Hebron council votes down long-term extension of SBA cell tower lease, directs manager to seek better options

The Hebron Town Council voted unanimously on Dec. 18 to reject a proposed resolution that would have extended the SBA cell tower lease at 66 Wall Street by six successive five-year terms and authorized the town manager to sign the extension. Council members said the packet lacked the original lease language, raised concerns about automatic-extension clauses, and noted the town may have missed the Dec. 8 rescission window that would have allowed it to decline a five‑year renewal.

Council members pressed for more information about alternatives. Several members cited a recent Marlborough RFP and award as an example that soliciting proposals could produce larger upfront payments and ongoing revenue-sharing arrangements than the draft before Hebron. Packet materials discussed a range of potential long-term revenues but councilors described parts of the proposed language as disadvantageous to the town, including automatic renewals that would carry forward unless the town proactively notified carriers.

Town staff described the mechanics in the packet and told members the current outside manager arrangement provides the town a revenue share. Council members asked the manager to research whether the town can still pursue an RFP or otherwise negotiate better terms and signaled they preferred that approach rather than approving the draft resolution in its current form.

On the roll call, all members recorded negative votes on the resolution (Jan Lawrence: nay; Claudia Riley: no; Keith Pettit: no; Sean Fitzgerald: nay; Tiffany Thiele: no), and the resolution failed. The council recorded direction to the town manager to investigate options — including negotiation and issuing an RFP when feasible — and to return with recommendations.