FROSTBURG — A new agreement between Frostburg and Comcast will allow Frostburg State University’s television station to provide programming 24 hours per day and opens the door to future expansion, according to Melanie Lombardi, station manager.

Lombardi thanked the mayor and council Thursday for entering into the agreement. Lombardi’s students film mayor and council meetings and then air them for viewing by Comcast’s customers in and around Frostburg.

“This is good experience for our students, though they don’t often realize it at the time,” Lombardi said. “But it helps them get jobs. Most of them are getting hired shortly after graduation.”

Cherie Krug of the FSU Foundation said $36,800 worth of equipment upgrades at FSU TV 3, including video on demand, has greatly improved the already busy programming schedule there.

John Lombardi, chairman of the department of mass communications, told city officials the 24-hour programing ability will help the university to attract and then retain students.

In other business at the mayor and council’s public meeting Thursday:

• A date of Jan. 21 was set to discuss the annexation into the city of 43 acres owned by Allegany Coal and Land Co. near Interstate 68 and Braddock Road.

• Approval was given to request bids from electrical firms to maintain city street lights.

• The city’s procurement policy was amended, with additional safeguards added.

• A contract of $875,905 was awarded to Braddock Construction for a combined sewer overflow project on West College Avenue. The vote was 3-0. Finance Commissioner Richard Weimer recused himself because his son owns the company and Public Safety Commissioner Robert Flanigan was absent.

• Officer Guy Griffith was recognized for 40 years of service with the city’s police department.

Contact Mike Sawyers at msawyers@times-news.com.