OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Cable Television Advisory Board Meeting - September 11, 2026

Board of Aldermen Meetings — Friday, September 11, 2026
BodyNashua, New Hampshire
SessionBoard of Aldermen Meetings
DateFriday, September 11, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 12:00

Transcript — Verbatim
0:08

All right.

0:09

Welcome everyone to the uh September meeting of the Cable Television Advisory Board.

0:16

We'll uh begin with a roll call, although we don't believe that we have quorum at the moment.

0:23

Steve Buxton is not here.

0:25

Lauren Byers.

0:26

Yeah.

0:27

Andrew Sinoda is here.

0:29

Tim Cummings is not here.

0:32

Patrick Hannon is not here.

0:35

Jennifer McCormick is not here.

0:37

Nick Meiservich.

0:38

Here.

0:39

Cole Morgan.

0:40

Here.

0:41

Amber Morgan is not here.

0:43

Emily Vassar is not here, but Oscar Viakis.

0:49

Velassis.

0:51

All right.

0:52

Here.

0:52

Okay.

0:52

Thank you.

0:54

All right.

0:55

So again, we don't have a quorum, but we will uh do reports.

0:59

Uh Mr.

0:59

Painter.

1:01

Alrighty.

1:02

Our current balance of the operating account 2505 is 223,195.04 cents.

1:09

Our expenses for August of 2026, and this includes salaries and facility operations, totaled 36,222.

1:20

Excuse me.

1:21

We had 796 cable casts in total between June and August.

1:28

And of this, 143 were live events, and this split down to public six, I'm sorry, public 25, education 40 and government 1651, and our uh high definition channel 27.

1:43

We had 5291 playbacks, and of this the public had 2,677.

1:50

Uh education 22 had 713, and government 16 had 813, and our HD channel or high definition channel had uh 1,089.

2:02

Uh we reported in June that the media controller for the uh in-room monitors and computers in the City Hall Auditorium was at its end of life and had to be replaced.

2:11

On advice from the manufacturer Xtron, uh Key Code, our our vendor, uh, sent the dysfunctional controller to them, and they are going to be able to repair it for almost one quarter the price uh for us replacing the system.

2:26

Uh so we we are awaiting delivery of of the repair devices and key code will uh then reinstall the update uh and update the system.

2:37

Uh again, we we didn't realize in June that Pete would be on vacation this week of September, so that's why we're having it here in the chamber, and then we'll uh we'll kind of eye December for for us to have it in the studio.

2:51

Uh we've also we've not purchased our new uh field cameras as of yet, and we continue to research our best options both technically and budget wise.

3:00

Um Dan, do you have any I do uh Dan Young Nashua Community Media?

3:06

Um we have actually looked at three different um well, several, but we've looked really close at three different uh cameras, a Canon, a Panasonic, and a Sony, and we were really happy with the Panasonic until we found out that um one feature doesn't work in tandem with recording things.

3:24

So uh it looks currently like we're going to go with the Sony.

3:27

I don't know the model number off the top of my head, but I know that Pete was working on getting an accurate quotes uh prior or earlier this week, but we weren't able to get them in time.

3:39

Okay.

3:40

Uh the Alliance for Community Media uh Northeast Region is coming to Nashua this November.

3:46

Uh the annual conference and trade show will be held at the Sheritan Terra uh November 16th to 18th.

3:52

And although the conference pricing isn't available at this time, we we have some kind of a an idea.

3:57

I think it's $300 for the entire thing uh for the for the 16th through the 18th.

4:04

Um we hope to see some of the the more national community media and interested CTAB members to attend.

4:11

Uh there'll be single-day and full day conference pricing.

4:14

Uh the event also includes the free RSVP admission to uh a Alliance for Commun Community Media Northeast.

4:23

Um the Noreaster Video Awards presentation that showcases the best and pay access programming in New England and New York.

4:31

Conference pricing should be available.

