COUNCIL HUDDLES IN SECRET ON TCI; REPORTER BANNED DESPITE OBJECTION

The Cape Girardeau City Council discussed proposed changes to its franchise agreement with the local cable television provider in a closed meeting Monday night.

A reporter from the Southeast Missourian challenged the council's decision to discuss the matter secretly but the reporter was not allowed to attend.

Eric Cunningham, the city attorney, said that under provisions of the city charter and the state's open meetings law the council was within its rights to close the meeting to discuss matters with its legal counsel.

"We appreciate your position but respectfully deny you access," Mayor Al Spradling III told the reporter prior to closing the meeting to the public.

The Southeast Missourian contended that because of the high level of community interest in the city's franchise with Tele-Communications Inc. the public should be aware of any franchise changes the City Council considers.

Under Missouri's open meetings law, public governmental bodies are never required to discuss any matter in closed session, although there are specific circumstances when they may choose to do so.

City Manager Michael Miller said prior to the council's work session, which immediately preceded the closed session, that the city wanted to avoid tipping its hand in negotiations with TCI. He also cited the legal questions involved with TCI's proposals as reasons for the closed meeting.

Recent programming changes by TCI have sparked much subscriber criticism and led the city to issue a letter of censure to the company last month for its actions.

Last Tuesday TCI representatives met with city officials, including Spradling and Miller, and offered a list of proposed changes to its franchise agreement with the city.

The proposals include changing the type of technology required under the agreement to expand the channel capacity of the local system, which also serves the city of Jackson.

The franchise agreements for both cities allow each to accept what the other has negotiated with TCI.

In other matters, the council passed a resolution authorizing the city to apply to the Missouri Department of Social Services for two emergency shelter grants.

The first is a $20,000 request on behalf of Safe House for Women Inc. It would use the funds for minor rehabilitation to its facility, utilities, food assistance and a security deposit.

The second application is a $40,000 request for the Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army has pledged to match the grant request with $80,000 in local funds, $12,000 worth of in-kind contributions and $3,773 it has received from other grants.

The funds would go to provide rent and utility assistance to needy families, transient assistance, emergency food and prescriptions for the needy and transportation. The project's total cost would be $95,773. The city would not be required to provide any matching funds for either project.