Selectmen appoint public access cable board of directors
Published on January 17th, 2001
STONEHAM, MA - True public access to public access television might soon be a reality in Stoneham with the selectmen's decision last week to form a public access corporation, aimed at opening up the doors to community cable programming to all residents.
The Board has researched how surrounding towns use money granted to municipalities by cable companies for public benefit. Last month, representatives from Melrose's public access corporation made a presentation to the Board describing the city's public access television, called MMTV, along with the mission and set-up of its organization.
In summary, the corporation, founded in 1992, allows any Melrose resident to use the city's public access studio and equipment. The standing rule, however, is that all programs must first be aired publicly on the public access channel.
Popular use for the equipment is taping of youth sporting activities, but a wide variety of shows are also produced.
Various levels of membership are offered to Melrose residents, including $15 memberships for seniors and students, $25 for individuals, $40 for families, and $100 for organizations. Eighty percent of the public access programming is funded by cable grant, with the remaining 20 percent supported by membership and sponsorship.
MMTV is run almost exclusively by volunteers, but the corporation has two employees, whose salaries are determined by a board of directors.
Following that December meeting, Stoneham's selectmen voted to direct Town Counsel William Solomon to prepare bylaws that would govern such an organization in Stoneham. Selectmen Al Conti and Darin Leahy worked with Solomon to draft these bylaws.
At the Jan. 9 meeting, the Board voted in the town's first public access board of directors comprised of the eight members of the existing Cable Advisory Committee, along with Bob Hogan, of SHS computer department, as an ex-officio member.
Since Stoneham has a long way to go in making public access television accessible to its residents, Conti stated that this board "has a broad base from which to work."
In 2002, terms for this initial board will expire and a new board of directors will be appointed. Positions on the board will be determined by the Board of Selectmen (2 seats), the School Committee (2 seats), the Chamber of Commerce (1 seat), the Public Library (1 seat), and the current board of directors (3 seats).
After those terms expire, explained Conti, the membership will appoint its Board of Directors and at that point, the corporation will be self-sustaining, with the Board of Selectmen "out of the loop." The bylaws established can then be amended by the board of directors as deemed necessary.
However, the purse strings will still be held by the town, and if the corporation does not abide by its bylaws, the Board of Selectmen has the power to withhold money granted to public access programming.
In other Selectmen news:
Selectman Al Conti announced publicly that he will not be seeking re-election to the board on which he has served three consecutive terms.
Conti made the announcement last week, in order to give those considering a turn at public service sufficient notice of the open seat.
Requirements for this position include "have(ing) the best interests of the town at heart, a degree of fairness, and to treat this job with the professionalism it deserves," he said.
"I will tell you the rewards are great."
In his 22 years of public service, Conti has also served on the Planning Board and as Town Moderator.
Conti urged residents to consider volunteering their time and energy to the town, in any capacity, and stated that he too will continue to do so.
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