Minneapolis Telecommunications Network
Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, March 13, 2003
Board Members Present: Julie Wallace, Joan Higinbotham, Robert Vose, Tomas Gonda, Tamir Nolley, Todd Barnes, Mark Engebretson
Board Members Absent: Vusi Zulu, Floyd Child
Ex-Officio Present: Lance Leupold, Edie French, Leo McCafferty
Others Present: John Akre, Jim Derks, Gabriel Rios, Pamela Colby
Robert Vose called the meeting to order at 5:34 p.m.
Vose announced new board member Todd Barnes. He thanked Engebretson for his service as chair for the last two years.
Rios commented on three issues. First, he said that it was difficult to find the information about the board on the MTN web site. His second point was that he felt that the staff of MTN does not reflect the community it serves. He said that he applied for jobs at MTN and did not get them, even though he felt he was more than qualified. His third concern arose from an equipment checkout experience. He checked out a piece of equipment and left the equipment at the location at which he was taping. He was not able to return the piece of equipment to MTN for a month. He got a six-month suspension and $300 fine for this. Rios did not like the way he was treated by the MTN staff. He felt that the penalty was too stiff. Rios was also unhappy that information about his failure to return the equipment was divulged to a staff person at another access facility. Vose said that the board will schedule a meeting of the Grievance Committee to hear and comment on the concerns of Rios. Vose said that the information Rios gave today implies a request for appeal. Vose said that another request was given him in writing by Larry Leininger. The Grievance Committee is the Executive Committee, but other board members are also welcome to attend. Nolley suggested that the meeting be set up via e-mail or phone.
Gonda announced the upcoming Voices screening at the Humphrey Forum.
French said that the letter from City Council in reference to Time Warner and Fox Sports Network was not to be sent to MTN. Vose suggested that "to MTN" be stricken from the minutes. As amended. MSP Wallace, Nolley
The City Council voted to cut $20 million from the 2003 budget. MTN is no longer in the ITS budget but is now in the Communications Department budget. Engebretson asked if MTN will be affected by these cuts. French said that she does not know at this time. Colby said that MTN received notice that playback of Channel 14 will be entirely done by City Cable staff.
Tuesday evening the school board approved an outline of how they will deal with cuts. His department will not go untouched.
Today Time Warner reached terms with Fox Sports Network.
The current subscriber number is 82,009. The Youth Service Award is open for applications. Colby passed out a letter to the editor from the Camden Community News. The letter writer said that he got cable rather than satellite because of the local access channels.
Colby has signed a contract with the Saint Anthony Main Events Center for the 20th Anniversary party on April 11th. The first mailing of invitations has gone out. Several confirmations have been received.
The Midwest Regional Alliance Conference went well.
Colby was elected to the National Alliance of Media Arts and Culture board. The auditor was presently working on the audit. Colby was not sure if the report would be ready by the next meeting.
A new Somali program has started. This is the seventh Somali series on MTN.
Rios asked how many Hispanic programs were on MTN. Two programs were noted.
French recommended that board members watch the tape of keynote speaker Dirk Konig’s speech from the Alliance Conference.
Treasurer’s Report – Engebretson passed out copies of the report.
Engebretson pointed out that Hennepin County meetings were overbudgeted because a payment from 2002 was forwarded to 2003. Wallace asked about the line for beverage sales. Colby said that the pop machine was eliminated and that the budget line would be removed.
A. Facilities Report – Vose reported
Vose said that MTN has decided that it is possible to stay in this location, and that he has had "baby step" discussions with the landlord. Some initial points of discussion include incorporating an escape clause in the lease, and the landlord has been agreeable. The landlord would also like to exchange the current MTN administrative space for two smaller spaces. Vose added that the landlord wants to prohibit use of bathrooms on the second floor by MTN. Engebretson asked about our payment of property taxes, whether that would remain in the lease. Vose said that he had not yet raised the issue of money. He said that the Franchise Renewal/ Long Range planning committee must assemble to work on a new lease.
There was some discussion on whether the Long Range Planning Committee could meet in conjunction with the Grievance Committee. As an Executive Committee member, Gonda asked whether he should recuse himself from the Grievance Committee because of his acquaintance with Rios. French said she thought it should be Gonda’s decision to make. Vose said he understood that the Executive Committee would serve as the Grievance Committee and that other board members may come to observe but that the Executive Committee will make the determination. Vose added that Rios will add issues above those appropriate for the Grievance Committee, and these may be a recommendation sent to the board. Motion: that by the May board meeting, the Executive Committee, outside of the current grievance process, review the Committee roster, the process of setting grievance committee agendas, and the current written process for grievance. MSP: Barnes, Engebretson.
Vose will prepare the agenda for the upcoming Grievance Committee meeting.
Leupold asked for information about the Leininger grievance. Colby gave some background about his program and his request for an earlier time slot and daytime repeats. Colby said that most access centers do such time appropriate programming. Leupold asked if guidelines specified what was considered controversial. He also asked whether the Grievance Committee should hear the two complaints separately. Vose said that these details would be worked out via e-mail.
Meeting adjourned at 6:51 p.m. MSP Nolley, Wallace