Approved Minutes

 

TOWN OF MANSFIELD

COMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

Monday, January 26, 2009

Audrey Beck Municipal Building

 

Members Present: Leila Fecho, Patrick McGlamery, Toni Moran

 

Elected Officials and Staff Present: Jaime Russell

 

Absent: Aline Booth , Joyce Crepeau, Richard Pellegrine, Bill Powers

 

  1. Meeting Called to order at 7:15p by chairperson Moran

 

  1. Approval of Minutes – Without a quorum, minutes to be approved at next meeting.

 

  1. Public Comment – Resident and volunteer Ric Hossack joined us to share his experience on videotaping the Council meetings. He would like to tape other meetings and is willing to help other volunteers understand the process so that we can tape more meetings. The process of taping meetings seems to increase accountability of those participating.

    To cover when he is not available, Mr. Hossack has identified an alternate to tape the meetings. He will look for more volunteers. Our committee should also recommend the committee on committees list the opportunity and be aware of the need to find additional volunteers to fill this position if we are to continue to recommend the meetings be taped. We could also explore engaging the volunteer time of high school students as some other towns have done successfully. (note: if Bruce Silva willing to encourage it, we would still likely have to borrow the equipment from the cable station as the HS equipment is regional and not for the exclusive use of Mansfield)

    Mr. Hossack noted the sound quality is still the biggest hurdle, solved mostly by asking speakers to speak directly into the microphones provided. Mr. Hossack emplored our committee to NOT follow Coventry in purchasing a (costly) mutli-camera system. The transitioning between cameras is nice, and although the sound is better, the fixed cameras do not provide much flexibility and not a good solution for our meeting format. Mr. Hossack shared his emphatic request to avoid recommending the investment in the salary for a full-time communications manager like Windsor has.

    Mr. Hossack noted the meetings are sparsely attended; most people don’t have time or energy after work to go to meetings. If the meetings are available via the cable network and as copies, maybe more people will be willing to participate in the process, albeit they are not in attendance at the meetings. The meetings are now taped directly to DVD. Copies can be obtained at the Town Offices. Note Freedom of Information cost per request is now $0.50. The cost of a CD is nominal. For those residents with DISH TV this could be a viable solution. Maybe even consider a ‘subscription’ service…?

Old Business -
No discussion

  1. New Business
    Region 19 Referendum regarding athletic field upgrades at EOS – Chairperson Moran noted that she was unable to find pertinent information regarding the justification of the investment on the web. Leila Fecho noted that her household received a notice in the mail regarding the referendum with some details about the benefits and costs of the proposal. No other members present recalled receiving the mailing. Members are requested to bring any additional info to the next meeting.

    NEXT MEETING: February 2 in Conference Room B.

 

  1. Reports – no additional reports

 

  1. Communications –
    Jaime Russell distributed a letter from the Commission on Aging to our committee noting some of the concerns with the audio on the Council meeting broadcasts as well as their thanks for the effort that goes into the process. Chairperson Moran will forward a copy of the letter our committee recently sent to the Town Council which addresses most of the points raised by the Commission on Aging.

    Atty Steve Baacon requested our committee members be added to the Mansfield Downtown Partnership direct distribution list. Committee members present are happy to get the information.

 

  1. Adjournment – meeting adjourned at 8:03p.

 

Respectfully Submitted, 2/2/08

Leila Fecho, Secretary pro tem