Cable Advisory Commission

MINUTES JULY 6, 2007

Meeting Date: July 6, 2007

Meeting Called to Order: 9:07

Present: Carol Pugliese, Richard Silver, Marjorie Steinberg and Betty Villari

Excused Absence: none

Unexcused Absence: none

Guests: Lew Aabaye, Lou Ann Bowen, John Davidson, Sharon Lynn, Pru Sowers, Parker Ryan

Public Statements:

Palmer Ryan - Former member of the Cable Advisory Commission Member the first year – 2001/2002. She has sense of a transition and is a fan and a member of PTV. PTV is very important to our town. PTV offers creative access that is to the community and is a part of Provincetown. Parker is proud that the town is connected to PTV. There were challenges in the first few years. Keith Bergman, former Town Manager, was supportive of PTV. It was the first time the selectmen were on TV. There is a close relationship between town hall and PTV. Things became accessible because of the social activists. Catherine had experience with film only and really talented people stepped up to the plate and taught us how to do the job. Lou Ann was learning about the technology. Now she is the only one left from the original group. Lou Ann has learned how to teach the community. This is the only location in town where townies could come not have to spend money. We need a commitment to be PTV and the relationship with town hall.

Sharon Lynn – we want to get PTV up and running again – the town will gain knowledge from the center.

Election of Officers:

MOTION: Move to elect Carol Pugliese as Chairman

Motion by: Betty Villari Seconded by: Marjorie Steinberg Yea 4 Nay 0

MOTION: Move to elect Marjorie Steinberg as Secretary

Motion by: Betty Villari Seconded by: Carol Pugliese Yea 4 Nay 0

MOTION: Move to elect Betty Villari as Vice Chairman

Motion by: Carol Pugliese Seconded by: Marjorie Steinberg Yea 4 Nay 0

Comcast license - Cape wide consortium to negotiate the license.

Staff Update –

Interim Coordinator Lou Ann – Was appointed in September 2006 for a three 3 month period. The Chairman raised the question - How did you continue without a contract? She has done outreach and has held various meetings with Town Departments. For example with the DPW she was trying to get them to use PTV for announcements (street closings).

The Last PTV Staff meeting was in January or February 0f 2007. Everything was up in the air – Did they have a staff? If so how would they get paid? Lou Ann objected to being in the position because there was no money in the budget.

In the past there were four people had expertise in PTV functions. A meeting was held to discuss what was going on in town and who would provide coverage. Also they researched what equipment to buy and sent that list to Cable Advisory Commission and it would be approved.

Not much planning to the budget. It was set by town meeting. It is approximately $74,000. Carol asked from that time until now how much money was used? Staff at was over budgeted and equipment was under budget.

John Davidson, Bookkeeper:

Budget – PTV hase used 81% of their budget. No equipment was bought last year. Lou Ann didn’t take a paycheck from October 2006 until the end of June 2007. The bill for $9000.00 for a Video Switcher was ordered in the last minute at the end of F/Y 2007. It cost 9000.00. That was overkill PTV needed to buy one for $1800.00 but they rushed through a purchase. There is also equipment in need of repair.

Staff in the last six month period was:

Lew Aabye – Technical and Equipment Manager

Eileen Kennedy –Fundraising – she did not have a lot of success or opportunity.

Patty DeLuca – hasn’t been around for 6 months

They turned in time sheets to account for their time

Gift fund for PTV – it is now set up. There is approximately $2500.00 in it. Keith Bergman did not know that the about it. He sent the invoice to the National Park Service. Now there is a way to contribute from the town. Funding is also available with the Community Compact

Taping the Selectmen’s Meetings – trying to move away from the hourly wage – limit of 19 hrs per employee per week. Craig and Elissa also tape other meetings. Craig would take the DVD to Orleans for broadcast when necessary. He would charge $14.00 for each trip.

