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Hebron council declines to reopen cell-tower lease; agrees to pursue RFP and subcommittee
Summary
After extended debate, the Hebron Town Council reiterated its decision not to accept the carrier’s proposed renewal terms for the SBA cell-tower lease and agreed to place a plan for an RFP and a subcommittee on the next agenda to explore building a new tower and market options.
Hebron — The Town Council revisited a recent decision on the SBA cell-tower lease at its Jan. 8 meeting and declined to accept a carrier‑proposed extension on the terms presented, instead moving to pursue a request for proposals and form a subcommittee to plan for a future replacement and market solicitation.
Town staff said the carrier presented an option that would have provided a one‑time payment and periodic percentage increases in exchange for multiple five‑year renewal options. Councilors raised concern that the way the extension was written could lock the town into repeated five‑year renewals effectively extending the lease for decades without a town termination right. One councilor summarized the worry as allowing “six more five‑year terms” for a potential 30‑year horizon with no effective town escape clause.
Opponents of immediate renewal argued an RFP could yield materially better terms and provide the town bargaining leverage, while supporters said leaving the current structure unchanged risks losing service and revenue if the tower were removed. Town staff noted that demolition or replacement of the existing tower could disrupt cellular service and reduce short‑term revenue, and said the town attorney had advised on limitations in reopening the existing lease.
Council members agreed to place the issue on new business at the next meeting to vote on creation of a subcommittee and to develop an RFP timeline so the town can assess options over the five remaining years of the current agreement. Several councilors urged that Parks and Recreation and finance representatives be included on any subcommittee because the tower revenue currently funds programming and has budget implications.
The council’s next steps are procedural: task staff to reach out to Parks and Rec leadership and Craig Bridal (who raised technical and revenue questions during discussion) for input, draft a scope for a subcommittee, and have the subcommittee report back before any decision to accept carrier terms or to pursue new construction and an open procurement process.
