Town Council Meeting, TV Black-Outs Are Threatened!
Wethersfield "Gov't Access" TV Channel 16
Needs VOLUNTEERS - or else!
May 23, 2003 -
The Town of Wethersfield Town Manager, Bonnie therrien, is looking for volunteers to fill the soon-to-vacant position of camera person(s) for the Town Council meetings over the recently activated, additional Cox Cable Channel 16.
This government access channel is under the complete control of the Town of Wethersfield. The Town's "Government Access" Channel 16 is not part of nor the responsibility of Wethersfield Community Television, Inc., using Cox Cable Channel 14.
In contrast, the Wethersfield Public Schools pays staffers to record and televise its meetings. The Town of Wethersfield has apparently taken the position that it is unwilling to make a similar, conservative financial commitment to ensure such enhanced public access to its meetings. The cost of such a Town commitment would be in the vicinity of $3000 per year, some have estimated, a sum which could doubtless be "found" in our current and future municipal budget. Having this service in the budget next time would avoid the need for volunteers and would make the persons employed by the Town to provide this service accountable.
The current volunteers will end their prior services in June, only weeks away! Without volunteers for this position and without the Town's commitment to bring this "in house," Council meetings will no longer be televised.
More than one volunteer is needed so that no one person will have to staff every Council meeting. Practically, having a dedicated group to share the responsibilities would make the burden falling to each individual volunteer a little lighter and hence increase the chance of retention. If enough volunteers come forward, each person may only have to staff the cameras once or twice, every other month, or even allow the coverage of a single meeting to be divided between volunteers.
All concerned citizens wishing to make such commitment to keep the workings of our town government open and more public will be trained. No experience is needed. The local political parties and advocacy groups (such as the Wethersfield Taxpayers Association) should take a special interest in keeping the Council meetings "on the air," others have pointed out.
The Town Council meets regularly the 1st and 3rd Monday evening and meetings are from 6 p.m. to approximately 11 p.m. This does not include specially scheduled meetings which do crop up occasionally. Since executive sessions of the Council are never broadcasted, those which fall at the end of each meeting would mark the end of the volunteer's evening commitment.
Please call or email Ms. Bonnie Therrien, Town Manager, at 721-2801 to learn more about the duties of this position and to volunteer for the necessary training. And, telephone members of Town Council to advocate for having the Town take this responsibility and commitment "in house" or email the council en bloc:town.council@wethersfieldct.com
Click: Further discussion about Staffing and Naming of Channel 16! !
