The Gardner Cable Commission update on Sept. 30 reported ongoing production of live city council and school committee broadcasts, rebroadcasts of ZBA and Planning Board meetings, expanded seasonal sports coverage and several equipment concerns that could require capital funding.

Director Josty (Gardner Community Access Television) said staff continued to produce a monthly mayor’s update, a senior‑center show and a recovery‑themed program, and they recorded summer concerts and community events for rebroadcast. The commission also expanded fall coverage to include soccer and field hockey in addition to football and anticipates resuming ice hockey and basketball coverage in winter.

Josty told the committee the equipment vendor that makes the station’s switcher uses a Windows‑10 platform that no longer receives security updates. The vendor offered two options, Josty said: retrofit the existing units for about $2,000 plus shipping, or replace them at an estimated $10,099 each. He said vendors are helping evaluate a standalone streaming device as an alternative.

On closed captioning, Josty said staff were finalizing vendor conversations; one vendor’s system was quoted at about $65,000 and the commission is looking at lower‑cost add‑ons to existing systems before issuing a purchasing bid.

Personnel notes: the commission has increased some staff hours to cover evening and weekend events; one staff member now works 20 hours a week and covers nighttime and weekend productions.

Why it matters: public‑access production keeps residents who cannot attend meetings informed and provides local coverage of sporting and cultural events. The commission said equipment obsolescence and captioning requirements may require funding decisions in the next budget cycle.

Next steps: the commission is in talks with vendors to finalize retrofit or replacement options and plans to send procurement requests to purchasing once a preferred solution is identified.