County says it can’t contact URTV executive director, may delay funds

URTV Executive Director Pat Garlinghouse has not answered calls from county staff trying to contact her about ongoing transparency controversies at the public-access channel, and Buncombe County may delay funding for the station, County Manager Wanda Greene said at the Board of Commissioners meeting tonight.

“We did have the executive director from URTV come in and meet with the expert that we use on [PEG funds, which are cable-company fees distributed by Buncombe County and the city of Asheville] and public-access franchises,” Greene told the board. “We thought we understood one another. We have since tried to reach her on four different occasions in a variety of ways and she has not returned our calls. But we will pursue that again tomorrow to make sure that we address this issue.”

“So the director has not contacted you since you’ve asked for her?” Vice Chair Bill Stanley inquired.

“We’ve tried to contact them several times,” Greene replied.

“Well, I hope if we’re in charge of their money we’re holding it up for a little while,” Stanley said.

“We did relay that message,” Greene added.

The county and the city of Asheville both oversee PEG funds, which make up the lion’s share of the public-access channel’s revenue. According to its management agreement with both local governments, URTV is required to follow open-meetings law

The remarks came after comments from Davyne Dial, a URTV board member who, along with fellow board member Richard Bernier, has been critical of what they see as a lack of transparency at the station. In a closed session on Feb. 9, URTV’s executive committee voted to remove both Dial and Bernier. The board must vote to finally dismiss them, but has not yet scheduled a meeting to do so.

Dial called for the county to conduct an independent review of the station.

“It’s intolerable to me and others that a public-access station that should be a beacon of First Amendment rights is muzzling its board members,” Dial said. “I would hope if this review was able to be done, we could get a complete cross-section of points of view about this.”

But Stanley also noted that, due to changes in state law, as soon as another company besides the now-bankrupt Charter Communications — such as AT&T — begins to provide cable service to the area, the PEG funds will dry up.

“The county doesn’t really have much clout with it anymore,” he noted.

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50 thoughts on “County says it can’t contact URTV executive director, may delay funds

  1. BS_monitor

    Tired said: The board and Pat are trying to keep URTV’s doors open. ————->>>>>

    Sure looks like Pat is trying real hard. Not answering the County Managers numerous messages regarding what Mrs. Green thought was a meeting of the minds, shows real dedication. Not!

    Mrs. Greene suggested the meeting with Garlinghouse last week centered on URTV following open meeting laws, then URTV’s Board President turned right around and went into violation yet again. It’s not that complicated!

  2. Okay, that’s….odd. On the other hand, if I had the opportunity to avoid speaking to Wanda Greene and Bill Stanley, I’d take it as well.

  3. Don Yelton

    This will, as I have said from day one, give the city and county a way to shut it down. The funds then will be allocated by the state from a big pool and the state will give money to where they want it to go. Do you think the county would want it to come here?

    If you listen carefully to Bill he will expose what he has already put in motion.

  4. Don Yelton

    Now is the for David and Holly to stand tall if they really want openess in government.

  5. mountainman

    Not so odd, with this dysfunctional Board of Directors, who insist on “secrecy”. Pat was chosen for her “fundraising” capabilities rather than the ability to run a TV Station. It’s a real shame that URTV never got to blossom into the beautiful flower it could have been. The URTV Board of Directors suffers from the same affliction that the WPVM Exec.Dir. has “Founders Syndrome”, they just can’t let go and do what’s best for the station, volunteers and the community. HG

  6. Witch Hunt Witch Hunt…. quick get out the stake.

    LOL

    Why should we expect Asheville to be any different than the rest of the US public access stations getting shut down for funding. Mass media would love to shut up the independent voice.

    The fastest way to take down a house is from within.

    Until Asheville realizes this valuable asset for free speech to be heard around the World. These faces of Asheville seen on local programing showing the World our solution for how we can come together in Peace.

  7. Matt Howard

    Desperate times indeed when I find myself in complete agreement with Don Yelton.
    The PEG money is projected to run out July 2010.
    EVERYONE involved directly involved in this drama should have been looking at this through the lens of “Does this help URTV stay on the air?”
    Make it better, not worse people.

  8. At this time it appears that the board of directors is willing to cynically expel those who have voiced genuine concerns regarding governance and financial irregularities and instead gather their support around the source of their misfortunes when they should have thought better about it.

