Today's one-liner: “In a republican nation whose citizens are to be led by reason and persuasion and not by force, the art of reasoning becomes of first importance.” T Jefferson
Media maven Jeff Pooley has spoken in favor of it. So has Morning Call columnist and blogger Bill White. I've been pushing the idea for years.
Practically no attempt has been made to tell the public that Northampton County Council are now being webcast. I think there may have been one small article about it in one of the local papers. No one has even told the county workforce.
In speaking against webcasts, LC Comm'r David Jones huffed,"There's not a huge demand, beating on the door, for this." Well, guess what? After last night's meeting, IT Director Al Jordan reports that 250 people had tuned in to the livestream. That's twice the most attended meeting in the last five years, when a little over a hundred people squeezed into the peanut gallery. So taht unobtrusive camera does promote an interest in local government.
Now you can watch the saved video, too. The last three meetings have been posted on the County Council webpage. Click on "County Council Minutes," and you'll be taken to a page from which you can view the entire meeting, or just a segment.
Last Thursday night, a few of you were able to view Northampton County Council in action, without leaving your home. The meeting was webcast live.
Now you can watch the saved video, too. The last two meetings have been posted on the County Council webpage. Click on "County Council Minutes," and you'll be taken to a page from which you can view the entire meeting, or just a segment.
Those are the words that greeted me when I walked inside the Star Chamber for last night's Council meeting. I had no idea what I could have done wrong ... lately. I was quickly told it was the post I had published earlier that day, telling everyone that last night's festivities would be webcast. My facts were wrong, I was told. There would be no live broadcast.
To make matters worse, my post itself was highly offensive. In my teaser, I had asked, "Will Peg Ferraro take off her shirt and start flexing?"
Once the meeting got underway, I spotted Al Jordan. He runs the County's IT services. When he saw me, he shook his head and started shaking his fist at me.
Uh oh.
Then I got a text message from a friend, telling me he could see me on his computer. So they were broadcasting after all.
After the meeting, I went up to Peg and apologized, explaining I thought it fit in nicely with my comment about Rev. Dowd. She laughed, forgave me, and told me that Ron Angle had once told his radio audience she came to a meeting in a yellow, polka dot, bikini.
"What a sexist pig!" Actually, I'm pretty sure I'm the person who said that, when I once guest hosted Ron's now dormant radio show.
No wonder he was fired.
While I was running my mouth with Peg, Al Jordan snuck up behind me and put me in a headlock, and I was soon thereafter thrown off the courthouse roof. That hasn't happened since the Jim Hickey era. Fortunately, some deputy sheriffs caught me. I wonder if that's on the webcast.
Everyone wanted to know who blabbed last night's meeting would be publicly broadcast. Al, you told me yourself a week ago. Dude, I had no idea a public webcast was supposed to be top secret. Silly me.
So I have no apology for telling you this meeting would be livestreamed on the web. But my remarks about Peg, although intended as a joke, were in bad taste, even for me. I'll try to do better.
In response to questions from interested readers, I asked IT Director Al Jordan whether the next County Council meeting will be webcast. He told me they'll be doing one more dry run this month. But beginning in February, you'll finally be able to see your County Council live. In addition, video recordings will be available for your viewing pleasure at the County Council webpage, which is located here.
With only Lamont McClure opposed, Northampton County Council last night approved a $16,000 webcasting system for meetings, starting next January. In addition to the livestream, viewers will be able to view portions of a meeting, using the agenda as an index.
IT Director Al Jordan describes the system: "What it's going to entail is two cameras; one camera will focus on the speaker, the other camera will focus on the Council members in general, showing everyone at once. The person that's speaking shall be pictured in a small frame inside the overall picture. ...
"The package also includes all the bells and whistles that we talked about, which includes posting minutes and agendas and those things online, and using the agenda as an index to the video. So if someone just wants to see a portion of the meeting in reference to a certain topic, they can just go ahead and skip to that portion.
"We will be able to stream the meeting live and also maintain an archive of previous meetings."
Is this popular? Will people want to view the webcasts? Council member Michael Dowd, a proponent of webcasting, mentioned the experience of Easton School District. "I can't give you a number, but The Express Times or Morning Call reported on that, and the initial number was kind of startling, far exceeding what I thought it would be." Council member John Cusick, another webcasting advocate, spoke with two counties - Chester and Allegheny - that already produce webcasts. "From their experience, how many people watch it depends on what's on the agenda."
The Northampton County Bulldog, Ron Angle, volunteered to find a few sponsors for the webcast to help pay the bill. "I am convinced I will raise the $16,000."