Studio Hours – Lou Ann asked people in January 2007 to only put down only the hours that they could commit to being in the studio. She is there for 10 to 60 hours but would only bill for 13 to nineteen hours. Recently she took a paycheck.

Lou Ann wasn’t sure how the staff was going to be paid. She said that the Selectmen told her not to worry about it. She couldn’t remember if it was at a meeting or by word of mouth.

Bookkeeping for PTV - John Davidson said that Catherine Russo asked him to straighten out bookkeeping. There is a problem because bills were getting paid on the from the invoice and them paid again from the statements. During March 2006 Quickbooks was installed on the PC at PTV. The hard drive crashed and a lot of data was lost. Marjorie suggested that some of the date might still be able to be recovered.

John keeps copies of all vouchers in a binder. He leaves a copy for the Cable Advisory Commission to approve. He goes to PTV on Sunday morning at 7:00 A.M. to process bills and leaves them in a folder for Lou Ann. John takes them to Irene Silva on Tuesday. She will tell John if there are any invoices he hasn’t seen.

He attaches any statement that comes in to the voucher for the week. The bills are all coming to town hall not to the PTV mailbox. John gets all the rent bills and wants whoever is involved to see it.

Whaler’s Wharf was not good at invoicing but they now send a rent and common fee area invoice. The rent of $1000.00 per month is up to date. The common area fee is $288.14 There is a $10 late charge

Beginning of last year July 2006 - A Great Northern was purchased for $7000.00, $2000.00 of it was encumbered from the previous year.

This past fiscal year, F/Y 07 expenditures were:

Equipment - $9279.49 - $3300 was left over and into the general fund. All the extra money should go for cable access.

Staff – $35, 364 - Everyone turns in an invoice

Selectmen’s Meeting Craig is Government Coordinator – if the meeting is over 4 ½ hours they get paid extra (approximately 15.00 / hour – They each earn $120 .00 per selectmen’s meeting

Eileen $14/hour but has not worked in a while

Patty – currently

Lew - $14/hour

Comcast does pay some towns directly to towns.

What is cablecast through PTV on Channel 17

• STR8 Up Provincetown – part is produced at PTV. It is taped at the studio in

Orleans and aired 3 times a week. The show is 30 minutes long

• Selectmen’s meeting

What type of training has been offered?

• The Last class was October 2006
• Lou Ann does offer some individual training
• No regularly held classes – some people come to PTV with some background in v video
• Scheduling a class is tough - Lou Ann runs an open classroom –one day a week

Lou Ann’s Coordinator Contract – Lou Ann stated that her contract was up in November 2006. No on one rehired her. The time period agreement with Keith Bergman was ninety days. The assumption was that that the contract would continue. However when it came time to renegotiate it Keith was busy with the budget. She said it was difficult to get to see him. No one really hired her or retained her

Lew Aabye contract – His contract signed with Catherine Russo. Keith didn’t sign it.

Lou Ann stated that the staff should not be independent contractors. None of the staff fits that description. Things are unclear. She is concerned about Workman’s Compensation for the staff. They are paid as contractors. This is not the best arrangement for the town. They should be made town employees.

Sharon Lynn said that the Cable Advisory Committed needs to oversee the staff. The staff needs to be capable. The town has a clear connection to the office. John Davidson, the Bookkeeper, needs a person to sign off on hours worked, vouchers, etc.. Bills need backup. There needs to be organizational skill at PTV. She stated that she can’t get answers from Lou Ann. Sharon is relying on the information.

Purchases before April 2006 – She will not approve purchases prior to April that were not approved by the previous Town Manager.

Sharon Lynn said that we will set up the PTV office as we se fit The organization structure has been lacking. There needs to be defined roles, job descriptions, directives, and policies.

Lou Ann has tired to work on a job description but there is overlaying of workers skills.

Sharon Lynn said that she wants to appoint the people who are the best. No one is being paid because there is no clear definition of who is doing what.

