Borough looking to stream meetings 

0
56

NAUGATUCK — Borough residents may soon be able to watch their government in action from the comfort of their own homes.

IT Director Jim Kallipolites told the Board of Mayor and Burgess at its Feb. 6 meeting that meetings could be streamed live online with self-contained equipment available from DNR Laboratories, a Watertown-based audio-visual company.

“You put power to it and an internet connection, and you are good to go,” Kallipolites said.

The equipment, which comes with a three-year warranty, costs about $7,400, Kallipolites said.

He said the company also offers a fixed system, which could only be used in one room. The self-contained unit would allow officials to stream meetings in different locations.

In order for the fixed system to be compatible with the Town Hall, the borough would need to upgrade its sound system, which would cost approximately $14,000, Kallipolites said.

Kallipolites said he also looked into equipment offered by Granicus, a national computer software company based in Denver, Colo.

However, the company requires municipalities to pay yearly maintenance fees, he said.

“It is some really great technology. I just think it is a little too much for the borough and it is expensive,” Kallipolites said.

The board didn’t take action during the meeting and is expected to take up the issue, including where the funding would come from, during its meeting in March.