Town Hall may eliminate televised meetings

The president of the company that films the Longboat Key Town Commission meetings for viewing on a local Comcast cable channel has offered to include additional services to the town if it agrees not to cancel its $17,000 annual contract.

The commission is considering eliminating the contract to save money in its fiscal year 2011-12 budget, which begins Oct. 1.

The audio of the meetings is already available on the town’s website, and the commission is unsure how many people watch the meetings on television.

“It has been brought to my attention that budget meetings are near and that our services are in consideration for cancellation,” wrote Ryan Bodie, president of Bradenton-based Studio 26 Productions, in a July 11 email.

Bodie proposes offering live streaming video and video of archived meetings o the town’s website at no additional cost.

Bodie also suggested other ways to make the meetings more interactive, including running welcome messages from commissioners.

The commission will continue to discuss potential budget cuts at a budget workshop scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, at Town Hall.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].