Wayland selectmen back WayCAM expansion study ahead of cable license talks

WAYLAND -- May 1, 2017, Wayland selectmen signal support for WayCAM studio expansion and tougher cable license terms. Executive Director Jim Bolling presented a $224,000-to-$280,000 plan to widen the public-access studio, add a conference room and expand the editing suite, to be funded from cable fees rather than tax dollars, as Comcast's license nears expiration. Bolling told the board Wayland's 4.6 percent franchise fee should be 5 percent, a gap he said cost the town roughly $20,000 in 2015 and $27,000 in 2016, and pushed for HD carriage, saying "there's no reason why we should not have 5 percent." Programming has grown from 180 shows in 2006 to 745 last year. The board separately voted 5-0 to approve liaison assignments, 5-0 on April 18 minutes, and 5-0 on most consent items, while authorizing Town Administrator Nan Balmer to revise a Finance Committee memo seeking funds to pay library drainage invoices outstanding since January. Selectmen set the week of Nov. 13 for a fall special town meeting expected to carry 20 to 25 articles.