LtE: Select Board Animus and RCTV
To the Editor,
“I’ve never looked into the contract myself. I think everything is going fine there,” stated then Select Board Chair Carlo Bacci at the June 4, 2024, Select Board meeting, during an agenda item on the RCTV contract, which Mr. Bacci personally placed on the agenda. He later stated, “I don’t have an issue with language in the contract.” At that meeting Select Board member Chris Haley praised the outstanding work of RCTV and stated, “My daughter has gone to RCTV camp the last two years over there, Angela is incredible. Rob in the backroom here [in Town Hall] has been outstanding. He’s been here more than we’ve been at meetings. There is no issue there.”
The real reason Mr. Bacci placed the RCTV contract on the agenda, he stated, was so that he could back into a discussion about an unproven conspiracy theory that was being promoted by an anonymously run website, Reading Votes, which had endorsed Melissa Murphy for Select Board. The Reading Votes article, titled “We’re Calling Shenanigans,” promoted the baseless claim that the Reading Post was favoring letters in support of a candidate running against Ms. Murphy, and others whom the website endorsed in the local election. The article urged readers to contact the Select Board to protest and to ask for an investigation. Mr. Bacci stated that he did not actually understand the accusations against the Post, but that they were brought to his attention by “people smarter than me, with computers.” He wanted to question the Reading Post, but as the Select Board has no authority over the Post, he decided to question RCTV Director Phil Rushworth, who was also on the Post advisory board at the time. At the time, Town Moderator Alan Foulds and four other people were also on the Reading Post advisory board. Mr. Bacci did not state that he reached out to any other Post advisory board member.
“I reached out to Phil… this is what I’ve heard… he denied it, he said it didn’t happen… Was this done, was this done on purpose, who did it…” stated Mr. Bacci, recounting his conversation with Mr. Rushworth. Mr. Rushworth denied the accusation of bias in the posting of letters, and stated that he considered the matter closed, according to Mr. Bacci. Mr. Bacci and Mr. Haley apparently did not accept Mr. Rushworth’s answer, and repeatedly contacted him to discuss the matter further, to no avail, according to the Select Board members.
I trust the Reading Post when it writes, “We are committed to providing unbiased and diverse viewpoints on local issues and welcome any and all local contributors from the community.” In advance of writing this letter I spoke to several Post and RCTV board members, the current Editor of the Post, and RCTV Director Phil Rushworth regarding the accusations of bias. Mr. Rushworth explained to me what he said he explained to Mr. Bacci regarding the letter to the editor issue. It was not hard to understand, and I am convinced that there was no bias by the Post against then candidate Melissa Murphy or any other candidates. No shenanigans.
The RCTV contract is now up for renewal, and the Select Board has discussed the contract several times recently. They granted only a 3 month extension, which expires in September. Select Board member Karen Rose-Gillis offered to negotiate the contract with the Town Manager and the RCTV, but Select Board member Melissa Murphy was chosen to work on the contract with the RCTV Board members.
In Select Board discussions, Mr. Bacci and Mr. Haley both stated that they would not sign a new contract unless Mr. Rushworth is removed as the RCTV Director by the RCTV Board. On June 10, Mr. Bacci stated, “I tried to address some issues last year, but Phil didn’t meet with me, and I tried…” It appears the matter that Mr. Bacci wanted to address was the baseless accusation of wrongdoing, and not any RCTV matter. Mr. Haley went as far as to say, “I don’t think Phil’s heart is in this anymore, it hasn’t been. And to Carlo’s point, Phil didn’t meet with me…”
At the same meeting, Ms. Murphy stated, “For me, why I think we need a change in leadership at RCTV is the lack of communication with town management and the Select Board, that has been happening year after year.” Ms. Murphy’s statement contradicts a statement made by Chair Haley that he and the Town Manager had met with Mr. Rushworth recently, and that Ms. Murphy was also invited to the meeting as Select Board Vice-Chair, although she did not attend. Select Board members could have communicated with RCTV leadership at any time had former Chair Bacci, current Chair Haley or the Town Manager scheduled a meeting, as is written in the RCTV contract: The Select Board shall schedule an Annual Review with RCTV Board of Directors during the months of September through November… The Select Board may request additional meetings with the RCTV Board of Directors as needed, and upon reasonable notice the RCTV Board shall meet with the Select Board. Mr. Bacci scheduled no meetings with the RCTV Board in his year as Chair, not even the required Annual Meeting. Current Select Board Chair Haley has not scheduled any meetings with the RCTV Board of Directors since becoming Chair in the spring.
During contract discussions, Select Board member Karen Rose-Gills supported renewing the contract and stated that RCTV has been complying with the contract, and Select Board member Karen Herrick also supported renewing the contract, and stated any issues raised could be addressed in a new contract. Dozens and dozens of supporters of RCTV have spoken at the Select Board meetings and written letters to the Select Board and to the press. The Reading School Committee sent a letter to the Select Board in support RCTV which stated “For years, RCTV has funded the position…at RMHS, enabling us to provide video production coursework and other educational opportunities that have engaged hundreds of students over the years… you’d be hard pressed to find a PEG provider that has done more to support a town’s schools than RCTV has for Reading Public Schools.” This has all happened under the leadership of RCTV Director Phil Rushworth.
I hope the contract the Town Manager and Ms. Murphy negotiate with the RCTV Board is reflective of the overwhelming support shown by residents to RCTV and to Mr. Rushworth, and that they acknowledge the many ways RCTV goes beyond its contractual obligations. I hope the RCTV Board knows that threats and ultimatums must be met with strong resolve. There is always room for improvement in any organization, and the new contract should reflect any improvements the Select Board wishes to see. But petty politics, perceived personal slights, conspiracy theories, and vindictive language and behavior have no place in a contract negotiation and renewal of such an important town resource. The residents of Reading deserve better than that from Select Board members.
Sincerely,
Angela F. Binda
Town Meeting member, precinct 5