[November 22, 2009] BRIEF: Duluth council probably will upgrade its chambers Tweet Nov 22, 2009 (Duluth News Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The Duluth City Council probably will vote Monday to spend nearly $250,000 to upgrade its chambers but will steer clear of an idea that stirred heated debate a few months ago: buying themselves new computers. If approved, a new sound system, cameras, monitors and Internet connectivity will be installed in the chambers. The upgrades also will allow the council to install monitors and a retractable screen in the future. Most of the upgrades will help for broadcast of council meetings on PACT-TV and help to reduce cell-phone interference over the speaker system. In August, the council essentially rejected spending $290,000 on upgrading the chambers, including $116,000 for the computers and connectivity. The new proposed upgrades will allow for future installation of computer equipment. Without the computers, said Councilor Todd Fedora, "this will sail through." The council put the upgrades on its consent agenda, meaning it was noncontroversial and is likely to pass unanimously. To see more of the Duluth News Tribune, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/. Copyright (c) 2009, Duluth News Tribune, Minn. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]