Councillors here have endorsed a tower licence agreement for Xplornet Communications Inc.
The agreement covers use of a portion of land at 5684 Trafalgar Road and use of a server room in the basement of the municipal office building.
A Jan. 24 report from town manager Lisa Hass recommended council endorse the agreement. Last April, a report was submitted to council from Hummingbird Wireless for housing equipment in the basement of the municipal building as well as having a tower located in the works yard.
The agreement was based on the number of users that the company had.
Hass used the example of 30 customers representing $150.
Late in 2011, Hummingbird Wireless was purchased by Xplornet.
She said, “I have received a proposed agreement from the company that encompasses both of our sites. The amount proposed agreement is $150 per month. In speaking to the company representative, he informed me that they have nine users on the system and do not feel this amount will increase. At this time there are no plans to add to their customer base and no plans on upgrading the equipment.”
The town’s fire department has its radio equipment on the tower at no cost and the roads department is looking into utilizing the tower as well.
Councillor John Brennan said the agreement proposed is for 10 years with no change in the rental fee.
“To me that seems like a long period without considering any changes,” he said.
Hass was absent. Clerk Kathryn Ironmonger said, “I personally was not part of that discussion of the agreement.”
Her understanding is the town’s fire department radio equipment is on the tower and there is no cost associated with that. “So there is a benefit to the municipality – in kind for the tower.”
She said the users on the system may not be more than the nine currently using it.
Ironmonger said the agreement is retroactive to last October.
Mayor Lou Maieron said if there were 50 customers it would not cost the town any more, “but if there are no customers, they are still bound by the agreement.”
While he appreciated Brennan reading the fine print, the mayor is equally uncertain nine customers is a sustainable base.
The agreement passed without more discussion.
