(A) Commission to be established.
(1) Establishment. The Township Board shall establish a commission to be known as the Williamstown Cable Communications Commission. The Township Board shall solicit from the public and from the franchisee names of persons interested in serving on the Commission, but is not limited to names thereby submitted.
(2) Members; term; compensation. The Commission shall consist of five residents of the township appointed by the Township Board. Each member shall serve a term of three years; provided, however, that, appointments to the first Commission shall be for such terms as follows: two members for a term of three years; two members for a term of two years; and one member for a term of one year. Any vacancy in the office shall be filled by the Township Board for the remainder of the term. No employee or person with ownership interest in a cable television franchise granted pursuant to this chapter shall be eligible for membership on the Commission. Members of the Commission may be compensated at a rate to be determined by the Township Board. The rate of compensation, if any, shall be established and may be revised, from time to time, by resolution of the Township Board.
(C) Functions. The Commission, in addition to the functions and responsibilities that the Board may delegate to it from time to time by resolution, shall have the following functions:
(1) Discuss this chapter and the franchises thereunder with prospective franchise applicants;
(2) Advise the Board on applications for franchises;
(3) Advise the Board on matters which might constitute grounds for revocation of a franchise under this chapter;
(4) Recommend to the Board, after hearing, resolutions of disputes between franchisees, between franchisee(s) and subscribers, between franchisee(s) and access users, and between access users;
(5) Advise the Board on the regulation of rates under this chapter and make recommendations on requested changes in rates, services or classifications;
(6) Recommend to the Board general policy relating to access channels with a view to maximizing the diversity of programs and services to subscribers;
(7) Encourage the use of access channels by institutions, groups and individuals within the township;
(8) Encourage and supervise the interconnection of systems;
(9) Review and report to the Board concerning records and reports which the franchisee is required to submit under this chapter;
(10) The Commission shall annually prepare a budget and, prior to adopting same shall conduct a public hearing thereon. The Commission shall also prepare an annual report to the Township Board including an accounting of budgeted fees received and distributed by the Commission and a report of the type and amount of use of access channels; and
(11) Conduct evaluations of the system at least every three years and make recommendations to the Township Board regarding amendments to this chapter or to the franchise agreement.
(Ord. 23, eff. 3-20-1981; Ord. rev. 9- -1993)