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Dear Editor:
The Reading, MA, Select Board decided tonight to extend the RCTV contract for only three months. The current contract itself has the option to extend for 6 months, so the board isn’t even adhering to the contract. In fact, it is the Select Board that is at fault for the problems that were dropped like bombs at tonight’s meeting.
Not a single person in the audience had negative remarks about RCTV, and yet the Board held public discussion, and then voted to extend the contract for only three months on the same night–regardless of the fact that it was 11:00 pm by the time they voted. This is such a hot-button topic that it should have received higher priority than the preceding topic: office hours for Select Board members (which took up 30 minutes of time).
Select Board chairman Chris Haley dropped the bomb. He showed a video he recorded in the Select Board chamber after a meeting last night–a recording that he controlled. The argument is that recordings like this are security and privacy breaches. I won’t argue with him on that. But the question is, “Who was at fault?” Who initiated the recording? The cameras were apparently left on from an earlier meeting. Who controlled the camera? Chris Haley. Was RCTV involved with that event? No. This looks like operator error at best, and more likely incompetence–as was pointed out in one public comment. The Town operates the cameras and recording device; RCTV sets up the equipment.
It was also revealed that two prior incidents of recordings occurred in 2021 and 2023. This was the first any of us at the meeting had heard of these events. From what I gathered at the meeting tonight, these events were reported to RCTV by the Town, but no follow-up was done. Although RCTV was apparently informed of these prior incidents, no mention was made of what remediations were taken. As another speaker noted, “Trust but Verify” is the security mantra. The Select Board did not follow through and do its due diligence.
In fact, as was pointed out by another speaker, annual reviews of RCTV are supposed to occur between September and November of each year. When asked whether these reviews were done, none of the Reading Select Board members could attest that they had occurred–for the past four years. And apparently, RCTV was not contacted for these annual reviews either. That is the fault of the Reading Select Board.
We cannot blame RCTV for the failure of the Select Board to verify that the technical problems had been fixed. That is the Select Boards’ job. RCTV is, in essence, a contractor in this instance; if there’s a problem with the service, they need to be informed. The communication between the Select Board and RCTV has apparently broken down.
RCTV is a fixture in Reading. They have trained hundreds of students (including my daughter) and adults to use video and recording equipment. RCTV provides vital access to community TV programming for seniors, and anyone who doesn’t have the time to attend meetings that run for 4+ hours. There are numerous town meetings presented on RCTV. The Select Boards’ decision not to renew the RCTV contract beyond three months puts much of this programming in jeopardy.
Carlo Bacci and Chris Haley were adamant about not renewing the contract with RCTV; it was suggested that we find another Service provider–or contract with a neighboring town to use their TV services. I don’t think either of these options is feasible in the next 3 months. And how much is it going to cost?
My argument to the Select Board was and is that RCTV is an essential part of our community. Renewing the contract should have been a “no-brainer.” The improper recording incidents are technical problems that should be resolved ASAP by both RCTV and the Town. In fact, I think it should be the Town Manager who is the direct liaison to RCTV–since the Select Board hasn’t handled it well. RCTV should be given the opportunity to fix these problems.
Cutting the contract off after three months will not get these issues resolved. The technical issues might get fixed, but the real problem is security and alerting. These details need to be spelled out in the contract between Reading and RCTV.
What we saw tonight was a deliberate attempt to destroy the contract with RCTV. Everyone in this town should be concerned. The Select Board should be accepting their own failures instead of undercutting the people that can help resolve the problems.
Sincerely,
Joseph White
Prescott St.
