Published July 08, 2009 12:48 am - Some City Council members are leery of City Manager Robert Schaumleffel Jr.’s stated role in Conneaut’s local government access cable channel.
Schaumleffel as censor? Conneaut City Council questions manager’s role in TV channel
By MARK TODD - Staff Writer - mtodd@starbeacon.com Star Beacon
CONNEAUT — Some City Council members are leery of City Manager Robert Schaumleffel Jr.’s stated role in Conneaut’s local government access cable channel.
The members wanted Schaumleffel to elaborate on comments he made last week at a meeting between Ward 4 Councilman Tony “Dino” Julio and members of the Cable Advisory Board.
At the meeting, Schaumleffel said he and Regis Galvin, the city’s cable channel coordinator, Regis Galvin any video that may contain controversial matter before it is aired.
The vast majority of the channel’s locally-produced shows are fine and informative, Schaumleffel said. On a few rare occasions, some shows have raised eyebrows, citing last winter’s “Capers” extravaganza as an example. A sneak peek in advance of broadcast could head off some headaches, he said.
Ward 2 Councilman Charles Lewis said he thought program content was and should be the responsibility of the CAB. “You have plenty of other things to do,” he told Schaumleffel.
Ward 3 Councilman Greg Mooney agreed, adding administrators don’t dabble in other boards and commissions. “We don’t second-guess other boards,” he said.
Several weeks ago, Schaumleffel scolded critics who spoke at a town hall meeting taped for airing on the channel. If a program is borderline objectionable, council will also be consulted, Schaumleffel said.
Schaumleffel also inferred some shows may have a hidden purpose.
“We’ve fallen into a couple of traps in this community,” he said. “Certain people are using (the CAB) for their own agenda.”
In other business, council — by a 6-1 margin — voted to give an unwanted mini-pumper truck to the port authority if the panel provides a written request. If they decline, the truck will be sold by sealed bids, members said.
At issue is a truck, still operational, taken out of service earlier this year during a fire department downsizing program. Schaumleffel was ready to donate the truck to a Kentucky fire department when council stepped in and said the truck should find a new home closer to Conneaut if possible.
Schaumleffel said the port authority expressed interest in the truck prior to Monday’s meeting. Most council members warmed to the idea, saying the city and port authority should work together.
Ward 1 Councilman Dave Campbell opposed the idea, saying the truck may have some resale value. Evergreen Lake Camp, a local campground, has offered to buy the vehicle, he said.
“It’s only fair to the taxpayers who paid for the machine,” Campbell said.
Denver Spieldenner, port authority chairman, could not immediately be reached for comment regarding his group’s interest in the truck.
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