Bradford selectmen discuss buyout of 99-year cell-tower lease as residents press for details

The Town of Bradford Board of Selectmen and the town Budget Committee discussed a possible buyout of a 99-year perpetual lease for an existing cell tower at a public meeting on Feb. 5, 2026. Town Manager Lois A. Jones told the meeting "the possibility of a second cell tower was off the table," and said the discussion would focus on whether the town should accept a lump-sum payment to buy out the lease.

The discussion centered on trade-offs between continuing monthly lease income and taking a one-time payment, and on questions about the long-term use of the parcel. Residents asked whether approving a buyout would allow additional towers to be placed on town land and raised questions about the current lease structure, including how many tenants pay the town each month. "How do we know there are only three tenants for which we are being paid monthly?" one resident asked, and others pressed how the town would use or invest any lump-sum proceeds. The transcript records that those questions could not be answered during the meeting.

Vice-Chair Candace Jones of the Budget Committee reviewed department budgets earlier in the meeting; committee members, Boardmember Edward Nevells and the Town Manager answered questions and reported no major concerns with the proposed departmental budgets. The cell-tower buyout discussion was the substantive item of the evening and generated the most public interest.

No formal motion or vote on the buyout was recorded in the meeting minutes; the meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m. The transcript does not specify next steps, timelines for a decision, or any dollar amounts associated with the buyout offer. Town officials and residents will need additional data—lease terms, tenant counts and payments, comparisons with other towns, and financial projections for lump-sum investment versus continued revenue—before the board can take a formal action.