Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutSBCCF Min 1994-07-18 . . . ....._. ...J SEAL BEACH CABLE COMMUNICATIONS FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES FOR JULY 18.1994 The Board of Directors for the Seal Beach Cable Communications Foundation met July 18, 1994 at 7:00 pm at the Mary Wilson Library in Seal Beach California. Chairman Joseph Palmer called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The pledge of allegiance was led by Mr. Rowland. ROLL CALL Mr. Palmer, Mrs. Dahlin, Mr. Rowland, Mr. Clow, and Mr. Mueller. Barbara Luna from Comcast was present. CONSENT CALENDAR REVIEW OF MINUTES FROM JUNE 20, 1994 Mrs. Dahlin suggested corrections to the minutes then motioned to accept the minutes of June 20, 1994. Mr. Rowland seconded. AYES: Mr. Palmer, Mr. Rowland, Mr. Mueller. Mrs. Dahlin. Mr. Clow NAYS: -0- MOTION PASSED: 5-0 FINANCIAL REPORT Mrs. Dahlin had a question regarding a charge to Equity for $100,000 and the placement of it on the financial report. Mr. Mueller stated that it had placed differently than it had been in the past, but it was placed properly in the budget and explained why. Mrs. Dahlin motioned to accept and file the financial report and Mr. Rowland seconded. AYES: Mr. Rowland, Mrs. Dahlin, Mrs. Mueller, Mrs. Clow, Mr. Palmer NA YES: -0- MOTION PASSED: 5-0 CHECK REQUEST Mr. Palmer stated that there were several check requests. Mr. Rowland asked for clarification of an invoice from California Tape Products. He wanted to know if these were purchased for the use of public access producers. Ms. Luna explained that they were ordered specifically for public access since there were no tapes at all in the tape stock area. She suggested that if Leisure World was also in need of tape stock that someone come over and pick up what they might need. . . . '. . PAGE 2 SBCCF min. cont'd 7/18/94 Mr. Palmer stated that a check had been requested from the Board to Comcast and he asked if there was a check. Ms. Luna stated that she was unaware of any check. Mr. Clow stated that this check would go to the City of Seal Beach, not to the Board. Ms. Dahlin motioned that the check requests be granted and Mr. Rowland seconded. AYES: Ms. Dahlin, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Mueller, Mr. Clow, Mr. Rowland NA YES: -0- MOTION PASSED: 5-0 OLD BUSINESS LOCAL ORIGINATION Mr. Rowland motioned to table the subject of Local Origination until the next meeting and Mrs. Dahlin seconded. AYES: Mr. Clow, Mr. Mueller, Mrs. Dahlin, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Rowland NAYES: -0- MOTIONED PASSED: 5-0 PUBLIC ACCESS Mr. Rowland motioned to table the subject of the educational schedule for public access until the next meeting. Mr. Mueller seconded. AYES: Mr. Palmer, Mr. Clow, Mr. Rowland, Mrs. Dahlin, Mr. Mueller NAYES: -0- MOTION PASSED: 5-0 Mrs. Dahlin asked about the check request from the City of Seal Beach for $4000.00. Mr. Mueller explained that this was a bill for accounting services for last year. He stated that their year begins in July and ends on June 30th. Mrs. Dahlin motioned to pay the City of Seal Beach $4000.00 for accounting services. Mr. Mueller seconded the motion. AYES: Mr. Mueller, Mr. Palmer, Mrs. Dahlin, Mr. Rowland, Mr. Clow NA YES: -0- MOTION PASSED: 5-0 INFOMERCIALS Mr. Palmer stated that infomercials can generate revenue and that since the contract with Comcast is coming up, the negotiators should discuss them. He suggested setting up a committee of two to write a letter to the City Manager informing them of the policies of Comcast regarding infomercials which could generate income for the City of Seal Beach if it is included in a contract. . . . '. PAGE 3 SBCCF min. cont'd 7/18/94 Mr. Palmer indicated that he would like to be a committee member along with Mrs. Dahlin. Mr. Rowland motioned to approve the committee of Mrs. Dahlin and Mr. Palmer to write a letter to the City Manager and Mr. Mueller seconded. AYES: Ms. Dahlin, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Mueller, Mr. Rowland, Mr. Clow NA YES: -0- MOTION PASSED: 5-0 AUDIENCE COMMUNICATION Mr. Palmer indicated this is the time for audience participation and reminded everyone that each person has up to 5 minutes each to speak. Rob Roy - 316 7th Street, Huntington Beach. Mr. Roy indicated that he was familiar with the newly selected Public Access