Graphic courtesy of Town of Buchanan
By Matt de Simone
Buchanan residents will soon have the opportunity to experience Comcast’s television and Internet services.
At Buchanan Town Council’s November 12 meeting, a standard, non-exclusive agreement was unanimously approved with Comcast in order to install cable in town. An advertised public hearing was held prior to approval allowing a Comcast representative to hear any questions and/or concerns from residents. After no residents commented during the hearing, the town and Comcast agreed to the following terms included in the meeting’s agenda packet:
- Comcast has requested a franchise agreement in order to install cable in the town.
- The cable company is aware that the town needs to place Christmas decorations on the front of the poles. Comcast offered assurance to town management that its installation will not affect Christmas decorations. The Comcast construction team reviewed the locations and stated that the poles all overlash, so it will not impact the Christmas designs.
Following approval of a small omission from the agreement’s item report, Comcast will finish up engineering, permitting, agreements with the owner of the poles, and easements they intend to use. The town presented an overlay of “phase one” of Comcast’s service area for Buchanan.
“We are pleased to sign this franchise agreement with the Town of Buchanan and look forward to bringing our Xfinity and Comcast Business products and services to a community where there is clear consumer demand,” said a Comcast representative when asked for comment on the agreement.
The installation date is yet to be announced by the town. Shentel Telecommunications currently has a non-exclusive franchise agreement in the town. Comcast will compete as they are both non-exclusive agreements, according to a town official.
In other news from last week’s meeting, the town extended the Real Estate and Personal Property Tax payment deadlines from Dec. 5 to Dec. 30, 2024. According to the town, due to issues with tax conversion and use of the new software system (QuickBooks), the town didn’t begin mailing out billing statements until last Wednesday, Nov. 13, which would not allow property owners a “reasonable and practical timetable” to make a payment without penalty before the original deadline. Town staff recommended that residents needed 30 days for taxes to be paid. Town Council unanimously approved a resolution read last Tuesday for the extension.
The town has found its new treasurer, Claudine Stump, who was commended for being “especially helpful working with (Town Manager Angela Lawrence) and (the town’s) contractor regarding treasurer duties, conversion of taxes, and southern software transition.” All financial accounting will completed in-house by January 2025 with the contractor completing tax paperwork, the town noted. Stump will retain the Clerk of Council duties but all other clerk duties, including front desk duties, bill payment processing, deposits, and others will transfer to a newly appointed clerk. Stump has worked for the town for since March 2021. She has held the position of Town Clerk while handling many of the treasurer duties during interim periods when the town has been without one.
Grant work continues as well in Buchanan. The state recently approved a Lead Pipe Project agreement and will soon send the $250,000 payment. The project continues and property owners are encouraged to continue sending in inventory information. Property owners for which lead pipes were determined or properties where no determination could be made will receive a mailer. Grants were also submitted for the Park Enhancement Project and Cultural Events/Music Festival Series.
Council approved the 2025 meeting dates on the second Monday of each month as follows: January 13, February 10, March 10, April 14, May 12, June 9, July 14, August 11, September 8, October 14 (Tuesday), November 10, and December 8. Town Council meetings take place at 7 p.m. at Buchanan Town Hall.
