Middleborough cable committee approves equipment and service purchases, reviews FY26 budget proposal and annual report

The Town of Middleborough Cable Committee approved several equipment and service purchases for its public-access operation and reviewed its proposed FY26 budget during a committee meeting (date not specified).

The committee voted to approve small organizational purchases from Amazon ($95.40); a larger equipment order from B&H Photo and Video (quote 111-690-5772, $7,540.60); an AJA H.264 streamer/recorder from B&H (quote 111-698-6343, $1,513.89); a replacement Dell PC (quote 111-648-3938, $1,058.88); renewal of an annual RTMP streaming service from Acker's (quote 008793, $1,200); and eight stacking/nesting chairs from NBF (quote QM721390, $1,884.64). All motions to purchase the items passed by voice vote and were recorded as unanimous in the meeting minutes.

"So for $27, I think that's a good investment," the staff member who presented the Amazon items said as she described an iPad case and organizers intended for studio use. Adam, a staff member and frequent presenter, outlined the larger B&H equipment quote, describing items intended to improve studio automation, portable capture and archival backup. He told the committee the 20TB hard drive would back up previously digitized VHS content so those tapes can be made available to the public.

Why it matters: The purchases fund technology and workspace improvements for MET (the town's media/access operations), support student training and content production, and strengthen the town's capability to record and stream local meetings and events.

Budget and staffing

Committee members reviewed a FY26 budget proposal presented by Karen (staff member). She said the proposed budget reflects a change in how the presenter’s salary will be split between the town and the other funding party compared with the prior year; last year the split was reported as roughly 80/20 and the presenter asked for a 60/40 split, while the town manager suggested moving to 70/30 for the coming year and then to 60/40 the following year. Karen described the FY26 proposed bottom-line total and said most line items remained similar to FY25. She told the committee the complete packet will be submitted for town meeting and that budget documents are due to the town by the end of February.

The committee discussed a personnel matter: staff member Zach’s reclassification and pay increase. Karen said HR indicated an hourly range of roughly $36–$39 for the comparable job chart; Zach’s current hourly rate was stated as $31. Committee members supported the change in principle but the chair recommended waiting to take formal action until member Bob (who was absent and expected to return) could participate. The committee adjusted no salary at this meeting; members said they will address the request at the next meeting.

Annual report and programming

The committee voted to approve the MET 2024 annual report for submission to the select board. Karen said the annual report will also be included in the town’s annual report packet and archived at the library and with the state. She highlighted year-over-year increases in video-on-demand views and summarized programming, studio work, and student achievements, including entries planned for the New England Student Production Awards.

Public comment and franchise concerns

Committee member Bob used an open-forum segment to raise concerns about cable-company pricing and channel-tiering, arguing that recent tier changes and high prices are unfair to consumers and urging residents to contact the Federal Communications Commission. "I think they're ripping people off now," Bob said. Karen and other committee members noted that cable-tier decisions and national streaming strategies lie outside the committee's authority; they encouraged residents concerned about service tiers or rates to contact regulators and providers.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes of Nov. 20, 2024 — motion made and passed unanimously (voice vote). - Amazon organizational items — approve purchase, $95.40 — approved unanimously. - B&H equipment quote (quote 111-690-5772) — approve purchase, $7,540.60 — approved unanimously. - AJA H.264 streamer/recorder (quote 111-698-6343) — approve purchase, $1,513.89 — approved unanimously. - Dell PC (quote 111-648-3938) — approve purchase, $1,058.88 — approved unanimously. - RTMP annual service renewal (Acker's, quote 008793) — approve renewal, $1,200 — approved unanimously. - NBF chairs (quote QM721390) — approve purchase of 8 nesting chairs, $1,884.64 — approved unanimously. - Approve MET 2024 annual report — approved unanimously.

What the committee did not decide

- The committee reviewed the FY26 proposed budget but did not adopt a final town appropriation this night; Karen said the packet will be finalized and returned to the committee ahead of town meeting. The committee also deferred any formal, retroactive pay adjustment for Zach until the next meeting when all members, including Bob, can vote.

Next step

The committee set its next meeting for Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. (meeting packet and formal budgets to be circulated in advance).