Minutes

ACTV Board Meeting

April 19, 2007

 

 

Call to Order                                                                                      7:35 pm

Board Members present: Isaac BenEzra (Presiding), Ernie Urvater, Josna Rege, Anna Carter, Paulette Brooks.

Board Members Absent: Alan Root, Jean Haggerty, Lacey Johnston, Vladimir Morales

Others present: Sean Kinlin, Jim MacAllister

 

April 28th Alternative Media Workshop                             

MOTION: $50 honorarium for Workshop leader Carlos Fontes,

to cover Shutesbury membership 

         The motion passed unanimously.

 

Executive Committee/President’s Report                                       

      Report on April 14th  Exec Committee and March 22 Exec. Comm. Meetings.

 

Approval of March Minutes                                                                        

MOTION: to approve March minutes.

         The motion passed unanimously.

 

Treasurer’s Report                                       

MOTION: To approve Treasurer’s Report, subject to audit

         The motion passed unanimously.

 

ED Search (old job description attached)                                        

Paulette Brooks has spoken to Nancy Richards (BoD of MassAccess, ED of Plymouth Access). She is open to the idea of consulting on the ED Search, would like documentation of what we want in an ED, and the process we have decided on. Her vision of the process goes beyond the hiring into a few months afterwards, including the board’s relationship w/ED, letting go the work, building relationship of trust. This is a process that will take many months. Guidelines exist that will help document the process. She would direct us as we made the choices.

Monday, April 23rd, 7pm Isaac BenEzra’s Ad hoc Search Committee meeting.

-- Ernie Urvater proposed that we rank qualifications on old job description and send feedback to the committee. Send input on qualifications to Search Committee by Monday meeting.

--Ad hoc comm. so far: Alan Root, Paulette Brooks, Isaac BenEzra, John Strickland.

--Isaac welcomes any and all board members.

--Ad Hoc Search Committee will return to Board for approval of proposed Search Process.

--Committee will determine scope and mechanisms of Search. Anna Carter asked if we were going to tap into previous candidates: a question for committee to consider.

--Committee will propose budget for search and make recommendation on hiring any support or consultant assistance on a per diem basis.

MOTION: board approve establishment of Search Committee for ED.

         The motion passed unanimously.

 

Verizon Bill Action Campaign Report                                 

Anna Carter circulated packet–she reported on her attendance at the MassAccess mini-conference, April 13th on pending Verizon bill under consideration in Mass State Legislature. Attorneys Solomon and August were in attendance, as was Paul Berg of NewTV: urgent that we are active in preventing Bill from getting passed.

June 5th Campaign met Monday, April 16th: created Press Release for Select Board, State Sen. Stan Rosenberg, State Rep. Ellen Story, Congressman Olver, U.S. Sens. Kennedy, and Kerry.

Approve Action Plan:

MOTION: To approve a monthly contribution of $100 public policy membership for MassAccess. (This figure is based on the MassAccess recommendation for ACTGV’s level of Comcast funding). This membership supports MassAccess’ actions against state and national threats to PEG.

         The motion passed unanimously.

 

MOTION: Approve action plan to educate our local community and government representatives regarding the bad bill written by Verizon and being considered by our state legislature. The Action Plan includes letters to and meetings with Amherst Select Board members, Sen. Stan Rosenberg, Rep. Ellen Story, our congressional delegation, a press release, taping and cablecasting Conversations on the topic, and mobilizing community members to attend the June 5th hearing.

         The motion passed unanimously.

 

MOTION: To approve $150 rental expenses for 15-passenger van to transport community members to June 5th committee hearing in Boston.

         The motion passed unanimously.

 

Board Development Funding

MOTION: to approve funding for a board member’s attendance of ACM NE

Regional Spring conference in Bedford NH, April 27-28th, including conference registration ($75) and overnight accommodations costs for one night. (subject to Isaac being able to go)

         The motion passed unanimously.

 

Staff Report                                                  

Staff has hired two part-time people, capital expenditures, telephone transfers.

Sean: duties of temporary station help, “Station Assistant”, greet visitors, tours, tech. assistance; free up staff to work on other initiatives. Primary people who answer phones, troubleshooting problems, database, occasionally tape government meetings. performing dubs.

Sean introduced new station assistants to board. Both are ACTV members. Their hours are: 1) 10 am -1 pm 4 days a week, approximately 12 hours a week or as needed; 2) 2 nights/week (Tu-Th. 6-9) for each of two temps.  Rate: $10/hour.

MOTION: Title for two new temporary, part-time hires, title: “Station Assistant,”  as recommended by Sean Kinlin.

         The motion passed unanimously.

 

Capital Expenditures (requests, interim policy)                              

MOTION: To approve Staff request for capital expenditures, subject to our discussion and Sean Kinlin’s further research. (minus Videonics titlemaker)

         The motion passed unanimously.

Sean will get back to the board if final cost exceeds the amount indicated on his list.

 

Sean Kinlin answered board questions on new wiring and installation initiative.

MOTION: To approve staff request for wiring and installation of

new phone system. Sean Kinlin  will return to Board with final estimate (range is as indicated earlier, $4K-$5K).

         The motion passed unanimously.

 

MOTION: to approve a capital spending freeze (except in case of emergency)

until a new ED is hired. (Exec. Comm.)

         The motion passed unanimously.

 

Collaborative Fundraising Initiatives          

Ernie Urvater brought a number of collaborative fundraising initiatives, both completed and underway, to the board for review. It was his view that he did not have to ask Board permission to undertake such initiatives, and that he needed to be free to make decisions as the need arose. Mr. Urvater did not feel that the first part of the motion (below) had any content, since three of the projects he had described were already completed, the artist project has not been cleared by the board because of security and other issues and at this point had no certain producer, and the Dickinson project was not an ACTV project, but something he was exploring with the board.

 

Paulette Brooks observed that ACTV needs a policy on how to deal with other non-profits. Other board members also felt that the Board should be kept in the loop when negotiations and decisions involving policy matters arise. 

 

ACTV member (and former IED) in attendance Jim MacAllister interjected, “policy-schmolicy”, before leaving the meeting. He indicated that at the time decisions such as the fundraising DVDs for the North Amherst Farm had been made, it had been his prerogative as ED to make them.

 

MOTION: to approve ongoing initiatives as described by Ernie Urvater (specifically, the Emily Dickinson and station art gallery projects). All further collaborative fundraising initiatives will be considered by the Board on a case-by-case basis until after ED search has been successfully completed.

         The motion passed 4-0, 1 abstention.

 

DVD Duplication Policy

MOTION: a) Program Manager’s proposed Duplication Agreement and duplication rates for up to 5 copies; b) up to two copies free for producers who produce a show; c) grandfather all existing commitments for DVD duplication in the works as of April 19, 2007.

         The motion passed unanimously.

 

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 10:00 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Josna Rege

Clerk, ACTV Board of Directors