Remodeling Of Falmouth Selectmen’s Meeting Room Planned – CapeNews.net

Selectmen flatly rejected a proposal to add individual computer monitors to the boards desk as part of a proposed remodeling of the groups town hall meeting room.

Chairman Susan L. Moran worried the computers would isolateor appear to isolatethe board from residents in attendance. Monitors disrupt selectmens line of sight with taxpayers and potentially hurt attempts at increasing community engagement, she said.

Its not a good idea from the board of selectmens perspective to not be engaged with the audience, Ms. Moran said.

The objection arose at the boards Monday, August 28, meeting as Assistant Town Manager Peter Johnson-Staub outlined potential upgrades to the room. A working group composed of Mr. Johnson-Staub, former selectman Mary (Pat) Flynn, town information technology director Valerie OConnor, executive director and president of Falmouth Community Television Debra Rogers, and town facilities director Shardell Newton undertook the redesign effort.

Among the changes, Mr. Johnson-Staub proposed an L shaped desk rather than the oval currently used by the various municipal boards meeting in the room. The configuration allows town staff members to sit at the desk rather than a folding table, giving them a more professional look. A portion could be removed to fit in additional audience seating, he said.

A suggestion to make the desk narrower by a foot drew criticism from selectmen who worried the reduction in size would render it more difficult for committee members to review documents, particularly project design plans.

Although Mr. Johnson-Staub argued that increasingly more developers are digitizing draft plans, selectmen still preferred a deeper desk.

Selectmen also raised concerns about employing large monitors for presentations. The draft proposal called for a large screen behind the boards desk and a smaller, side monitor for audience viewing. Officials could add a rear-wall screen if necessary, said Mr. Johnson-Staub, as well as one outside the chamber and another in an audience overflow room.

Presentations, controlled from a computer installed at the speakers podium, could be displayed on the monitors, he said. The system would replace the existing projector.

Selectman Samuel H. Patterson wondered where the town seal and two flags would go if a monitor were installed behind the desk, telling the assistant town manager that those are pretty important icons to this town.

Vice chairman Megan E. English Braga asked whether laser pointers could be used during presentations. Mr. Johnson-Staub said with a monitor-based system, the presenter would use a computer cursor to highlight important items on the display screens.

Selectmen noted that during particularly popular meetings, the rear of the chamber becomes standing room only, potentially blocking off view of any monitor placed along that wall.

Mr. Johnson-Staub admitted that audience members bumping into the screens could be a potential problem.

In all, the renovations are estimated to cost between $35,000 and $53,000, depending on the choice of materials and equipment. Mr. Johnson-Staub said more than $20,000 from cable franchise fees and $42,040 from an agreement with Comcast would cover the cost.

More than $130,000 from the cable account would pay for upgrades to the cameras and audio equipmentused by FCTV to record and broadcast meetingsinstalled in the room, he said.

After acknowledging the amount of work leading up to the draft, Ms. Moran suggested Mr. Johnson-Staub phase in the alterations. Ms. English Braga also asked that reactions be solicited from the other boards that use the room for meetings.

We really are for less comfort and more on the facilitating of communication, Ms. Moran said.

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Remodeling Of Falmouth Selectmen's Meeting Room Planned - CapeNews.net