Minutes of the Tuesday, January 29, 2008 Local Access Channel Advisory Committee (LACAC) meeting.
Members Present: Steven Duncan
Bob Glorioso
Lisa Lavina
Also Present: Anne VanTine – Stow TV Coordinator
Valerie Pederson
Chris Funkhauser
Linda Stokes
The meeting began at approximately 7:35.
Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the January 9, 2008 meeting were reviewed and on motion by Steven Duncan and seconded by Bob Glorioso, the minutes were then approved unanimously.
Space Plans Update
VanTine does not know when the new room is going to be ready. When it is ready, when the carpet goes in there will be a big push for us to move. There will be work done on the present room when we move. VanTine is planning how the move will be done. Does not think it will be easy to pick up racks and move them. Linda Stokes asked are we going to need a third rack? VanTine indicated that we do not yet know. Discussion ensued about alternative approaches to moving the equipment racks: removing all the equipment or moving the racks with the equipment remaining installed, and what would be involved in each approach. VanTine suggested hiring consultant Michael Ridinger to help with the equipment and rack move. There was also discussion about whether and how to keep the
station on the air during the move. VanTine reported that Susan McLaughlin had agreed to not having a physical partition in the room.
Video Server Purchase Plans
Linda and VanTine spoke about the Video Server. VanTine still has questions. Linda says we really need to see what will be connected to what. Handout is more or less what is going to happen. Next we will send it out to bid because it is over $10,000 (between 10 and 25,000). The process is relaxed for projects under $25,000.
For Warren room we sent out to bid for all equipment and that was complicated. This time it is a simple equipment list. Therefore, the document bidding is less complicated. VanTine handed out a description from the State Manual, and also sample from bid for Warren Room equipment.
VanTine wondered if the video server purchase has to go through capital planning. Steve suggested checking with the Town Administrator.
Bob Glorioso indicated that VanTine was on the right path and should keep going.
VanTine: Should VanTine be authorized to put this out to Bid. The committee indicated that VanTine could go ahead and send the project out for bid once it’s approved by the Town Manager/
Equipment and Purchases
VanTine handed out a copy of the equipment planning procedure. Bob and Steve both agreed process worked very well. Everyone agrees that process went well.
VanTine reviewed list of equipment: Stow TV Purchase Requests 1-29-08. Bob voted to approve list. Steve motioned to approve the acquisition of equipment as detailed on page 11. Lavina seconded and all voted to approve it.
Annual Report
Steve says it was all well done – so did Bob.
Steve motioned to approve the annual report from LACAC for 2007 and Lavina seconded and all said Aye.
Video Competition
Lew received a grant from the cultural committee concerning Channel 9, Video Production Competition. He is going to get volunteers.
Steve says that where it says that person can borrow equipment and we will train them to use it, this can be a potential problem. There is risk of damage. Linda: not enough equipment. VanTine, says we should be teaching others to use our equipment. VanTine says children under certain age must have their parents take the responsibility.
VanTine says the project needs to be better defined. What is timeframe? Bob commented that this proposal was enthusiastically received by the cultural council, Lavin said this was great.
Springfest
Lew proposes to set up a camera where kids come and can do camera work at Springfest. Problem that VanTine and Linda are not available. Lavina suggested to leave it to Lew to get it organized. Valerie volunteered to help out.
Volunteers for Town Meeting
VanTine commented that there are hree separate areas of Town Meeting Work:
- Video taping the meeting (not a problem)
- Managing the sound in Hall Auditorium and making sure that works. Bob says new mixer should help. Gerry Horne has normally taken on that responsibility; he is a professional in that field, except when he had a business appointment on that day. VanTine found 2 or 3 guys who ought to be able to do it but they are rarely in town.
- Setting up the remote room. That is definitely the most complicated. VanTine has no clue, thinks Lew is only one who knows.
Steve asked what are hours and what is expertise.
VanTine and Bob said that there is quite a bit of expertise needed. The learning curve is long. VanTine: says there are bits and pieces of documentation. Lew taped the procedure. And VanTine has tried to get documented efforts.
Steve says he can plug it to the people who are watching the meetings.
Bob says this is a town issue, and the town should think about this in a more formal way. Bob wonders if there is any permanent cabling in there. VanTine: There are permanent connectors, but you have to know what to do with all the wires.
Steve will take action item and follow up with Lew to follow up and get more people who can handle these things.
VanTine says hiring people to do the work has its own problems.
Jim Parr is going to resign as LACAC committee member. There is a posting and interview process before a new committee member can be appointed. Members present suggested that Associate member Chris Funkhouser apply.
Lavina moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:25.
Prepared by: ___________________________________________
Anne VanTine
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