    It now falls to the board alone to restore faith and credibility to URTV. I will be pleasantly surprised if they are capable of doing it.

  9. First_Amendment

    GL said:”Witch Hunt Witch Hunt…. quick get out the stake”

    What a transparent little sycophant you are. You’ll do anything to keep your self in her good graces, which is at the bottom of this whole fiasco. As long as people suck up to her, they’ll keep their show. If not, they’ll lose access, and that is both discrimination and censorship of the first order. Public Access is about all people with all views having access, not jus the people who are in her good graces.

    Looks like a power obsessed, arrogant and inept Executive Director is playing directly into the hands of those who never wanted URTV in Asheville in the first place (including Jery Young), with her questionable style of management. She’s been caught so many times this past few weeks in violations, it has become downright right disgusting to watch. How much inepitude is being done that has not been revealed? Meantime URTV has suffered mightily at her lack of ability, how did she ever get that job? URTV needed a real leader, not some aging narcissist who from her actions, looks like she is turning senile.

  10. What money?

    This is a perfect time to pull the plug on this tax anchor once and for all. URTV was mismanaged from the beginning when they hired their first manager who knew squat about running such a facility. Instead of developing an actual plan, he and the board willingly squandered all the money on trendy furniture for their offices and contracted everything else out to an overpriced, underqualified, out of state firm to do for them instead of doing it themselves.

    The board and the hired staff’s unwillingness to actually do any work, in favor of hiring others to do it, has led to this point. More squabling about who said what or did what to who is childish, pointless, and a continued waste of time and money. There is no more money, and they wasted the money they had. It doesn’t matter who’s right. They’re out of business in a matter of months, and I hope the city and county don’t continue tossing more of my money into that bottomless pit.

  11. Fact Check

    Whoa whoa whoa hold on!!!

    Pat met with Wanda’s office on Thursday, January 29.

    David Forbes, karma is a bitch and you will get yours for this series of one-sided attack pieces.

  12. Jon Elliston

    Fact Check:

    It would appear that Wanda Greene was referring to failed attempts to connect with URTV management since the earlier meeting you mention.

    And I take exception to your description of these articles as one-sided attack pieces. Our reporter has endeavored, each step of the way, to obtain and report the URTV management’s side of the story. In recent weeks, however, our queries have gone unanswered, our phone calls unreturned. Both the board president and the executive director have not returned calls from Forbes.

    Just yesterday, I pleaded with the board president to discuss these matters with us, stressing how important it is that the board’s perspectives be shared with readers. He declined comment, except to say that the board would be issuing a public statement in perhaps a couple of weeks.

    We have reported accurately on the board’s public statements, but if the management of URTV will not discuss the matters at hand with the press, then we are somewhat hamstrung in telling their story.

    Again, we’d like nothing more than to be able to talk to URTV management and board members and share what they have to say. I’m still hoping they will talk to us.

    Jon Elliston
    Managing Editor

  13. This is so great for URTV, front page news for four weeks straight. By the time that everything is cleared up all of Asheville will know of this great resource.

    In the 17 months that I have been a member producing live content at URTV, I have seen a constant increase of equipment and upgrades to the studio. We are now streaming live on the internet, have forums with chat, Video on Demand, classic movies, radio broadcast, and I am sure that I am missing a few more things, all since I have become an active member. What a difference dedicated people make in the proper management of a public access station.

    Unfortunately, I have not spent any social time with Pat. Since my time at the studio is limited, we speak on rare occasion. I have utmost respect for her qualifications as a Director of a public access station. It is obvious that she is doing something right.

  14. Matt Howard

    A few facts:
    URTV is not a tax anchor. The PEG money comes from charter, not Tax dollars.
    URTV is not disfunctional, because you can use the facility exactly how it was intended to be used. It’s full time staff of two work thier butts off keeping the place running.
    But I have to say, another fact is that the offical URTV response to this ongoing story has been very badly handled. I think Pat and Jerry are coming at it like they dont have to dignify this whole thing with a response. This whole thing NEEDS a real response, otherwise it will only go away when URTV does.

    And Lisa: This is not great for the place, and I dont have much faith about this getting cleared up. This is my worst nightmare come true for something I truely love more than words can say.

