Selectmen Vote Against Live Streaming Proposal

The Board of Selectmen has nixed the idea of live Internet streaming and archiving of its meetings – at least for now.

With three of five members present last Wednesday, the board voted against the proposal - 2 to 1.

The proposal was to move forward with an idea for Discover Video, a Wallingford-based company, to provide live streaming and subsequent archiving of Board of Selectmen and likely some other meetings by town boards, commissions and agencies.

“One-time costs” for the proposal were approximately $5,000. That would have included two cameras, software, microphones, cables and installation. While Chief Administrative Officer Robert Skinner was originally looking at the state Local Capital Improvement Program to fund the cost, there was some question if it would qualify, he said.

There are, however, enough funds – about $130,000 - in money set aside for Community Center improvements, he said.

The annual costs would have been about $2,000 a year. Skinner had put aside $1,200 in his proposed 2011-2012 budget, so selectmen would have had to find nearly $800 in additional funds. Skinner said the board’s miscellaneous line item, which has about $2,500 was one possibility for next year’s expense.

Under the proposal, the company’s online archive for the town would be limited to 300 hours so the town would have to archive or find additional ways to store older meetings.

On Wednesday, however, selectman voted against the proposal. Steve Roberto and David Gilchrist Jr. voted against the measure while First Selectman Richard Barlow supported it.

Barlow said he feels with today’s technology, it would be a good direction to go. He said he agrees with Gilchrist’s assertion that the number of viewers would be low but said it would give people the option of following boards more closely – even if they watched parts of the meeting after the fact.

He said it was good for people who want to the "chance to get an insight to what’s going on in local government.”

Gilchrist has been against the idea from the beginning. At a previous meeting, he called it a “colossal" waste of money.

Roberto, however, said he actually supports the concept.  

However, with budget uncertainty at the federal and state level and the failure of selectmen to support other initiatives, such as a teen librarian, the streaming was not a top priority, Roberto said.

“I still like the idea,” Roberto said. “I just didn’t like the timing.”

He said fellow selectman Bruce Lockwood came up with the idea. Marc Cerniglia has expressed support for the idea as well.

Barlow said he would not be totally surprised if the idea comes forward again once the budget picture becomes a little clearer.