Public, Education and Government Access Oversight Board

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Public, Education and Government Access Oversight Board (PEGAOB)

The Albany Common Council is seeking applications from qualified residents of the City of Albany for the following position:

Title of Position:

Member: Public, Education and Government Access Oversight Board (PEGAOB); 4 Common Council openings.

Members appointed by the Common Council shall be residents of the City of Albany and possess knowledge and interest in promoting public access cable television in the City of Albany. In making such appointments the Common Council shall endeavor to reflect the diversity of the City of Albany.

Additional members of the Board include two appointees of the Mayor and one representative of each of the following: Albany School District; College of St. Rose; New School of Radio and Television; Capitalize Albany Corporation; and Albany Public Library.

Term of Appointment:

Members are appointed for a three (3) year term except that of members initially appointed by the Common Council: two shall be for a term of one (1) year; one shall be for a term of two (2) years; and one shall be for a term of three (3) years. Of members initially appointed by the Mayor: one shall be for a term of two (2) years; and one shall be for a term of three (3) years. Thereafter all members shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years.

Position Responsibilities/Duties:

The City of Albany recently entered into a Franchise Agreement with Time Warner Cable to provide access channels designated for non-commercial public, educational and governmental use (otherwise known as “PEG” access) and funding for equipment for PEG access programming. In addition, the City has also entered into “Memorandums of Agreement” with various stakeholders for purposes of implementing PEG access. The PEGAOB was established by the Common Council to oversee implementation of PEG access, the cable television public access facility/studio in the City of Albany and to promote public awareness of public access in the City.

Specifically, the Board:

 Assists in the development of public, education and government access television in the City including by promoting the use of the public studio to citizens and groups throughout the City;

 Oversees the cable television public access facility/studio and assists the Public Access Coordinator, whom shall be responsible for the day to day operation of the public access facility/studio;

 Reviews memorandums of agreement between the city and relevant entities to assure implementation of PEG access

 Makes recommendations on the success of the programs in Phase I of PEG funding and based upon said findings makes recommendations for expenditures of Phase II funding.

Members of the Board serve without compensation. The Board is expected to meet no less than quar-terly for the purpose of conducting any business necessary to its operation, and may meet at such addi-tional times and places as deemed necessary by its members, or on the call of the Chairperson (during Phase I implementation of PEG access it is anticipated that the Board shall meet on an at least monthly basis). All meetings of the Board are considered public meetings under the “Open Meetings Law” and shall provide a reasonable opportunity for public comment in accordance with rules and guidelines adopted by the Board. The Board is also required to prepare an informational pamphlet on, and regu-larly publicize, its mission and purpose and annually report to the Common Council regarding its ac-tivities and performance, including recommendations, if any, to the Mayor and the Common Council.

Statutory Authority:

Code of the City of Albany, Chapter 42, Article XLIX, sections 42-373 to 42-380.

Application Requirement:

Applicants are requested to submit a letter of intent describing qualifications and include a current re-sume to:

Cashawna Parker
Senior Legislative Aide
Albany Common Council – Room 206
City Hall
Albany, NY 12207

Tel: 434-5087
Fax: 434-5081
e-mail: parkerc@ci.albany.ny.us

Applicants will be interviewed by a selected committee of the Common Council prior to appointment.

Deadline for Applications: Close of business, Wednesday, April 13, 2011.

Policy Statement

The Common Council is committed to assuring that its appointments to city boards, authorities, com-missions or committees is representative of the diversity of Albany’s population. Consistent with the City of Albany Human Rights Law, it is the policy of the Common Council to prohibit discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, age, disability, marital or domestic partner status in all aspects of its personnel policies, programs, practices and operations.