  15. Pat and Jerry have responded.

    Pat responded by backtracking on the illegal oath and we have not seen the new oath. She has also responded by ignoring calls from county staff resulting in withdrawal of funding.

    Jerry responded by essentially firing two valuable board members out of retaliation and he published a clumsy written comment that made matters worse. http://snipr.com/c5rvl

    These are not non-responses, these are the nervous responses of guilty deceivers. That is not only dysfunctional but shameful and in need of swift correction, not more lame “responses.”

  16. Panther's Fan

    I would like to comment on recent events regarding URTV.

    First of all, I’ve been in Asheville for almost two years now and if it wasn’t for URTV, I would have already moved away and moved on. I have since then referred many artists to this wonderful creative outlet that a family member of mine originally introduced me to. URTV has been my family since then. I found all kinds of people that were into video production, and they could all come here and not spend every cent in their pockets to get started.

    Pat Garlinghouse is an extremely nice woman, and other staff members Jonathon and Curt are very hard workers and very sweet individuals as well. These three people have done amazing things for URTV and residents of Asheville, including me. Not only that, but this is THEIR JOB! They have lives and family to provide for! Would you want me to come to your place of work and tell you that you are terrible at it?! OF COURSE NOT! I especially would not want to hear that I am being slandered in a local paper by foes, NOT FRIENDS, of URTV. I’m sure from just reading these articles, that poor Pat’s phone is ringing of the hook. Give the woman a break. There are three employees running the show, that does NOT include an answering service. If any of you complainers would like to volunteer to take messages, I’m sure that would be welcomed. I know you must need something to do. Make yourselves useful.

    I have met and had conversations with, Mr.Brezny, Ms. Dial, Mr. Blackwell, and Mr.Bernier. I actually voted Ms.Dial onto the board. Can I take my vote back?? She’s like Paula Abdul or Ozzy Osbourne, the lights are on, but nobody’s home. I was able to watch the whole group turn into two faced “Jekyll and Hydes” all when member/producer Mr.Blackwell flipped out, forgot to take his meds, and threw a hissy fit at the station. He was merely asked to go home that day and cool off. He was also welcomed back, with open arms and was too self-righteous and embarrassed to return. See, he thought that he ran the place just because he spent so much time there. Is your name Pat, Mr. Blackwell? Is your name Jonathon or Curt? Nope! It was then that Ms.Dial began to form her little posse. She thinks because she’s a board member, that she can manipulate others. I watched her stutter as she tried to tell other producers at URTV to go and submit their programming to another event prior to airing on URTV. When producers started asking questions, she quickly changed her statement and said she would have to find more information on the event. (Haha) If you are, or have ever been a member, you would know that you can do anything with your programming once it has initially aired on URTV. That is the the rule for using URTV equipment. Then you can post it on the internet or sell it or whatever. A board member should be aware of these terms. Don’t you agree? I hope the board does the right thing and vote Mr. Bernier and Ms. Dial off the board.

    YOU MUST NOT HAVE BEEN THERE, IF YOU ARE DEFENDING THIS ANTI-URTV GROUP.

    I urge you, writer for the MOUNTAIN XPRESS to check your sources again. Ask positive sources that are in URTV on a daily basis. Look at the archive of past articles where producers from programming like Mount Dungeon, Citizen’s Speak, Rapid Ralph and many others were featured in the very paper you write for. These shows started at URTV. These producers have shows in Asheville right now because of three awesome staff members that work there. Thank you Pat! Thank You Jonathon! Thank you Curt! I know I will do everything I can to help keep URTV alive, and if Asheville or NC does not help, I’m sure that the other members will help out as well.

    Truly, there is something out there for everyone. If creating programming is not your niche, please do not continue to spoil it for everyone else. I’m sure you can find something else that suits your different interests.

  17. URTV-watch

    “Stanley also noted that, due to changes in state law, as soon as another company besides the now-bankrupt Charter Communications — such as AT&T;— begins to provide cable service to the area, the PEG funds will dry up”

    Asheville is a cash cow for Charter Cable…Paul Allen is not likely to let it fall by the wayside. He expanded too much back in the halcyon days, it’s time to fall back on the winners and Asheville makes money for Charter.
    http://www.eweek.com/c/a/IT-Management/Paul-Allens-Charter-Stiffs-Common-Shareholders/

    As for the lame responses by the leaders, these are mediocre people who have b.s.’d their way for a lifetime, and they’ve just run into a brick wall. Their b.s. isn’t working anymore.