Establishing the accounting for the Gift Fund – John Davidson said that nothing is set up in the GL for the gift fund.. He will set that up. He will do a turnover. Lou Ann said there is money from the National Park that is due PTV. She wanted to know if we had collected it.

New Coordinator - Carol Pugliese said that the Commission wants to start fresh. PTV needs to be reorganized and function in a better way. Lou Ann said that staff has been scattered in the last three months. Carol stated that they would advertise for a coordinator – we will put in hours to have people in the day.

Remove all personal items - Anything personal should not be there will not be there. –

PTV volunteers – The Cable Access Commission will volunteer at PTV so that the center more hours.

Broken Equipment - One GL2 has a crack in the handle but the camera works fine. Canon will repair it but it will cost $500.00 to repair it.

Equipment Insurance Policy – Is there an equipment insurance policy? Irene Silva has all the policies for the town.

PTV Keys – The lock will be changed. Lou Ann stated that the lock has been changed 6 or 7 times over the past year. She suggested a keyless lock. It would cost between $1500.00 to S2000.00.

Goals for next week for the Cable Advisory Commission

Clean up the studio

Volunteers will put hours in to keep it open

Advertise for new coordinator –

Get the key situation under control

Look at invoices

Lew Aabye will be hired to assist the commission with these changes – he will help with cleanup, inventory, Macintosh maintenance, etc

Removal of Personal Items

Lew will be present when Lou Ann will be removing her personal property. He will make a list of all that is removed. She will be there on Monday July 9^th at 11:00 A.M. Sharon Lynn said that there could be a staff member present if we require it – someone from the MIS

Archive DVDs – Where should the Selectmen’s meetings be archived The discs are 2 – 3 months old when they come back from Orleans. There should be two copies made and they should be put in the vault. We could store them in the library. Would all meetings be stored or only the Selectmen’s meeting. What about other Town Board meetings.

Functions of PTV

Teach new people how to use the camcorders and edit

Community Outreach –

Fundraising

MOTION: Move to adjourn the meeting

Motion by: Marjorie Steinberg Seconded by: Betty Villari Yea 4 Nay 0

NOTE: Additional public statements by Lou Ann Bowen and Lew Aabye will be attached to these minutes when after they have been scanned into a computer and made available electronically.

These are the additional statements:

1) E-mail from Lou Ann Bowen to Pam Hudson

Good morning, Pam,

would you mind printing this out for the 9 AM CAC meeting? Our printer is on the fritz. Thank you, Lou Ann

Per the Town's website: Cable Advisory Commission's Mission & Authority: To advise the issuing authority throughout the licensing process and frequently remains as an active committee after the process has terminated, continuing to advise the issuing authority in the general oversight of cable television operation through the life of the license.

The Cable Advisory commission was not created to operate cameras, teach production classes and run PTV on a daily basis, just as the recycling committee wasn't created to separate the bottles from the cans, repair the bailer, and then drive the truck to the recycling plant. The charge of the Cable Advisory Commission has always been to negotiate with the cable company to achieve for the town the most favorable contract possible, to follow all the steps legally required in negotiating such a contract, and to oversee the way the cable company adheres to that contract. The CAC is also required to perform ascertainment for purposes of the contract (a process that should be underway within the next several weeks by law) and to hold a public hearing at which the cable company reserves the right to make a presentation., and always does. In addition, the cable advisory groups of the six lower cape towns are currently asked to provide representatives to the Lower Cape Public Access Regionalization Group

(LCPARG) which is taking up the issue of Comcasts request to reopen section 6 of the current contract for renegotiations, as well as other specific duties relating to the contract negotiating period we are now submerged in.

