.
Search
 Email this articleE-mail this story  Discuss this articleWrite letter to editor  Discuss this articleOrder a classified ad  Print this page

Council on TV 'waste of time'

Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Hay River (Feb 13/06) - It seems Hay River Town Council has just about had enough of its wonky television recording system.

For years, council has heard complaints about the quality of the picture and poor sound when council meetings are broadcast on the town's community television channel. The television equipment was installed about 10 years ago.

At council's Feb. 6 meeting, assistant deputy mayor Verne Tordoff said he watched the council broadcast when he was home sick.

Tordoff said it was a "discouraging" experience.

"This is just a waste of time," Tordoff said of the TV system, suggesting council get an electrician or someone else in to look at it.

Mayor Diana Ehman said that in her six years on council she has not heard anything good about the televised meetings.

Part of the problem appears to be the speaking styles of council members. Some talk close to their microphones and can be heard on TV, while others lean back in their chairs when speaking and are largely inaudible.

Despite council's complaints there was no decision to do anything to address the concerns.