Hurdles line path to reviving Saugus Community Television

SAUGUS – Selectmen have taken their first step in restoring Saugus cable TV to its old format, which an overwhelming majority of Saugus voters supported in the November election.There are still a couple of hurdles, however.An opinion from the board?s counsel, which Chairman Ellen Faiella read aloud at the selectmen?s meeting Tuesday, states that in order to return Saugus Cable Television Station to the community-operated Saugus Community Television, the board would have to rescind the vote of the previous board on July 18, 2012, which put the organization under the control of selectmen. Such a vote is contingent upon a vote from current SCTS Board of Directors.When Faiella asked for input on the board on how to proceed, Selectman Debra Panetta said she felt a public hearing was in order before rescinding the vote.?We haven?t talked about what we want to keep and what we don?t want to keep before we do anything,” she said.Selectman Maureen Dever said she felt that the 88 percent majority vote on the nonbinding ballot question, “Would you like to see Saugus Cable Television revert back to Saugus Community Television, a community operated organization, where you have a voice as opposed to a Board of Selectmen controlled operation?” was enough of an indicator of what to do.?The voters spoke loud and clear in their desire, as they did when they elected all of us,” said Dever. She added that the “board can make the best decisions for community” in creating new guidelines for the station, taking “the best of both worlds” in terms of practices from the old and new stations.Selectman Steve Castinetti supported Dever. Of the November vote, he said, “I don?t think you can get much better.”Selectman Paul Allan agreed with both Dever and Panetta. “In order to move forward, we should rescind the vote, but I agree with Panetta that we should hold a public hearing just to get ideas.”The board eventually moved to rescind the vote, 4-0, with Panetta abstaining. They then took another vote to hold a public hearing, contingent on if the station?s board also votes to rescind. The second vote also passed 4-1, with Castinetti voting no.