Abrupt Move To Exit Agreement Threatens Local TV Coverage

LARCHMONT, NY — Right now, Larchmont residents have a place to tune in if they want to see the latest dance, art, film and stage productions from the community's talented high school students; that same channel was also the very best source for information on how to help neighbors devastated by recent floods and how local homeowners can protect themselves from future severe weather — but a recent move by village officials have put that wildly popular community resource in danger of disappearing.

In a public notice dated November 5, The Village of Larchmont Board announced its intention to withdraw from a longstanding tri-municipal cable TV sharing agreement. The pact was formed by the Village of Mamaroneck, Town of Mamaroneck and the Village of Larchmont as a way to create greater bargaining power when negotiating franchise fees with cable television companies.

Larchmont-Mamaroneck Community Television (LMC Media) was founded in 1983 as a result of the agreement. A portion of the franchise fee collected helps to fund the substantial percentage of the budget for LMC Media.

LMC Media’s stated mission is to connect, create, and inform the community through the use of digital media. The organization, its experts and teams of volunteers and students strive to accomplish this lofty goal with work in classrooms in the Mamaroneck Union Free School District, broadcasting of local public meetings and scheduled programming highlighting the hidden stories right here in our own neighborhoods.

LMC also offers hands-on training and opportunities for Larchmont residents who want to learn more about creating digital media content — regardless of their age, gender, financial status, physical or other challenges, or previous experience.

But, the surprise move by Larchmont elected officials could spell the end for LMC and the village's bargaining power when it comes to negotiating cable franchise fees.

"We hope that the Village of Larchmont considers the implications of their announcement and its plan to defund LMC Media," LMC said in a statement released over the weekend.

"Please voice your opinions on the Village of Larchmont NY notice today that jeopardizes the future of LMC Media Center," the organization wrote in a later post on social media, urging its neighbors who depend on LMC as a valuable resource to make their voices heard.

Village of Mamaroneck Mamaroneck Mayor Tom Murphy took a harder line on the announcement from Larchmont.

"Friday morning, I was surprised to learn that Larchmont was withdrawing from the cable sharing agreement that it entered into in 1982 with the Town of Mamaroneck and Village of Mamaroneck," Murphy wrote in a statement posted to social media. "Serving as an elected official for over two decades I would have thought that such a consequential action would have required a public discussion and a public vote. Yet in my search of the minutes of Larchmont Board meeting I can find no such discussion or vote."

Murphy noted that LMC Media has been a shared place where residents can follow what is transpiring locally. He said the local digital platform has been an important thread that has helped bind the three Sound Shore communities together over the past four decades.

"The Village of Mamaroneck looks forward to renegotiating new franchise agreements with our friends in the Town of Mamaroneck," Murphy added. "With the Village of Mamaroneck’s 20,000 residents and the Town’s 13,000 residents, I am confident we will still have ample bargaining power to strike a good deal with the cable providers. We will miss Larchmont’s 6,000 residents and hope they can strike a good agreement on their own."

Other than to admit he was disappointed and surprised by the village of Larchmont LMC Media, Executive Director Matt Sullivan referred Patch to the official LMC statements.

In the past, however, Sullivan has spoken about his job as a way to serve a community he cares about deeply. Distress over the notion that elected officials within that community are questioning the value of that work could be heard in his voice.

For their part, The Village of Larchmont released a new statement on Monday, saying that the goal of the announcement was to renegotiate rather than exit the agreement.

"The sole goal of the Village’s recent announcement on the CATV Sharing Agreement is to seek transparency and clarity from the Cable TV Board of Control regarding the use of public funds for LMC Media," the village said in an updated statement. "Our decision to give notice a year ahead regarding the CATV Sharing Agreement was a required first step should the Village need to act as its own agent in order to protect our residents’ interests. Our intent, however, is to try to find a path forward with our municipal partners on the Board of Control. Before the 12 months are up, we hope that we can work together to create a clear and transparent process."