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Select Board approves authorization to allow Verizon to modify town‑owned tower; members ask about lease value and coverage
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Summary
The board approved sending a document saying the town is agreeable to Verizon equipment modifications on a town‑owned tower, with members asking whether new equipment would expand coverage and increase lease value or tax assessment.
The Rangeley Select Board authorized staff to send a document to Verizon indicating the town — owner of the local cell tower — is agreeable to certain equipment modifications while clarifying the authorization is not a building permit.
Speaker 5 explained the request: the town owns the tower and the authorization would only acknowledge the town is amenable to equipment updates; Verizon still must submit building permit applications and comply with local codes. "I'm not authorizing a building permit. You're just saying that the town is okay if they make modifications to the tower because it does belong to us," Speaker 5 said.
Board members pressed whether new equipment would broaden coverage and therefore change the lease valuation or property assessment. Michelle asked whether adding equipment would trigger a lease revision; staff said the town's assessment and personal property review could follow any equipment changes. Several members recommended negotiating lease language that accounts for increased coverage or carriers and noted examples from other leases where modifications permit additional carriers and revenue increases.
The motion to authorize staff to sign an authorization document for the modifications was moved and seconded and approved. Members emphasized that the authorization is limited to permitting staff to communicate with the carrier and that any permitting and tax assessment follow normal processes.
