MINUTES of ACTV Board of Directors Meeting

Date: August 10, 2006

 

Call to Order:

The meeting convened at 7:35 PM, Isaac BenEzra presiding.

 

Board Members present: Isaac BenEzra, Paulette Brooks, Josna Rege, Rev. Bobby Wallace

 

Members absent: Anna Carter, Ernie Urvater, Mary Paris

 

Others Present: Jim MacAllister, Bruce Arbour, Julia Shively, Alan Root

 

Quorum status: This constitutes a quorum of the Board.

 

President’s Report

—President BenEzra reported on:

—the status of ACTV’s contract, which is still unsigned, as ACTV waits to hear back from the Cable Advisory Committee and to begin negotiations with the Select Board.

—the decision to appoint Jim MacAllister as a fulltime IED;

—his regular meetings with the new IED, who has been working with the staff and a representative from Tightrope to address some of the problems with the cablecasting system, cleaning up the station, and exploring several other new initiatives, such as a coffee house at the station;

—the search for a new Program Manager.

 

Treasurer’s Report, June 2006 (see attached report)

In Treasurer Anna Carter’s absence, ACTV Bookkeeper Julie Shively presented the June Treasurer’s Report.

She reviewed the year-end budget, and noted the need for an interim budget for the new fiscal year, despite the current lack of a contract with the town. The Finance Committee needs to meet to draw up and approve such a budget. Ms. Shively reported that ACTV is operating in the black. She pointed out that membership was down, and the board agreed that with memberships expiring at the end of September, there needed to be a membership renewal drive.

Ms. Shively also raised the question as to what categories were covered by the 5% of Comcast’s bill that makes up ACTV’s revenue from Comcast. Mr. BenEzra said that he would talk to the Select Board about this matter.

 

MOTION:

Accept the preliminary year-end report, subject to verification and audit.

The motion passed unanimously.

 

Approval of Minutes

The Draft Minutes for the regular July Board Meeting and the July 28th Special Board Meeting were presented to the board for amendment and approval.

MOTION:

A motion was made by Ms. Brooks and seconded by Rev. Wallace to:

Approve the draft minutes of the July 13th and July 27th Board Meetings.

The motion passed unanimously.

 

IED’s Report, July 2006 (Jim MacAllister—see attached report)

The new IED Jim MacAllister reported that he was continuing the work that his predecessor Bruce Arbour had done so well before him.  Since his appointment he has been:

—meeting with representatives from the non-profit youth groups that use ACTV on a regular basis. Discussions are ongoing as ACTV works with the youth coordinators to iron out some of the difficulties posed by  large groups coming in to use both equipment and facilities. Jim is working to draft a new and consistent policy, in consultation with Bruce Arbour.  

—updating the Carousel system.

—getting to know the staff, with whom he is impressed.

—making additional use of the time and skills of James

    O’Connor, the temporary production assistant hired over

    the summer.

 

Extension of Temporary Production Assistant Position

MOTION

A motion was made and seconded to:

extend James O’Connor’s appointment as a temporary production assistant up to a maximum of 40 hours/week until such time as a permanent staff position is filled.

The motion passed unanimously.

 

New Board Member Appointment        

President BenEzra presented Jean Haggerty for reappointment to the Board.

MOTION:

A motion was made and seconded to:

appoint Jean Haggerty to the ACTV Board of Directors to a 2-year term (to be confirmed pending consultation of the Bylaws).

The motion passed unanimously.

 

Agenda Items Temporarily Shelved: In view of the absence of three board members, the following agenda items were postponed until the September meeting: the review of the draft Annual Report, and the planning of a farewell gathering for former IED Bruce Arbour.      

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

 

Josna Rege

Clerk, ACTV Board of Directors