  18. What Money?

    A few facts to correct your facts:

    URTV is in fact a tax anchor no matter how you choose to present it. It bleeds its funding from the city and county almost exclusively with little or no money raised on their own. Charter does not pay URTV a red cent. True, the city and county get money from Charter until they go bankrupt or the franchise ends which is happening now, but that money is not URTV’s. The city and the county give it to them when it could be used for other purposes that taxpayers have to support.

    Another fact: Any money the county receives from Charter is collected as a tax on cable subscribers. It’s right on the bill. We don’t get a choice in the matter and we have to pay it, no choice. That money goes to the city and county, so trying to frame this as anything other than a waste of tax dollars is as dishonest as the rest of the operation.

    While people are loosing their jobs in our own community, it’s just criminal for any of our dollars to be wasted on this foolhardy attempt to reinvent Youtube and force it on unwilling cable customers. If you’ve got something to say, go to the internet. I can ignore you in either place, but I shouldn’t have to pay for it. Public Access channels are going out of business everyday and for good reason. They’re totally frivolous and uneccessary in the age of the internet.

  19. This reminds me of the story of two women claiming the same child as their own. Only when the child was to be cut in half was the true Mother revealed.

    How sad of those who yell destroy no matter the cost. We can see who truly cares for this child that was entrusted to the City of Asheville. Those who want to see it continue to flourish as it has under the direction of Pat.

  20. Spin_control

    LOL, you remind me of those people (street preachers?)
    who yell on street corners.
    Momma Pat sure cares about URTV. That’s why she’s in violation of the bylaws, ignores the County Manager messages, issues untrue press releases, and all the other, too numerous to name issues being exposed in the press. People who want openness, accountability and following the bylaws and an effective Board of Directors are the good Mommas. Why’s that so hard for you to grasp? URTV could be in a much better position now, had there not been soooo much drama and a lot more work in securing URTV’s longterm success.

    gl said: “How sad of those who yell destroy no matter the cost. We can see who truly cares for this child that was entrusted to the City of Asheville. Those who want to see it continue to flourish as it has under the direction of Pat. “

  21. “Panther fan: I watched her stutter as she tried to tell other producers at URTV to go and submit their programming to another event prior to airing on URTV. When producers started asking questions, she quickly changed her statement and said she would have to find more information on the event. (Haha) ”

    Lordy, lordy, how things get twisted here. After thanking the members for voting me into office, I mentioned Hatchfest at the Dec. producers meeting: Hatchfest is a wonderful new arts festival coming to town, http://www.ashevillehatchfest.com/
    I suggested to URTV members that they check it out and possibly collaborate with them and get a foot in the door. They’ve got “big gun sponsors” it couldn’t hurt for URTV to be in association with that venue. I did not tell them to jump ship and go film for them in lieu of programming for URTV, I’m not that dense. This accusation brilliantly illustrates what is going on at URTV. What is wrong with suggestion possible venues and collaboration? No wonder we have so very few collaborations if they are considered a threat.
    D. Dial

  22. Tired

    Panther fan, well put.

    Anyone who has met john blackwell, peter brezney, davine dial, richard Bernier and tim peck, will agree that they have one thing in common. None of them accept authority, rules, or oversight. Think about it, blackwell’s first URTV show was called “Anarchy TV”.
    This whole group was just happy as clams with no oversight until Pat took over and set rules that held everyone to the same standards. Since the day Peter was justifiably removed and blackwell threw his little hissy fit, this group has been out to get Pat and shut down URTV.
    Well congratulations, you all might just succeed.
    You know who loses here?
    Matt Howard, who with the rest of Mt. Dungeon’s crew (minus blackwell)has been making amazing television for over 2 years.
    Glolady, Johnny Lemuria, and all the others who have found a way and place to express their passion and art, they lose. Asheville loses.

    Anarchy Rules!!! at least in Asheville.

  23. HHHHmmmmm, interesting take Mr. Tired.

    This whole controversy started with with an “oath” of secrecy, (not legal),not following NC Open Meeting laws, not following bylaws, transparancy issues, first amendment rights of individuals , etc. True some of the individuals mentioned are staunch individualists, I can agree with that. However URTV has it’s own problems with following the “rules” as has been shown. I happened to be on the brunt end of some of these violations, for what it’s worth, it doesn’t feel very good.

