A plan to tape

Peachtree City Council meetings for later broadcast will likely require

another staffer plus the extra equipment to put cameras in council chambers.

The cameras

would be robotically controlled from a remote station, and someone must

control that station, Technical Support Manager Matt Robinson told council

at its retreat Friday.

The ultimate

cost range of the equipment isn't clear either since there was $150,000

difference between the only two bids received for the equipment.

City officials

want to install two robotically controlled cameras, one to be aimed at

council and the other aimed at the podium. A third camera would be used

to display documents such as site plans and schematics to TV viewers and

those present at the meeting.

Mayor Steve

Brown said AT&T officials were reviewing the bids to determine what

equipment is absolutely necessary before council moves forward on the

matter.

The camera

system could also be used to tape other meetings for later broadcast such

as the Planning Commission.

Councilman

Dan Tennant said he thought it is important to televise council meetings

to help bring City Hall to residents such as senior citizens and parents

who often can't come to council meetings in person.

Councilwoman

Annie McMenamin said she didn't see public support for the concept.

"They

consider this a frivolous cost," McMenamin said.

Mayor Steve

Brown said costs could possibly be offset by securing a sponsor for the

telecast.

"We'll have to wait and see what the numbers are,"

said Councilman Murray Weed.