Disagreements over the system have contributed to a contentious atmosphere on council. And no one's listening to me. City Manager Richard Hayward, who introduced the idea of building a telecommunications system, was forced out in late 1998. Councilwoman Mary Ann Cole, an opponent of the system, was removed in a recall election in mid-1998, and Councilman Michael Coyan resigned shortly thereafter. The telecommunications system survived them all, and cable service started in March 1999.
Digital cable begins today.
Even those who say the city should not be providing telecommunications concede they have benefited. Resident Ellen Allen, who has Time-Warner cable, says the price fell and digital was added faster after the city built its system. That was some good that came out of it. Time-Warner matched city prices and occasionally offered specials that undercut the city, but it clearly has suffered. About 2,300 of Lebanon's more than 7,000 homes and businesses have city cable, Mr. Baldwin said.