No taping for Libertyville meetings

A lack of money and interest will put the notion of taping of Libertyville village board meetings on the back burner.

Members of the village board's special projects committee considered the matter recently, but decided to forward a negative recommendation to the full board.

Televising village board meetings was the only agenda item for the first special projects committee in three years. It was forwarded by Mayor Terry Weppler, who had been asked about it during the recent campaign.

He said he wanted to get such ideas out for consideration and a decision rather than have them languish.

Assistant Village Administrator Kelly Amidei presented two scenarios. The first involved bringing in a camera for meetings and providing Comcast with the tape.

That would require an initial $10,000 investment by the village for equipment and staffing, she said.

"It'll work but it won't be like a live broadcast," she said.

The second option would involve a live broadcast on the existing cable access channel. Equipment and staffing would cost $80,000 in that case, and an additional $23,000 if the village wanted to create its own channel.

The village is in a budget crunch and isn't going to consider spending the money any time soon. But Weppler said the committee should separate the concept from the cost.

"That's the first hurdle. Do you want the meetings taped?" he asked. "If you don't think it's a good idea, say so."

Staffers said the idea of taping meetings rarely comes up. If it does, it is as an inquiry of whether it's done rather than a request to do so.

"I'm not in favor of it. The ones (televised meetings) I've seen, there's a lot of grandstanding," Trustee Drew Cullum said. "We've never had it and to be honest with you, I've never heard anybody ask about it."

Trustee Todd Gaines, who chairs the committee, said he would support it if there was demand and available funds, but would be willing to drop it as there was neither at this time.

Ultimately, the decision was to recommend against the practice, rather than asking it be revisited during future budget talks.