Pepperell Creates Economic Development Committee, Approves 10-Year Charter Cable Franchise

PEPPERELL — September 12, 2011 — Pepperell selectmen and planning board create an economic development committee and approve a 10-year cable franchise deal. Meeting jointly on September 12, the two boards voted unanimously to establish a nine-member advisory Economic Development Committee, with Town Administrator John Moak named as chair and eight resident members to be recruited through an open application process — four appointed by the Select Board and four by the Planning Board — with a one-year review built into the charge. The selectmen then approved a franchise license agreement with Charter Communications, dated September 1, 2011, under which Charter will fund equipment capital costs at 26 cents per subscriber per month initially and operating costs will run from $2 to $3 per month per subscriber over the 10-year term to support Channel 15 public-access broadcasting. Town Administrator Moak also briefed the board on a fall town meeting funding plan built around new-growth revenue certified at $118,000 — $38,800 above projections — and anticipated one-time state aid, targeted at covering a sander at $36,000, a police cruiser at $35,000, and police equipment at $35,000 that failed to pass as capital exclusions in the spring.