Another proposal that gained legs in the 2005-2007 council advances at the pace of government that I can only describe as the drip-drip that formulates a stalagmite. From the Hour:
Look for a television camera and beefed-up audio system in the Common Council chambers of City Hall in the future as part of a plan to televise council meetings.
Karen Del Vecchio, the city’s director of Information Technology, said two consultants walked through City Hall last month and bid on the project, which will be paid for using grant money.
“We need to upgrade the audio in that room. The video in that room is a challenge, but getting a good audio is the bigger challenge in the room right now. So we’re working on that,” Del Vecchio said. “We have to purchase a stationary camera (and pay for) installation, wiring, mounting brackets.”
“The grant does not provide for labor for a technician to actually do the filming, so that’s why we’re going with a stationary camera,” Del Vecchio said.
Del Vecchio said the council meetings will be broadcast — likely live — on Cablevision Channel 79, which is the local government broadcast channel.
Members of the 2005-07 Common Council proposed televising government meetings, as part of a discussion during their informal bi-partisan meeting last September. Democrat Michael W. Coffey, council president at the time, and Republican Richard A. McQuaid, council minority leader at the time, endorsed the concept. Several council members expressed hope that council, council committee, school board and other municipal meetings would be televised.
McQuaid is not disappointed. For him, televising Common Council and Board of Education meetings are most important. He is hopeful that residents will turn on their televisions to watch the meetings.
“A lot of people are watching television to catch up on sports events that are local. And for a lot of people who can’t make it out to the council meetings, this is a good way to go,” McQuaid said.
McQuaid sees only one drawback in televised meetings: Public participation loses. In other words, residents can listen to and watch their councilman or councilwoman — but not speak back. At City Hall, the first several minutes of each council meeting are reserved for public participation.
According to Del Vecchio, the city has received a $4,000 grant and has another $2,000 grant available through Area Nine Cable Council to purchase and install the camera, wiring and other equipment.
Del Vecchio couldn’t give a firm date for when the system will be up and running.
“We have to purchase a stationary camera,” Del Vecchio said. “Whenever we can get the equipment ordered and installed.”
Mayor Richard A. Moccia has lent his support to the plan, while noting the technical issues involved. He said the council meetings will be broadcast live rather than rebroadcast. Moccia reminded that a council reauthorization of the plan also may be in order.
“I think we’re going to broadcast it live. It’s a lot easier to broadcast it live — assuming that this council wants to do it,” Moccia said. “It was voted on by the previous council. We’ll bring it back to this council and see if they want to do it.”
Live is good, but please rebroadcast it so that those, er, like the BOE, can watch if they have other commitments.
source: The Hour, Televised council meetings coming to your living room, by Robert Koch, April 13, 2008
