Rotterdam leaders are tuning in to Open Stage Media’s proposal for comprehensive public access programming for the county, but one town is still leery of associated costs.
The Rotterdam Town Board on Wednesday, May 23, approved by a vote of 4-1 a contract with Open Stage Media for this year totaling $5,000 that solidifies OSM as the public access provider for the town. Councilman Robert Godlewski voted against the agreement.
Godlewski said the town hasn’t completed negotiations with Time Warner Cable for a new franchise agreement, so he urged board members to not support the resolution.
“Time Warner owes us, we don’t have to do anything,” Godlewski said. “I like Open Stage, I like what they do, it is not the issue. We have to negotiate with Time Warner … approving the town expenditure of funds will weaken our position.”
Supervisor Harry Buffardi said if the town didn’t approve an agreement with OSM “it would be cut off” and Time Warner isn’t prepared “to do this at this time.”
Deputy Supervisor Wayne Calder said, “For the sake of open government we need to take this on.”
Rotterdam joins the Town of Niskayuna in approving a contract, which Proctors CEO Philip Morris paints as towns helping fund operational expenses at OSM. Previously, the City of Schenectady was the only municipality funding the operations.
“It means that full services can be provided to the citizens of Rotterdam and it gets us closer and closer to having a nearly countywide system,” Morris said.
OSM took over SACTV, the previous public access provider, in February 2010 after the Schenectady City Council voted to approve the switch. Following the takeover, OSM began to use all three public access channels (16, 17 and 18) with government and education programming being moved to channels 17 and 18, respectively.
Rotterdam and Niskayuna pay the same $5,000 annual fee. Morris said Schenectady funds around $100,000 of the operation budget, which totaled around $150,000 this year. The city “sponsors” the county, Morris said, with County Legislature meetings also aired.
The Town of Glenville’s position has brought static to the countywide plan, though. The town’s residents receive their public access programming through Saratoga County and the town would have to pay around $12,000 to move the transmission infrastructure to Schenectady County. The town doesn’t pay Saratoga County anything for airing Town Board meetings and other content.
Glenville Supervisor Christopher Koetzle said there are no plans to pay the $5,000 fee OSM is asking.
“Top pay for access to the community channel seems counter to what it is supposed to be,” Koetzle said. “Our residents have never been charged for access to this. We are currently not being charged for access, and we don’t believe residents should be charged.”
Other towns wouldn’t have to pay the additional $12,000, Koetzle said, but they also don’t have another option like Glenville.
Morris contests the $5,000 fee is “a deal” for what the towns are offered in return.
“It is a lot cheaper than doing it themselves, so it is a good deal,” he said.
In addition to having town board meetings aired, residents also gain access to all the facilities and assistance OSM offers. Since Glenville and Scotia don’t pay the annual fee, their residents can’t access any facilities or submit a video to be aired on OSM.
“It isn’t about being aggressively punitive; it is about participating fairly,” Morris said.
OSM will be working with all the school districts throughout the county at no cost, Morris said, including the Scotia-Glenville Central School District. He said Open Stage has been looking to enhance its educational channel.
“The next year will bring more and better educational opportunities,” he said.
A Cable Advisory Council is also being formed, with its first meeting planned for early June, Morris said. The two towns, the city and the county would appoint a representative, along with each school district being represented. The council would determine how programming is scheduled for broadcast.
The Niskayuna Town Board on Tuesday, May 29, approved OSM acting as the provider for educational programming. Board members said they hoped to see a more robust educational programming.
“It is nothing but a very brief slide show right now with writing on it,” Niskayuna Supervisor Joe Landry said. “This should provide a lot of programming … we feel that the studio at the high school … this will give them the opportunity to do something with those productions.”
Niskayuna Councilwoman Denise Murphy McGraw said she and Landry met with Rotterdam officials to advocate for the programming.
“We feel so strongly that as many people as possible, as many communities as possible, be a part of this. That makes the content for our community stronger and better,” McGraw said.
Koetzle didn’t completely rule out reaching an agreement with OSM, but said it “would depend on a lot of factors.”
“Currently the way it is constructed it doesn’t make financial sense,” Koetzle said. “I never shut the door on anything and we are always open to creative solution, so it has got to make sense and it has got to be affordable.”
Koetzle said the town hasn’t received any calls from residents concerned about the town not signing with OSM. Morris said there have been “a few” residents that had dropped off videos, but they can’t anymore due to Scotia and Glenville not approving an agreement.
Morris said he is “hopeful” Glenville will approve a contract eventually.
