CARIBOU, Maine – Caribou will be installing new sound equipment this week after technical glitches prevented YouTube viewers from hearing the latest city council meeting.
On Monday, Jan. 22, city staff tested the city’s video and audio system and did not find issues with the broadcasting, said City Manager Penny Thompson. But that night, folks watching on YouTube noted that the city council did not have sound throughout its entire meeting, which lasted nearly two hours.
During that meeting, councilors declared a burned home on Sweden St. dangerous, heard budget proposals from department officials and reinstated opening prayers for public council meetings.
The city’s public access channel 1301, operated by Spectrum, broadcasted the meeting without issues, Thompson said, but the YouTube malfunction prompted her to reach out to Oak Leaf Systems, based in Caribou, with whom the city has a contract.
Caribou city councilors renewed the city’s annual contract with Oak Leaf Systems earlier this month. Per the contract, Oak Leaf Systems will offer network support, troubleshooting, security checks, hardware installation and IT consultations for a total of $31,800 in 2024.
Thompson said she expects the new equipment to be installed Tuesday, Jan. 30 and tested during a public hearing that evening at 6 p.m. The hearing will seek public input on how the city should redevelop the site of the former diesel plant.