For its first 4 years PTV grew slowly but steadily every year in the number of volunteers and the programs created by those volunteers, by having a small staff, each of whom had an area of one or more specialties, meet every few weeks and discuss upcoming town events, new projects, needs for coverage and requests by citizens, and the expenditure of funds on new equipment, supplies, and, eventually, payment for staff. All went well until two members of the cable commission abruptly announced that they were now in charge of daily operations and began making rules and setting policy without any input from those actually doing the job of running the studio, training the volunteers, or putting together the budget, The entire atmosphere of PTV changed. Staff began quitting, as did every single volunteer, and a superbly qualified worker was inexplicably dismissed. CAC members began training new volunteers. Disaster ensued, with the quality and production standards of programs dropping to a level many residents described as unwatchable. Even worse, meetings to be taped were missed and Comcast threatened to fill our scheduled time slots with programs from other towns, At the same time, the taping of the unveiling of the Lipton Cup at the Public Library was botched, which caused the Visitor's Services Board to rescind their offer of a grant of several thousand dollars for PTV to produce a video about the town, a grant that we had fought for and worked toward for more than two years. When I recently got a curt phone message to get all of my things out of the PTV office, and when I went in to PTV and found that my box had been rifled through and a third of my papers and notes are now missing, I became justifiably angry, and I became very concerned that we were about to experience the same sort of carnage that took place the last time the CAC tried to impose rules and policies designed for cable stations in big cities with a few hundred volunteers, not for a small video studio in a tiny resort town where people live in an entirely different way than other folks around the country. PTV is a hybrid, a delicate flower that needs tender treatment and a gentle touch.

Provincetown's interests in LCPARG talks with the 5 other lower cape towns and attorney continue to demand active representation at regular meetings. I've been attending and participating in these and many other relevant meetings for over a year now. Issues include regionalization of channels 17 and 18, separation of Public Access from Government and Educational programming, creating a new location for a studio in a lower cape town to serve the P in PEG Access, possible negotiations of new contract for all six towns together, and re-opening of section 6 of current license by Comcast. I'm standing fast for a studio in Provincetown to serve towns from here to Eastham. The combination of all of these talks could result in bringing one to two million dollars for media services to Provincetown over the next ten-year contract, or could double that amount, or funding could all disappear if we don't seize opportunities as early as possible, perhaps in the next few months. Our knowledgeable representation on these issues is critical to a satisfactory outcome for the town.

During the past year I attended the National Conference for Media Reform in Memphis, Tennessee. Among many others, I attended seminars specifically for representatives in Massachusetts towns and in other states where Verizon is attempting to change state legislation regarding cable television licensing agreements with municipalities. I shot tape that will be turned into approximately 6 months of weekly programs on media reform geared toward helping Provincetown citizens understand some of the critical legislation and contract issues within our own area, as well as the need and some possible solutions for media reform on a national level. I also had a personal conversation with FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein regarding the promises made by big cable companies like Comcast to small towns like ours, in cable licensing agreements wherein the cable companies have no intention of living up to the contracts they've signed, because small towns seldom sue. He pledged to me to continue the struggle to force the cable providers to be more accountable to cities and towns they contract with.

I've identified for purchase new video equipment that seems necessary to maintain high levels of quality and demands of new producers, as well as ergonomically correct furniture and equipment needed for safety and ease of operation by differently abled producers such as those with Fibromyalgia, arthritis and low vision.

PTV has trained and retained 4 volunteers over the winter and spring, who are now creating PSAs or full-fledged programs, or are volunteering to learn to shoot government meetings. I'm now working with 2 new volunteers with some experience to get them certified; they're working on a new weekly series in drag which they think will begin cablecasting in August.

I continue to offer hours during the week for "Open Classroom" where people can continue to learn new video production skills or earlier volunteers can reinforce existing skills and learn new ones, and become more productive. Nationwide, the average rate of retention for Public Access volunteers trained is 15%. In Provincetown, with our extreme cost of living, pathetic wages and dearth of affordable housing, along with our tiny year round population, we're lucky to retain 8 to 10 percent. That's why it's necessary to offer unlimited training and support to new producers, and to offer editing assistance and other help during odd hours of the day, during holidays, etc.

