WESTERLO — The committee working to increase broadband access in rural Westerlo wants to draft a new agreement with Mid-Hudson cable. The committee is asking residents who want service to make their needs known.

Most households in Westerlo receive broadband through Mid-Hudson Cable, which does not run lines to areas that are not as densely populated. Dorothy Verch, who chairs Westerlo’s planning board and serves on the Broadband Research Committee, told the board on Feb. 14 that County Route 402 has been identified as a potential area Mid-Hudson Cable could expand services to. Eight residents had petitioned for receiving service there, she said, and Mid-Hudson Cable had identified 40 houses that could be serviced. There are 26 residents that could be served on County Route 406 as well, she said.

Verch criticized the current agreement between the town and Mid-Hudson Cable, describing it as “outdated.” as it does not make a reference to internet services. She requested the town allow the committee to draft a new agreement that would include service to homes along routes 402 and 406. She said 2018 should be the prospective date to set up the agreement.

Verch also cited instances of cable outages, and said that, since they had been identified as due to a loss of power, an uninterrupted power source should be set up between two power hubs in town.

Verch asked residents to come forward or compile lists of neighbors of who wants service in order to promote Westerlo as an area in need of more service areas.

“Why should we suffer?” she asked, citing neighboring towns like Greenville and Coeymans that have several service areas.

“Those towns have multiple service areas because people actually dialed up and said, ‘I want service in this area,’” Verch added.

A resident in the gallery inquired about the cost, to which Verch responded that, if all residents in an area requested service, they would not be charged to set it up.

“Yeah, but what’s it going to cost per month?” replied the resident.

“That’s up to you,” said Verch. “How much do you want to use?”

She said she didn’t know the cost of the cheapest plan.

Mid-Hudson Cable advertises its least expensive internet plan at $64.90 a month, but it must be bundled with basic cable, which at its cheapest is offered at $28.45 a month. A cable phone is offered à la carte at $35.95 a month, but requires internet.

A report last year from the Federal Communications Commission found that 10 percent of all Americans and 39 percent of rural Americans lack access to 25 Mbps/3 Mbps of broadband service.

In other communication news, Verch also announced at the meeting that the planning board had reviewed the application from Tarpon Towers to erect a cell tower and had recommended it request a variance from the zoning board.

“They’re going before the board on the 27th,” said Verch. “And they’re coming back to us on the 28th.”

The application for the tower was made by Tarpon Towers on behalf of Cellco, doing business as Verizon Wireless. It would be 120 to 140 feet high and built off of Route 405 in Westerlo.

The variance would allow a test of visual impact besides using a crane. In November, the town conducted a balloon test that was inefficient due to high winds.

There is currently a 100-foot tower in South Westerlo, but to work as well as the proposed tower it would need to be 300 feet high, said Verch.

Ideas to conduct a test included bringing a flatbed truck with a pole or launching a dirigible.

“Not a balloon, a dirigible,” said Verch. She also floated the idea of flying a helicopter or drone.“It’s a whole new ball game, Bill,” she said to Councilman William Bichteman.

Heating the town hall

The board rejected all bids to repair the heating system for the town hall. The bids offered were all too costly, and the temporary heating system appears to be working well enough to continue being used, said Bichteman.

The building’s boiler stopped working last year, shortly after voters narrowly rejected a bond issue that would have installed a new heating system as well as making other upgrades to the building.

The building is currently heated by temporarily installed propane tanks connected to wall heaters.

Museum happenings

Councilman Joseph Boone, a committee member for the town’s museum, went over initiatives including setting up a computer system with archival software and a phone line with an answering machine, as well as cataloguing items.

The museum’s website is also in the process of being set up, said Boone.

The museum is also looking at categorizing artifacts and items currently being held in the town library’s attic. Items that are not deemed as vital to the museum will either be returned to the former owner or sold. The highway department will assist in transporting some items, said Boone.

The town board also ruled to reinstate the museum’s board of trustees and appoint Mary Jane Araldi as curator.