The Hingham Board of Water Commissioners moved to secure a projected $1 million in revenue over the next ten years by finalizing a new lease agreement for the wireless communication tower at 900 Main Street. Chief Procurement Officer David Aquar detailed the contract with SBA Monarch Towers One LLC, which includes an initial ground rent of $50,199 with a 4% annual increase and a 35% collocation fee for additional carriers. Aquar told the board, We are looking at about $600,000 in guaranteed revenue over the first 10 years, noting that the total figure could exceed $1 million when carrier fees are factored in. Water Superintendent Russ Tierney endorsed the deal, stating that the current lessee has been a reliable partner. Every time we have a problem with the tower, they contact us immediately, Tierney said, adding that the residual income from the lease has historically been strong.

The funds are earmarked for the Weir River Water System budget, providing a critical revenue offset as the town continues to manage aging infrastructure. Board Chair William Ramsey reacted positively to the financial terms, noting, The numbers sound wonderful. During the discussion, Commissioner Julie Staley questioned the town’s ability to influence service expansion, asking, Do we have any control over making sure they try to put other service carriers on there to broaden coverage? Aquar clarified that the lease structure incentivizes the provider to add carriers, such as the recent addition of Dish, because it increases their own profit alongside the town’s revenue share. Commissioner Liz Klein inquired about the management of third-party contracts, asking, Is SBA responsible for working with Verizon and T-Mobile? Tierney confirmed the town only leases the space while SBA handles all maintenance and carrier relations. Motion Made by L. Klein to authorize the town administrator to sign the lease agreement, memorandum of lease, and all associated documents with SBA Monarch One LLC regarding the lease of municipal real estate for wireless communication facilities located at 900 Main Street in the form attached hereto. Motion Passed (3-0).

Beyond the lease, the board received updates on several major infrastructure initiatives. Darren D., a project manager with Veolia, reported that the intake replacement at Accord Pond is nearing completion and that annual well rehabilitations are underway. He also announced that the high service side of Hingham will see unidirectional flushing begin in the third week of April to maintain water quality. The system hasn't been this good in years, Darren D. told the commissioners. We're heading in the right direction. Tierney also addressed recent public concerns regarding water safety, specifically touching on PFAS and lead service lines. While a full PFAS assessment report is expected by early summer, Tierney emphasized that the town remains in full compliance with current regulations. Regarding a recent mailing about service lines, Tierney clarified that the town only has seven identified lead lines, all of which are showing non-detect levels for lead. The letter is a requirement to identify service lines. It doesn't mean there is lead in the water; our treatment process mitigates leaching, Tierney explained. Commissioner Klein requested a deeper dive into the data for the next session, stating, I'd love a more detailed update on PFAS at the next meeting to ensure people have the accurate facts.