I'm working with two women wanting to produce a new cooking show to teach people how to work around food allergies or other obstacles to a healthy diet.

I'm arranging to tape a brief interview with the "Town Crier" to promote Pilgrim Monument centennial celebrations and events, and seeking producers to cover the many events to come.

One of our weekly programs, Str8 up Provincetown, by request, is now seen in every town on Cape Cod, and in Boston, Cambridge, Salem, and in New York City., and it's likely on its way to Baltimore and Chicago. Several businesses are inquiring about underwriting opportunities.

The Ape Show, consisting of travels world-wide with Daniel Llata, and also featuring local Provincetown vignettes, is in production and should begin airing in August.

I'm looking for a camera on eBay for CASAS volunteers to own so they can tape the adoptable animal of the week, I will then train them to shoot and possibly to do their own editing as well.

This past year PTV created PSAs for the swim for Life and HOW, among many others

I'm working with the Harbormaster to gather footage over the summer to make them a training video for their volunteer water quality monitors.

I've had talks with DPW supervisors to encourage them to use us to provide PSAs and public information before and during such events as water main flushing, construction projects requiring detours, etc.

The PTV Gift Fund has been established through town government to accept contributions, and currently has a balance of $2,514.

I'm working with various citizens, businesses and organizations to raise funds through the Friends of PTV account held by Community Compact. $1,100 was recently added to the existing account.

I'm working with local merchants and service providers to accept in-kind donations of equipment and/or services to underwrite particular programs or to bolster the Friends of PTV account.

Examples: a taxi company becoming official taxi of PTV, carrying equipment and volunteers to shooting sites; or Ptown PC providing a new hard drive for Straight Up Provincetown in return for underwriter's announcements.

I'm continuing to investigate new server technology which will probably soon let us control our own scheduling of programs and let us cable cast from here for as little as $10, 000, rather than the $120,000 Comcast wants to charge us to install a head end in Provincetown.

I'm regathering photos, rewriting articles, etc. for our potential website and newsletter, and beginning again with redesign of equipment check-out form, DVD labels, and the rewrite of the policy manual, all of which were lost when the office computer hard drive crashed recently.

I continue to do community outreach whenever I'm out on the streets, as I have right from the beginning nearly 6 years ago. For two-and-a-half years I've been working on outreach especially to seniors and to the Jamaican community. This summer these efforts will result in seniors creating CASAS announcements, and also in providing a month of programming especially for the Jamaican community. we hope to have it air twice a week We are just finishing the editing of the third in a series of hour-long films created by and for the Jamaican workers, shot both in Provincetown and Jamaica, as well as a music video that's ready to air. A series of interviews with Jamaican workers in both countries will round out the final episode.

Our resident Jamaican producer has suggested a Jamaican Night at Town Hall as a fundraiser for Friends of PTV. It would include an admission fee as well as food, dancing and the premiere of the new movie, and would be open to all. Last year's movie premiere raised funds for HOW. This event could be very successful. We're investigating the possibilities and costs.

2) E-mail from Eileen Kennedy to Marjorie Steinberg

Please note what I've listed as what I was "hired" for as a

consultant, fundraising being just one component. Early on, my

fundraising outreaching efforts were curtailed, but not before I

brought in the $3,000 National Seashore project, due to the vague

legal status of PTV: i. e., what financial conduits do we actually

legally have?), as well, as our lack of 501.3(c) non-profit status

(which I found to be a considerable stumbling block, notwithstanding

the Community Compact umbrella, in fundraising conversations with

community financial institution: i. e., banks, as well as outside

foundations). PTV discussions, and speculation, was endless, and

confusing, all around, and I was told by the then CAC to

put those efforts on hold. FYI: You may have been informed of the

endless brouhaha involving the National Seashore contract being

signed by Catherine Russo, and not Keith Bergman, while the $

languished in political limbo. Again, this situation raised issues

of just what is PTV's legal definition? Last I heard from the then

Town Manager's office, we were legal non persona gratis. Hence, the

directive issued to me to hold off until further notice, which

directive was repeated by the Interim Coordinator. All staff was

aware of this situation throughout.

