Wednesday, October 1, 2008
CAT board objects to newly appointed Telecom Board member
Alderman plans to contest Hilton’s appointment to board
BY DUSTIN TRACY Northwest Arkansas Times
Posted on Wednesday, October 1, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/69649
Former Fayetteville Cable Administrator Marvin Hilton’s time as a member of the city’s Telecommunications Board may be short lived.
Hilton, who served as the city’s cable administrator from 1995 until this past May, was appointed to the board Sept. 16 by the city’s nominating committee despite the fact that his application to fill an empty spot on the board was denied by the committee in early June.
At the Fayetteville City Council’s agenda-setting session, Alderman Brenda Thiel told everyone that she planned on making a motion that the council reconsider Hilton’s appointment. Thiel said a letter from Colleen Pancake, president of the Community Access Television board of directors, protesting Hilton’s appointment was the main reason she planned to bring the motion forward.
The letter stated that Hilton had a troubled history with the TV station while he was the city’s cable administrator and when he was fired by the city, he was escorted out of the building by a police officer. The letter documented several cases of harassment by Hilton against TV station personnel, to the point the station had to file a restraining order against him.
Pancake’s letter explained that her board was concerned that now Hilton has inserted himself in a position of authority over the station by sitting on the Telecommunications Board. The letter states that Hilton “[by] way of reinserting himself into the chain of authority over Community Access Television, may take up much of this Council’s future valuable time with the same behavior we have brought to your attention.”
Alderman Kyle Cook, chairman of the nominations committee, said that Hilton’s application in June was denied because of his recent termination by the city. Cook said that after three months of receiving no applications, the committee reviewed Hilton’s resubmitted application and forwarded a recommendation to the City Council that Hilton be approved to sit on the board effective Sept. 16.
“Nobody else applied,” Cook said. “(The position) was advertised, and none of the opposing parties put forth an application.”
Cook added that he had time to talk to Hilton and discuss some misunderstandings and that he felt comfortable appointing Hilton to the Telecommunications Board.
“He’s been working hard behind the scenes,” Cook said.
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1 comment:
After reading that article, I borrowed this commentary from The Iconoclast site because it sums up my thoughts on the subject better than I could do it!
truth-be-told said...
I ran across from some old files written by the former Cable Administrator, Marvin Hilton. From this it is difficult to understand why Blaylock would see a problem with Hilton being on the Telecommunications Board.
17 GOOD REASONS FOR HAVING PUBLIC ACCESS TELEVISION
IN FAYETTEVILLE
1. It is an answer to the old adage that the only people who have freedom of the press are those who own one.
2. It and the World Wide Web are, practically speaking, the only place in town with freedom of speech with free access to a large audience.
3. It is a place where freedom of speech on television is unfettered by commercial demands and considerations.
4. In today’s world of global media conglomerates, it is a way for ordinary citizens to be heard.
5. It is the only television station in town where all of the programming content is determined by local citizens.
6. It is a way for the community of Fayetteville to get at the truth about issues by having a discussion that includes a diversity of opinions.
7. It is a way to fulfill the fundamental human need to make a difference and to feel of some importance.
8. It adds liveliness and vitality to the Fayetteville community.
9. It helps to level the political playing field, allowing those of limited means to effectively run for local political offices.
10. It protects the minority against the tyranny of the majority, by providing a way for every citizen to exercise their first amendment rights.
11. It is an electronic replacement for the public town square that has largely been replaced by private malls.
12. It is a way to vent frustration that can make a difference.
13. It is a communication safety valve because it is always there for anyone who feels that there is some urgent truth or something overlooked that the community needs to know. Just knowing that it exists can be reassuring.
14. It helps promote the City Council approved number 12 “guiding principle” of “A fun city in which to live.”
15. It’s a good place to try out an artistic idea, such as a piece of music or drama and get feed back from the community.
16. It is a way for citizens of all ages to learn the process of television production and becoming more media literate.
17. It is way for people of all backgrounds and ages to become known in the community.
Marvin Hilton
Cable Administrator
City of Fayetteville
September 7, 2005
September 28, 2008 9:15 PM
allodium said...
Yes, and those are the very reasons that Coody and his vassal Susan Thomas wanted to get rid of Marvin. That is the very stuff of resistance to arbitrary control by those in positions of authority, and he was in the way of the ruthless takeover.
September 28, 2008 9:40 PM
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