The city of Asheville is asking for applications to fill a vacant seat formerly occupied by Mark Wilson on the board of public-access channel URTV.
In a brief announcement, the city asked for volunteers to fill the vacancy, setting a deadline of 5 p.m., April 9. City Council would choose one of the applicants to fill the seat.
The board is responsible for “policy and operational oversight of a public access cable channel pursuant to the terms of a management agreement with URTV Inc. and the City of Asheville,” according to its description on the city’s Web site. The city and Buncombe County each appoint two members to the 11-member board.
The board may be facing more vacancies soon, as its executive committee recently voted, controversially, to recommend the dismissal of two board members who have been critical of the station’s management.
The next URTV board meeting will be held on Thursday, March 19, at 6 p.m. at 31 College Place, Building A.
— David Forbes, staff writer
Actually the “executive committee” met in secret, did not have the required four executives to vote on this recommendation, have failed to notify the two board members why they want them dismissed, failed to have an open meeting as required by law, then go into closed session…etc, etc, etc.
The “executive committee” appears to not know what it’s doing.
Here are a few of the bylaws they violated:
Meeting rules from URTV bylaws:
Article 5.
MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
1. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Directors may be held at such places and at such times as the Directors may determine. There shall be at least eight (8) regular meetings of the Directors per year, one of which shall occur within four (4) weeks following the Annual Membership Meeting and another shall occur within four (4) weeks following that meeting. All regular meetings shall be open to the general public. Notices of regular Board Meetings will follow the guidelines specified in the Management Agreement(s) and be prominently posted at the facilities of the Corporation at least seven (7) days prior to such meeting and notices of regular meetings must be mailed by first-class mail, or distributed via fax or e-mail, to each of the directors at least seven (7) days before such meeting.
2. Special Meetings. A special meeting of the Directors may be called by the President of the Board of Directors, or by four (4) or more Directors, and shall be held at such time and for such purposes as may be specified in the call for said meeting. Schedules and notices of Special Board Meetings will be prominently posted at least five (5) days in advance of such meeting at the facilities of the Corporation and notices of Special Board Meetings must be mailed by first-class mail, or distributed via fax or e-mail, to each of the directors at least seven (7) days before such meeting.
Also if they called an executive committee meeting they did not have enough executives…they need four.
______________________________________________________________________j
URTV bylaws allow board members to be removed by a vote of two-thirds of all board members currently in office. Jerry cannot vote in this…he can only vote to break a tie.
Under the state’s open-meetings law, which URTV is required to follow by its agreements with both the city of Asheville and Buncombe County, only matters of personnel (paid staff), property acquisition or consultation with legal counsel may be dealt with in closed session. In all those cases, the board must still begin its meeting in open session before voting to hold a closed session and citing the legal justification for such a move. On Feb. 9, at the beginning of the meeting time for the executive session, the doors to URTV’s offices — the announced meeting place — were locked.
It was sooo great to go to the Producers Party at URTV last night.
We talked about all this crap that is being thrown at Pat and URTV and crap is what it is…. pure Bull flappers.
The unity was good to be a part of and the questions were open and honest.
Thanks Pat… the Party was Great!
Bet the “open and honest dialog” didn’t go into all the violations of NC Laws and URTV bylaws she and some of her lapdogs have perpetrated…all well documented in this series of expose’s.
Here is a video of Brother Christopher on CNN ireport about URTV
http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-230950
actually URTV is a privately funded subsity negotiated between the FCC in agreement with our right of free speech-hence it is not subject to open meeting laws-thus the executive director can do just that- exectute direction…what is illegal is that the city took possesion of the equipment at URTV- that is a direct violation of free speech. again URTV is not a public fund thus, the public/city cannot own it!
URTV is in need of committed people to serve on the board of directors. In the next few months four positions will be opening, two for the city, one for the county and one member elected director. URTV and public access around the country faces obstacles, but these obstacles are not insurmountable. http://www.ourchannels.org/
If you are an individual who believes in this is an important resource to our community please consider applying for one of these upcoming slots.
County link to board applications: http://www.buncombecounty.org/governing/aboutus/ourgov_boardappt.asp
City link to board applications: http://www.ashevillenc.gov/government/mayor_city_council/city_council/default.aspx?id=2014
http://www.ashevillenc.gov/government/mayor_city_council/city_council/default.aspx?id=3016