Public, Education & Government Access Oversight Board

PEG Access TV Oversight Board meeting May 12, 2022 Via Zoom Board members present: Mary Rozak (chair), Dale Getto (treasurer), Ron Lesko (secretary), Amy McLaughlin, Zachary Simpson, Jessica Wilcox. Also present: Aprecia Cabey (studio coordinator), Laura Gulfo (corporation counsel) Board members absent: Jim Matteo, Mary Alice Molgard, Don Hyman (vice chair; excused absence) Called to order at 5:32 p.m. Review of April minutes  Lesko moved approval  Wilcox second  Approved unanimously Public comment  Rozak began by reading publicly the board’s statement regarding public comment: o Public comment is allowed during the officially designated portion of the meeting as listed on the agenda. Members of the public who wish to address the board will be acknowledged by the board chair and should state their name for the purpose of accurate recording for the board minutes. You will then have three minutes to make comments. This is not a question-and-answer session, but public comment. After that period is closed, those members of the public who wish to stay and listen to the board meeting are welcome to do so and are asked not to engage in conversations or activity that is distracting to board members. Guests or persons having relevant knowledge or information may attend and speak as part of the agenda upon acceptance of the meeting agenda by the board. All other guests must be recognized by the chair before addressing the board and participating in discussion.  Marc Gronich – He discussed a program he is working on with Keith Irish. … He also said he has had problems communicating and working with the studio coordinator.  Rozak noted that Keith Irish submitted a written public comment, dated May 3. That is included as follows: o Earlier this afternoon I contacted the new studio coordinator to confirm her Tuesday 'split' schedule and to advise her of an event being held tonight in the APL auditorium (the floor above where the studio is currently located in the same building) to sign-out a new camera (as I had been evaluating and tweaking since January) to record the event that’s related to the upcoming May 17 election/voting for the APL, and that I would not be using the studio today otherwise for overdue needed program editing, but would plan on that for her  Thursday 'late' hours. I did not even mention that this weekend is the 74th Albany Tulip Festival. She also sounded somewhat sick. I was advised, via a return phone call, that my access to the studio and equipment was 'temporarily suspended' and to not come into the studio, due to 'equipment failures' last week that started the week before and (frankly) had been failing for many years before that. I was also advised that an 'inventory' was still (after a month?) in progress as well as checking out all equipment to make sure it was in working order, which of course it all is, otherwise the users would have already advised the studio coordinator of something not working, at least I would think so. I wonder how I, a long-time dedicated volunteer, user of studio equipment for mostly field productions, for over six years, would want to 'make equipment fail' in the studio that was going bad for years, and at times trouble-shooted what was 'going wrong' in the first place to attempt to make the failing equipment work again or at least attempt to figure out work-arounds to make the failing equipment work again, or at least know what could not be done due to the failure of the old equipment that was failing for years. There have been many items in the studio that there are 'issues' with, that with my assistance with prior studio coordinators or board members that actually visited and used the studio attempted to make things better not worse than they were, with old equipment that hadn't gotten replaced yet with newer more modern equipment, as some of it has. This 'temporary suspension' is a slap in my face as I have been one of the most proponent users of the studio's use by Albany city residents. Chair’s report  Rozak discussed studio scheduling since the new coordinator began in March. Kirk Daniels, the previous studio coordinator, came back in to assist with programming in relation to the temporary scheduling challenges that were being encountered on Tuesdays. The new coordinator’s schedule will expand in June and that should address the Tuesday availability.  Rozak has had discussions with Common Council member Kelly Kimbrough regarding the appointments of board members whose appointments are up in the near future.  Rozak thanked Molgard for her time on the board representing The College of St. Rose. The college anticipates the next representative to join at our next meeting.  The June meeting would be our last virtual meeting (June 6 or June 7 proposed), and meetings would be suspended for July and August. The September meeting would be in- person.  Rozak asked for a motion to enter executive session for the purpose of discussing proposed litigation.  o Simpson moved to enter executive session to discuss proposed litigation o Lesko second o The board voted unanimously to enter executive session at 5:44 p.m. o Getto moved to exit executive session and return to the public meeting at 6:17 p.m.  Lesko second  The board returned to public session at 6:17 p.m.  Rozak initiated a discussion to solicit suggestions for a policy to reinstate a person who has been suspended from the studio. o Rozak proposed a probationary period after the suspension. o Gulfo suggested that a probationary period after a suspension should begin with a meeting with the studio coordinator to set ground rules for a return to privileges. o McLaughlin also noted that agreement with the studio’s equipment use policies should be part of reinstatement following a suspension, and that the probationary period should equal half of the time of the suspension. o Gulfo also noted that if there is a violation during the probationary period, the person could be subject to a permanent suspension, at the determination of the studio coordinator.  Wilcox moved to allow counsel to draft a policy based on the above  McLaughlin second  Approved unanimously Studio coordinator’s report  Cabey noted that the studio has been developing new producers and working with the state (Office of Children and Family Services) on programming relating to Pride Month in June. She will be working with OCFS on the project in the studio.  Her hours will change June 6. She will be in the studio Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 1-8 p.m., and Saturday 1-5 p.m., for a weekly total of 25 hours.  Cabey noted that she is disinfecting the studio often in alignment with health and safety procedures.  She is beginning standing meetings with Open Stage Media every two weeks in June.  She is working with a number of community organizations to offer summer enrichment one hour a week during the summer.  Albany High School interns have been a great benefit to the studio, offering recommendations on equipment that would benefit the studio.  Cabey also is working on new equipment requests that she will be submitting to the chair soon. Announcements  None Summer meetings   Discussion regarding meetings for July and August. Rozak is proposing that the board suspend meetings during those months as we did in 2021. After the June meeting, the board’s next meeting would be in September. o Getto moved o Lesko second o Approved unanimously Treasurer’s report 1. Rozak noted that the report does not include the studio coordinator’s April invoice, or the additional hours for the former studio coordinator who provided support in April. o Simpson moved approval o Lesko second o Approved unanimously Next meeting  Tuesday, June 7, 5:30 p.m., via Zoom Motion to adjourn  Wilcox moved adjournment  Lesko second  Meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m.