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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSBCCF Min 1991-03-18 . , . . . SEAL BEACH CABLE COMMUNICATIONS FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING Comcast Cablevision Facilities March 18, 1991 The Board of Directors of the Seal Beach Cable Communications Foundation met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., on March 18, 1990, at Comcast Cablevision Facilities, 201 - 8th Street, Seal Beach, California, with Chairman, Mr. James Clow calling the meeting to order. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Director Clow led the salute to the Flag. ROLL CALL: Directors present were Mr. Clow, Mr. Robertson, Mrs Dahlin. Director Yglesias was absent. Director Mueller arrived at 7:40 p.m. staff Support present: Pat Sharp Bill Gray, Comcast Cablevision was present. MINUTES OF DECEMBER 17, 1990 After due discussion Mrs. Dahlin moved that the minutes of the February 18, 1991 Board Meeting be approved. Motion was seconded by Mr. Robertson. AYES: NOES: Motion Mrs. Dahlin, Mr. Robertson. Mr. Clow, None Passes: 3-0 NEW FUNDING REQUESTS A. Contribution/CMLEA & CUE Student Media Festival - Lois f2!m After due discussion a motion was made by Mr. Robertson to ~pprove the request for a contribution in the amount of $250.00. If Mrs. Cohn requests more funds she must appear before the Board to show just cause. Motion was seconded by Mr. Mueller. . . . f. ...' . Seal Beach Cable Communications Foundation Board of Directors Meeting March l8, 1991 Page 2 AYES: NOES: Motion Mr. Clow, None Passes: 4-0 Mrs. Dahlin, Mr. Robertson and Mr. Mueller OLD BUSINESS CHECKS FROM FEBRUARY Checks requested in February, 1991 were approved by the Board. Mr. Pete Arnold, on behalf of the funding request awarded to Mrs. Nanacy Grgas (check #D), stated that it was an outstanding program and wished that he could see more programs like it. . FINANCIAL REPORT FROM THE CITY Mr. Mueller advised the Board that the Foundation was solvent, but noted that the Foundation didn't receive any interest income this month and that he would check with Mr. Thomas' office. Mr. Clow asked Mr. Mueller what exactly was "overhead. " Mr. Mueller stated that it for expenses (i. e., telephone charges, etc.). Mr. Looney, previous Board Director and Financial Officer, stated he assisted in the preparation of the codes that funds were list.ed under. Mrs. Dahlin questioned what "interns" was, Mr. Gray stated that it was the producers who were being paid by the Foundation. Mr. Mueller suggested that the City of Seal Beach Finance office list in more detail exactly what the monies are bei1l9 spent on. Ms. Sharp stated that the amount under "other income" was the return of the balance of monies from the Producer's Group, that Mr. Pete Arnold requested be returned to the Foundation about a year ago. . PROGRAMMING UPDATE - Bill Gray Mr. Gray passed out the programming update schedule. time. Mrs. Dahlin asked how the Easter Parade could have been shot on April 4 when it hasn't even happended yet. Mr. Gray stated that it was for the year 1990. Mr. Clow asked if anyone in the audience wanted to comment on the program update schedule. . . . . . Seal Beach Cable Communications Foundation Board of Directors Meeting March l8, 1991 Page 3 AUDIENCE COMMUNICATIONS Mr. Francis Looney, former Board Director, felt that he needed to speak regarding the lack of a Public Access Coordinator. He also submitted his concerns in writing to the Board. Mr. Gray also introduced Ms. Marla Kreps as the new Public Access Coordinator and that she should be up to speed with the position in approximately three (3) weeks. Ms. Kreps stated that she had some prior committments to her previous position that had to be completed before her full time committments could be undertaken for Comcast. Mr. Rick Papp thanked the Foundation for the funding of the "City Watch Live" show and that it will be celebrating its one year anniversary on Thursday, February 21, 1991. Mr. Papp also stated that because of the positive response of the show, it will now be shown on Paragon Cablevision. Mr. Papp also stated his concerns regarding the absence of a public access coordinator. He stated that he knew that there were people wanting to go through the workshops and he was desperately looking forward to the hiring of a public access coordinator in the very near future. Mr. Pete Arnold reserved his right to speak at the end of tonight's meeting. NEW BUSINESS Guidelines - Jim Clow Mrs. Lois Cohn of McGaugh School submitted a list of comments regarding the guidelines proposal but were not legible when photocopied. Ms. Sharp informed the Board that she would return Mrs. Cohn's comments to her for resubmission to the Board. A meeting was scheduled for the Guidelines committee to take place on March 4, 1991, due to the possible length at tonight's meeting to review