HATFIELD — Money to move the cable control room for the public access station from Smith Academy to Memorial Town Hall is included in a new 10-year contract between the town and Comcast.

On Tuesday, the Select Board, acting as the Cable Television License Issuing Authority, unanimously approved the decade-long license renewal, which will extend from July 11, 2023 to July 10, 2033.

The deal includes $69,000 in capital support, to be paid over three installments. The initial $21,500 payment, of which $2,500 will go toward a new fiber connection to upgrade the Public, Education and Government, or PEG channels, will cover the costs of the move.

“We appreciate Comcast’s investment in the community,” said Select Board Chairwoman Diana Szynal said, adding that maintaining the studio and providing broadcasts of public meetings is critical for the town.

Town Administrator Marlene Michonski said the new contract will give Comcast subscribers high definition signals for the PEG access channels. Those had previously been available only in standard definition broadcasts.

Hatfield also will continue to receive operating support from Comcast, as a percentage of gross revenues. That is increasing from 4.5% to 4.75% of gross revenues, meaning the potential for additional funding, said William Solomon, the town’s attorney. These will be paid quarterly.

The two existing PEG access channels will be joined by one originating in Northampton, offering city programming.

The deal was negotiated over the past two years with Eileen Leahy, senior manager for government affairs at Comcast.

Other business

In other business, the Select Board and Finance Committee began a discussion about an opportunity for Hatfield to join the Franklin County Technical School in Turners Falls as a member town.

Michonski said only two students from Hatfield are currently enrolled at Franklin Tech, with more students attending Smith Vocational and Agricultural School in Northampton.

Becoming a member town for Franklin Tech would mean a discounted rate for tuition and transportation fee, though what responsibilities the town would have as a member are unknown.

“I’m exploring what that involves,” Michonski said.

With questions about this, the Select Board suggested the School Committee explore membership and then make a recommendation.

The Select Board also approved the transfer of a Class I license from G&S Industrial at 4 Linseed Road to Harrison Diesel Solutions, LLC, managed by Ashley and Drew Harrison of Hawley.

G&S was founded in March 1984 as an independent forklift company servicing all makes and models, and has continued to sell forklifts and stock parts. In 1989 it became a Jerr-Dan distributorship offering sales, service, parts and warranty for carriers, wreckers, and industrial carriers, and seven years later became an associate dealer for International Trucks offering sales of new and used trucks, service, parts and warranty.

The expectation is that all employees will remain at the business that has been owned by Gary Savard.

“It’s nice to see the business continue,” said Select Board member Ed Jaworski.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.]]>