Coordinator and that he knew her to be involved in the community and with the public access program and he felt that she was a very good choice. Ron Diller - 1620 Catalina, Seal Beach. Mr. Diller stated that he knew the minutes for June 20th had been motioned and accepted by the Board to be filed, but he strongly objected the summary under Board Communications. He felt that the statement did not adequately reflect the comments of Mr. Palmer at that time. He stated that Mr. Palmer took his time to verbally attack Mr. Diller's character and that the minutes were edited without such comments. Mr. Diller stated that it was said that the Board meetings would now be conducted like the City Council meetings, particularly in that during audience communication each member would be limited to 5 minutes each. He asked where this was stated in the bylaws and if Mr. Palmer decided this himself. Mr. Diller then stated that since the Board would be following the guidelines of the City Council, he assumed that this would also apply to items not on the agenda. He said that like the City Council meetings, he assumed that items not on the agenda could not be discussed amongst the Board. NEW BUSINESS PUBLIC ACCESS COORDINATOR Mr. Palmer stated that the Board was just advised that Marla Kreps replacement has been chosen. It is Robin Fort-Lincke and she will start August 3rd. Mrs. Dahlin asked if her schedule would be the same as Marla Kreps' schedule or what it would be. Mr. Palmer stated that Ms. Kreps schedule was specific for her and the replacement's schedule would be discussed at the next meeting. RE-AUTHORIZATION OF AUDIT AND TAX RETURN Mr. Mueller stated that he had asked that the item of re-authorization of audit and tax return be added to the agenda which says, on tax returns. The correction was noted. Mr. Mueller went on to say that he would like to contact Roy Pritchard to get . . . " PAGE 4 SBCCF min. cont'd 7/18/94 a bid for having this done. Mrs. Dahlin expressed concern over the amount it cost last year. Mr. Mueller explained that it for done for 2 years, not one. Mrs. Dahlin made the motion to authorize Mr. Mueller to contact Roy Pritchard for a bid on the audit and tax return for the upcoming fiscal year. Mr. Rowland seconded the motion. AYES: Mrs. Dahlin, Mr. Clow, Mr. Mueller, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Rowland NAYES: -0- MOTION PASSED: 5-0 RON DILLER AND THE SEAL BEACH CABLE COMMUNICATIONS FOUNDATION Mr. Palmer stated that the next item on the agenda was the Ron Diller and Seal Beach Cable Communications Foundation situation. Mr. Clow stated that he put this item on the agenda because he has some questions to ask. He then stated he wrote a letter on behalf of the Board to be sent to the City Council regarding Mr. Mueller and Mr. Palmer's actions and asked for signatures. Mr. Palmer refused and Mr. Mueller refused. Mr. Mueller stated that it made no sense for him and Mr. Palmer to sign a letter from the Board regarding his own actions. Mr. Clow asked Mr. Palmer if he called Mr. Mueller and asked him to resign after voting against the Board on an issue from April 25th. Mr. Palmer stated that he did not. Mr. Clow then stated that Mr. Palmer had asked him to resign. Mr. Palmer stated that he did not. There was discussion about whether or not anyone was asked to resign. EDUCATIONAL CHANNEL 54 Mr. Clow asked if anyone has watched channel 53 recently. He stated that he no longer sees the statement that funding was made by the Seal Beach Cable Communications Foundation anymore. He stated that Coastline was given $20,000 by the Foundation and now there is no credit given. RON DILLER AND THE SEAL BEACH CABLE COMMUNICATIONS FOUNDATION Mr. Clow asked if everyone has the Articles of Incorporation and have they read them. He read from the Articles of Incorporation a statement which concerning the exercise of control over the content or scheduling of any program by the corporation. Mr. Palmer stated that this had not been done. Mr. Diller stated that he should be able to discuss this item because it concerned himself and was listed as a agenda item. . . . , PAGE 5 SBCCF min. cont'd 7/18/94 Mr. Mueller stated that it was appropriate for Mr. Diller to speak at this time. He asked Mr. Clow what he (Mr. Clow) wanted the Board to do. Mr. Mueller stated that two members of the audience, Mr. Roy