[[1]HISTORY: Adopted by the Representative Town Meeting of the Town of Fairfield 2-3-2015.[2] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Ch. 22, Ethics Commission, adopted 6-25-1979, amended 4-25-1983, was repealed 9-28-1998. See § 10.15 of the Charter.
[2]
Editor's Note: This ordinance was adopted as Ch. 74, but was renumbered to maintain the organization of the Code.
There is hereby established a program for the recording (video and audio), production, editing, live broadcast, re-broadcast and Internet streaming of the Town of Fairfield public, education and government meetings. The program shall provide the residents of the Town of Fairfield the ability to view government and education meetings as prescribed herein.
The FairTV Commission shall have the responsibility and shall oversee the implementation of this chapter.
FairTV shall record, broadcast, re-broadcast and Internet-stream, gavel-to-gavel, regularly scheduled meetings of the Town of Fairfield's:
A. 
Representative Town Meeting.
B. 
Board of Education.
C. 
Board of Selectmen.
D. 
Board of Finance.
E. 
Town Plan and Zoning Commission.
The FairTV Commission may authorize additional coverage of Fairfield Town government and the Fairfield public schools, herein defined as gavel-to gavel meetings of Town bodies not part of the primary content schedule, and events related to Town government or the public schools, such as ceremonies, nonpartisan public meetings, parades and athletic competitions.
The primary content shall be completely assigned, scheduled and appropriately funded prior to the authorization of any secondary content coverage. The Commission shall not authorize the production of any other content or accept outside-produced content for broadcast.
Coverage of special meetings of primary content government and educational activities shall be at the discretion of the FairTV Commission, provided that primary content coverage shall not be affected.
The FairTV Commission shall provide for the immediate broadcast and release of emergency bulletins properly decreed by the Public Safety authorities of the Town of Fairfield through prior mutual agreement with those authorities. These bulletins are to be in written form in order to be delivered over the system's broadcast emergency subchannels.
A. 
There shall be a FairTV Commission that shall consist of five members who must be electors and residents of the Town of Fairfield. No more than two members shall be members of the same political party. These members shall be recommended by unanimous consent of the Board of Selectmen and shall be appointed to the FairTV Commission by majority consent of the RTM.
B. 
No member of the FairTV Commission shall receive compensation for service.
A. 
The term of all members shall run for three years, except that the initial terms shall be staggered as follows: one initial term of at least one year, two initial terms of at least, but no more than, two years, two initial terms of at least, but no more than, three years so that the terms of not more than two members shall terminate in any single year.
B. 
If a member resigns or is removed for any reason before his or her term expires, a replacement shall be appointed within two months of termination in accordance with § 74-9A to complete that term. A Commission member may be removed by a vote of the Board of Selectmen for good cause, upon request of the Commission. Failure to attend four consecutive meetings without good reason shall constitute good cause for removal.
C. 
The Commission shall elect a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Secretary. The Commission may form subcommittees to address specific duties of the Commission.
D. 
A quorum at any such meetings shall consist of a majority of the voting membership.
A. 
The FairTV Commission shall oversee the operations of the FairTV Broadcast System for the express purpose of recording (video and audio), producing, editing, live broadcast, re-broadcast and Internet streaming of the Town of Fairfield education and government meetings.
B. 
The Commission shall serve as the sole policy-making authority regarding broadcast content, acting strictly, however, within the broadcast standards established herein, §§ 74-3 through 74-8. These standards may only be revised by ordinance of the Town of Fairfield.
C. 
The Commission shall act as the oversight and selection authority for any and all employees, contractors, vendors and volunteers needed to operate the FairTV Broadcast System in a manner consistent with requirements of fairness expressed in the Town Charter in Article XI, § 11.4, and in consultation with the Town Human Resources Department and Town Purchasing Department.
D. 
The Commission shall adopt such policies as it deems appropriate to assure procedures for the orderly and prompt performance of the Commission's duties and the system's continued efficient operation.
The Commission shall develop criteria for all contracts and/or agreements for professional services in furtherance of the purposes for which the Commission was created, including for the delivery of services it requires, in consultation with the Town Human Resources Department and/or the Town Purchasing Department.
The purpose of the FairTV Commission shall be to oversee the FairTV Broadcast System. The system includes FairTV Education, FairTV Government and FairTV on Demand.
A. 
The Commission shall adopt policies and procedures that shall:
(1) 
Provide for efficient, cost effective broadcast operations.
(2) 
Deliver broadcast content of the legislative, educational, executive, financial and land use meetings of the Town of Fairfield.
(3) 
Regulate broadcast system operations and standards within the limits of §§ 74-3 to 74-8.
(4) 
Acquire, provide and maintain equipment necessary for the timely execution of the Commission's duties.
B. 
The Commission shall be responsible for the custodial oversight of all such equipment and shall adopt policies for the proper preservation and care of such equipment.
C. 
Members shall serve as the Town of Fairfield and the Fairfield Board of Education representatives to the Cable Advisory Council of Area 2 (CAC2).
A. 
Effective with the adoption of this chapter by the RTM and the appointment and installation of members to the FairTV Commission, funds appropriated, encumbered and/or designated for the operations of FairTV in the current fiscal year held in the Information Technology Department budget shall henceforth be expended at the direction of the FairTV Commission.
B. 
The FairTV Commission shall prepare, present and oversee budget requests and appropriations for the system in accordance with Town of Fairfield budget procedures.
C. 
The FairTV Commission shall author annual grant requests to the Cable Advisory Council of Area 2 and the grant process post-award report.
D. 
The FairTV Commission shall author grant requests to any other video service providers for the Town of Fairfield as needed.