City Council creates cable commission

The Washington City Council created a cable television commission at its meeting Wednesday to replace the existing cable committee. The commission will consist of members appointed by the mayor instead of simply volunteers, who now comprise the cable committee.

The commission will consist of five members who will serve for three years. However, when the commission is created, two members will be appointed for a term of two years, while three members will be appointed to a term of three years. The commissioners will not be paid.

The commissioners will be in charge of overseeing the city?s public access channel, which is cable channel 18. They will also monitor the city?s cable franchise agreements and provide guidance to the council about them.

The commission plans to use a section of the basement of the Washington Free Public Library as its office space and studio, perhaps even as two studios. The section of the basement is on the south end of the building and measures 38 feet by 38 feet, with some space taken out for the mechanical room in the southwest corner. The proposal is for the city to add a wall, which will be on the north side of the room, and a door on the west side of the room.

Library director Debbie Stanton said a memorandum of understanding has been drawn up between the cable commission and the library, although the library has not yet signed it. She said the library board of trustees will vote on the memorandum of understanding at its next meeting, June 14.

The council passed the second reading of an ordinance that would lower sewer rates but raise water rates by an offsetting amount. The rate changes would have virtually no impact on the utility bills paid by Washington businesses or residents. The ordinance states that the city will increase its water, sewer and sanitation charges 3.5 percent every year on July 1 beginning in 2013.

Kerrie Willis, who lives in the 500 block of West Main Street near the intersection with Avenue E, said that a sign was removed near her property which read ?No parking here to corner.? She said she would like the sign to be replaced. Hinson said he would find out why the sign was removed.

Councilor Bob Shellmyer talked about cars disrespecting the crosswalk signs that have been put around Central Park during downtown events. He said cars are not stopping for pedestrians in the crosswalks as they should.

Councilor Bob Shepherd said he agreed the problem needs to be addressed. He was hesitant to put the mobile crosswalk signs up all the time because drivers would cease to notice them. Shellmyer suggested that the city should do something more than signs or painted lines to get drivers? attention. He initially suggested putting speed bumps in the downtown, although after other councilors disagreed he withdrew that proposal. Councilor Fred Stark said he was not aware of any town that used speed bumps in its downtown. Shepherd said a rumble strip would be better than a speed bump.

Washington resident Elwin Colson said he likes the state of New Jersey?s tough enforcement of pedestrian rights-of-way. He said the city should follow New Jersey?s lead and ticket cars that do not yield to pedestrians. Stark said the state of California is also very tough on vehicles that violate pedestrian rights-of-way.

Washington resident Jim Rosien said he has seen many bicyclists riding on downtown sidewalks and this poses a danger to the pedestrians, too.

?Years ago we had signs that said ?No bikes,?? Rosien said. ?Paint does not stop anybody. People need to be told not to ride on the sidewalk.?

In other news, the council:

? moved its first meeting in July to Tuesday, July 3;

? approved the library?s request to close the alley south of it from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. June 11 for an art project;

? approved a bid from Federation Bank to pay an interest of 1.5 percent on the city?s $250,000 in general obligation capital loan notes through the life of the notes;

? set the date of June 20 for the public hearing date of the 2012 fiscal year budget amendment.