📺 Select Board Approves New Multi-Year Grant Agreement with RCTV

Angela Merrill Steps In as Interim Director Amid Major Overhaul of RCTV’s Grant Agreement

After months of negotiations and multiple rounds of revisions, the Reading Select Board voted unanimously on December 18th to approve a new grant agreement with Reading Community Television (RCTV), securing long-term stability for the town’s public access provider while introducing new accountability measures and expanded community programming.

The agreement, which runs three and a half years through June 30, 2029, replaces the previously reccomended 18-month term and aligns with RCTV’s fiscal year and lease cycle. Town Manager Matt Kraunelis was authorized to sign the agreement following final review by RCTV’s legal counsel.

Leadership Transition

The vote comes during a period of transition for RCTV. Angela Merrill, who has served as assistant executive director during negotiations, will officially step into the role of executive director, succeeding Phil Rushworth, who led the organization for 26 years. Merrill pledged to strengthen communication and community engagement:

“We’ve already scheduled monthly meetings with the town manager to keep transparency front and center”, said Merrill.

Key Changes in the Agreement

Select Board Co-Chair Melissa Murphy, who led the negations team, outlined significant updates since the December 2nd meeting, emphasizing that nearly all revisions stemmed from board feedback:

• Extended Term: The contract now spans 42 months, providing RCTV greater operational certainty and supporting staff retention.
• Transparency & Access: All recorded public meetings must be posted online within five business days, and Zoom-only sessions will be uploaded to RCTV’s YouTube channel under a new streamlined process.
• Leadership Notification: RCTV must notify the town of any changes to its Executive Director.
• Fundraising Requirement: The agreement retains a requirement for RCTV to conduct fundraising but removes language making noncompliance a material breach after board debate. “It only benefits them,” said board member Karen Rose-Gillis, advocating for flexibility over punitive measures.
• Community Outreach: RCTV will expand outreach to local sports teams and youth programs, offering equipment and volunteer training for game coverage.
• Election Coverage: Candidate forums for all contested local offices—Select Board, School Committee, RMLD, Board of Library Trustees, and Town Moderator—must be recorded or live-streamed each election cycle.
• Annual Events: Coverage of major community events is now mandatory, including Veterans Day, Memorial Day, MLK Jr. Day, Friends & Family Day, the Street Faire, Juneteenth, PorchFest, and newly added tree lighting and menorah lighting ceremonies.

Accountability and Material Breach

The board strengthened enforcement provisions under Section 18, clarifying that repeated failure to meet programming standards could constitute a material breach. However, members agreed to strike fundraising from the breach list after concerns about “gotcha moments” and the burden on RCTV’s volunteer board.

Board Debate Highlights

Select Board members praised the collaborative process but pressed for clarity on expectations:

• Carlo Bacci pushed for stronger accountability: “If there’s no accountability for the board, there’s no incentive.”
• Chris Haley emphasized event coverage as the true measure of progress: “My hill to die on is them covering the community events. That’s how we hold them accountable.”

Next Steps

The agreement includes a 90-day grace period for RCTV to transition under new leadership and implement changes. The board expressed confidence that the contract will “reset” the relationship and deliver on community expectations for robust local programming.

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