Minneapolis Telecommunications Network
Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, September 13, 2007


Board Members Present: Marido Huber, Joan Higinbotham, Floyd Child, Kevin Jenkins, Joel Rainville, Andrew Hedden, Tom Cassidy, Tamir Nolley,
Board Members Absent: Robert Vose
Ex-Officio Present: Lance Leupold, Edie French
Others Present: Pamela Colby, John Akre, Jim Derks, Tom Borrup


Huber called the meeting to order at 5:31 p.m.

I. Opening Business

A. Comments from public, staff and board – no comments

A. Approval of the agenda. Agenda: MSP Child, Nolley.

A. Approval of Minutes from the June board meeting. MSP Child, Nolley.

I. Reports

A. City of Minneapolis – Colby reported for Harrison
Harrison is attending the MACTA Conference. The city has a new communications director. Her name is Sara Dietrich. She was the assistant to Plewacki. She will tour MTN with Colby.

B. Minneapolis Public Schools – Edie French reported
The school channels are working fine. Rainville asked if there will be changes to the school channels this year. French said that there is nothing significant planned.

C. Comcast – Leupold presented
Leupold complimented MTN for its contributions to the Alliance for Community Media conference. Tony Williams from Comcast was also there talking to attendees about collaboration possibilities. Comcast offered its services, hooking up command posts at the 35W bridge collapse site. Huber said that the discussions with Comcast were encouraging.

D. Executive Director's Report – Colby presented
Borrup spoke about the first meeting of the MTN study session. He said it is a wonderful group of commissioners. The next two meetings will be in the studio and will be cablecast live. People are encouraged to come and speak about what MTN means to them and their communities. This testimony will help guide the second phase of the planning process. The November session will involve invited people to talk to the commission to elicit specific information. The Board will approve the Commission's recommendations. Colby encouraged board members to solicit the participation of members at the October meeting. There will be a sign-in sheet at the access desk. The meeting will be televised from 5 to 7 pm.
Colby spoke about staff changes due to the departure of J.C. Bagdadi. Staff is evaluating its roles and having meetings to redirect work. The Pluto and Supernova suites will be transformed into an Express Studio, with no set-up required to make a studio show.
Community Events are now under the direction of Hamil Griffin-Cassidy. He is working with Council Members to finish the 2007 season and plan the 2008 season. MTN is now looking for a half time checkout person. Colby said that is important that MTN hire a youth coordinator position in the future.
MTN will do a live feed of "Drinking with Ian" from Grumpy's Bar. Comcast has been working hard to make the signal look good.
MTN Access to Art completed its 10th episode. The current show features mnartists.org. The folks at the Walker Art Center loved the show and want to hold a fundraiser for it. Huber asked for an update on the van. Colby said that the van is being used with existing equipment now. Derks said that MTN will wait until the spring to get new equipment for it.
The ACM Conference was a success. 14 attendees represented MTN.
Colby spoke about the recent court decision in Al Flowers' case against the city. The decision included strong language supporting freedom of speech rights.

E. Treasurer's Report – Hedden presented
Motion to file MTN's 501c3 status renewal with the state. MSP Nolley, Jenkins.
Hedden spoke about the July and August P& L report. There were three payrolls in July and payout of sick and vacation time. In addition, there was funding for ACM Conference attendance. These costs put expenses temporarily ahead of revenues. Motion to receive report MSP Child, Nolley. French said that the School Board was disappointed that MTN deleted the line item of $6,000 to the School Board. Colby said that the item was removed because MTN had asked Kosloski at the schools to allow MTN to bid for its production services contract three times and never received an RFP. MTN felt that Kosloski was not respectful of MTN in that process. Huber said that MTN chose to direct those funds to youth training.
Hedden introduced the auditor's report. Everything was sound. There was no management letter. Motion to adopt the audit. MSP Child, Rainville.

Next board meeting October 11, 2007
II. Adjourn
Meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. MSP Nolley, Child.