Proposed town equipment upgrades expected to enhance recordings
While the direction other Schenectady County municipalities will go in regarding public access programming remains unclear, there is at least one town stepping up to financially support Open Stage Media, the Proctors operation that provides the service to the county.
Niskayuna is first town to sign on to Open Stage Media’s vision for an enhanced countywide public access system, joining the City of Schenectady, which will continue to fund a majority of the operation. The Niskayuna Town Board unanimously voted during the Tuesday, March 1, Town Board meeting to allow Supervisor Joe Landry to enter negotiations with Open Stage Media for public television access at the proposed annual fee of $5,000. Council members Jonathan McKinney and Liz Orzel Kasper were absent from the meeting.
Proctors CEO Philip Morris gave a presentation during the Town Board’s special meeting on Feb. 17 about the proposed service.
They [Open Stage Media] provided some opportunities for us that I think are going to be worthwhile, said Landry. `I think this is a really good opportunity for Niskayuna to enhance public access television and I see a lot of positives coming out of it.`
Ann Parillo, a town resident and producer and host of the `Schenectady Today` show, applauded the town’s decision to financially support OSM and give residents the opportunity to participate in and view the programming. She said she has been involved in the county’s public access programming since 1996, before it switched from SACC-TV to OSM.
`It is really a freedom of speech that I am really concerned about,` said Parillo. `I don’t want Niskayuna to lose the governmental channel or the public access channel, so I am in favor of supporting this. I’d be happy to pay that little bit extra.`
Nick Barber, past president of SACC-TV, also commended the board for supporting Open Stage Media and ensuring that community broadcast programming can remain active.
`I want to compliment you, Mr. Supervisor and Councilwoman McGraw, for taking the approach to negotiate with Open Stage Media and Proctors,` said Barber. `On the town level, it is very important that we act as a community. Proctors has made great strides through Open Stage Media in already implementing three stations with the support of the town and other municipalities, I think we are looking at a bright feature.`
Barber also touted Proctors’ investment into new equipment and providing more resources to residents.
`Proctors has made significant investments into new equipment without really any significant funding or transfer of funds. Many people have the conception that all the money from the sale of [the SACC-TV] building went to Proctors or Open Stage Media. That did not happen. The old SACC Incorporated is still holding about $100,000 in funds that’s in question as to what the utilization of that money will be and what will be the worth of their existence and how will they use it,` said Barber.
One resident, Lorene Zabin, said she didn’t support the decision and questions paying additional money to OSM for public access.
`I think Niskayuna and Glenville have been held hostage,` said Zabin. `I think you have to really think about any additional contributions.`
Glenville has yet to make a commitment to Open Stage Media for public access programming because of ongoing franchise negotiations with Time Warner Cable.
Zabin said she has a difficult time trying to view Town Board meetings on television, something Morris addressed earlier by saying representatives from each participating municipality will be on a board to determine the programming of such meetings. This is meant to accomplish fair scheduling times for all on the government access channel.
Before passing the resolution, McGraw, who sponsored the resolution, shared her support for the public access direction to be taken in order to best utilize the channels.
`I think this is the right thing to do,` said McGraw about supporting OSM. `I know there has been a lot of conversation about the cost and what we are getting, and I think this is an example of you’ve got to be in it in order to make it better.`
McGraw also noted the $30,000 set aside in the budget to purchase equipment for town so residents can enjoy better recordings of the meeting. Before the meeting, Landry pointed to the camera room, which is currently not being used, at the back of the boardroom where the controls will be located. The town would also be able to take advantage of services offered by OSM to set up and implement the new equipment properly.
`I think the $5,000 we will get back just in the technical assistance in setting up this room,` said McGraw.
Councilwoman Julie McDonnell noted meetings would be available to view online and allow residents more opportunities to view the recordings at their own convenience.
`There is an expectation these days that folks will be able to view things instantly, and I think that bringing that access and not just picking a time and have those meetings and programming viewed on the users convince, again, for this price I think is very worthwhile,` said McDonnell.“
