Laserfiche WebLink
<br />u <br /> <br />TUESDAY <br /> <br />DECEMBER 8, 1981 <br /> <br />Upon motion, duly seconded and unanimously carried by a recorded vote, and pursuant to <br /> <br />Section 2.1-344(a)(6) of the CODE OF VIRGINIA (1950, and as amended), Council convened <br /> <br />into an Executive Session for the purpose of being briefed on certain legal matters. Upon <br /> <br />reconvening into regular session, Council received a report from a special committee (com- <br /> <br />posed of Vice Mayor Cole, Councilman Oakes, and City Manager Edmonds) charged by Council <br /> <br />on October 13, 1981 with the responsibility of studying and presenting its recommendations <br /> <br />on Martinsville ~Cablevision's request for an extension of its CATV franchise (held by its <br /> <br />parent company, Multi-Channel T. V. Cable Company of Mansfield, Ohio) for a period of five <br /> <br />years from October of 1981 in order that Martinsville Cablevision might have sufficient <br /> <br />time to recover an investment of some $1,300,000.00 it proposes to make in completely <br /> <br />rebuilding its local system to offer to its subscribers a modern 35-channel system. Also <br /> <br />included in the committee assignment for study and consideration was the opposition to the <br /> <br />requested CATV franchise extension filed by Southern Telecom, particularly Southern <br /> <br />Telecom's claim that State statutes prohibit the extending of CATV franchises. On this <br /> <br />point, the committee reported, the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Virginia has <br /> <br />issued his opinion that CATV franchises may be extended for any period of time not to <br /> <br />exceed five years. The committee further reported that Martinsville Cablevision, since <br /> <br />its acquisition by Multi-Channel T. V. Cable Company, has compiled a good record of service <br /> <br />and financial responsibility as well as (has) initiated expanded services and, under its <br /> <br />proposed system replacement and expansion (expected to be completed by September of 1982), <br /> <br />will be able to offer 35-channel services two years sooner than under any other arrangement. <br /> <br />The committee then recommended that Council extend the present franchise for a period of <br /> <br />fifty-nine (59) months and (that) the annual pole attachment rental (i.e., for the use of <br /> <br />the City's Electric Department's poles, covered under a separate document) be increased <br /> <br />from its present $3.00 per pole to $4.00 per pole. In tentative acceptance.of the <br /> <br />committee's recommendations, Council unanimously directed City Attorney Worthy to prepare <br />