CANFIELD Council members mull TV station management

One city resident opposed the idea because it would benefit the township.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- City council members are looking into how they can work with other local officials to manage a proposed community television station.
City Atty. Mark Fortunato asked council members Wednesday night to think about how they would manage the station with the Canfield Township trustees and Canfield Board of Education. He suggested creating a board made up of two representatives each from the schools, township and city, as well as the schools superintendent, city manager and a person appointed by the trustees.
Fortunato said that after council members decide how the station should be managed, he would present their ideas to the trustees and the school board.
An agreement among the three parties most likely would lead the city to spend $35,000 on equipment for the station, which would be operated by Canfield schools. The station proposal, which was created by a school district employee, also calls for the township trustees to spend $5,000 on software, license fees and other station expenses during each of the next four years.
City Manager Charles Tieche has said the station could be used to inform city and township residents about community events, road delays or emergency situations. Community concerts also could be broadcast on the station, Tieche said.
Council had asked residents to come to Wednesday's meeting to express their opinions on the station proposal. Three people attended the meeting, but didn't speak about the proposal.
Opposed to station
Council President Kevin Hughes, however, read a letter from Greenmont Drive resident Jack Keish expressing opposition to the station. In the letter, Keish said residents can get information about community events from newspapers instead of the station. He added that the city shouldn't spend money on something that would benefit Canfield Township.
Keish also expressed concern about an agreement in which Armstrong pays Canfield 3 percent of its annual revenue from city residents in exchange for being the only cable provider in the city. Last year, the city collected about $25,000 through the agreement, Tieche said.
Money from the agreement would help pay for the equipment. Keish called the money collected through the agreement a "kickback."
Hughes stressed that the money is a permit fee. Councilwoman Marleen Belfiore added that she has received several phone calls from residents supporting the station.
School officials had said they would like the station to be broadcasting when the 2002-03 school year starts. Fortunato, however, said he wasn't sure the city would be able to complete paperwork for the station proposal before school begins.
"We want it done correctly in the best way possible," Mayor Lee Frey said.
hill@vindy.com