So, there is explanation for why "Eileen did not have a lot

of success or opportunity in the last six month period" over that

appeared in the CAC's Friday, July 6th meeting. Again, I wish I

been there to fill folks in. And, too, I haven't been working for

consultant wages since May 9, 2007 (it just became increasing

impossible to work at the studio for now well documented

reasons).

Notwithstanding all that, I am continuing to work on a

volunteer basis with Carol Dimico, PHS Journalism teacher, to

develop a PTV related Broadcast Journalism curriculum over the

summer (and please see copy of Broadcast Journalism

guidelines I prepared for our future classes, which should be on

file at PTV); I have copies if files are lost, or otherwise

unavailable. I began this project this early spring (after re-

establishing an active PTV liason with the School System in the

winter, which included classroom visits by me (professional

backgrounds in journalism and the sociology of media - see copy of

PTV newsletter handed out at this morning's meeting) to help

students prepare ideas and scripts, which culminated in a

successful working hour at PTV studio, where students got to see

themselves "live" as broadcast journalists (working with scripts

they created). This was a pilot for a much larger community access

mentoring program, involving younger students, as well as teachers,

that I proposed to the Interim Coordinator (copy of proposal

available), something that I that I thought would bring together

several important sectors of our community, as well as developing

media literacy in younger generations, who will be more advantaged

in pursuing (and using effectively) their right to media access.

Will send you my file on this correspondence when I can access.

For now, this background may be of some use and reference.

I very much look forward to working with you, and will have

more of a summary of my time at PTV when next we meet this Friday at

9:30 am at PTV.

Enjoy this lovely summer afternoon.

Regards,

Eileen Kennedy

3) E-mail from Eileen Kennedy to Carol Pugliese (e-mail addresses removed)

----- Forwarded message from -----

Date: Fri, 06 Jul 2007 12:24:36 +0000

From:

Reply-To:

Subject: Brief Incomplete Summary of PTV Work

To:

Hi, again, Carol,

OK, just to start to outline what I've been up to since I came

on board spring of 2005.

Initially "hired" to:

fundraise

liason to cultural community

outreach to non-profits, and other

sectors in community

1. Right off (within a few months) I brought in contract with

the National Seashore for a video project for their summer program

(re-enactment of Life Saving Station). Very successful from all

accounts. (NOTE: I reviewed Town Goals for that year:

#10. "Improve Communication with the National Seashore);"

2. Coordinated Spring at the Firehouse public event to increase

PTV visibility in community;

3. Along with Lew Aabye (who did layout), I coordinated, wrote

and edited first PTV newsletter in a few years (copies available);

4. Brought together various sectors of community (police,

business, non-profits) by coordinating and developing "Chief's

Corner;"

5. Coordinated PSA Day at PTV (a PSA production marathon for 2

days at the studio.) Over a dozen non-profits partipated.

6. PTV "watch dog" for important "not-to-be missed" events in

the community: i. e. Kunitz Memorial, Lipton Cup, etc.

7. Produced H. O. W. PSA with Outer Cape Chorale Chamber

Singers for Seventh Annual Bike Trek.

8. Established working liason with PHS

9. Established working non-profit mailing lists

10. Established systems for coordinating PTV producers with

community events

11. Developed Pre-Production Guidelines

12. Developed Broadcast Journalism Guidelines

13. Assisted in Video Production Classes

14. PTV PR: The Banner, flyer/newsletter distribution, WOMR,

community non-profit newsletters and community

boards,

including Cable Channel 17 Calendar

To be continued....