October 13 marked a significant step for both Walpole Selectmen and Walpole Community Television (WCTV). The two entities have finally decided to put their issues in the past and intend to formalize their relationship with a potential three year contract that will give $400,000 of revenue to the first year operating budget of the new Walpole television entity, which combines the visions of Selectmen and WCTV members.
In 2013, Selectmen accused WCTV members of misusing their funds for personal profit. When the station refused to make changes in its management of the money, selectmen cut off WCTV’s revenue from Comcast and Verizon.
The revenue that WCTV received from its contracts with Comcast in 2013 and Verizon in 2008 allows both of those companies to offer residents Cable TV and other services. The contract requires that each of these companies reserve 5% of the cable television revenues and forward it to the town, to be used for the Public Access TV’s Public, Education, Government (PEG) channels.
When the town receives this money, it is put in a special account so that it is only used for public access PEG activities. The town expects to receive a little more than $500,000 annually from these contracts with Comcast & Verizon.
The Walpole Board of Selectmen’s contract with WCTV formalizes the relationship between the two entities and sets up an ongoing process for funding on an annual basis for the operations of WCTV and Capital Funding for new equipment.
The new contract states that WCTV must maintain a reserve fund of $200,000. It also includes sections that specify the process of appointing people to the WCTV Board of Directors and insurance. In the agreement, selectmen make it clear that if WCTV misuses its funds in any way, they will terminate the contract.
Selectmen recognize that a contract between the two entities could eliminate future conflicts, for having a contract in place would have prevented a lot of the problems that occurred over the past 10 years concerning WCTV’s misuse of its money.
“I think the current WCTV board is fantastic, and has done a great job stabilizing WCTV, moving the studio to WHS and upgrading all the studio equipment and helping fund the TV production classroom at a cost of over $350,000 – all using PEG funds that came in through Comcast & Verizon,” said Selectman Mark Gallivan.
WCTV is expected to sign the contract shortly after their board elections on November 5. The Walpole Board of Selectmen is expected to discuss the contract and likely sign it at their meeting on November 17.
