Public, Education & Government Access Oversight Board

PEG Access TV Oversight Board meeting June 7, 2022 Via Zoom Board members present: Mary Rozak (chair), Don Hyman (vice chair) Dale Getto (treasurer), Ron Lesko (secretary), Karen McGrath, Amy McLaughlin, Zachary Simpson, Jessica Wilcox. Also present: Aprecia Cabey (studio coordinator), Laura Gulfo (corporation counsel) Board members absent: Jim Matteo Called to order at 5:31 p.m. Review of May minutes  Getto moved approval  Hyman second  Approved unanimously (McGrath abstained as she was not previously a member of the board prior to this meeting) 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 noted that he remains upset about a recent suspension of a community member from the studio (Keith Irish). He noted many positive aspects that he believes Irish has brought to Albany’s PEG TV community over time. He urged the board to reconsider. Chair’s report  Rozak welcomed Karen McGrath, who has been appointed to the stakeholder position for The College of Saint Rose. Rozak noted that she is appreciative of McGrath’s commitment to serving on the board, and for her expertise and fresh perspective. o McGrath noted that she has worked at St. Rose for 25 years in a variety of roles, including her current role as the internship coordinator. She also has previous  experience representing the college on the PEG board back at its inception. She indicated that St. Rose has two additional faculty members who may have interest in working with PEG as well.  The Common Council was supposed to have acted on reappointments of Simpson and Hyman last night, and they were sent to a yet-to-be-appointed Ad Hoc Committee for PEG. Rozak has sent an email to Councilman Clarke, who is carrying the reappointments, and let him know we need the committee to move quickly. Both members are allowed to continue to serve until their official reappointment, at which time they would sign a new oath of office. This same council committee would review new applications for board members once the council issues a call for applications for the open position vacated when the board appointed Cabey as the studio coordinator. It will be this same committee that will review the city code change that Rozak has requested in order to change the stakeholder position left vacant with the departure of the New School for Radio and Television. It will be on the agenda at the next Common Council meeting and likely be referred to the Ad Hoc Committee. o Simpson noted that the council’s Ad Hoc Committee members will be Balarin, Clarke and Zamer, as appointed at the council’s June 6 meeting.  Request for studio equipment forwarded to the city, including a switcher, mixer, lighting equipment and more for approximately $2,800. o Getto noted that staffing challenges for the city have delayed the process somewhat. Gulfo indicated she would keep Getto updated on the process.  Rozak noted that this likely would be the board’s last virtual meeting. Future meetings, beginning in September, will be in-person. More on the September meeting date later in the meeting. Studio coordinator’s report  Cabey noted that her studio hours officially changed today – T-W-Th from 1-8 p.m., and Saturdays from 2-6 p.m.  She noted a Pride Month project she worked on with the state in May, and will be broadcast this month.  The studio has produced 24 programs since our May meeting. Also meeting with new producers, including one that is planning a new comedy show.  Cabey read a note from the producer of “Testimonies and Songs,” which airs on Th-F-Sa. The producer noted the positive assistance and editing that Cabey provided, as well as some technical challenges with equipment the studio is encountering, including a mixing board. Rozak noted that a new mixing board is among the new equipment noted previously that is on order.  She noted that the studio is being disinfected regularly, especially after larger groups.  She also is planning additional training for producers to help them become even more self-sufficient in their use of the studio equipment. o Questions:  Getto – Are we taping the training?   Cabey – Not currently. It has not been standardized yet. Working with producers to determine what the best way is to share out that information with all producers in a more standardized way.  Rozak suggested that she might record the audio of her step-by-step training, and then could overlay video after the fact. She believes it is important that trainings are recorded. Cabey noted that audio recording is part of the training process currently.  Rozak – Are all studio visitors signed off on the permissions?  Cabey – Those that have been in the studio since the last meeting have been. Not all producers have been in, and she will be sure to have all sign the required permissions. Rozak noted that not no one should be using any equipment in the studio until they sign the permissions.  Rozak – Asked about the timing of the Pride Month program with the state.  Cabey said she is waiting on slides from the state that they want to include. The program is done otherwise.  Rozak – She noted that editing training would be a priority. When might some of that training be conducted so more producers can edit their productions?  Cabey noted that best practices for other public-access networks is one time a month. She will focus on topics related to editing.  Rozak – Are the new hours posted on the website and Facebook?  Cabey noted that those things will be done by 9 p.m. today. Rozak also will forward to the city for posting to its website. Treasurer’s report  Getto provided a monthly update. She noted that the recent submission for the purchase of equipment is not reflected currently, nor is the previous studio coordinator’s May invoice, which she just received today.  Getto noted that there have been delays in payments for the current studio coordinator, and she apologized for those delays. Cabey noted that she has received payment and all of her past invoices are current. She appreciated the board’s advocacy for processing those invoices in a timely manner. o Wilcox moved approval o Simpson second o Approved unanimously Announcements  None Reinstatement of studio privileges policy   Rozak provided an overview of the process. Gulfo would like additional approval from the board at this meeting to add this to the policy manual. o Simpson asked if the appeal process already in policy applies to the revocation of privileges (Dispute Resolutions and Appeals Process, 7.0).  Gulfo indicated that she does not read the current policy as applying to the revocation of privileges. Wilcox said she reads 7.0 as it could apply to the revocation of studio privileges. She and Gulfo agreed that a recourse through 7.0 could be added to apply to revocation of privileges in such cases as an individual believes they have complied with the provisions for reinstatement but have not yet been reinstated. Simpson also agreed with that approach.  Gulfo noted that an addition to 7.1, a new paragraph G:  Individuals who are seeking reinstatement and have complied with paragraphs A-F of this section and have not been reinstated may file a grievance under 7.0 Dispute Resolutions and Appeals Process of the Channel Albany policies and procedures.  In 7.1D, Simpson asked when the official clock would start for the grievance. Gulfo noted that it would be from the date of the board’s vote, and she also suggested that a formal letter should be sent notifying the individual of the board’s vote and the official effective date of a suspension.  Rozak asked for a motion for the addition of the new paragraph G to 7.1 of Dispute Resolutions and Appeals Process  McGrath moved approval  Wilcox second  Approved unanimously New business  None Next meeting  Thursday, Sept. 8, 5:30 p.m., in the mayor’s conference room at City Hall Motion to adjourn  Getto moved adjournment  McGrath second  Meeting adjourned at 6:33 p.m.