Minutes of the November 29, 2006
Local Access Channel Advisory Committee (LACAC) meeting
Members Present: Steve Dungan
Len Golder
Bob Glorioso
Lisa Lavina
Jim Parr
Also present: Anne Van Tine – LACAC Coordinator
Lew Halprin
The meeting began at approximately 7:40.
On motion by Dungan, seconded by Golder, the meeting minutes of October 17, 2006 were approved unanimously.
Coordinator’s Report:
Nothing general to report.
Verizon Update:
Lew reports that our request to be served by Verizon received a response on the last day of the application period. They have decided not to respond to the request, explaining that they are too busy with the towns already in progress and need to complete some of that work.
School Committee:
Van Tine and Halprin attended a meeting with the media director at the High School. M. Wood and J. Smith were there. Anne provided them with the technical details, needs and costs for broadcasting and recording the School Committee meetings. Lew gave them another version of the plan. Lew to rewrite the plan as relates to the media center at the HS. Dr. Wood will talk with Lancaster to see if they are interested in pitching in. He thinks the only way they’ll do it is if the school committee wants to support it since the academic interest is low. Who pays is the question, Wood suggested all towns split the cost. The school committee turned down the Warren room idea as it’s not centrally located. Studio in Clinton loaned old equipment to set up single camera and mike the room they use at Emerson School. Not
elegant but serviceable.
Annual Report to Comcast:
Dungan Moved and Glorioso seconded accepting the report from the coordinator to Comcast.
Equipment Status and Spending:
We have a couple of wireless mikes but they are not reliable and should be replaced. Glorioso concurred, saying the good ones, with diversity antennas, are the best and not generally available for less than $350. Glorioso suggested consulting with the guitar center in Natick – they’re knowledgeable and will know what’s working well today.
Golder moved and Dungan seconded approving authorizing Van Tine to spend no more than $500 for replacement.
Coordinator’s Contract:
Van Tine’s contract expires this month. Copy of current contract distributed. Van Tine requesting 5% salary increase. Board concurred that the volume and quality of the programming is largely a reflection of the work and dedication the coordinator invests in the project. Dungan Moved and Golder seconded renewing the contract and setting the salary at $18,900. Van Tine will type up the document and Lavina will send Bill Wrigley the Town Administrator an e-mail confirming the above.
Technical Assistant Position:
Van Tine has drafted a proposal to post a technical assistant position. This position is usual in the world of access television. This would be a contractor job – no benefits. Administrator Wrigley is ok with it. The committee needs to give him the description to approve. Dungan moved and Glorioso seconded creating the position as described by VanTine and the written job description. VanTine will follow up with Wrigley for posting the position.
Stipend to Volunteers:
Volunteers are sometimes paid for government coverage. Halprin feels this is the time when amount of work involved warrants payment. Discussion of how to manage the discrepancy with those who volunteer lots of time but not on government programming. Conversation led to agreement that much of the extra tech work will now be covered by the tech position, and the parity issue is enough to keep us from approving payment of volunteers. Van Tine and Halprin will look into other town’s policies regarding payment of volunteers. Board will revisit the topic when there’s more information.
LACAC Objectives:
Objective 3c: current state of space.
Van Tine reports there is space near the PEG room but it’s unfinished. There a sense that the area won’t be finished until the town budget will cover readying it for meeting space. There is also substantial attic space but it’s very isolated and A/C could be an issue. Moving would require rewiring expense. One of the current issues is security as the town computer is located with the access equipment.
Not clear what amount of space is needed. Board recommends Van Tine and Halprin give some thought to their space needs, and storage needs as well. We will keep this at the top of the priority list and Dungan will have a conversation with Admin. Wrigley and report back
Objective 1 A “Maintain Current Services” – Add “solicit viewer feedback”
Objective 4 A concerns infrastructure at Hale and Town Hall – Nearly complete, objective could be removed.
Proposed Budget:
Discussion and review of all items. Glorioso moved and Parr seconded approving the budget and submitting to Admin. Wrigley.
Glorioso moved and Dungan seconded adjourning the meeting at 9:45pm
Prepared by: _________________________________
Lisa Lavina
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