and Mr. Diller want him (Mr. Mueller) to resign and he has no intention of doing so. Mr. Diller stated that he has yet to hear a response regarding this. He stated that he asked if his show was cancelled to do content and no one has responded. There was much discussion about whether or not the show was cancelled. Mr. Palmer said it was scheduled for a particular time. Mr. Diller said that he received a call from the Public Access Coordinator saying that it was cancelled. After much more discussion, Mr. Diller said that what the item in the Articles of Incorporation meant is that the Board cannot exercise any control over scheduling. He stated that this was in violation of the Articles of Incorporation and it has happened to him twice. Mrs. Dahlin asked Mr. Diller what it was that he wanted the Board to do and she stated that she had asked him at a previous meeting. Mr. Diller stated that he would like the three other Board members to either endorse the actions of Mr. Palmer and Mr. Mueller or say they had no part of it. Mr. Jim Klisanin - Seal Beach Mr. Klisanin asked the Board members if they had watched the Sight-First telethon. He then stated that at some time earlier when the telethon was proposed, he was told by Mr. Steve Rosenthal that because he was running for City Council he could not participate in the telethon. He asked if any Board members who watched the show felt that he said or did anything that would have increased his chances of being elected. Mr. Mueller indicated to Mr. Klisanin that Mr. Rosenthal is the Comcast representative and this decision was a Comcast decision. He pointed out that earlier in the meeting Mr. Clow read the statement in the Articles of Incorporation which says that the Board cannot exercise control of programming. Mr. Diller then spoke rehashing events and conversations of previous meetings and about his first show that had been cancelled. There was discussion about this situation and then Mr. Clow suggested that the other Board members sign his letter to the City of Seal Beach. Mr. Palmer asked if anyone seconded the motion. There was no second and therefore the motion did not pass. A heated discussion ensued and Mr. Diller began to ask Board members individually whether or not the matter of cancelling his show was discussed with them. Mrs. Dahlin stated that she did not feel she was authorized to answer such a question. Mr. Diller then asked if the Board was then accepting liability for the actions of Mr. Palmer and Mr. Mueller on behalf of the Board. . . . , PAGE 6 SBCCF min. cont'd 7/18/94 Mrs. Dahlin stated that the Board was indicating that they would not sign the letter. Mr. Diller stated that the duties of Board members are to be in the best interest of the Seal Beach Cable Communications Foundation and that the City of Seal Beach was also liable for the actions of the Board. REPORTS PUBLIC ACCESS Ms. Luna stated that the Public Access Coordinator position had been filled and the start date would be August 4th. LOCAL ORIGINATION Mr. Palmer stated that the Board would keep this item on the agenda to review each time. CORRESPONDENCE Mr. Palmer stated that there has been no response to the Board's letter of request for money from the City of Seal Beach. Mr. Palmer asked Ms. Luna if Mr. Mackney was going to be able to attend a Board meeting. Ms. Luna stated that she would ask him. BOARD COMMUNICATIONS Mr. Clow restated that Coastline Community College Channel 53 does not give credit on their programs to the Seal Beach Cable Communications. He said that two other companies do receive credit and since the Board gave them $20,000 he would like to have this situation checked out. Mr. Palmer stated that he also was aware that Channel 55 in Fullerton has also changed it's schedule. Mrs. Dahlin motioned to form a committee consisting of Mr. Rowland and Mr. Clow to research these situations in the interest of the Foundation. Mr. Mueller seconded the motion. AYES: Mr. Clow, Mrs. Dahlin, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Rowland, Mr. Mueller NA YES: -0- MOTION PASSED: 5-0 . . e " PAGE 7 SBCCF min. cont'd 7/18/94 ADJOURNMENT Mr. Rowland motioned to adjourn the meeting at 7:50pm, Mr, Muller seconded. AYES: Mr. Mueller, Mr. Rowland, Mr. Clow, Mr, Palmer, Mrs. Dahlin NA YES: -0- MOTION PASSED: 5-0 Joseph Palmer, Chairman Robin Fort-Lincke, Comcsst