Shakeup at Seekonk’s TV-9

Local cable access station TV-9 has installed a temporary Board of Directors following some internal turmoil.

At a meeting held on August 7, David Saad was named President. Michael Dressler was named Vice-President/Treasurer, and Doreen Taylor was named as Clerk.

The other board members include Peter Hoogerzeil and TV9 personality Jeffrey Starr Mararian.

The former Board of Directors was terminated at the end of July. The members’ terms had expired according to the TV-9 bylaws.

A meeting will be held in December for the purpose of presenting the TV-9 membership with a new set of bylaws. The board will meet multiple times in the next few months to make recommendations. A new board will also be elected.

In a July 24 letter to Saad, Taylor expressed concern over “operating procedures and alike that do not align with the TV9 By-Laws.”

These include Massachusetts General Law; sections of the Open Meeting Law for public meetings and Seekonk Town By-Laws Regulations for public meetings.

“Earlier this year we heard through the Select Board (there had been) complaints received alleging wrongdoing within the Board of Directors and liability that could put the Town of Seekonk in serious jeopardy,” Taylor wrote. “The complaint also led the Select Board to believe there were financial implications as well.”

“The way the Select Board managed the situation is a separate concern to be addressed to them directly. As of this writing, the President of the Board of Directors has not been allowed to address these complaints publicly just as the complaints were made publicly,” Taylor added.

TV9 broadcasts government meetings, including the Select Board and the Planning Board, special events including Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies, and a range of shows which provide information and entertainment.

On the website, tv9seekonk.com, the station’s mission statement reads: TV9 Seekonk is a non-profit public access TV corporation governed by a 7 member board of publicly elected directors. Day to day operation is managed by the Executive Director. TV9 Seekonk is dedicated to providing a professional quality production facility for access users to freely express and share unique ideas via original programming with the Seekonk community.

TV9 Public, Educational and Government channels can be seen on local Seekonk Comcast Cable channels 09, 15 and 17 respectively. TV9 public access programs are produced locally by Seekonk residents and resident sponsored non-residents.