4:33

Oh, okay.

4:34

Um if not, then we we'll we'll provide I'm sorry.

4:38

Um we'd like to see as many as possible as you people can attend because it is right here in Nashua.

4:45

Um as we're now beginning the uh fiscal year 2028 budget season, we would like to open the discussion concerning this.

4:53

Strictly from our point of view, we have maintained for many years that we should ask as permitted in our current franchise agreement for an increase to 5% up from our current 4%.

5:04

Well, this will not solve the problem of customer migration on this to streaming platforms and away from traditional cable, it will avoid asking the already strapped budgetary process of the city for help for at least one more year.

5:18

Uh we realize this is kicking the can down the road, yet we do believe it's a viable option for continued, albeit temporary operational solvency.

5:28

Uh further, we also understand that taking this path would be a legislative process culminating in the Board of Alderman debate.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Works█████████████████████████████████████████████57%
Procedural███████████████████24%
Technology and Innovation███████████████19%
Summary of Proceedings

Cable Television Advisory Board Meeting - September 11, 2026

[The Cable Television Advisory Board (CTAB) held its September meeting on September 11, 2026, without a quorum present. The board reviewed operational reports, discussed a potential franchise fee increase, and received updates on equipment, community events, and programming. No votes were taken due to the lack of a quorum; a special meeting was requested for budget discussions.]

Reports & Financial Status

  • Operating Account Balance (Account 2505): $223,195.04 as of the meeting date.
  • August 2026 Expenses: $36,222 (including salaries and facility operations).
  • Cable Casts (June–August): 796 total, with 143 live events (public: 25, education: 40, government: 1,651? [Note: transcript states "government 1651" but likely a typo—probably 1651 is a total or misstated; context suggests government 16 and HD channel 27] and high-definition channel 27).
  • Playbacks (June–August): 5,291 total (public: 2,677; education 22: 713; government 16: 813; HD channel: 1,089).
  • Franchise Fee Revenue: Quarterly payment of $221,557.53 at the current 4% rate.

Equipment & Facility Updates

  • City Hall Auditorium Media Controller: The end-of-life controller was sent to manufacturer Xtron for repair at roughly one-quarter the cost of replacement. Repair delivery is pending; Key Code will reinstall the system.
  • Field Cameras: No purchase yet. Three cameras evaluated (Canon, Panasonic, Sony). The Panasonic was favored but had a feature incompatibility, so the committee now leans toward Sony. An accurate quote was not available in time for the meeting.

Community Media & Events

  • Alliance for Community Media Northeast Region Conference: To be held in Nashua at the Sheraton Tara, November 16–18, 2026. Full conference pricing expected around $300; single-day options available. The event includes the Noreaster Video Awards. Board members encouraged to attend.
  • Nashua ETV Programming Highlights:
    • Live coverage of Nashua North and South graduations from Stellos Stadium (June).
    • Concert at Nashua Public Library (June).
    • 4th of July coverage including Spartans, USA 250 fireworks, and Silver Knights FCBL All-Star Game and Home Run Derby (July).
    • New program "Aging Gracefully" (elderly care) began recording in August; editing ongoing.
  • BRB TV & Live Cameras: Live cams at multiple city locations (Nashua Senior Center, Chamber of Commerce, Bridge, Library, Mines Falls Park, West Hollis Street, Main Street) available on NPTV website. Main Street camera now displayed on channel billboards with date/time/weather. Live broadcasts included Mayor Donchus, AMR Director, County Treasurer, Fire Rescue Chief Buxton, and Police Department representatives. Special event coverage: Nashua Pride Parade, Summer Stroll, Renaissance Park dedication, memorial for Fire Rescue Chief Glenn Telgan, and Greely Park Art Show.