  24. Tired

    Dixiegirlz, of course it doesn’t feel good being on the brunt end of violations, and I hate to hear that you were. I can bet the board and Pat would completely agree with you right now!! But how would you feel if when your violation occured instead of talking to you directly about it, they ran to the Mountain Express? (Well done Richard!! Good luck with that political career)
    If enough non URTV users raise enough hell, public access will go away, and this group mentioned earlier will claim some sort of delusional victory. What will they win? What do they want? The station? I’ve got news, they’ll never get it. URTV will close. Then this same bunch will complain about how some other non-profit they don’t support or participate in is doing them wrong.

    Look Out MAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!! Run Wally Run!!!!!!

  25. Matt Howard

    How about a history lesson then.
    The PEG funds were sitting in trust for years, because by contract they can only be used for community based programing. P.E.G. = Public, Education, Government. The city and county channels are funded by the same money. Know what else? City and county channels get more of that money, and do a whole lot less with it.
    Public access is not reinventing youtube. Public access television began in the early 70’s, if anything youtube is reinventing public access.

    Small catch about youtube: you need equipment at home to do it. Not much I know, but a bit of irony is all the time I spend in community media and I dont have the gear to put myself on youtube, and frankly dont have the desire. There are people who are making television who otherwise would not have oppurtunities available to them, myself included.
    And URTV is a community resource. People are given a voice AND learn valueable skills. Artists and musicians have gotten gigs from being on URTV.
    It does something positive for the community, and can do something positive in ones life, provided your willing to put in the work.

    The money in question was already there, and cant go to anything else, so to get mad about URTV existing is beyond pointless. On the other hand yes, with an end to charters monopoly, the doors will probably close, and Im already talking myself into accepting that it’s saga has passed the halfway point.

  26. Illuminatti_01

    Ah see……URTV tramples all over folks rights, agin & agin, then blames the victims when it makes it’s way to print?

    Somthin’ wrong with this kind logic?

  27. Matt, It might be that Charter Cable stays in town, as I read somewhere Asheville is a big money maker for Charter. It stands to reason they would hang onto it and dump loser franchises. Best we find out all we can. Meanwhile here is a link to AT&T;’s Uverse which I’ve heard twice at the County commissioners meeting is looming.
    http://app-rising.com/2008//reviewing_atts_peg_system.html
    County manager, Wanda Greene said a couple of weeks ago, that as soon as Uverse gets it’s first customer in the county Charter’s franchise changes or ends…don’t know for sure which. I doubt if Paul Allen with just throw up his hands and give up a profitable area. We’re being kept in the dark on this, for some reason.

    Uverse does still collect fees and sends them to the state…from that pot the funds are distributed from Raleigh instead of how Charters fees are distributed (through County and City). It looks like AT&T;is bundeling lots of Public Access channels in the 99 slot…from there a menu can be accessed to choose a Public Access channel. I may be wrong about this whole thing…this is just what I’ve surmised from reading about the transition.
    The link to AT&T;’s Uverse site discusses problems Alliance for Community Media has with how Public Access programming is distributed and handled.
    http://app-rising.com/2008//reviewing_atts_peg_system.html

  28. yes,i think that Panther’s Fan,and Tired are pat garlinghouse,and pat garlinghouse.. what is this sick game?? come out into the light,and let us see your face….this all sounds like a cry for help,to me…it all just makes me want to puke..But what is puke? It goes by many names: vomit, throw up, upchuck, gut soup, ralphing,

  29. Tired

    I’m not Pat. Just someone who is sick of your disgustingly childish behavior.

  30. Speaking of disgusting, childish behavior:

    Has the funder of URTV (Buncombe County) heard back from the Executive Director?

    Is anyone in possession of the re-written secrecy oath?

    Has anyone received a notice for the next board of directors meeting?

    Will non-voting staff members be running that meeting?

    Is the board still going to expel the whistle-blowers?

  31. Panther's Fan

    Mr.Blackwell, this IS a cry for “help” in some cases. “Help” meaning if you enjoy URTV, (and I know you once did), please cease the backstabbing behavior. If you don’t want to be part of it anymore that’s fine too. Clearly, you’ve only been a stones throw away and are still VERY involved in the gossip. You’re here…on this chat! You stopped producing your show at URTV more than 3 months ago…bored much? BTW I’m not Pat…guess again. I would be jeopardizing my job if I was…plus Pat’s not stupid. That’s why she was hired.

