CABLE TV ADVISORY COUNCIL V
Theresa Mulvey Town Office Building
Westbrook CT 06498
Unapproved Minutes of Council Meeting – June 21, 2011
Italics = Absent/Excused
SELECTMAN APPOINTEE
Bold = Present
BOARD OF EDUCATION
APPOINTEE
OTHER
CHESTER
DEEP RIVER
Wayne Church, Secretary
Elizabeth Siegel, Treasurer
Rolf Peterson
DURHAM
Hank Robinson, Exc
ESSEX
Rick Stebbins, Exc
HADDAM
Robert Zavod
CLINTON
HADDAM/ KILLINGWORTH
KILLINGWORTH
OLD SAYBROOK
WESTBROOK
COMCAST
Rich Santonelli, Library Rep, ABS
Peter Mezzetti, BOE
Chuck Lewis, Abs
Mark Williams
Kingman Snow, Abs
Mike Terry
Mary McCabe, ABS
Bob Mathis, Chairman
John Bairos, (8:15) Mgr, Gov't
& Community Relations
Dan Matteson, Public
Access Coordinator
Call to Order
Chairman Mathis declared a quorum and called the meeting to order at 7:08pm.
Chairman’s Report
Mathis expressed concern that Comcast could better notify its customers of the Clinton Customer Service
Center re-opening. Additional outreach, other than a notice in the monthly bill, is recommended. He asked
how effecting the sandwich board on the sidewalk has been? There is a deficiency reaching the
community. Bairos said press releases have been sent out. Mathis suggested better outreach.
Public Comments – Robert Zavod provided a letter from Dick Buell, resident of Haddam, to John Bairos.
Mr. Buell is unhappy with service level, price increases and channel changes. Bairos said Comcast will
respond to him.
Rolf Peterson reported being invited to meet with the Board of Selectmen to advise of the Council’s
workings and to see if they could be of assistance. Mathis told those present that all the Selectmen can help
the Council by word of mouth and getting the community involved with the studio. They could tell other
boards and commissions that their meetings can be broadcast, that educational programming is available,
CATV Advisory Council V Regular ‘Unapproved’ Minutes June 21, 2011
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residents can be trained how to use the equipment as well as learning to edit in the studio. Any requests
can go through Peterson or Dan Matteson at the Studio: 860-669-9417.
Mark Williams reported having seen the Healthy Teen Day production at the High School in Westbrook
that Mathis produced. This was a 1.5 hour program that included commentary from a psychologist on the
impact of negative text messaging, sexting, willing and covert broadcasts or postings of improper
photos/videos as well as the reactions of the subjects. One of the dangers includes targets committing
suicide. Discussion included interest in broadcasting this in the fall since it addresses several public health
issues.
Mike Terry commented on the length of time it takes the Community Bulletin Board to cycle through. He
also expressed concern that public access programming will become obsolete. Will Comcast provide On
Demand for Public Access? Where are the funds going that AT&T U-Verse customers are paying? AT&T
offers one price for simple plans compared to Comcast’s multiple tiers and prices that are confusing. What
is our role now and what will it be? With the broad use of social media, such as UTube will public access
be phased out? All agreed it was a matter of distribution vs production.
Terry also said that the public access channels are morphed into the lineup and get lost. The community
could be better advised of the programming offered as well as the opportunity to produce local shows with
supervision and training from the studio professional.
Mrs. Siegel reported watching a Haddam/Killingworth educational program that was an award ceremony
and her grandson was one of the recipients. That was a pleasant surprise. She asked if the programs could
be somehow identified during broadcast so that when you go to that channel you know what it is you are
watching. Bairos and Mathis both said that Chuck Lewis would be the party to ask.
Correspondence
Siegel reported receiving the First Niagara Bank Statement. Mathis will re-contact and request updating
mailing address to Westbrook Town Hall.
Minutes –
Mrs. Siegel asked that the Chairman’s opening comments in the May 24th Minutes be changed to reflect
that she, not McCabe, had provided a copy of the Councils’ Bylaws to Mathis.
Bairos requested that the entire first paragraph on page 3 be stricken, and only “Effective August 1 st the
basic tier will be named Limited Basic.
Public Access Report – Dan Matteson
Dan advised that producers of each show are responsible for the promotion and marketing of their shows.
All advertising and UTube postings are all part of the producers job. Comcast is not responsible to promote
programs. Other towns productions can be broadcast through our studio, just contact Dan. Dan reported
the show to have been produced by S.A.R.A.H. has been cancelled. The Live broadcast of the Clinton
Memorial Day Parade was cancelled due to rain. He has new users, upgraded equipment and monitors and
a new DVD burner.
Comcast Report – John Bairos
CATV Advisory Council V Regular ‘Unapproved’ Minutes June 21, 2011
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Bairos advised a new local insertion on the CNN Headline News channel. Comcast News Makers will have a 5
minute interview with: The Connecticut State Comptroller, Commissioner of Revenue Services, the
Environmental Protection Agency or the Secretary of State’s offices. These interviews will air on the hour and
half hour. Comcast continues to meet with the Valley Shore Public Access people to review their proposal and
discuss location for their studio. They have not yet become a non-profit 501(c )3.
Treasurer’s Report
Mathis reported the balances in accounts remain the same as reported in the February 16, 2011 minutes
with the exception of two checks to Gale Plancon $249.05 and $223.60 and one check to Ms. Siegel
$44.00.
Mathis will follow up with banks updating their mailing address for the Council. Will ask Wayne for the
Fiscal Year reports.
New Business
Bylaws Review Committee - Chairman Mathis recommended establishing a Bylaws Review Committee:
Mike Terry will Chair and Pete Mezzetti and Betty Siegel volunteered as well. Terry asked Plancon to
obtain the State Statutes and distribute them to the By Laws Review Committee along with the electronic
version of the bylaws.
Gmail Group Email - Wayne Church has set up a Gmail Group account for use by Council correspondence
and communication. All reported having received the address: districtvcatvcouncil@gmail.com
Annual Report - Siegel asked why the Clinton Annual Report released yesterday did not contain a CATV
report. Mathis recalled Wayne Church having submitting one, and will follow up with him.
Meeting Schedule and Bylaw compliance - Discussion re meeting schedule. Zavod MOVED that a
meeting be scheduled for December 13, 2011. SECONDED by Mezzetti. Discussion. Unanimously
approved.
Nominating Committee – Discussion included review of meeting schedule and past history of nominations
and elections. A meeting in Early December was requested by Mr. Zavod. All agreed early is best. A
meeting for December 13, 2011 will be announced.
Adjournment
Terry MOVED to adjourn at 9:15. Mezzetti SECONDED. Unanimously carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Gale Plancon, Clerk
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