Tower: Last Stumbling Blocks Resolved

Two more stumbling blocks to building the emergency communication tower were resolved by the Selectboard at its meeting on Wednesday March 27 at Tracy Hall.  First, the tower will be limited to non-commercial use, at least until the debt to erect it is paid off.  Second, the Town Manager dropped his request for a special Town Meeting, finding a bank to do a lease-purchase financing.  That should end the public debate, as all major concerns of residents have been resolved.  The Selectboard gave the Town Manager fast-track authority to build. The Town Manager is going the 248a permit route, meaning at least 4.5 months before construction begins.  Two  reports are below; one from the listserv, the other in the Valley News.

The Norwich Tower

listserv post by Watt Alexander

March 27, 2013.

Just back from Selectboard meeting this evening which was notable for several 

reasons.

By strong majorities the SB voted to go with a lease-purchase eliminating the 

need for another bond.

They also voted to restrict the tower application to municipal emergency 

communications use only. 

Our Town Manager recommended switching to the lease-purchase option in a memo 

distributed at the meeting and appeared comfortable with the non-commercial 

restriction on the tower itself. 

The SB also adopted an amended resolution that allows the town to draw upon 

existing funds to press ahead with tower construction and reimburse those 

funds with bond proceeds as they become available. 

The lease purchase agreement responds to concerns about the overall cost of 

the project. 

The non-commercial restriction satisfies concerns about the potential 

negative precedent a commercial tower would have on our zoning regulations. 

The Town Manager is confident we now have in hands the funds necessary to get 

this system built.

Those of us who live near the tower can take some solace in knowing this 

tower won't be broadcasting or built out any more than is necessary for 

public safety needs. 

All the major issues now resolved, the TM has been given fast-track authority 

to build and equip this tower as quickly as practicable.

Thanks to all of you who supported the bond vote on March 5th.

Here's hoping this is the last listserv post on this tower.

I think we're done

Norwich To Build Tower: Town Bows to Voters and Ends VTel Deal 

Sarah Brubeck, Valley News Staff Writer

March 28, 2013

The Selectboard has decided to build a new 180-foot communications tower, for municipal purposes only, without the help of a private firm.

Last night’s action marks a course reversal for Town Manager Neil Fulton, who last summer negotiated with Springfield, Vt.-based broadband provider VTel to build and operate the tower on New Boston Road for its own commercial use, in exchange for allowing the town free access to install new emergency radio communications equipment.

The deal was billed as a win-win: Norwich would get the tower it needed at a minimal cost, and VTel would be able to provide high-speed Internet service in an area in sore need of it.

But many Norwich residents were uncomfortable with handing the tower over to a private operator and organized a vote at Town Meeting earlier this month to authorize the town to borrow money in order to build the tower itself. A majority of the Selectboard was initially in favor of the VTel deal, but changed its mind after residents made their sentiments clear.

The board voted last night that the tower should remain in municipal hands through the life of the bond, which could extend 10 to 20 years. Once the debt is retired, however, future Selectboards will have the authority to decide if commercial companies can use the tower.

Read the rest of the story. 

LINK: 

http://www.vnews.com/news/5347177-95/norwich-to-build-tower-town-bows-to-voters-and-ends-vtel-deal

See our related post:  Building The Norwich Tower -- PSB or DRB.

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