Six LCD television monitors give citizens a close-up view of public meeting proceedings.

For just a little more than $100,000, Chesterfield’s general services department turned the stodgy-courtroom-like public meeting room into a state-of-the-art multimedia room. Four 58- inch and two 68-inch LCD high-definition TV monitors hang from the ceiling, replacing the four small-tube televisions that were mounted on the sidewalls.

According to Assistant Director of General Services Charles Dane, a new audio system that includes highly sensitive microphones, an amplifier, and mixing board brightens the voices of Board of Supervisors members, staff, and those addressing the board from the podium. Dane managed the upgrade that increases the range of the microphones and produces a more crisp and clean sound.

A computer controls input that includes PowerPoint presentations and a gadget called a Sympodium that allows presenters to draw on a screen alongside the podium, with their drawings or scribbles showing up on the monitors in the meeting room as well as the feed that goes out to Comcast and Verizon television subscribers and to live streaming on the web.

“Our old system consisted of a camera pointed at an image projected on a screen, and the quality was not very good. That was an analog system. Now everything is digital,” Dane says. The system that was replaced was installed some 18 years ago when the meeting room was constructed.

An additional 58-inch LCD monitor is located out of view behind the podium so that the board members will see the same presentation as those in the gallery and at home. When zoning cases, budget PowerPoint presentations, or other information is loaded into the system, a presenter is able to draw in his or her presentation using the interface screen, circling  or underlining important items. The marks will then stay on the monitor until the presenter resets it.

“It’s a lot like what John Madden does with his telestrator,” says Dane, referring to the announcer’s explanation of plays during NFL football games.

The project has been on the county wish list for a number of years,  says Dane, “but we just couldn’t afford it.” The money to fund the upgrades, including a seating re-arrangement that makes more room for staff up front and puts the press seating in the rear of the room, was raised from PEG (Public, Education, and Government), PEG is a product of legislation intended to enrich communities by requiring cable companies to fund local organizations and give access to media technology and distribution on local cable systems.

The new system was given its first run-through during last Tuesday’s school board meeting and then again during the board of supervisors meeting on Wednesday.

“All the comments we’ve received have been very positive. I think they realize how important it is to see clearly what is going on in these meetings,” Dane says.

mfausz@villagepublishing.com | 751-0421

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