Residents and students press trustees to restore franchise-fee funding for LMC Media

Dozens of residents, nonprofit leaders and students urged the Village of Mamaroneck Board of Trustees on April 13 to restore full franchise-fee funding to LMC Media, saying cuts in the village budget jeopardize community transparency, student training and local event coverage.

Chris Nusos, identified as the current LMC board president (speaker 13), told the board the 2024 payment cited by staff was a catch-up payment and that, annualized, franchise-fee support runs roughly $320,000 per year. Nusos said LMC has archived municipal meetings, produced community events and relied on the prior village resolution that established a franchise-fee trust intended to support community media.

Matt Sullivan, identified as executive director of LMC Media (speaker 16), said the funding stream is distinct from general tax revenue and that the station’s services — from broadcasting board meetings to training student interns — provide public value and emergency communications. "When those funds are reduced, diverted, or withheld, it's not just LMC Media that's affected," Sullivan said, adding that loss of service would narrow access to local government for residents who cannot attend meetings in person.

Speakers across generations — high-school students, longtime residents, business leaders and nonprofit directors — gave specific examples of LMC’s work. Student speakers (including Madison Epstein, Magnolia Stone and Laura Cordova) described internships, podcasts and projects that used LMC’s platform to reach residents. Jennifer O'Neil, president of the Mamaroneck Chamber of Commerce (speaker 19), said small businesses rely on LMC for promotion and event coverage.

Supporters disputed characterization of LMC as a standard vendor. Nusos and others said the studio and equipment were funded by the three municipalities (Town of Mamaroneck, Village of Mamaroneck and Larchmont) and that LMC’s staffing and programming assumptions were made with the understanding that franchise funds would be provided. LMC representatives said the organization has provided municipal coverage, documentary work that helped secure FEMA grants after flooding, and community programming such as LMC Kids and local podcasts.

Trustees did not take a final vote on the organization’s funding at the meeting. After public comment the board agreed to continue the budget hearing with follow-up sessions and scheduled additional budget meetings, giving trustees and staff more time to reconcile budget figures, contract terms and the resolution language speakers cited.

What’s next: The board carried the tentative budget hearing forward and will consider the funding question as part of the scheduled budget process in late April; supporters asked trustees to prioritize honoring the December 2023 resolution they cited as establishing the franchise-fee trust.