MADISON -- Public access station Channel 11 on Monday night advanced closer to an interlocal agreement its board members have long sought.

A skeptical Board of Selectmen gave the go-ahead for Channel 11 and Bee Line Cable TV Co. to work out a franchise fee that might help the station operate independently. The towns of Anson and Skowhegan have signed an interlocal agreement, but Madison -- home to the station -- has held out.

Channel 11 operates on a $25,000 budget that is funneled through the three towns from Bee Line Cable.

Following much discussion Monday night, George Elias, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, agreed that an agreement might be possible. Elias, saying he was speaking for the board, insisted that a cap on franchise fees must be included in any agreement.

"If we can work that in there, then I might not have a problem," Elias said. "If they want a cap in there and it takes an act of God to change that, then fine."

Elias and Betty Austin, chairwoman of the Channel 11 committee, exchanged differing points of view during the discussion. Channel 11 board members Betty Vining, Richard Bishop, Inez Moody and Bob Hagopian -- a selectman -- also were on hand.

To begin, Hagopian said the committee was concerned it had too little input about station operation. Elias said he always thought the committee ran Channel 11, but Austin said that is not possible without an interlocal agreement.

"There is no charter," Austin said. "We really are in no-man's land, and just wonder if you can look at that further."

Elias argued that, once the town relinquishes control of budget matters, Channel 11 can add positions as it wishes.

"The group is going to say, 'we need this,'" Elias said. "If the committee comes in with a budget higher than the franchise fee, where will the money come from?"

Such a practice is not the intent, Austin said.

"We don't even know where we stand half the time because we don't have those by-laws that are legal," she said. "The board would be very happy to pledge not to use tax dollars."

Austin also assured Elias that an agreement would guard against the hiring of Channel 11 personnel. The station is run largely by volunteers.

Selectman Al Veneziano then asked if each resident of the three towns should pay a subscriber fee of 45 cents, according to an interlocal agreement. Hagopian asked if a flat fee might work better, but Allen said a flat fee wouldn't work well because of ever-rising costs.

Larry Grard -- 474-9534, Ext. 343

lgrard@centralmaine.com