AMENIA — Yet another hearing on the town’s franchise agreement with Cablevision is scheduled for tonight, Thursday, April 17, at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.
Since December, the hearing has been delayed numerous times.
The first hearing was originally scheduled for December but was delayed until late February. At February’s hearing, the board voted to continue the hearing due to several unresolved issues between the town and the company. At the hearing, Attorney to the Town Michael Hayes said it was unresolved whether the company can offer a senior discount to residents and there was concern about the town’s ability to protect its rights under the agreement, including material breaches.
A material breach is any failure of either party to perform as defined by the agreement, and permits the other party of the contract to either compel performance or collect damages because of the breach.
Before February's hearing, Councilwoman Vicki Doyle helped to circulate a petition requesting Cablevision reinstate CBS affiliate WRGB to their cable lineup.
At the hearing, Roger Connor, director of government relations from Cablevision, told Doyle that programming decisions are not part of the franchise negotiations.
The hearing was scheduled to continue in March, but was delayed yet again because both Hayes and Connor both could not make the scheduled hearing.
At last Thursday’s Town Board workshop meeting, town Supervisor Wayne Euvrard said the hearing is still scheduled despite the fact that he e-mailed Connor and did not get a response.
Euvrard said he is still striving to get a senior discount for customers in town.
Also on Thursday’s agenda is the awarding of a contract for lawn mowing, an update on draft subdivision regulations and an update from National Metering Service on town water meter installation.
