In its last regularly scheduled meeting of 2006 on Tuesday, the Board of Selectmen approved routine items such as lease agreements as well as agenda items that indicate Westport's town government is anticipating the world of the future.

An ArcoStream video streaming media services agreement presented by Eileen Zhang, the town's director of information director, was OK'd by the board.

As she held up a cell phone that was showing the meeting in room 309 of Westport Town Hall, Zhang said the agreement with ArcoStream "will provide the Town of Westport a hosting service for the live and on-demand Windows media streaming. The media streaming will convert the town's live meetings from local channel 79 to the Internet.

"Since the town's channel 79 has become very popular, this will provide an additional forum to serve the public on a much broader basis. The viewers can watch the town's live and archived meetings from anywhere, at anytime at their computers."

First Selectman Gordon Joseloff predicted more towns will get such systems.

"You can now use the telephone if you have the Internet," he said. "This is part of town government's effort to operate on your schedule and not ours."

"This is a great leap forward to better serve the public," said Bob Lasprogato, the Republican selectman on the board.

The total amount of the contract is $3,000 plus a $350 set up fee, according to Zhang. "The monthly minimum will include 175 gigabytes per month of aggregated monthly transfer or usage, and three gigabytes of monthly storage," she said.

At the end of the six-month service agreement, it can be terminated or renewed on an annual basis, according to Zhang.

Longshore Deal OK'd

The lease and agreement blitz by the board was highlighted by approval of the lease with Longshore Associates of Westport Limited Partnership for the Inn at Longshore property. Last week the Board of Finance gave its approval in a 6-1 vote and next week the Planning and Zoning Commission is expected to act on it. [See Wednesday's Westport News for an earlier story on the lease.]

Other leases and agreements approved by the board on Tuesday included:

a two-year lease between the Town of Westport and Bridgeport Haley Davidson Motorcycle for a cycle to be used by the Westport Police Department. "The one we have needs a lot of maintenance," said Deputy Chief Donald Brown, who pointed out that lots of other area police departments also are going the leasing route.

a contract between the town and Associated Cultural Resource Consultants for the preparation of a historic properties study report for property known as 88 Roseville Road.

A lease agreement between the town and the Westport Astronomical Society, Inc. for a three-year lease for property known as 180 Bayberry Lane.

A lease agreement between the town and Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Services (WVEMS) for a 20-year lease for the first and second floor of the Westport Police Department building at 50 Jesup Road.

A contract between the town and Webster Insurance for risk control services as it relates to the town's safety program for a one-year period beginning Nov. 1, 2006.

A three-year agreement between the town and Buckley Golf, Inc. to provide scorecards and yardage booklets for the golf course at Longshore Club Park.

Two tax abatement agreements between the town and the Interfaith Housing Association as recommended by the Tax Abatement Committee.

A contract between the Town of Westport and the Employee Assistance Programs of Southwestern Connecticut for employee assistance program as recommended by the town's personnel department.

An agreement between the town and the Friends of the Levitt Pavilion, Inc. for services of General Manager Freda Welsh. Under the contract the general manager will submit a bill for one-half of the total compensation of $8,000 on Dec.31, 2006 and June 30, 2007.

The Board of Selectmen acted on the 15-item agenda in under an hour and there was little debate and few questions.

At the start of the meeting, the first selectman announced that the town had received a check from the Connecticut Light and Power (CL&P) for $9,000 to replace trees and told of a favorable rating for the refinancing of bonds.

Two sewer topics also were acted upon.

A supplemental sanitary sewer connection at property known as 5 Sue Terrace, contingent upon compliance with the town engineer's letter of Nov. 16, 2006.

Approval of a preliminary benefit assessment hearing for the construction or acquisition of a sanitary sewer extension affecting properties in all, or part of, know as Ridgewood Lane, Carolyn Place, King's Highway North and Edge Hill Lane.

The board also approved the minutes of Nov. 2 and Nov. 8 meetings.