Council approves $80,000 advance to OnLight amid governance concerns

The Aurora City Council voted on Jan. 13 to advance $80,000 to OnLight, the nonprofit that administers the city’s fiber asset, after a protracted debate about oversight, board vacancies and the nature of the funding.

Brian Caputo, chief operating officer, said the amount is framed as an "advance" while staff completes a strategic planning process to determine whether the funding should be structured as a loan or a grant. "This is our asset, the fiber that's in the ground, and this organization is administering it for us," Caputo said, describing the city's task as charting a path to make OnLight self-sustaining.

Austin Fitzcorvette, OnLight's volunteer director, told the council the nonprofit is actively recruiting board members and has fielded inquiries from interested parties via social media and its website. Council members raised concerns that the OnLight board currently lacks a quorum and that continued funding without a clear governance or sustainability plan risks future requests for more money.

Alderman Smith said he would support the advance "with hesitation," citing the organization’s small board and uncertainty whether the money would be repaid if the city ultimately treated it as a loan. Legal staff cautioned that increased city involvement in OnLight’s operations could blur the line between municipal oversight and the nonprofit’s independent governance.

Several aldermen suggested returning to council with a clearer strategic-plan timeline and for staff to brief appropriate committees. After discussion, the resolution authorizing the advance passed on a roll call recorded in the transcript as nine yes and two no votes.

The council directed staff to continue work on governance questions and to report back on milestones and contract documents in follow-up meetings. No detailed repayment terms were approved at the meeting.