NJ Public Broadcasting Authority Board
Minutes of Past Meetings:
New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority
Meeting of the Board of Commissioners
SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING
March 10, 2009 3:30 p.m.
NJN Studio, Trenton, NJ
MINUTES
Steven C. Fiske, M. D. FACP FACG, Acting Chair, Presiding
NJPBA Two Hundred Forty-Fourth Meeting
Minutes of the meeting of the New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority (“NJPBA”) held at the board room in the NJN Studios, 25 South Stockton Street, Trenton, New Jersey on March 10, 2009 at 3:30 p.m.
I. Call to Order – Open Public Meeting Notice, Dr. Steven Fiske, Acting Chair, NJPBA
Acting Chair Dr. Steven Fiske called the meeting to order. In accordance with the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act of the State of New Jersey, notice of this meeting was filed with the Office of the Secretary of State, posted on the appropriate bulletin boards maintained for such purposes by the Authority, and distributed by press release to daily newspapers in New Jersey.
Dr. Steven Fiske then requested a roll call. Commissioners present and participating at the meeting were Dr. Steven Fiske, Acting Chair (via phone); Stephanie Hoopes Halpin (via phone); Andrea Cummis (via phone); Scott Kobler (via phone); Phyllis Salowe-Kaye (via phone); Ed Carman, Department of Community Affairs (on behalf of Commissioner Joseph Doria) (via phone); Dale Schmid, Department of Education (on behalf of Commissioner Lucille Davy) (via phone); Robert Smartt, Ethics Liaison Officer, Department of the Treasury (on behalf of State Treasurer R. David Rousseau) (via phone). Also participating were Joseph Donohue, Assistant State Treasurer, (via phone); Kavin K Mistry, Deputy Attorney General; Kent Manahan Acting Executive Director, NJPBA; Janice Selinger, Acting Chief Operating Officer, NJPBA; and several NJPBA staff and special guests – Judy Goetz (taking minutes), Joanne Ruscio, Fred Ehmann, Martin Kline, Howard Kline, Mary Kate Maloney, Kathy Budd and Eileen Gallagher.
Acting Chair Dr. Fiske thanked everyone for participating in the meeting. The Resolution for the new Trustee of the NJN Foundation, Tricia Russo will be voted upon at the next meeting. A new list of meeting dates will be distributed soon.
Acting Chair Dr. Fiske stated that the purpose of the meeting is for the Board to consider the Resolution Approving the Appointment of a Temporary Acting Executive Director to serve during the absence of the Acting Executive Director for the time period beginning March 11, 2009 through and including March 22, 2009. Acting char Dr. Fiske asked Judy Goetz to read the resolution:
WHEREAS, the New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority (the “Authority”) was created pursuant to the New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority Act of 1968, L. 1968, c. 405, as amended (the “Act”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 5 of the Act, the Commissioners of the Authority appoint the Executive Director of the Authority, subject to the approval of the Governor of the State;
WHEREAS, on December 4, 2008, the Commissioners appointed Kent Manahan as Acting Executive Director of the Authority;
WHEREAS, the Acting Executive Director will be absent from the State of New Jersey beginning on March 11, 2009, through and including March 22, 2009;
WHEREAS, the By-Laws of the Authority does not provide guidance as who can serve in place of the Executive Director during the absence of the Executive Director;
WHEREAS, in the absence of clear guidance in the By-Laws, the Commissioners of the Authority wish to provide for a Temporary Acting Executive Director to perform the duties of Acting Executive Director during the absence of the Acting Executive Director;
WHEREAS, the Commissioners of the Authority wish to provide that Janice Selinger, Deputy Executive Director for Production and Acting Chief Operating Officer serve as Temporary Acting Executive Director during the absence of the Kent Manahan, Acting Executive Director during the time period beginning on March 11, 2009, through and including March 22, 2009; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE NEW JERSEY PUBLIC BROADCASTING AUTHORITY AS FOLLOWS:
1. The Commissioners of the Authority hereby appoint Janice Selinger, Deputy Executive Director and Acting Chief Operating Officer as Temporary Acting Executive Director in the absence of Kent Manahan, Acting Executive Director for the time period beginning March 11, 2009, through and including March 22, 2009.
2. The Temporary Acting Executive Director shall perform the duties of Acting Executive Director during the time period beginning March 11, 2009, through and including March 22, 2009.
3. This resolution shall take effect immediately in accordance with the Act.
A motion to approve the resolution was made by Robert Smartt and seconded by Phyllis Salowe-Kaye. The motion to approve the resolution was voted upon and approved unanimously.
II. Discussion – Authority Financial Matters
The Governor’s Budget Message was discussed. No line items of the budget have been released. Acting Chief Operating Officer Selinger stated that NJN had one issue with coverage of the Governor’s Budget Message. Acting Chief Operating Officer Selinger stated that so many people attempted to watch the Governor’s Budget message online at the NJN website that it crashed. Acting chief Operating Officer Selinger further stated that the problem has been addressed and in the future there will be a backup plan if similar heavy demand on the NJN website is experienced. Phyllis Salowe-Kaye acknowledged that the NJN staff did a good job covering this event.
Stephanie Hoopes-Halpin stated, from the Finance Committee point of view, the work that has been going on over the past few months is phenomenal. For the first time the NJPBA has financial amounts that match the Treasury account. NJPBA’s budget gap for Fiscal Year 2009 is getting close to where it needs to be in terms of resolving it. Ms. Hoopes Halpin thanked acting executive Director Manahan for her hard work.
III. Adjournment
Acting Chair Dr. Fiske called for a motion to adjourn. Bob Smartt made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Ed Carmen seconded the motion. The vote on the motion to adjourn was unanimous in favor of the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 4:00 p.m.
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