[G.O. No. 1751, § I; G.O. No. 1888, § I]
There is hereby created a Communications Advisory Board which
shall be an advisory board to the Town Council composed of 11 members.
[G.O. No. 1751, § I; G.O. No. 1888, § I]
The Communications Advisory Board shall have the following purposes:
(a)
To recommend to the Town Council the employment of a person to be
an employee of the Town to be director of operations of the local
access television station to be known as Westfield Community Television
(hereinafter "WCTV").
(b)
To recommend the purchase of such equipment and the construction
of such facilities as are needed to enable WCTV to meet its objectives.
(c)
To recommend to the Town Council the adoption of appropriate policies
which would insure that the community television channel is used in
the best possible manner to serve the needs of the community with
programs which would cover community events, cultural and athletic
events, and other programs that would be of interest to the community.
(d)
To create and establish community announcements for emergency response
capabilities and service.
(e)
To plan and implement promotional public relations and promotional
strategies to enhance community awareness of WCTV and its activities
with all forms of media.
(f)
To supervise all activities related to the operation of WCTV.
(g)
To advise the Town Council on how best to utilize the public access
programming available to the community.
(h)
To serve as liaison on cable television matters between the Town
and its schools and between the Town and commercial cable television
providers.
(i)
To review the computer reports of customer complaints which are maintained
by the commercial cable television providers.
(j)
To apply for and receive for the Town of Westfield contributions,
grants and donations of all types from individuals, organizations,
profit and nonprofit, public and private corporations, government
agencies and others to support these purposes.
[G.O. No. 1751, § I]
(a)
There shall be nine at large members, one member of the Westfield
Town Council and one member of the Westfield board of education.
(b)
All members shall be appointed by the Mayor with approval of Town
Council with the exception of the member from the Westfield board
of education. The board of education member shall be appointed by
the president of the board of education.
(c)
All members shall be residents of the Town of Westfield.
(d)
Insofar as practical, the membership of the board shall be comprised
of persons who are qualified by reason of training and experience
in matters related to television and media productions.
(e)
The terms of the Town Council member and board of education member
shall each be one year. The terms of the nine at large members of
the board shall be established so that the terms of three members
shall expire each year. The initial board shall be composed of three
members who shall be appointed for one-year terms, three members who
shall be appointed for two-year terms and three members who shall
be appointed for three-year terms. Thereafter all new members will
be chosen for terms of three years.
(f)
All members shall serve without compensation.
(g)
A vacancy occurring otherwise than by expiration of term shall be
filed for the unexpired term only.
(h)
The Town Council shall have the power to remove any members for cause
after public hearing.
(i)
A chairman and vice-chairman shall be selected from and by the board.
(j)
The chairman shall select one board member to serve as secretary
of the board.
(k)
The board shall have the power to create committees to assist the
board in accomplishing its purposes. The chairman of the board may
appoint committee members who are not members of the board. Committee
members shall be selected based upon their ability to provide needed
input and expertise.
(l)
A majority of the 11 members of the board shall constitute a quorum.
[G.O. No. 1751, § I]
The board shall have the following responsibilities:
(a)
To advise the Council on how to best utilize the public access programming
available to the community.
(b)
To ascertain the opinions and desires of Town residents on all aspects
of the cable television system.
(c)
To communicate as needed with the WCTV local access provider for
any compliance issues with the Town's franchise agreement.
(d)
To recommend the establishment of the framework for airing productions
by others.
(e)
To produce local programming regularly and respond to public feedback.
(f)
To enlist, organize and train volunteers.
(g)
To recommend plans for the future use and development of the television
resources.
(h)
To recommend the acquisition of the necessary equipment and facilities
for regular production needs in the Westfield office.
(i)
To furnish all other information and advice as requested by the Town
Council and the board of education.
(j)
To establish rules and regulations for the use of WCTV facilities
to be approved by the Town Council.
(k)
To review program proposals and tapes submitted for transmission
and make decisions with respect to programming activities.
(l)
To set quality control guidelines for programming.
(m)
To report to Town Council and the board of education at least quarterly
concerning operations of WCTV and to submit a written annual report
of activities to the Town Council and board of education.
[G.O. No. 1751, § I]
The board shall not have the power to enter into any contracts
or to hire any employees. The board shall serve only in an advisory
capacity on issues requiring expenditure of public funds.
