PAXTON — The Paxton Municipal Light Department plans a presentation on the feasibility study on bringing broadband into Paxton as a municipal service.
While the date is not yet set, the place is.
The Select Board voted to allow the department to use the training room at the public safety building for the presentation, following the use that the Select Board and Finance Committee have shown is effective.
The room offers more space, including for audiences, than at the senior center, but also provides upgraded recording capabilities.
But the policy on use of the room needed a tweak. At the board’s March 27 meeting, a one-time use was approved.
“I view this as an extension” of public uses, Select Board member Kirk Huehls said. “It should serve the greater public as well.”
Select Board members voted to allow the use, amending the policy for use of the room for town boards and committees on the approval of the Select Board for special meetings and one-time occurrences, subject to the OK of the fire and police chiefs.
Since the room is formally the training room and the primary need is for the police and fire departments, the town use has been fit in, sharing the facility.
“We need to add a provision to the policy as a one-off and put limitations on it such as town board or committee for one-time use,” Chair Julia Pingitore said. “And be respectful of whose room this is primarily: police and fire,” and they need to sign off on it so there are no conflicts.
Viewers watching the recorded meetings could gain the ability to watch meetings live.
The cable access team is looking at getting more subscribers to the town’s YouTube channel. Once they reach 100 subscribers, they will be able to livestream. Roughly a couple dozen more subscribers are needed to reach that mark.
Town Administrator Heather Munroe told the board that a contract has been awarded to Security 101 for the cameras at the Paxton Center School. The $49,945 cost includes internal and external cameras, an access door system for main entries, and monitoring and online storage for a year.
She said they are hoping the systems will be installed during the April vacation.
She also noted the town building phone upgrade is “live and operating,” though they are working out a few kinks.
Most offices can now be reached through the main town number, 508-799-7347, Munroe said. Callers will reach a directory, and most offices also now have a direct- dial number.
