By Mary Romaniec –
It wasn’t a good night for Grafton Community Television or the Cable Oversight Committee. First, the Tuesday evening live broadcast of the Selectmen meeting failed to go on air. According to Grafton Community Television’s Bob DeToma, the system crashed four minutes before air time and never came back up. DeToma said the meeting was being recorded for later viewing.
Cable Oversight Committee member Bob DeToma appeared in front of Selectmen Tuesday to discuss their recent vote to not move forward with seeking renovation of the former police headquarters. The committee has been leasing the building since last year as a place marker for the opportunity to evaluate it as a place to potentially move the GCTV studio from their South Grafton location.
DeToma told Selectmen the committee voted last Saturday, 4-3, to not move forward with using the building until more particulars were known — including construction plans and costs. DeToma said he was one of the three who opted to move forward. “To say the least, it was disappointing,” said DeToma.
Over the years, the cable committee has asserted the need for a future building—and the funds set aside through cable user bills. Selectmen were not happy with the decision on Tuesday. Selectman Brook Padgett said the money set aside for the prospective move to a new building needed to be returned to cable consumers. “You’ve got to get your act together,” said Padgett of the committee. “We may cut your budget because you have too much money.”
Selectman Bruce Spinney faulted the committee for leaving the impression they were dragging their feet. “You need to get your house in order,” he said. “I’ve got my foot halfway out the door to make this happen.”
When asked by Spinney what would happen if the committee fails to build the new studio, DeToma replied they would remain in the current building on Providence Road that they once shared with Charter Cable. Now with Charter out of the building, GCTV has the option to take over the building lease and to work with the landlord directly.
It was decided the Cable Committee would need to come to Selectmen on a plan to move forward, with a date for the meeting to be determined.
Editor’s note: The story originally said that the Cable Oversight Committee appeared in front of Selectmen. They did not. Only one member did.
The post Cable committee not ready for new building appeared first on The Grafton News.