This week, journalists nationwide are recognizing Sunshine Week, an annual initiative meant “to promote a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information.” Media organizations throughout the country are highlighting the ways the municipalities they cover provide, or fail to provide, access to the information, documents, and meetings to which any citizen has a legal right.
In that context, Harvard’s Community Access Cable Committee discussion Monday was timely. After one of its volunteer camera operators was asked by the Finance Committee and the Capital Planning and Investment Committee not to tape meetings earlier this month in which critical decisions about the town budget were made, the cable committee sought Monday to clarify its policy on broadcasting local board meetings.
First, Harvard Cable coordinator Robert Fernandez confirmed the law with the state Attorney General’s office: a cable operator only has to notify the chairman of a board that a meeting is being recorded. As long as the meeting is in open session, the chair cannot tell the operator not to record.
Then the cable committee began preparing a draft policy that will state the committee intends to broadcast as many board meetings as possible with its available personnel.
We hope that once the cable committee formally approves this policy it informs the members of town boards and committees that they can expect their meetings to be taped and broadcast and that they can’t interfere with the cable station’s right to do so. Board and committee members must understand that, whether they have been elected or appointed to their positions, one of their duties is to conduct their business openly. Anyone who is uncomfortable with that should not seek a position in town government.
We encourage you to contact Fernandez or members of the cable committee to let them know which meetings you would like broadcast. And if you have some free time, volunteer to take the training and learn how to operate the equipment so that you may help Harvard Cable do its part to shine a little sun on town affairs.
