Mansfield Selectmen Say No to Proposed $22,500 Promotional Film

There will be no lights, no camera, nor any action for a proposed 5-minute film to promote Mansfield.

Wednesday night, the selectmen rejected an offer from London-based media company WebsEdge to create a video on Mansfield to be shown at the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) in Seattle next month.

The cost of the video would have been $22,500.

The idea, presented to the board by Town Manager Bill Ross, would see filmmakers in town for one day to shoot 2-3 hours of footage. The video would feature representatives of the community and an emphasis on Mansfield’s master plan and financial work. It would have been one of six films shown at the conference.

While the selectmen did not object to the idea of a film, the price and timeline played a factor their decision to take a pass.

“I think it’s an opportunity to get a lot of good PR for Mansfield, but it certainly is something that you gulp when you see the price,” Ross said.

With the conference only weeks away, Selectman Jess Aptowitz was not sure if the timeline would work.

“We do need to do something, I think it should be done the right way. I don’t want to spend $22,000 and feel like rushing it with the time restraints,” he said.

Selectman Frank DelVecchio said the video could be “a feather in our cap,” but didn’t think the town is ready to be promoted as a success story for economic development.

Selectmen Doug Annino said he was open to the idea of a professionally made video for the town.

“I think we have to step it up. To me, a very professional presentation would go a long way. To me, this is one way to do it. It’s something that steps you up a notch,” he said.

Chairman George Dentino chose to come out against the video, showing concern that it would not look good to spend the money with a debt exclusion vote for the new municipal complex in September.

A formal motion was made by DelVecchio after the discussion but was not seconded for a vote.