the proposed guidelines. Those scheduled to attend are Karl Deeds, Rob Roy, Peter Anninos, Hal Robertson, Betty Dahlin, Jim Claw and Bill Gray. ' Resolution Proposal - Jim Clow A Resolution of the City of Seal Beach was presented to the Board concerning the management and. operation of the Public . Seal Beach Cable Communications Foundation Board of Directors Meeting March 18, 1991 Page 4 Access channel for consideration. Ms. Sharp told the Board that the Resolution was sent to the city of Seal Beach to be adopted by . ,the City Council giving the Foundation control over the operations and management of public access. Mr. Claw said that Mary Hooker at City Hall gave it to him and he wasn't sure how to act on it. Mr. Arnold told the Board that they should review the document very carefully and go back to the original Resolution. Mr Arnqld also stated that the document was sent to the City of Seal Beach by Mr. James Bequette, Regional Vice President, Comcast Cablevision. Ms. Sharp said that she would confer with Mr. Bequette for clarification regarding the document. The Board immediate response on the matter is "Received and Filed." ,. . Invoice from the City of Seal Beach - Laird Mueller Mr. Mueller stated that the invoice was for bookkeeping and treasury services for the 1990-9l fiscal year. Although the Board felt that it was an excessive amount, a motion was made by Mr. Mueller to pay $4,000.00 to the City of Seal Beach for bookkeeping and treasury services for the 1990-9l fiscal year. Motion was seconded by Mr. Robertson. AYES: NOES: Moti-on Mr. Clow, None Passes: 4-0 Mrs. Dahlin, Mr. Robertson and Mr. Mueller ...... Proposal from Stephen Bruce & Associates - Laird Mueller Mr. Mueller presented to the Board a proposal for payroll services in the amount of $300.00 for the month of January, 1990 and. $200.00 per month thereafter at a cost of $50.00 per hour. Mr. Mueller suggested that the Board accept the proposal for the first six (6) months of 1991 and then review the need for the service after that time. Mr. Robertson made a motion to accept the proposal of $200.00 per month for payroll services from Stephen Bruce & Associates. Mrs. Dahlin seconded motion. AYES: NOES: Motion Mr. Clow, None Passes: 4-0 Mrs. Dahlin, Mr. .Robertson and Mr. Mueller . , Mr. Clow asked Mr. Gray if his understanding that the Board was not to communicate with Mr. Jim Bequette and instead sho~ld communicate any concerns to Mr. Dave Barford were correct and asked Mr. Gray for clarification. Mr. Gray stated that Jim Bequette is currently the Regional Vice. President and that Dave ..., . . . . _wtr Seal, Beach Cable Communications Foundation Board of Directors Meeting March l8, 1991 Page 5 .,. Barford was the General Manager that has direct supervision of Seal Beach. Mr. Clow asked Mr. Gray if they had any problems that they should go to Mr. Barford as opposed to Mr. Bequette. Ms.' Sharp told Mr. Clow that Mr. Bequette has an "opened-door" policy if there were any problems or concerns because his office was located in Seal Beach. ,_ Mr. Clow thought that Mr. Barford should sit in on the Foundation meetings from time to time. Mr. Gray stated that he was representing Mr. Barford at all the meetings. Mr. Clow told Mr. Gray that he felt he was not fulfilling his obligations. Mr. Gray stated that he could see Mr. Barford the next morning after the meeting and relate topics of discussion but that it would not change decisions made in Philadelphia. Mr. Gray told the Board that they have interviewed people for the Public Access position and wanted to hire someone, but that he has been told that he could not hire anyone for that position or the four other positions that needed to be filled in his department. Mr. Gray stated that he has asked Mr. Barford almost daily when he could hire a Public Access Coordinator. Mr. Clow asked Mr. Gray if he has related the Board's feelings about not having the position filled, and stated that he has related the Board's position, he does care but it is out of his control. Mr. Gray stated that the new Regional Vice President wanted to acquaint himself with the situation in the western region and Mr. Barford was waiting for the "go-ahead" from the corporate office to fill I the position. Mr. Gray stated that no one has been denied an opportunity to produce programming. Mr. Gray stated that he as well as Mr. Barford fully expected to have the position filled by the first of February, but it has been taken out of their hands by the Corporate office in Philadelphia. Mr. Clow stated that he was disappointed that Comcast has let the Foundation down the way it has. Mr. Gray stated that Mr. Karl Deeds spent 55 hours in December, 1990 and Ja~uary, 1991 helping producers with their projects. Mr. Gray stated that they have not stopped the interviewing process and that they were down to four (4) candidates and i~s been very discouraging