Minneapolis Telecommunications Network
Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, January 8, 2009

Members Present: Andrew Hedden, Joel Rainville, Tom Cassidy, Floyd Child
Board Members Absent: Kevin Jenkins, Marido Huber, Barb Nei
Ex-Officio Present: Lance Leupold, John Harrison, Edie French
Others Present: Pam Colby, John Akre, Jim Derks

Hedden called the Committee of the Whole to order at 5:37 p.m.

I.Opening Business

A.Comments from public, staff and board –
Resolution to be approved at the next meeting: To Move the board of directors of MTN to thank Robert Vose for his six years of service on the board, including serving as our chair and providing expert legal advice. MSP Child, Cassidy

B.Approval of January meeting agenda. Not approved because of lack of quorum

C.Minutes from December board meeting. Not approved.

II. Reports

A.City of Minneapolis – Harrison presented
He handed out a memo from Sara Dietrich from Communications about cuts that will be made by the city to its 2009 budget. There are five board vacancies. Those will close on the 16th. Colby is making the revisions to the performance agreement.

B.Minneapolis Public Schools – French presented
They had a busy production season before the holidays, including Hmong New Year at Henry High school. Next week they will be showing a program on autism in the Somali community. French met with Colby and talked about facilitating communication.

C.Comcast – Leupold reported
Leupold congratulated Hedden on his board chair position. Leupold talked about the possibility that the digital conversion in broadcast TV will be delayed. There was a discussion about confusion about the conversion. Comcast has a special this year appealing to people who may want to convert from broadcast to cable during the digital conversion. The government?s information site is dtv.gov.

D.Executive Director?s Report – Colby reported
MTN was notified that its funding from the city will be re-examined. Sara Dietrich from Communications told Colby that the worst case scenario would be a cut of 20% of half the budget.
Colby met with representatives of the new Neighborhood and Community Relations department of the city and submitted a bid for coverage of their meetings. They have a mandate that their meetings be taped beginning in April.
Intermedia Arts had a Town Hall Forum that was covered by MTN and will be shown on the MTN channels. They are facing serious financial issues.
An upgrade of the MTN server was performed in mid-December and has reduced MTN?s audio problems.
Colby will be doing an MTN Update show on the issue of Somali youth returning to Somalia. Child suggested a press release when the show is cablecast.
Colby is compiling staff reports for MTN?s performance agreement for the city. The staff has been busy.
Child asked about personnel policy changes. Colby explained that changes were made by the Executive Committee and policy changes were sent out by Colby.
Child asked about possible merger with PCTV. Colby said that there had been no movement forward on it.

E.Treasurer?s Report – Rainville presented
November P & L was handed out. MTN is under-budget as of November but this will change with December report because of change in sick policy.


III. New Business
A.Board Committee work 2009 calendar
This will be discussed at the next meeting when new board members will begin their service.


IV. Adjourn
Meeting adjourned at 6:07 pm. Child, Cassidy