Discussion Items

  • Franchise Fee Increase: The board discussed requesting a franchise fee increase from 4% to 5% as permitted under the current franchise agreement. This would provide temporary operational solvency while avoiding a city budget request. The process would require Board of Alderman legislation.
  • Special Meeting for Budget Discussion: A special meeting was requested specifically to discuss the FY2028 budget and the franchise fee increase. The chair agreed, noting that a quorum was needed. Member Nick Meiserich clarified that the quarterly franchise fee payment of $221,557.53 is at the current 4% rate.
  • Streaming Transition Subcommittee: Member Cole Morgan suggested forming a subcommittee to plan the transition from traditional cable to streaming media, an inevitable change. He also left early due to another committee commitment.

Key Outcomes

  • No votes or formal decisions were made because the board lacked a quorum (members absent: Steve Buxton, Tim Cummings, Patrick Hannon, Jennifer McCormick, Amber Morgan, Emily Vassar).
  • A special meeting will be scheduled for FY2028 budget discussion and the potential franchise fee increase.
  • The board acknowledged the anniversary of 9/11 with a moment of remembrance before adjournment.

Public Comments

  • No members of the public were present; public comment was not held.

Meeting Transcript

All right. Welcome everyone to the uh September meeting of the Cable Television Advisory Board. We'll uh begin with a roll call, although we don't believe that we have quorum at the moment. Steve Buxton is not here. Lauren Byers. Yeah. Andrew Sinoda is here. Tim Cummings is not here. Patrick Hannon is not here. Jennifer McCormick is not here. Nick Meiservich. Here. Cole Morgan. Here. Amber Morgan is not here. Emily Vassar is not here, but Oscar Viakis. Velassis. All right. Here. Okay. Thank you. All right. So again, we don't have a quorum, but we will uh do reports. Uh Mr. Painter. Alrighty. Our current balance of the operating account 2505 is 223,195.04 cents. Our expenses for August of 2026, and this includes salaries and facility operations, totaled 36,222. Excuse me. We had 796 cable casts in total between June and August. And of this, 143 were live events, and this split down to public six, I'm sorry, public 25, education 40 and government 1651, and our uh high definition channel 27. We had 5291 playbacks, and of this the public had 2,677. Uh education 22 had 713, and government 16 had 813, and our HD channel or high definition channel had uh 1,089. Uh we reported in June that the media controller for the uh in-room monitors and computers in the City Hall Auditorium was at its end of life and had to be replaced. On advice from the manufacturer Xtron, uh Key Code, our our vendor, uh, sent the dysfunctional controller to them, and they are going to be able to repair it for almost one quarter the price uh for us replacing the system. Uh so we we are awaiting delivery of of the repair devices and key code will uh then reinstall the update uh and update the system. Uh again, we we didn't realize in June that Pete would be on vacation this week of September, so that's why we're having it here in the chamber, and then we'll uh we'll kind of eye December for for us to have it in the studio. Uh we've also we've not purchased our new uh field cameras as of yet, and we continue to research our best options both technically and budget wise. Um Dan, do you have any I do uh Dan Young Nashua Community Media? Um we have actually looked at three different um well, several, but we've looked really close at three different uh cameras, a Canon, a Panasonic, and a Sony, and we were really happy with the Panasonic until we found out that um one feature doesn't work in tandem with recording things. So uh it looks currently like we're going to go with the Sony. I don't know the model number off the top of my head, but I know that Pete was working on getting an accurate quotes uh prior or earlier this week, but we weren't able to get them in time. Okay. Uh the Alliance for Community Media uh Northeast Region is coming to Nashua this November. Uh the annual conference and trade show will be held at the Sheritan Terra uh November 16th to 18th. And although the conference pricing isn't available at this time, we we have some kind of a an idea. I think it's $300 for the entire thing uh for the for the 16th through the 18th. Um we hope to see some of the the more national community media and interested CTAB members to attend. Uh there'll be single-day and full day conference pricing. Uh the event also includes the free RSVP admission to uh a Alliance for Commun Community Media Northeast.

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