  32. Producer1

    PantherFan said: “BTW I’m not Pat…guess again. I would be jeopardizing my job if I was…plus Pat’s not stupid. That’s why she was hired.”___________________________________________

    Pat’s certainly not looking very smart in these expose’s………is she over medicating?

  33. #1@Producing

    Here’s how Mrs. Garlinghouse has kept her incompetence hidden from the cold light of day. Anytime a problem came up, she’s say if you reveal this to anyone “you are out to destroy URTV” It didn’t matter what the issue was, & there were many, (what’s been revealed here is the tip of the iceberg) just go along to get along. Don’t make waves, or your “trying to tear down URTV” (another favorite phrase of Garlinghouse and her mouthpieces).

    There was NEVER any attempt to correct her controling and intimidating behavior, just continued machinations to keep everyone under her reign of tyranny and spouting the party line, “Pat is wonderful”, “we’re so lucky to have her”. She’s on here patting Pat on the back under the names of Panther’s Fan and Tired. Don’t tell me she’s too smart to make these kinds of statements, she’s said the same things over and over since she came to URTV to everyone who would waste their time listening. All the violations of bylaws and County Management agreements demonstrates someone who’s not very smart at all. It is downright stupid to lock horns with Wanda Greene. The chickens have come home to roost. You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all the people all the time.

  34. Posh Spice

    Okay… Okay fellas.
    I say we get Simon Cowell to wipe house at URTV and get a REAL manager that won’t hide anything and tell you to get stuffed when you really need it. Simon is my hero.

  35. Tired

    Producer1, 1@producing

    Do either of you use any of the URTV services or equipment?
    Or are you another “individualist” that has been slighted and not given special treatment by Pat or the board?
    I’m betting on #2
    People, it’s real simple, if you are currently taking advantage of URTV’s many services that are available, good for you, and enjoy it before these whiners get the doors closed. If you aren’t, why are you going on and on about something you don’t even participate in? Tim’s been the only one to even admit he doesn’t use the place. What is the end result you people want? Do you all just need something to bitch about?
    How about South Caorlina’s Gov. not taking stimulus money? Ya’ll wouldn’t get any benefits or have anything to do with that either but you sure could have fun bitchin’ about it.

    After the Kurt fiasco there was a national hunt for a new ED. There was a meet and greet for members and the 3 finalist. Biker Billy, a woman from the Northeast, and Pat. I met all 3 and assure you Pat’s credentials were head and shoulders above the rest. There is not a hidden resume pile of public access ED’s waiting to make you people happy. Pat is it. If URTV is to survive, like it or not, Pat will be the ED. If that bothers you, then by all means go over to URTV and do a show about it, or don’t participate at all.
    Either way, stop crapping all over our public access station!!
    Some of us are very excited to be a part of URTV.

  36. Posh Spice

    Bring back my “Kiss my Asheville” and take off that horrible project show. Who is the lousy producer of that crap anyway?

  37. Obviously not you… if you were an active Producer at URTV you would know how hard it is to be a Producer and would have Respect for another person’s expression of their 1st amendment right and artistic creativity.

  38. Piffy!

    glolady, you talk about the first amendment like it actually means something.

  39. elaneon

    Tired wrote, “If enough non URTV users raise enough hell, public access will go away, and this group mentioned earlier will claim some sort of delusional victory.”

    The group you are talking about are concerned about increasing the membership, producers and non-producers alike. We want transparency so the members and the public alike will know there is nothing criminal or immoral at URTV. We want URTV to follow its own bylaws, honor its agreements with City and County, and abide by federal laws. How do those desires translate in your mind into a secret desire to see URTV close down?

    First of all, who has done more damage to URTV? People who blew the whistle to the media, or those creating the secretive, disempowering, shady-looking situation that needed some attention if not outright investigation?

    These two board members had no reason to do what they’ve done aside from caring enomously about the well-being and future of URTV, (doing their job in other words.)

    They gained nothing, except slander to their names and insult to their personalities, characters, and intentions (which were fine enough to get them seated on the board in the first place.) They jeopardized their own seats on the board which I suppose were their “seats of power” or as much power as anyone from the community other than Ms. Garlinghouse gets at URTV.