because he has lost some very good ca~idates to fill various positions he has open. Stipend to Directors of the Board - Jim Clow Mr. Clow asked the Board to consider the Directors receIving a stipend of $50.00 per month for their services to the ~ . Seal Beach Cable Communications Foundation Board of Directors Meeting March 18, 1991 Page 6 Foundation. Mrs. Dahlin felt that the Directors were only sitting on,. .the Board once a month and that they had been asked to participate on the Board on a voluntary basis and that they should receive no monies for their presence on the Board. Mrs. Dahlin also stated that she wasn't opposed to receiving any money but felt that most of the members were under the assumption that it was a volunteer service. Mr. Clow stated that he as well as other members of the Board do other projects. Mr. Arnold stated that the Foundation would spend $3,000.00 per year for stipends when that money could be spent purchasing new equipment, promoting public access and necessities for public access. " A motion was made by Mr. Mueller for the Board members to receive a $50.00 per month stipend retroactive from January, 1991. Mr. Robertson seconded said motion. AYES: NOES: Motion Mr. Clow, Mr. Mrs. Dahlin Passes: 3-1 Robertson and Mr. Mueller . . Mr. Robertson asked Mr. Clow if the Board could postpone the Board's decision until the meeting because of Mr. Yglesias' absence and wanted his input on this matter. After due discussion Mr. Mueller retracted his motion for further discussion at the March 18, 1991 meeting when all Board members were present to vote on the matter. Mr. Arnold chose to speak with the Board at this time. Mr. Arnold recommended that someone on the Board contact Ms. Sharp and negotiate the possibility of part time employment to the Board in the event that she does not remain as an employee of Comcast after March 31, 1991. He asked the Board to consider arrangements to be made that if she accepted the position, that computer equipment be made available to her to continue her services to the Board. Ms. Dahlin aSked if she was even interested in that possibility. Ms. Sharp declined to comment on the suggestion at this time because there may a possibility that there would not be equipment available to her. Mr. Gray stated that he addressed this concern to Mr. Barford regarding the staff support to the Foundation. Ms. Sharp stated that there was a possibility that she would accept the pOSition but not as an employee of Comcast Cablevision. . ~ Mr. Clow told Mr. Arnold that he felt he was out of line to even suggestion such a proposal. Mr. Clow felt that the $25,000.00 a year the Foundation paid Comcast was to provide staff support as well as a Public Access Coordinator. Mr. Arnold stated . . . Seal Beach Cable Cbmmunications Foundation Board of Directors Meeting March l8, 1991 Page 7 that he was trying to cover the Board in the event that there isn't staff support available after March 3l, 1991. Mr. Gray stated that he would defend Comcast in light of the fact that Ms. Sharp has been support to the Board on a consistent basis. Mr. Clow stated t~at he didn't feel that the Foundation should have to hire her after she has left Comcast. Mr. Gray told Mr. Gray that the Agreement between Comcast and the Foundation expires in March, 1991, which means that Ms. Sharp would not be part of that Agreement because the Agreement wouldn't exist after that date. Mr. Arnold explained to the Board that after the expiration of the Agreement, the Foundation was under no obligation to return the $50,000.00 to Comcast. Mr. Arnold further told that the ,Board that because of the reorganization of Comcast, it might b& a consideration of the Board to inquire that in the event of Ms. Sharp's employment being terminated, if she would be willing to be staff support for the Foundation versus the hiring of anyone else. Mr. 'Arnold also told that the Board should inquire if Comcast is willing to give Ms. Sharp access to a computer, phones, etc. Mr. Gray stated that there was a computer available for her use. Mr. Clow commented that the Board should hire an attorney to be present at the Board meetings. Mr. Mueller stated that it should be in these Minutes that Mr. Gray will present to the Board a tentative proposal regarding the Contract for discussion. Mr. Robertson asked about Ms. Sharp's position regarding her employment as staff support to the Foundation. It was requested by the Board to have a discussion regarding this matter at the March, 1991 Board meeting. ADJOURNMENT It was the consensus of the Board, and so ordered by the Chair, to adjourn the Seal Beach Cable Communications Foundation Board Meeting at 9:15 p.m. Transcribed by: Pat Sharp, Staff Support Secretary ACCEPTED AND APPROVED: .:~ . . . Seal Beach Cable Communications Foundation Board of Directors Meeting March 18, 1991 Page 8 James Clow Foundation Chairman Date: '. ",