Saugus Selectmen updated on SCTV battle

SAUGUS – Town Meeting member Maureen Dever said she wants to see consultants brought in at Saugus Community Television in order for SCTV to go down a “more positive road,” in response to ongoing controversy with the Downin? Town show.While speaking at the Board of Selectmen?s enhanced citizens? forum Tuesday night, Dever said the Board of Selectmen should consider the measure during the 60 days it has to renew its agreement with SCTV.?What we?re seeing is, instead of civil discourse, we?re having people who, if they differ in the opinion of a few, are actually victimized with hate speech, with their families castigated,” said Dever. “Sixty days is not a lot of time. But the money is there to bring in a consultant to guide, to educate, to have quality programming.”Prior to Dever speaking, Saugus resident Thomas Lucey spoke about a complaint he made to the Board over the summer about Mike Downing?s show Downin? Town, for was he called “harassment.”?I lodged a complaint in July to the Board of Selectmen in August, and in the meantime I haven?t heard back from them ever since,” said Lucey. “I believe (the Board of Directors) don?t have any interest in resolving the problem. I believe executive producer Rich Garabedian and Mike Downing and all the members of the Board conspired to hide these charges and sweep it under the rug.”Garabedian spoke Tuesday to defend SCTV.?There?s a certain amount of people, it seems to be in the minority, that wish to silence certain programs or programming,” said Garabedian. “I think part of the reason for PEG (Public Education Government) access is to allow these differences of opinions to be used. The bottom line is if you don?t like the programming, you don?t have to watch.”Garabedian went on to say that Downing has the right to his opinion “within community standards” and said he thought the situation with Lucey was resolved.?I think we?re really bringing a lot to the community and I just wanted to stand here and stand by it,” said Garabedian. “I?ll accept responsibility for it and I stand by it.”Selectman Stephen Horlick said the issue needs to be taken up by the SCTV Board of Directors, not the selectmen.?The Board of Selectmen cannot say what can and cannot be put on public access TV,” said Horlick. “The Board of Directors is the one that should be setting parameters of what they feel either slanderous or maligned? not the Board of Selectmen. Then you get government telling TV what we can and cannot put on.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected]. You can follow him on Twitter @MattTempesta.