Saugus selectmen seek SCTV oversight

SAUGUS – A new proposal by the Board of Selectmen would drastically change the way Saugus Community Television conducts its business.Selectmen Chairman Michael Serino laid out a new plan Monday night that would eliminate SCTV as a nonprofit group and bring it under more control by the town.Among the changes proposed are: the selectmen would provide money annually to the Board of Directors and approve its yearly budget; the selectmen would approve any additional money needed; and a rules and procedures handbook approved by the Board of Directors would also need to be approved by the selectmen.?I?m not too sure the nonprofit is working as well as I thought it would,” said Serino. “After having our January meeting there were a lot of issues that came before the board about money, meetings, the budget. They would have to put a budget together just like every other town department does that goes to Town Meeting for approval. We?d be like ?Town Meeting? approving their budget.The proposal also stipulates that any additional revenue would be put in a separate account maintained by the town treasurer.?There?s about $600,000 floating out there in three different accounts and I would feel more comfortable if it was under the treasurer,” said Serino. “This structure provides checks and balances, and secures the $600,000. That $600,000 seems like a lot of money for them to have.”Selectmen Vice-chairman Steve Castinetti wanted to know why the board was going through this process now.?This whole thing to me seems to be micro-managing,” said Castinetti. “Now the Board of Selectmen is going to control everything the Saugus TV channel does. I don?t know if we?ve had any problems with them.”Serino said the proposal may also reduce the roughly 3.5 percent of their cable bill that customers pay toward the station by allowing the town to negotiate with Comcast.Chris Peatridge, Chairman of the Board of Directors, said he would support the changes.?I don?t have heartache over this,” said Peatridge. “I don?t think it?s necessary or proper for an entity to have $600,000 sitting around for their control. It?s money that should be with the town ?”The board will discuss the plan further at its July 18 meeting.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].