Minutes of October 20, 2005

Present:  Ken Curley, Lucy Edwards, Gary Garnett.  Pete Jones joined as a guest at 7:30 p.m.  The meeting was held at the town hall due to flooding in the basement at the library.
 
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m.

The minutes from the September 15, 2005 meeting were approved.
 
Old Business:
Broadcasting  School Board Meetings – Gary Garnett and Ken Curley visited the Northwood School Library on September 20 to evaluate audio and video equipment required for airing recorded School Board meetings on cable TV.
 
Gary Garnett and Ken Curley developed a proposal to purchase equipment and presented it to the Northwood Board of selectmen on September 27.  The proposal was approved with Selectman Witham stating that he supported efforts to air public meetings.
 
Ken Curley introduced Gary Garnett as the new cable coordinator at the October 3 Northwood School Board meeting.   The proposal was presented to the School Board and it was well received.  Chair Steve Foley commented that before installing such expensive equipment, the School Board should consider moving the meetings to a room that could hold more people such as the cafeteria so that a function like Candidates Night could be held.  The School Board had no problems with stipulations for access and staffing but they were concerned about location.  The cafeteria was discussed as a location and it was noted that a PA system would be needed.  Steve Foley instructed Principal Dr. Crist to meet with Mr. Garnett and Mr. Curley to evaluate locations and report back with a recommendation to finalize the equipment needed.
 
Gary Garnett met with Dr. Crist on October 7 and evaluated the school cafeteria.  He selected a PA system and added it to the proposal that will be presented to the School Board at their November 7 meeting.
 
Bulletin Board System – Ken Curley discussed the bulletin board system with Steve Murdough of Metrocast before the October 17 Lakes Region Public Access meeting.   Mr. Murdough was under the impression that the new system had already been installed and said he would check on it.  Mr. Murdough contacted Ken Curley on October 19 and indicated they had the new equipment but were waiting for a revision to the Board of selectmen’s request letter.  Mr. Murdough stated that he would pursue the letter revision but Richard Gould would proceed with the installation.  Ken Curley tried to contact Tammie Beaulieu about the revised letter but was unable to speak with her as she was on vacation until October 31.  Mr. Gould contacted Ken Curley on October 21 as he was not able to contact Tammie Beaulieu to get access to the town hall to install the equipment.  Ken Curley referred him to Jessi Leavitt.
 
Equipment - Ken Curley gave Gary Garnett the Canon GL2 on October 7 so he could familiarize himself with it for future taping.
New Business:
Pete Jones joined the meeting and discussed his experience with both video and audio productions.  The committee strongly urged him to join since he had such extensive experience.  Mr. Jones suggested taping Lake  Association events since there was a lot of material available that would make good TV footage and would be educational for the entire community.
 
Lucy Edwards invited Gary Garnett to attend a Northwood Community Resources Committee meeting as that group was trying to make material about the town’s natural and historical resources available to the community.
 
Gary Garnett would like to work n a project involving Northwood’s history.  Lucy Edwards will contact Joann Bailey and introduce Gary to Joann.  The cable committee is hoping they can produce some short lively shows on Northwood history and historic sites.
 
Unfinished Business - Ken Curley and Gary Garnett will meet with the School Board on November 7.  Ken Curley will contact Jessi Leavitt to schedule a public hearing to approve purchasing the equipment needed to tape the School Board meetings.  Steve Murdough and Ken Curley discussed the character generator for the bulletin board and the town will receive the software for a web-based system that can have multi-user licenses.  This will allow multiple people to post to the bulletin board like the town website.  For example, the library could post their own notices, the school could post closures, and the police or road department could post emergency information.  This would make the bulletin board channel a more useful and timely tool for town communication.
 
The next meeting will be held at the library on Thursday, November 17, at 6:30 p.m.

Minutes approved November 17, 2005.