MINTO – Town council has approved a $30,000 expenditure to upgrade audio-visual equipment for the council chambers here.
At the Nov. 2 meeting, council approved recommendations in a report from coordinator of legislative and human resources services Quinn Foerter.
The report notes audio-visual equipment in the council chambers was upgraded in 2015 by Mildmay-based Balaklava Audio.
“With all of the changes in technology in recent years, coupled with the challenges the pandemic has brought forward, now would be a good time to look at additional upgrades,” Foerter states in the report.
Changes include an additional microphone at the council desk for the CAO and four additional composite microphones to be distributed throughout the staff and delegation tables.
These microphones are more sensitive to sound and will allow staff commentary to be heard more clearly on video, the report notes.
Other work includes:
- upgrading the current four-channel mixer to an eight-channel mixer to include the new microphones;
- a new ceiling-mounted camera made to record video as well as to be used for video conferencing;
- a new conferencing processor, and other various equipment upgrades to allow for the possibility of hybrid council meetings in the future.
Clerk Annilene McRobb explained staff recommended contracting with Balaklava for the sake of consistency.
“What we ask is to be able to upgrade and just use Balaclava because that is who we got it from and it’s, I guess, a very niche thing to get,” McRobb stated.
“From what I’ve heard, our ratepayers, when they listen to these meetings in the council chambers, that’s one of the complaints, not being able to hear,” noted deputy mayor Dave Turton.
“Were getting closer and closer to being able to get back to the council chambers (council is still meeting remotely) so this is likely quite appropriate.”
Council approved the purchase of audio-visual equipment totalling $30,386 from Balaklava Audio.
