Fremont negotiating cable deal
By Jack Stephens
Published in News on March 2, 2006 1:45 PM
FREMONT -- The Fremont town board has hired a company to negotiate its next cable television agreement.
The board accepted a bid from David Harris of Custom Communications of Kernersville. The town's current contract with Time Warner runs out in May.
Town Administrator Kerry McDuffie said he had worked with Harris on two previous contracts for the town of Tobaccoville, which is in Forsyth County.
"We really have little control over the contract," McDuffie said Wednesday. "... It's mainly for rights-of-way and lines toward homes."
McDuffie said he will not seek more channel because that would increase the cost to the town's 480 subscribers.
The Town Board of Aldermen agreed during Tuesday night's monthly meeting to amend the current contract that was signed in 1996. The town will now get 5 percent of the cost, a 2 percent increase, and the state's share will drop from 4 to 2 percent. The state now collects 7 percent in sales tax from cable sales.
The change, McDuffie said, would generate an additional $400 a month.
The other bidder to assist the town in its negotiations was Robert Sepe of Action Audits of Cary.
Transfer policy
The town board accepted an amended electrical transfer policy of funds. McDuffie said funds could be transferred from the electrical fund to the general fund, or vice versa, after a section of the original policy was removed.
McDuffie said the change gives the town more financial flexibility. He added that the Local Government Commission sets limits on how much money the town can transfer.
In other action, the board:
*Tabled action on repairing the town's tennis courts.
*Proclaimed May as Mental Health Month.