Lamont McClure, insisting "I'm not camera shy and it's because I'm so pretty," is nevertheless opposed to webcasts because the $19,000 outlay depletes Council's contingency fund. That has been used to support food banks, pre-school at a YMCA and Nazareth's skate park. "We're going to reduce the contingency fund by $16,000, and in a way that doesn't help people."
Cusick disagreed with McClure. "It's not our money. It's taxpayers' money, and I think what we're doing is spending it to give the citizens an opportunity to see their government at work."
Sometime in January, I'll be able to put my flipcam to bed.
Blogger's Note: Sarah Cassi's Express Times report is here.
Posting the actual videos here tend to slow down this blog, so I'll instead provide links to some of thewebcasting arguments made by Lehigh County Comm'rs last night.
1) Dean Browning: There's not enough votes. Video here.
2) David Jones. Has a "stroke" of conscience and Bill Leiner is like Jesus in Gethsemane, up all night, worrying about webcasts. Video here.
3) Percy Dougherty. Looking for a few good webcasters. Video here.
4) Glenn Eckhart. We need to do this soon, but not now. Video here.
5) Andy Roman. We're majoring in the minors. Video here.
That's how Jerry reacted last night to the news that he was appointed, 5-3, to Northampton County Council, filling the vacancy created by the recent resignation of Diane Neiper. He's a class act whose sole desire is to "give something back" to the county. We could really use him.
Of course, the Long Dems - Charles Dertinger, Anna McHale & Lamont McClure - all voted for Ron Heckman. Realizing Seyfried had five votes, these slicksters tried an end run, but fumbled. They called individual Council members, telling them they already knew Jerry had five votes, but asking that they cast their first vote for Ron so he would not be embarrassed. Word of their goofy plan leaked out and they ended up outfoxing themselves, as usual. And Heckman ended up being embarrassed.
Way to go, LongDems. Now Jerry gets tp go after some of the wild boars on Northampton County Council.
McClure's attempt to pander some votes by rolling back recent salary increases to elected official, also blew up in his face. Only Dertinger went along with his proposed ordinance. Ron Angle told them that if they don't want payraises, don't take them.
Webcasting inched forward as well. This was supposed to be part of the council renovations that were completed 1 1/2 years ago. IT maven Al Jordan told Council it can be done for $15 thousand in upfront costs.
Blogger's Note:I did not attend last night's council meeting and am relying on information supplied by two people who were there and survived. The Express Times' Sarah Cassi has her usual excellent report.
Had Lehigh County Commissioners voted last night on Dean Browning's proposal to webcast public commissioner meetings, the whole idea would have gone down in flames. Its $39 thousand pricetag is the supposed stumbling block, but the truth is that most Lehigh County legislators would rather see you spend your evenings watching American Idol.
After claiming to have stayed up all night, agonizing like Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, Cosponsor Bill Leiner withdrew his support. In fact, each Democratic commissioner voiced reservations. Could this be payback to Republican Commissioner candidates who pledged to refuse a payhike? If so, that's pretty stupid. Voters tend to distrust elected officials who exclude them.
In addition to the Democrats, Chairman Percy Dougherty is dead set against the idea. He proudly handed out copies of an email he sent out earlier that day. It's on asbestos, and I've appended it at the end of my post. Sterling Raber is with Dougherty on this one. So is Glenn Echkart, but only because of the high cost.
That leaves Dean Browning and Andy Roman as the sole proponents of transparent government in Lehigh County.
True, the $39 thousand pricetag for this proposal - presented by local firm Communications Systems, Inc. (CSI) - is well over twice the $15 thousand originally discussed with another vendor, but that vendor also had an annual $15 thousand maintenance fee. CSI, on the other hand, proposes a $1 to $2 thousand yearly operating fee. So CSI is actually the least expensive proposal. This cost objection is a thinly veiled smokescreen. Frankly, it appears that Lehigh Commissioners worry you might get just a little too interested.
Comm'r David Jones, in his sermon from the mount, makes that pretty clear.
In his remarks, Jones claims that it's important to have data, and then supplies none. He implies there is very little interest in Lehigh County's web page. That's complete baloney. Want some data, Reverend Jones? Go to Alexa, the site used by advertisers for web traffic metrics. The Lehigh County web page is already the fifth most popular Lehigh Valley web page, and that's without webcasts.
"We're talking about something that's not a core function of county government. There's not a huge demand, beating on the door, for this. ... I'll be frank here. My biggest concern is what that camera will do, in terms of the integrity of our proceedings. And I don't have the confidence that we will conduct ourselves in a way that's unbiased."
So let me get this straight. Jones believes open and transparent government is not a "core function." Moreover, instead of believing sunshine is a great disinfectant, a public spotlight will ruin the "integrity" of public meetings. I see.
In stark contrast to Jones, Commissioner Andy Roman argues that webcasting is an important step in the right direction.
