ORDER-2020-45 : An Appropriation from the Peg Access Cable Fund (#2922) in the amount of $241,140.22 to MMTV and Melrose Public Schools.

Transcript (~4 min @ 33:15)

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▶ 33:00 Kate Lipper-Garabedian: councillors work oh has moved that we take item two out of order is there a second second by councillor Rita thank you so we're going to move first to order number 2020 dash 45 and appropriation from the peg access cable funds number two nine two two in the amount of two hundred forty one thousand one hundred and forty dollars 22 cents to MMTV and Melrose public schools yes

▶ 33:43 Kate Lipper-Garabedian: Vice Chair Boisselle. I'd like to recuse myself from this particular order. Thank you. So noted. Yes, Councillor Zwirko. Seeing that we have an individual here from MMTV, I would ask at this point that we suspend the rules. Second. Thank you. We have a motion to suspend the rules made by Councillor Zwirko, seconded by Councillor Mortimer. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Great. We're under suspension of rules and we very much appreciate you being with us tonight. Thank you. It's a pleasure to be on this side of the table.

▶ 34:01 Mary Beth McAteer-Margolis: I don't know if you have comments, if you want to just briefly summarize this or go straight to questions. To enlighten you if you're not familiar, MMTV is your local cable access station in Melrose and we have contracts with both Comcast and Verizon. Revenue comes from people who have cable television. So as much as we're supportive of people who have cut the cord and we like to be able to offer streaming services, we do not receive any revenue from those types of services. In any case, these funds represent our not quite annual, because it began in July 1st, disbursement based on the PEG access fees that the residents who have cable pay in Melrose. use them for our operating costs and our rent and our employees and whatnot counselors arco thank

▶ 35:01 Michael P. Zwirko: you madam chair thank you for being here this evening um so i look forward to supporting this order um and i do appreciate the um you know we're on tv right now right so uh the the service that mmtv provides not only to our residents but also folks that want to get involved in public access tv as well as the derivative effect that it plays in our middle and high schools with the av clubs and the like I think we've got some great staff over there and always very helpful looking to kind of expound on the activities and programming that they give to the city so thank you my question for you isn't really it's somewhat tied to this because you brought up the issue of funding and about a year ago we this board unanimously supported a resolution to advocate against an FCC policy that was really going to hamper funding mechanisms for MMTVs across the nation and I'm just curious that has now gone into effect and do you have or has MMTV gone under any type of review do you know what the impacts of that will be on your

▶ 36:12 Mary Beth McAteer-Margolis: would be considered an in-kind donation as it is now we receive a certain percentage of revenue it may be that part of that percentage is made up of our access to the file system although we have not yet been notified by anyone

▶ 36:29 Michael P. Zwirko: to that effect well thank you for the update I know that that change went in a couple of months ago so I was interested to see but again great service that you and the community are provided by this and and the work that you do and outreach so thank you very much thank you manager thank you motion to

▶ 36:46 Kate Lipper-Garabedian: recommend for passage second we have a motion to recommend for passage made by councillor Mortimer and seconded by councillor Tremont ozi all in favor any opposed we'll make that recommendation to the full council thanks for joining us tonight and congratulations and best wishes to all of you who are ending your