Saugus cable TV board president wants station contract review

SAUGUS – Janice Jarosz, president of the board of directors for Saugus Community Television, said she?ll be urging selectmen to bring in outside consultants to review the SCTV contract when they meet Tuesday to discuss extending the town?s agreement with the cable access station.?In our agreement, which I think is very important, the Board of Selectmen have an option to seek outside consulting help as far as reviewing our programs and what?s going on down at the studio and making a professional outside assessment,” Jarosz said. “It?s pretty hard to know about how this cable network runs. There?s an awful lot to it and I wanted them to know there?s that option, and SCTV has to fund it so it wouldn?t be at any cost to the town.”The Board of Selectmen will hold a public hearing Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. to go over the five-year contract, which expires in June. Selectmen Chairman Scott Crabtree said he?s hoping for public input before making a decision.?We?re going to get input from the public and see what the public feels,” said Crabtree. “We?ll look at a bunch of different factors and we?ll be weighing what it costs and what the best interests of the community are. It?s the first time it?s been up for renewal, so I?m not sure what to anticipate.”Selectman Stephen Horlick said the Board will look at whether or not they want to extend the contract or make changes to it, but noted the Board has no say over programming.?We have nothing to do with programming,” said Horlick. “We just deal with the contract they have with the town of Saugus. That?s up to the Board of Directors, they deal with programming.”The idea for bringing in consultants first came up at a Board of Selectmen meeting in December. Town Meeting member Maureen Dever said she wanted to see SCTV go in a more positive direction in response to an ongoing feud between Downin? Town host Mike Downing and local resident Tom Lucey.Downing?s show has generated controversy over the years for his criticisms of local officials and residents.On Friday, SCTV Executive Director Rich Garabedian stood by the show.?The show is his opinion,” said Garabedian. “If you don?t like it you don?t have to watch it. Is it within community standards? Yes. Is it sometimes raw and a little difficult to digest? Perhaps. There does seem to be a polarization over than show but you don?t have to watch it. He?s entitled to his opinion.”Garabedian also pointed out several improvements SCTV has made, including adding a third channel and installing remote studios at the high school and middle school. He said he believes “wholeheartedly” in what SCTV does.?We?ve done incredible things within a very short period of time,” said Garabedian. “We?ve got a third station ? we?ve increased staffing ? we have college and high school part-timers and we?ve increased programming 100-fold. I couldn?t ask for a more dedicated group and we love helping the community. If there?s any talk about non-renewal, I don?t know what the issues are. Nothing has been brought to my attention that we?re not in compliance with.”Garabedian said he?s hoping to see SCTV supporters show up for Tuesday?s hearing.?I want every supporter of Saugus Community Television to be aware of what?s going because they have a voice in this,” said Garabedian. “I?m so tired of the vocal minority being the only ones that are heard.”Crabtree said individual SCTV programs aren?t relevant to the Board?s discussion about the contract, but Friday said the issue could come up.?I?m sure they?ll take that into consideration because I?m sure they?ve received a lot of calls about that,” Jarosz said. “My interpretation is that it?s a meeting to assess (SCTV) and to find out what direction they want to take. I don?t know whether they?re going to renew the contract as is, or make adjustments or deny it. It?s all in their hands.”Tuesday?s meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall auditorium.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].