2009-02-10 (2)
BEVERLY CATV ADVISORY COMMISSION
: February 10, 2009
Location - BevCam studio, Beverly High School
Time - 7: 10 p.m.
Commission members - Dan Murphy, chairman; Steve Pike, George Johnson, Al Torsey,
Arthur Crandall, Bob Murphy, Eric Overberg, Neil Overberg
Commission members present - Dan Murphy, Al Torsey, Bob Murphy, George Johnson.
In the absence of a quorum, an informal meeting was held, no votes were taken.
Public - none
Bevcam - Don Berman, Walt Kosmowski
With no quorum present, Dan Murphy opened discussion at 7: 10 p.m.
Old Business
* It was reported that a proposed information presentation by the FCC on public access
negotiations is no longer a possibility.
* Minutes of the January 20,2009 were read and approved.
* Johnson and Murphy reported on the results of a meeting at City Hall with Dennis
Greenleaf and Russ Fisk, directors of technology for the city. The meeting was arranged
by commission member Eric Overberg who attended. The meeting was described as
generally positive with Greenleaf and Fisk up to speed on the I-Net and its importance to
the current negotiations with Comcast. Fisk and Greenleaf are to research usage of the 1-
net and its potential for the future. Johnson is to prepare a matrix of current usage.
Murphy is to confer with the School Department and also check with other communities
that have recently engaged in I-net negotiations.
It was agreed that preservation of the I-Net is important and that its development can play
an important role in making up shortfalls in city manpower anticipated in the future.
New business
* Murphy and Johnson reported on the results of a meeting Feb. 9,2009 with the Issuing
Authority, Mayor Bill Scanlon.
Murphy said the meeting was prompted by a hiring freeze imposed by the mayor
recently. However, Mayor Scanlon said that hiring outside counsel to conduct
negotiations with Comcast was entirely proper. He urged the commission to proceed.
Accordingly, the Issuing Authority is to write a letter authorizing, by name, members of
the Cable TV Advisory Commission, to negotiate on his behalf with any and all bidders
on the city's cable television contract pending the Issuing Authority's final approval. In
addition, the Issuing Authority wants to receive and approve all bills from counselor
other consultants.
Bevcam
* Murphy suggested that requests to the Issuing Authority for funds to hire consultants to
assist Bevcam be put on hold because of the current economic crunch facing all
municipalities.. He suggested that further research be done on exact work to be
performed, and that the Bevcam board be engaged to assist in making a case for
additional funds. He suggested that a contribution of funds from Bevcam might
encourage more favorable reaction from the Issuing Authority.
* Walt Kosmowski presented the BevCam report. He pointed out that the state is
developing a server that will accept reports and information from various state agencies
directed specifially for public access stations.
*Murphy and Johnson suggested that Bevcam research whether a news streamer on
Channel 10 might be developed concerning the status of local events - snow
cancellations, school closings, street closings, etc. It was pointed out that Bevcam is the
most viable medium in view of the decline of press presence and the absence of quick
response radio.
Such a service would make Bevcam even more important in the lives of Beverly residents
who are television viewers.
* After discussion, it was decided to schedule meetings of the Cable TV Commission on
Thursdays, instead of Tuesdays. Hence, the next meeting is Thursday, March 12, to be
followed by April 9 and May 14. This reschedule will be evaluated at the April meeting.
There being no further business before the Commission, Murphy adjourned the informal
meeting at 8:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted - Dan Murphy