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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-01-12 Cable TV Advisory Committee MinutesReading Cable Television Advisory Committee `ate: January 12,1994 S tilled to Order: 7:30 pm Location: Reading Town Hall, Conference Room Adjourned: 10:05 pm r-C41 Present: Richard Cohen Silva Gerety Jim Guarante Jim Liston Absent: Mark Cloutier Marc Guyott Mike Longo Also Attending: Joe Cain (Member Reading hiformation Technology Task Force) Meeting Minutes January 12,1995 Page I 1) Joe Cain presented the Task Force's ideas with regards to a new cable contract. Two issues of importance were television issues, in which the schools had not yet been fully wired under the existing contract with Continental Cablevision. The other issue was that of Data Transmission of information between schools using the I-Loop. Joe expressed concern of equipment compatiblity on the I-Loop to that of any equipment that the school system might purchase in the future. Joe also stated that Continental and other cable companies, upon renewal of a contract, had provided networking equipment to these systems as ,cart of a new contract. 2) Other items Joe Cain discussed was that the Information Technology Task Force felt an upgrade of the existing studio was needed (as it was over 10 years old). Also teaching of more than one course per semester, continued/expnaded event coverage, and the high school being wired were also items they had identified. 3) Discussion on the wiring of the high school continued. Joe said that while it wasn't in the original contract, there were letters ancillary to the signing of the contract, from the then president of Continental Cablevision promising to wire all the school buildings. Joe stated he would provide copies of this documentation to the committee and also forward a list of which schools needed wiring work performed. Parker was discussed also and Joe said that he would have the architect get in touch with Continental Cablevision to co-ordinate this work. 4) The meeting minutes from December 15,1994 were approved 3-0 with Silva Gerety abstaining. 5) Jim Guarante discussed the conversation he had with Kelly Myers from UNH (the operation that Continental Cablevision is going to use to conduct the town survey). The conversation revolved around questions 2 and 3 on the Town Survey and the demographics issues. The result was that questions 2 and 3 were to remain as they were. The 4 demographics questions would be added, but would only be used to explain abnormalities in the survey if they occurred. 6) Jim Guarante said he spoke with Kathy Maloney on this date, and that she was sending Kelly Myers a letter authorizing him to go ahead and conduct the survey. She said she felt that the survey should begin the following Tuesday (January 17,1995). From prior conversations the survey should be wrapped up in one months time. At next meeting-January 26,1995 the committee would follow-up with Kathy to see if things are progressing on schedule. 7) Jim Guarante was sending a letter to Kathy Maloney and Greg Brennan thanking them for their time in putting the survey together and for them doing the survey for the town. The committee approved sending the letter 4-0. Meeting Minutes January 12,1995 Page 2 Jim Guarante read a letter he received from the Mass Cable Commission which they had recently acted on. The act rohibited cable companies in Massachusetts from putting scamblers on the basic tier of service. 9) Jim Guarante read a copy of a letter Greg Brennan had sent to Mr. Wiswold (reference meeting minutes 12/15/95) in which lie tried to reach him 3 times via phone and had no luck. Note that Greg had looked into his problem. 10) Jun Guarante had contacted Peter Heckenbleckner about possible monetary needs the town/cable advisory committee may have with regards to outside legal and technical assistance needed in possible renewal of an existing cable television franchise. Jim would get back to Peter with a budget based upon what information could be gathered-see items 11, 12, and 13 below. 11) Discussion occurred on what if any technical assistance would be needed. Some ideas were to 1)use what we have already on the committee, 2)hire outside help, and/or 3) see what other towns have done. 12) Committee members were going to survey other towns and resources to see what would be involved and who would be available for technical assistance. This task was split up as follows: Richard Cohen-contact Stoneham Town Counsel "Silva Gerety-contact North Andover Cable Committee Chairman Jim Guarante-contact Wakefield Cable Committee Jim Liston-contact lawyers in the field such as Horton, to see what they have done. Also when discussing the technical assistance issue with these individuals, members were to ask how long the negotiation process took. 13) Jim Liston was going to contact the liaison committee at the Mass Cable Commission to find answers to the technical zssistance issue and other legal issues in the licensure process. 14) The next meeting will be held on January 26,1995 @ 7:30 pm with Continental Cablevision presenting their yearly review, possibly showing a tape of the past year's hi-lights. Kathy Maloney, Greg Brennan and John Upton will be in attendance. 15) Silva Gerety said the School Committee would be holding a meeting in future and would like the cable committee to attend. Silva said as a minimum herself and Mark Cloutier would attend, other members were welcomed. 16) Discussion on including the Vocational/Technical School in Wakefield in the towwn's needs. Silva felt that they are not a body with-in the town of Reading. Silva was going to contact Peter Heckenbleckner to clarify this issue. 17) Town Departmental Survey results tabled until February meeting as all the results are not in. Still missing was RMLD, Voc/Tech, and School Committee input. Marc Guyott will complete by then, and Richard Cohen will report at that meeting. 18) Discussion on whether the committee could hold executive session to discuss negotiation strategy. Jim Guarante was going to contact Peter Heckenbleckner and Ted Cohen to receive direction on this issue. 19) Discussion occurred on Selectmen's meeting about selecting a negotiating committee, the outcome from watching the meeting was that Peter Heckenbleckner, Ted Cohen (town counsel), and two cable advisory committee members would form the negotiating committee. Concern was raised regarding the time commitment for this task, per item 12 above an estimate was going to try to be established and reported back to the committee. No formal authorization has been received from the Selectmen regarding the make-up of the negotiating committee. 20) Discussion on timetable as presented by Richard Cohen was tabled till next meeting. Richard Cohen will try to place some times against the table presented and discussed in this meeting. Jim Guar was working on items II A-G and would get back to the committee. t-isfon 21) Meeting adjourned 10:05 pm by a 4-0 vote.