The Hildreth House property near Harvard, MA was already approved as a cell tower site. The Board of Selectmen must now decide what sort of building arrangement will work best for the town. As Harvard Press reports, the choice boils down to handing the entire venture over to a third party, or maintaining some ownership and involvement in the project.
To help it reach a decision, the Board has engaged consultant Dave Maxson, co-founder of Isotrope LLC, a wireless communication firm. In a study conducted in 2021, Isotrope conducted tests that proved to the Board that a cell tower at the Hildreth site would be a significant boon to connectivity in the area.
Now that the project is ready to move forward, Maxson presented two options to the Board. In one scenario, the town rents the property to either a cell tower company or a wireless carrier and lets that entity do the building and arrange the leasing. This route would leave little for the town to do, and little opportunity to profit from the enterprise.
Calling the second option “the brass ring of deals,” Maxson sketched out a plan that would keep the town in the financial loop without placing the full burden of the project on its shoulders. He proposed that the carriers should build the tower, then turn it over to the town.
As the owner, the town would be responsible for the insurance, and Harvard’s Department of Public Works would maintain general oversight of the tower to ensure its ongoing maintenance. Carriers would lease space on the tower and pay common maintenance fees.
Maxson recommended the second option as the best way to both improve connectivity and direct some revenue back to the town. He pointed to prior examples where the carriers were receptive to the arrangement and noted that he believes at least three carriers would be eager to sign on the Hildreth House cell tower project.
Before making a final decision, the Board asked Assistant Town Administrator Marie Sobalvarro to investigate insurance costs and liabilities for both options. Also rolled into this decision would be the appearance of the cell tower. Selecting a monopine design includes extra costs and maintenance, according to the Press, which will be factored into Sobalvarro’s calculations. Isotrope is on board to write the RFP, whichever path the town chooses.
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