    The rest of the board and management compounded the problems of secrecy and paranoia with more of the same. Rather than choosing the route of becoming more forth-coming and open to assure everyone nothing nothing inappropriate was going on, we had much silence and a circling of the wagons. We have Ms. Garlinghouse ducking Ms. Greene and managing to put what was guaranteed funding at risk of being witheld.

    On top of the mounting comedy of errors comes news that said whistle-blowers are being removed from the board. That was decided in an unscheduled secret meeting (breaking URTV’s own bylaws for calling the special board meeting, and the open meeting agreements made with City and County.)

    URTV, advocate of free speech, has no business or right to impede the free speech of board members, or anyone else, so add a disregard of federal and Constitutional Law into the mix.

    Tired, URTV belongs to Asheville and the surrounding area, not to just the 200 or less producers and the ED. All the community, members of URTV or no, have every right and in fact every responsibility as involved citizens to be concerned and care about the fate of URTV. We have the right to expect that URTV follows laws and honors contracts the same way all of us must.

    You talk about certain producers feeling undue entitlement- yet you want to decide who here has a stake in URTV and who doesn’t. Other producers feel entitled? Look in the mirror, why doncha?

    URTV’s a community resource. It’s in Asheville. It serves Asheville and the surrounding area. It’s on cable and is funded by PEG funds. QED, everyone with cable, everyone who watches, everyone living in the area, and yes the members, producers, the ED, other employees, plus the City and County- all of us have a stake and the right to express opinions in this.

    Furthermore I think its likely any one or any group of us can have an honest disagreement with you about what is and isn’t in the best interest of URTV, without us being evil, delusional, or intent on destroying a valuable resource benefitting our entire community.

  40. Thank you Eleanon and Mountainman and all the other folks here how want to see openess and transparancy. If not URTV, then who shall carry the torch of free speech, and the little man having his or her soapbox and? This is all myself and the other Board member ever wanted.
    Davyne Dial

  41. Tired

    elaneon wrote:

    “The group you are talking about are concerned about increasing the membership, producers and non-producers alike”

    You know, your absolutely right, after going back over all of these posts, the support of URTV, and attempts at increasing the membership (the examples are just too many to cut and paste) that Blackwell and Peter, Illuminatti, Mountain Man and so on have been truly touching.

    Thank you, one and all for showing such great support for our public access station!!!!

  42. elaneon

    Tired,

    Can I take it, by your sarcastic comment, that this is the only part of my last statement with which you disagree?

    Were I heartless enough to bet a sure thing, I’d wager Dr. Blackwell alone did more to interest new members and new producers with his Tea Party than you ever have or ever will with your exclusive producers’ club mentality and “nobody else has a stake” attitude.

    Frankly, I’m already there and still find the idea of being a member of your Super-Duper Special Club nothing but uncool and off-putting.
    Thankfully, there are plenty of other reasons to take in the full experience of URTV.

  43. good work people,now see what you get.. you loose your votes on the board..when will you wake up ,and see what is going on,and who will stop it now ???

    changing the status of the producer Board members to ex-Officio or non-voting members

    On Thu, 5/14/09, Pat Garlinghouse wrote:

    From: Pat Garlinghouse From: H Goosmann
    To: Jerry Young
    Cc: Pat Garlinghouse ; Bennie Lake
    Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2009 2:48 PM
    Subject: Nominating Committee By-Laws review

    Jerry-

    Per your request the nominating committee has reviewed the URTV By-laws and made a revision to update them based upon the need as stated by our legal counsel. Please find a draft version of this revision attached to this email.

    Please distribute the updated by-laws to the entire Board such that we can vote on the changes at next weeks Board meeting. I ask that each Board member review them beforehand and email me questions such that we can address any question/concern by the meeting. I am asking that we front load this such that research can be done if needed.

    Last, I ask that each Board member take their time and review this revision carefully. There are some substantial updates suggested. Primarily in the membership category, the number of Board members, by changing the status of the producer Board members to ex-Officio or non-voting members, and by reorganizing the committees. Every effort was made to retain the essence and integrity of the original bylaws. There are good reasons for each of the changes and other suggested updates, and I look forward to a discussion by the full Board.

    thanks,
    Hunter

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