Only Greene receives franchise fees to benefit WGLT-TV 4, the cable access channel.
GREENE – Town leaders from Greene, Leeds, Turner and Wales have worked out a plan to share franchise fees through a four-town agreement with Adelphia for cable television service.
Representatives from each town will take the draft plan to their boards of selectmen for approval.
“What we’re hoping to do is have all four communities enter into an interlocal agreement so all four communities could get franchise fees,” said Greene Town Manager Stephen Eldridge.
Greene’s 15-year agreement for cable service ended in March 2003.
He explained that only Greene receives franchise fees of $10,500 to benefit WGLT-TV 4, the cable access channel that serves Greene, Leeds, Turner and Wales.
Eldridge said WGLT hopes to hire a part-time employee for TV 4. The station is staffed entirely by volunteers. There are several people who donate time to the operation of TV 4, but all hold full-time jobs.
Besides a need for a part-time staff person, WGLT hopes to upgrade its equipment from an analog format to digital and needs funding to do that.
Turner chose in the past to waive franchise fees. “We’re now changing that philosophy,” said Turner Town Manager Jim Catlin.
Turner selectmen will meet April 5 and review the draft plan for a franchise agreement, Catlin said. “It’s another regionalization and partnership collaboration,” he said.
Leeds Town Administrator Jane Wheeler also liked the proposal.
“I was glad that all the towns were represented,” she said. “It was good to see them all there.” Leeds will address the agreement either on March 31 or April 7.
One issue that has not been agreed upon between the towns and Adelphia is providing service on roads not now served, Eldridge said.
Officials from Leeds, Turner and Wales will report back to Eldridge or Greene deputy Town Clerk Sally Hebert by April 15.
If all of the selectmen vote to participate, they will move forward with the interlocal agreement. The towns will share the legal fees to draft the interlocal and the franchise agreements.
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