AMHERST — Amherst officials are preparing to enter contract negotiations with Amherst Media to continue providing public access services to the town after learning that the state Inspector General’s office doesn’t require the services to be put out to bid.

Town Manager Paul Bockelman informed the Select Board this week that a request for proposal he was drafting for handling the public, education and government channels, or PEG access, will not be issued. This means the town can move toward with working on a new deal with Amherst Media, which has provided this service for the past 41 years.

“We have concluded that we will not seek an RFP based on a reversal of opinion by the Inspector General’s Office,” Bockelman said on Tuesday. “We will invite Amherst Media in to engage in contract negotiations.”

The procurement process Bockelman outlined in recent months, which would have required advertising the service and establishing accounts at Town Meeting, was based on advice from the inspector general and the Department of Revenue, and came after Amherst entered into a new 10-year contract with Comcast.

But this raised concerns with Amherst Media officials and the public that the public access could be in jeopardy.

Amherst Media Executive Director Jim Lescault last week provided correspondence from an official with the Inspector General’s Office to an attorney with state Senate President Stanley Rosenberg that said public access is not covered by the state’s chapter 30B bidding provisions. This ran counter to an earlier opinion from the same office, provided to Assistant Comptroller Holly Bowser, that public access was not exempt.

Even though all Amherst Media services have continued, and it has been paid by the town, on Feb. 3 Bockelman offered a temporary contract, which was signed March 10.

Though now operating under this temporary contract that runs through June 30, Lescault said Amherst Media is looking forward to getting down to negotiations.

“We shouldn’t wait,” Lescault said. “We should engage as soon as possible.”

Lescault said Amherst Media’s executive board is getting together to work through the process and what the needs are in the contract, such as how capital money will be dispersed for upgrades to equipment.

“There are serious points to be covered here,” Lescault said, adding that the contract will meet the needs of the community for the next decade.

Demetria Rougeaux Shabazz, vice president of the executive board, said she appreciated that Lescault researched the issue thoroughly and brought clarity to ensure the services were not needlessly put out to bid.

“It is a great victory for Amherst Media, the cable subscribers and the town that Amherst Media has served for 41 years,” Shabazz said.

An online input form on the town website allowed residents to give feedback on what they would like to see in the new contract. Bockelman said he anticipates using this information during negotiations.

“We are still committed to an open and transparent process,” Bockelman said.

Town Meeting will still be asked this spring to authorize a contract longer than three years.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.