Forks To Get Estimates For New Sound System

A Bethlehem-based company will provide cost estimates to replace Forks' current audio recording system, allowing the township to provide audio web-postings from municipal meetings.

On Thursday, the township Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in favor of allowing New Arrival Studios to provide a cost estimate for an entire audio system upgrade, which would include replacing the current analog sound recording system with a digital system.

The board has been delaying the system's replacement due to a cost estimated at $14,500 to $24,500.  The plan is to have the audio system recordings posted on the site within 24 hours.

Although the entire board voted in favor of having the recording system replaced, some members expressed skepticism over the number of people who will actually listen to the recordings.

“I can’t see just audio webcasting,” said Supervisor Erik Chuss. “There’s only a handful of people who would listen to it."

The board did not discuss if or when live streaming or video recording of the meetings will be done. But replacing the analog system does allow for Internet-supported audio that works in conjunction with video.

“I do think that having the availability of streaming is more convenient for them [residents],” said Supervisor Lilly Gioia.  “It would drive traffic to the website. I do think taxpayers are interested.”

Supervisor Robert Egolf said he would like to have a counter added to the site once the audio system is installed to get a measurement of how many residents are listening.

In March, supervisors authorized township Finance Manager Jim Farley to solicit for proposals from vendors to recommend a new system.

Initial estimates from New Arrival Studios -- using the existing analog system -- came back with two options. Videotaping and audio recordings of the meetings and then posting onto the municipal website has been estimated at $4,500. That estimate includes a camera and uploading the videos onto the municipal website.

The second option would cost $2,500 for only audio recordings of the meetings and uploading the sound onto the municipal website.

New Arrival Studios said the cost would be a one-time fee because the company currently maintains the municipal website.

This is not the first time the township has looked into replacing the audio system. In 2008, the township solicited bids for an audio upgrade project with costs coming back at $12,000 to $20,000, according to Farley.