Music therapy workshops paused after low turnout; commission seeks alternatives and clarifies recording/privacy limits

The Revere Commission on Disabilities was told Dec. 9 that a recently run music therapy workshop series drew small audiences and that Revere TV declined later requests to record the sessions over privacy concerns.

Ralph DeChico described the program history: "When we had them here for our meeting...we wanted Revere TV to be able to video those workshops," he said, and reported Revere TV sent an email declining further recordings after the first workshop. DeChico recalled the first workshop had about five attendees and said attendance dwindled thereafter, prompting the commission to pause monthly programming for now.

Commissioners debated whether the privacy concerns were resolvable. Mario Grimanes argued organizers could obtain releases or mask faces and called Revere TV's rationale "baloney," urging direct, in-person follow-up with Revere TV leadership. The commission did not opt to continue the monthly music therapy series as part of its regular meeting schedule.

Next steps and context: commissioners suggested alternative outreach to increase participation, and that staff could explore options such as recorded seminars that avoid identifying participants (masking faces or showing only the presenter) or obtaining signed releases when appropriate. No formal vote to cancel the program long-term was recorded in the transcript.