Restoration of 'Live Streaming' Stalled
Questions about the funding source for the restoration of live streaming of City Council meetings defer the issue until Feb. 28.
Live streaming of City Council and School Committee meetings won’t happen until at least March.
The East Providence Budget Commission deferred until its Feb. 28 meeting a request by Mayor James Briden, who sits on the budget board, to restore living streaming of meetings.
Michael O’Keefe, a former Budget Commission chairman, questioned how money for the live streaming -- $31,000 over 5 years – was found in the City Clerk’s budget now when it didn’t seem to be there last April. That’s when live streaming was ended.
“What changed?” said O’Keefe.
The money has always been there as part of the recordings budget that can be used for records preservation and technological upgrades, said Briden. Ten percent of that revenue – or about $40,000 – can be used for live streaming, he said.
“It was just never allocated,” said Assistant Mayor Thomas Rose Jr., an observer of the meeting.
“It can’t be used for anything but technological upgrades and document preservation,” Briden said several times.
O’Keefe said he would like to get additional information about the funding source from the city clerk and Malcolm Moore, the city’s finance director, before he would agree to sign a contract with ClerkBase, the preferred vendor, to restore live streaming.
The commission agreed to put off any more discussion on the item until Moore returns with the budget information in two weeks.
Rags 1
12:46 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013
The state and cities should have put in their contracts with the cable companies that city links and connections would be free as a public service.
Paying for council streaming should be free.
Poor negotiators and past history.
happy holligans
8:19 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013
O'Keefe said "What Changed?" That is the same reaction I had when the Budget Commission handed the city the $245,000 bill after O'Keefe lied and said we are on loan and don't cost anything. Its amazing how things come full circle!! Figures don't lie but liars do figure!!!
Dave
5:12 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013
Rags that is what happens in Massachusetts. Community signs its own contract with a cable provider for a set term of years and included in that are requirements for things like local access studios, program director, and coverage of local govt meetings.