A central point of contention during the meeting was the possible trade-off between gaining an HD channel and losing an SD channel. This discussion was further complicated by an estimated cost of $30,000 for the transition, as shared by one member, based on information from Fall River’s cable license. The committee mulled over the value of this investment, particularly in light of the shifting landscape toward streaming services and away from traditional cable viewership. One participant highlighted this trend by questioning, “how many people are actually sitting down and watching cable TV these days?”

In addition to the financial considerations, the committee examined whether their existing equipment could support HD programming. Concerns were raised about the age and capabilities of the current cameras, some of which were noted to be five to six years old. The quality of programming from various venues also came under scrutiny, particularly the school committee’s meetings, which might not meet HD standards due to poor lighting in the high school auditorium.

Despite the challenges, there was cautious optimism about exploring quotes for necessary upgrades. The committee agreed that while the possibility of acquiring an HD channel should not be entirely dismissed, it might be prudent to defer any decisions until a thorough evaluation of existing capabilities and community needs could be conducted. One participant suggested that if the current technology could be adapted to produce HD content, it might negate the need for an immediate and expensive transition.

The notion of hybrid meetings also garnered attention, especially considering the impending winter weather, which could affect attendance. Offering remote participation options was seen as a way to maintain flexibility and accessibility, allowing individuals to participate from home during inclement weather. This idea received favorable responses, with one member humorously noting the capability to join the meeting “from the hospital video,” underscoring the benefits of remote participation.

In staffing matters, the committee welcomed a new member, Carrie Coa, who introduced herself and expressed her intentions to integrate social media into the committee’s outreach efforts. There was a consensus among the members about the necessity of improving public awareness through social media to streamline communications across various departments. This initiative aims to address the disjointed postings from multiple sources and create a more cohesive communication strategy.

The committee also discussed the performance of the new server, which was reported to be functioning well, allowing for easier remote access and content uploads. Additionally, they received an update on staffing changes, including the hiring of David Bdan, whose drone photography skills were highlighted as a valuable addition for creating engaging visual content for the community. Tayor Perry, a summer hire and former student of one of the members, was praised for his work on the “Hey Westport” show, producing episodes focused on local stories.

A recurring issue was the lack of response from Spectrum regarding a contractual obligation to provide a feed into the new building for monitoring channels directly. Despite multiple attempts over several months, Spectrum had not replied, prompting suggestions that the committee might need to escalate their request to the select board if the unresponsiveness continued.

The meeting also touched upon the budget for the upcoming fiscal year (FY 25), with members indicating they were awaiting details from the finance department. Additionally, there was a brief discussion about the new cable contract and the request for HD broadcast capabilities, with mixed feelings about the potential benefits and drawbacks of sacrificing an existing SD channel for HD programming.