SCTS vows to ‘stay generic’ to avoid promotional conflicts

SAUGUS – The head of the Saugus Community Television Station board said shows cannot single out businesses because it violates the station?s ban against commercial and promotional content.?It is not my intention to tell you what to put on or when to put it on,” said Christopher Peatridge at Wednesday night?s SCTS meeting. “We are trying to clarify because of complaints we?re receiving ? We?re not going to be out shilling for this business or that business. We?re not here to cut anything down. We?re here to grow Saugus television.”Operations Manager Rich Garabedian said the provision limits programming, but Peatridge said it doesn?t.?You want to be a fool and stand there and say that, but this is what we?re saying, you cannot spotlight any one particular vendor in town ?” said Peatridge. “Stay generic. Pinpointing the name of the provider is advertising ? It has to be generic.”Garabedian said highlighting local businesses is a standard of cable access programming and asked Peatridge, “Is this still a PEG access station?”?What is being considered promotional we?d consider educational,” said Garabedian. “Sixty percent of our programming consists of that. We see that as an informative. We believe local services should be promoted. Anyone is welcome. If they have an interesting product we?d love to discuss it.”Chet Stentiford, who hosts “Creative Gardens” on SCTS, said he talked to the Federal Communications Commission about the issue, noting his show is not in violation of the rules for filming at Alfalfa Farm Vineyard in Topsfield.?We?re trying to work within the limits and restrictions of your rules,” said Stentiford. “If there is a problem just call me directly. It?s all interpretation. I want to work to a good solution to this.”The board also re-voted on section 8 of the rules and a regulations handbook. The board had voted to accept the section without the controversial “three days notice” provision at its last meeting, however, Saugus resident Rick Fail raised an issue that the meeting wasn?t posted with enough notice.Peatridge said the meeting was posted the Friday before Veterans Day and after speaking with legal counsel, he told Peatridge that Sunday was technically the holiday and not Monday.?I don?t think anyone was inconvenienced because the gentleman that brought it up was here,” said Peatridge. “The posting was done on Friday. Sunday is a holiday, Monday is a day you might have off and Tuesday constitutes two days.”Treasurer Janice Jarosz updated the board on the station?s finances. Jarosz said there is $325,000 in the operating account, $309,000 in CDs and $185,000 held by the town of Saugus.Jarosz also criticized Garabedian for paying sales tax on purchases even though the state had a tax-exempt, non-profit status.Peatridge called it a “major league mistake.”?You are the Executive Director,” said Peatridge. “It falls to you to make sure these things are done ? Thousands of dollars have been paid that shouldn?t have been paid.”Garabedian admitted he “wasn?t paying attention” and said he thought the purchases were tax-exempt.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].