Mayor has her eye on LynnCAM

LYNN – Four local cable television access workers were spared layoffs Friday after city officials released money to fund the Western Avenue studio?s payroll for at least two more weeks.?We?re staying open – hopefully forever,” Lynn Community Access and Media, Inc. board of directors President Robert Sewell said Friday.It was Sewell two weeks ago who, along with two fellow board members, set the stage for studio Operation Manager Sean Donahue?s layoff and job termination, as well as three other workers. After voting to pay off the studio?s outstanding bills, the board voted to send out layoff notices on May 1.Sewell went to City Hall Friday to pick up a check intended, said city attorney James Lamanna, to cover the studio?s $2,000 a week payroll for the next two weeks. Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy on Thursday made it clear initial city help with the studio?s payroll will be long term. She repeated an earlier vow to not let the studio close.?We will be funding payroll,” Kennedy said.The studio broadcasts award-winning programs on Comcast and Verizon public access channels with help from Lynn residents who sign up to be studio members.The city and LynnCAM?s board have traded charges in Superior Court since last fall. The state Attorney General?s office in March stated that former studio employee John F. Chapman and Sewell “…allegedly caused LynnCAM to issue numerous checks as payment for services that were never rendered.”Board attorney Emmanuel Papanickolas said that claim is “based on misinformation.”The board has filed counterclaims in court against the city, stating that last fall?s decision to divert Comcast and Verizon payments from LynnCAM to the city should be scrapped.The board wants city officials to account for money directors say belongs to the studio.Lamanna said the board wants a judge to halt the city from spending any cable provider money on non-cable related expenses.?All money has been spent on cable-related expenses. It is our intent to keep the station operational,” he said.