Macomb Township upgrades video technology capabilities – Macomb Daily
Technology upgrades in Macomb Township could soon provide new and improved township meeting videos, giving residents online access on a model similar to the Macomb County Board of Commissioners.
On Sept. 14, the Macomb Township Board of Trustees approved a request to purchase CivicPlus Media in the amount of $6,300 annually.
“I do believe it is a public access, and I think it will improve citizen ability to understand what is happening in their community,” Treasurer Leon Drolet said.
Deputy Clerk Roger Cardamone, a former county employee, gave a short presentation on the program to the board. He wrote a memo to the board stating the clerk’s office has been working with the supervisor’s office to upgrade the township’s capability to stream, record and host meeting videos.
The township currently uses the CivicPlus products of CivicEngage for website design/hosting, and CivicClerk agenda management software. Supervisor Frank Viviano said that the township has used CivicEngage for some time, and added CivicClerk within the last few years.
CivicPlus Media will interact with the website and agenda management software to create live or on-demand video streaming with agenda item bookmarks, according to Cardamone’s memo.
“You will find it on the website. You will be able to bring up the meeting on playback, on a playback view of the meeting on the Civic Media platform. You can look at the agenda right on the same screen as the video. The meeting is indexed to the agenda. So you can look at the agenda and click the agenda item to bring it up on video,” Viviano said. “The county uses the exact same platform.”
Viviano said anyone interested in seeking how the township’s videos will look and operate under the new platform can view Macomb County Board of Commissioners videos.
Cardamone also wrote that CivicPlus Media can be integrated with Zoom and YouTube. Township meetings have been available on Zoom for some time, and on July 13, the board approved the purchase of equipment for boardroom technology upgrades from Community Development Block Grant funds in the amount of $12,139.83. Planning Director Josh Bocks said that included in the upgrades would be updated cameras for those who watch township meetings via Zoom.
CivicPlus Media information included with the board’s Sept. 14 packet indicates CivicPlus Media is accessible by all CivicPlus unified applications such as CivicEngage website design and CivicClerk agenda and meeting management. CivicPlus Media technology can integrate live and recorded video of meetings anywhere on CivicEngage websites, making them easily accessible by residents from desktop computers or mobile devices. Packet information further lists that the program provides a number of functions, including:
• Live stream recording and immediate availability of recorded videos for on-demand viewing
• Integration with social media platforms that include Facebook, YouTube and Twitter
• Auto start recordings of meetings
• Accommodation of unlimited events and viewers
Viviano said that Civic Plus Media platform use and features may evolve once it is activated. He anticipated the program could be up and running in between four to eight weeks.
On July 13, the township board approved laying off two broadcast services employees, who were paid one month of regular salary as severance, according to a memo of understanding.
Gloss