"One of the things that I think is really important is making every effort to make government more accessible to the public and not less accessible. Just a few weeks back, we made online campaign reporting available. I think that was a definite move in the right direction in terms of modernizing the way we do business and having full disclosure where people are receiving campaign contributions. When it comes now to putting your names on the Internet, if you will, I think it's a step in the right direction because I think in a modern society people are busy, people have families, and although they may want to come out to a meeting, they just may not be able to because of a very busy schedule."
Roman notes that webcasts can become important sources of information should newspapers decline and falter. They are also educational tools.
"Anytime we can bring more people into the government process - the democratic process - the better. ... If we want government to be viewed as an old crony arena, let's just disconnect the Internet from government proceedings and that's what we'll get."
Dean Browning, who sponsors this initiative, urges commissioners to "take advantage of the technology that we have to expand the reach of county government. We sit here night after night and look at basically the same crowd of folks that come to county government."
While claiming the current proposal is too costly, Eckhart distinguishes himself from Jones. "There is demand for open and transparent government. ... I disagree with the grandstanding part. I don't need a camera to grandstand."
Commissioners will vote on webcasting in two weeks. Allentown and Northampton County are pondering webcasts as well.
Appendix: The Epistle of Percy to the Commissioners
Commissioners,
When the price of broadcasting our meetings on the internet was $15,000, I voted no because I thought it was not necessary. I am even more vociferous in my opposition now that the price of the system has more than doubled to $39,000. This new price is a stripped down version with the new microphones deleted, and other bells and whistles to be added at a later date.
At a time of financial distress such as we are experiencing today, I cannot vote to spend more money on a system that I do not believe is a necessity. In last year’s budget, we were encouraged by fellow commissioners to make major cuts, including freezing wages and personnel cuts. This year’s budget will be even tighter because of the potential State cuts that may be passed on to us as unfunded mandates. It is unconscionable to spend $39,000 on an internet recording of our meetings if some commissioners are going to ask employees to forego pay increases and ask us to get rid of employee positions.
In my opinion, our meetings are open and transparent. The minutes of the meetings are available in a very detailed format. It is not necessary to record the meetings and rebroadcast them on the internet. The recordings will not be live and may have a long lag period before they are posted. Posting the meetings will take away from staff time that is needed for more important work.
Internet broadcasts in my opinion are vanity exhibitions that are best suited for those who are seeking higher office. It is not our responsibility to pay for that. I am also unconvinced of the number of people who will tune in to the “Commissioners Show,” especially since it is a delayed broadcast and they will not see us live. My guess is maybe one or two people, unless it is election year and your opponent wants to collect information on you.
The final nail in the coffin for me is taking money out of the Commissioners Office “Other Specialized Services” line item. That is money we have set aside in case of an emergency such as a law suit against one or more of us, to hire outside legal council in case of conflict with the Solicitors Office, or to pay for other professional help. It is true that we have not had to hire a lawyer since Commissioner Skinner was sued by the Administration, but it is good to have the money available.
In addition, at the end of the year, the unspent money reverts back to the general fund. If we spend $24,000 out of this line item, it will mean that our non-payroll budget expenditures for the year will increase by 20.7%. The Administration is asking departments to hold the line of spending and bring in budgets that are flat. How can we complain those departments, and even suggest cuts, if we increase spending by 20.7% in our own office?
I WILL VOTE NO ON THE INTERNET BROADCASTING SYSTEM, and I encourage you to do the same.
Lehigh County will soon be doing it. Bethlehem is studying the idea. But Northampton County Council has been trying its best to avoid webcasting its biweekly meetings. Despite spending nearly $650,000 for "renovations" to its star chamber, including the latest technological advances, Queen of Hearts Ann McHale has yet to plug in to the web.
Every council member has been supplied with a fancy laptop computer so necessary I've yet to see one at a council meeting. And despite McHale's claim that she really, really, really wants to webcast meetings, she's done nothing since the remodeling was finished in January.
At last night's meeting, Council member Mike Dowd finally asked McHale what the hell is going on, except he did it politely. He's an ordained minister, after all. Instead of answering Dowd, the Queen of Hearts said, "The first thing is we all have to learn to use the microphone." When Dowd gently pressed her, McHale said, "The camera would go in that corner over there and we would need someone to operate it."
Yeah, she'd need someone to push the on and off button. IT Director Al Jordan, who told me in September that no one on Council had even spoken to him, estimates webcast could cost the county as little as $1,500 total.
To his credit, Dowd continued to press, and Public Works Director Steve DeSalva offered to get something together.
Media maven Jeff Pooley has spoken in favor of it. So has Morning Call columnist and blogger Bill White. I've been pushing the idea for years.
