MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon City Council members agreed Monday night to start broadcasting committee meetings on Time Warner Cable during a trial period.
Mike Hillier, councilman-at-large, suggested this would be a way for citizens to see how decisions are made as the vast majority of discussions regarding legislation take place in committee meetings.
According to Paul Glass, a Time Warner employee who runs the camera during legislative meetings, the cable company is on board with the added cable coverage but the company will not supply an employee. Glass said he was willing to train a volunteer to run the camera.
Hillier said he has spoken with the instructor of Information Technologies at the Knox County Career Center about the possibility of using students for the job.
Sam Barone added students from Mount Vernon High School who broadcast the daily announcements would be good candidates, as well.
Nearly all the council members said they saw good and bad sides of the broadcast.
Some council members expressed concern about what would happen in between the committee meetings and the start of the legislative session. Glass said the feed could be shut off, the camera could be pointed to a sign stating the session will resume at 7:30 p.m. or the feed could continue to run with sound.
It was agreed to run a trial period, perhaps until the end of 2012. No start date has been selected.
Legislative sessions are currently broadcast on Time Warner’s channel 9.
Contact Samantha Scoles
EmailCopyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
