Advisory Board Meeting Minutes, May 17, 2007

Minutes: NCTV Advisory Board Meeting,
Thursday, May 17, 2007, NCTV Classroom

Members in attendance: Neal Albee, Craig Burgess, David Kyle, Jack Meeks, Elisa Parker, Susan Rogers, Sheila Stein. Also present: Lew Sitzer, NCTV Executive Director.
Not attending: Christina McClung, Lisa Swarthout, Chuck Scimeca, Bob Whitney
Members of the public: Mike Cook. Buck Stoval began observing the meeting at 6:15 p.m.

1. Meeting called to order by Chairman David Kyle at 6:05 p.m. David noted that a quorum is present.

Discussion Items
2. Adoption of the Agenda (Albee/Rogers) Passed 6/0.
3. Adoption of the Minutes of April 19, 2007 (Rogers/Burgess) Passed 7/0 (one board member came late)
4. Public Forum. No members of the public were present when this agenda item was taken up.

NCTV Reports
5. Executive Director’s report

• Budget: Lew has been working on ensuring that processes are in place for NCTV’s receipt of funds from Comcast, SuddenLink (Alta Sierra, Lake of the Pines and parts of Truckee) and the government entities. We expect, quarterly, approximately $800 from Nevada City, $3,000 from Grass Valley, and $5,000 from the County (this figure represents only the funds that come from the surcharge on customers’ bills). The two-month delay in receiving funds at the end of each quarter means NCTV will have a cash flow crunch over the next few months, and Lew is anticipating reducing staff hours for the next few months. It’s possible the station could close for the month of July, as it did in 2006, though that would not help this fiscal year’s budget.
• The governments have in hand the monies from Comcast to install the equipment and technology necessary to enable live council/board broadcasts and all other expenses related to building the I-Net (institutional network). According to Steve Monaghan, the work on the I-Net will begin in approximately 2 months.
• We will be taking over one of the channels that Rocklin is currently using. Once the new government channel is operative, all the meetings will repeat many times. Lew shared a draft schedule with Sheila.
• Lew and David discussed some video production business concepts that could lead to income potential for NCTV.

6. 501(c)(3) report

• Terena at Terry McAteer’s office suggested to Lew that NCTV stay under the NCSOS Partners in Education 501(c)(3) since the MOUs with the governments are with NCSOS, and the government entities might not have enough confidence in an independent NCTV to ensure continued funding.
• The issue was raised of government representatives on the NCTV board, who cannot devote time to fund-raising or being active board members. NCTV could possibly have its own Board of Directors under the NCSOS 501(c)(3) and still have government reps on a separate Advisory Board. David queried Sheila about how Nevada City might feel about a different type of relationship.
• Susan will draft a letter proposing a new relationship with the government entities for David and Lew to review. Lew would take the idea to Terry to get his input and support. Neal suggested an informal lunch with city managers to float the idea before sending a formal letter.
• Open House is August 30. We may cancel either the June or July board meeting for lack of an agenda.

7. Buck Stoval, member of the public, commented on the non-profit board of directors’ agenda item. He recommends we look at the Phoenix station board and how the govt reps can be present without a conflict of interest. Lew asked if the govt reps are required to attend; Buck does not think so. The govt reps can participate in the discussion but not vote. Neal suggested that Lew check with ACM about this issue – Lew related previous efforts in doing this.

8. Next meeting to be June 21, 2007, 6pm unless we are notified otherwise.
9. Meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m (Burgess/Stein) Passed 7/0.