyme Area Cable Advisory Council Minutes 01/16/2019
Old Lyme Area Cable Advisory Council
January 16, 2019
Lyme Public Library

Present: Chair Peter Sielman (Salem), Pam Munro (Salem BOE), Brian Bowes (Lyme), Cathy Frank (Old Lyme); Russ Gomes (Old Lyme; State Advisory Council rep)
Absent:  Michael Gilroy (East Haddam, Public Libraries rep); Comcast Government & Regulatory Affairs Manager Matt Skane, Public Access Coordinator Lynn Perry

Call to Order~
Chairman Peter Sielman called the meeting to order at 7:30pm. Peter asked if Council members were willing to change the time of future meetings to 7pm. All agreed to the change. He had a conversation with the East Haddam First Selectman. East Haddam is building a new Town administrative building. If completed, the July 2019 Cable Advisory Council meeting can take place there.

Approval of Minutes
A motion was made by Pam Munro, seconded by Brian Bowes, to approve the minutes of the October 2018 meeting. Motion passed.  
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Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer Brian Bowes reported a combined balance of $15,048.94 in the checking and money market accounts ($12,008.64 in money market plus $3,040.30 in checking).  The balance reflects the $2,000 received from Comcast. Brian has begun the paperwork necessary to switch bank accounts from Chelsea Groton Bank to Fidelity, where the funds will earn a higher interest rate.  

New Business
  • Statewide Video Council Report    
Russ Gomes distributed materials from the most recent State Council meeting. A potential new FCC regulation may put Public Access funding at risk. At present, local Cable Councils receive funding from the Council’s cable provider. The proposed FCC regulation would not require the providers to fund Public Access.
Russ will meet with State Senator Paul Formica to discuss this issue.
Cathy will draft a letter to the State legislators who represent our Council and share with Council members via email for approval.
Peter asked Russ to advise the State Council of our Council’s intended actions.

  • Comcast Report    
Matt Skane was not present. No report was submitted.

  • Public Access Report    
Lynn Perry~was not present. No report was submitted.
  • Correspondence  (Diane Connors)
Peter received an email from Matt Skane indicating that an issue reported by an Old Lyme seasonal Comcast subscriber had been resolved but no details were provided. Peter will contact the subscriber to ascertain if the resolution was satisfactory.

Old Business
  • Draft Letter to Comcast re: Assistance for Seniors
Cathy submitted a draft letter for consideration. A motion to accept the letter and send to a Comcast executive was made by Russ Gomes and seconded by Peter Sielman. Motion passed. Brian will provide the Comcast executive’s address to Cathy.

  • OLHSI grant
Members decided to invite representatives from the 3 non-profits in Old Lyme who have received Council grants for public access equipment to attend the April meeting at the Old Lyme Public Access Studio and provide an update. Cathy will contact the organizations.

Other
Cathy shared an ad for a public meeting videographer that appeared in the Berkshire, Mass area. She will follow up with an email to the agency named in the ad for more information.

Pam confirmed that 2019 scholarship applications are available in the public high schools in our Council area. She has also reached out to eligible college students (prior scholarship awardees) about the 2019 scholarship.

Pam is investigating how the Salem Historical Society might benefit from a Public Access grant from the Council.

Public Comment  - None

Adjournment
A motion to adjourn was made by Russ Gomes at 8:20pm.

Old Lyme Area Cable Advisory Council 2019 Meeting Dates
January 16                          Lyme Public Library
April 17                              Old Lyme Public Access Studio on Halls Road
July 17                     East Haddam  (to be determined)
October 16                         369 West Road (home of chair Peter Sielman)
eff. 1/16/19, all meetings will begin at 7:00pm




Catherine Frank
1/24/2019