Scituate Community Television Advisory Board Minutes

SCTV is “television about you, ...for you, …by you.”

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Scituate Community Television Advisory Board Minutes

Tuesday, September 22, 2015 – 5:00 PM

Location: Selectmen’s Hearing Room, Town Hall

Meeting called to order at 5:05PM - In attendance:  Members Rich Long, Al Bangert, Mike Davis, SCTV Executive Director John Roser, BOS Liaison Marty O’Toole

Agenda accepted and seconded as written

Meeting minutes from June 25, 2015 accepted and seconded as written

Discussion on need to broadcast live from planned Public Safety Complex - Input to architects provided for hidden rack and ceiling mounted cameras, similar to Selectman's meeting room in Town Hall

Discussion of how cable funds will be segregated from the General Fund because of a new rule from Department of Revenue in the Commonwealth. To be earmarked for use only by SCTV in a Revolving Fund

Discussion of meeting with new Comcast contact, Mike Galla, who recently replaced long time contact Kathy Maloney.  Meeting held in Plymouth with Mr. Galla. Areas discussed:

70-hour blackout (pinched node) and the need to have a screen message in the event of any interruption of service example: "Technical Difficulty, We are working to correct... etc. etc. Thank You, Comcast” This is intended to keep mutual customers informed. Mr. Galla said the will follow-up to see if possible.  

Removal of 47 double utility poles.  Mr. Galla said work is underway.  Town can track progress by a Utility Pole Reporting system.

Six origination points were agreed to in the Comcast contract.  Currently only 2 points (High School and Town Hall) have been implemented.  Comcast has dragged feet on adding the remainder.  At the meeting the Town told Comcast that two more are needed: at the Public Safety Complex immediately upon its completion and at the Library immediately after its renovation.   A third is needed now at the Harbormaster Office for storm coverage.  (All are listed in the current Agreement with Comcast.)  Mr. Galla said he would come back to Town with a schedule or alternative ideas that might be better for the Town.  He suggested that one idea was to move the hub to the high school and feed other locations from there.

Executive Director Update

Each line item in the SCTV budget is in order.

The new computers are much faster in rendering recorded events. They provide more productivity and have doubled the training potential. The older computers are still used for less complicated programs.

The new capital plan is in place for Town Administrator to view and consider.

The proposed portable studio/equipment for the School Committee and other purposes will shortly go out for competitive bids.

We will be using PEG media to share our locally produced programming with other towns for their use.

Meeting adjourned at 6:25PM 

NEXT MEETING:  Tuesday, December 15, 2015 @5pm, Selectmen’s Hearing Room, Town Hall

Mike Davis for the SCTV Advisory Board