As Hudson Community Television faces long-term financial challenges and on-going volunteer shortages, the Hudson Cable Utility Advisory Committee is considering ways to expand community involvement, identify new funding sources and strengthen its role through a formal charter.
The committee discussed those issues during its Sept. 28 meeting as members continued reviewing a draft charter that will help define the committee’s purpose, responsibilities and relationship with the Board of Selectmen.
“We’ve gone over this draft of the charter, which all the committees are now doing, and I think every member has seen it at least once and we’ve gotten comments,” said Chair Mike O’Keefe. “Are there any additional thoughts or comments on it?”
Board of Selectmen Liaison Heidi Jakoby suggested incorporating several standard provisions that appear in other town committee charters and have been recommended by Town Administrator Roy Sorenson.
“I was looking at some of the categories that Sorenson put in charter samples, which included a right-to-know statement and other sections more common in charters, like the budget,” said Jakoby. “There are certain guidelines that need to be followed in any committee. There are also appointments, subcommittees and reporting. How would you make reports, and what is the reporting structure back to the Board of Selectmen? You serve at the will of the Board, so what would that commitment look like?”
Jakoby also encouraged the committee to highlight activities and goals related to volunteer recruitment and financial sustainability.
“If I look at your purpose, one of the things you might want to consider adding is recruitment of members or recruitment of volunteers, both for HCTV as well as this committee,” she said.
She further suggested that committee members explore grant opportunities and other nontraditional funding sources to support community television operations.
“If you all found grants, you could apply for them or say to the Board of Selectmen, ‘We think the town should apply for these grants,’” Jakoby added.
Committee members agreed that identifying new revenue sources should be a priority and expressed interest in exploring additional funding opportunities beyond cable franchise fees and the station’s existing underwriting program.
“Do you think there are more roles and responsibilities?” asked committee member Diane Cannava.
Jakoby said those responsibilities could evolve over time, particularly as the committee works to address future funding needs. While a warrant article approved earlier this year increased the committee’s share of cable utility revenues, members acknowledged that those funds alone may not be enough to sustain HCTV’s operations indefinitely.
Jakoby also suggested seeking greater community participation, including partnerships with local schools and student organizations.
“One of the things that was interesting that the former Sustainability Advisory Committee did is they reached out to the Alvirne Sustainability group and had a member of that group attend meetings regularly,” said Jakoby. “Sometimes the students have events and things that are really good help.”
The committee also debated what a budget section in the charter should include, given the board’s historical lack of a formal operating budget.
“We’ve never actually had a formal budget,” said O’Keefe, who suggested donations could become part of future funding efforts. “These items that you’ve mentioned are certainly valid, and we can flesh them out. Let’s take that task on.”
Membership levels also became part of the discussion. Citing ongoing difficulties filling vacancies, committee member Michael Campbell suggested reducing the board from nine members to seven.
“Do we want to cut it down to seven members?” Campbell asked.
O’Keefe noted that the committee originally operated with seven members before being expanded to nine.
“I don’t think it was a terrible thing to reduce it back,” he said.
Any change to the committee’s membership structure would require approval from the Board of Selectmen.
The committee took no formal action on the proposed revisions but agreed to continue refining the charter and exploring additional opportunities for funding, recruitment and community engagement.
