Town out to cut telecom costs

The town has hired a firm to complete an audit of its telecommunications expenses as a means to find more cost-effective ways of operating.
Council agreed at its regular meeting last Thursday night to hire Telecom Enterprises, which specializes in assisting municipal and non-profit organizations control and reduce their telecommunications costs, to review the town’s land-lines, long distance, toll-free, and calling card services.

It also will look at interdepartmental connections, Internet connectivity, after-hours and emergency services costs, maintenance agreements, and mobility services.
Savings realized could range from 15-40 percent of the town’s current costs, and Telecom Enterprises has never failed to obtain savings as a result of its audits, noted a report from Community Services manager Jason Kabel.
The cost associated with the audit will be 50 percent of the monthly savings Telecom Enterprises is able to achieve over 18 months, he added.
If there are no savings realized, there will be no cost to the town.
In related news, council also agreed Thursday to enter into a non-binding, corporate-wide Master Mobility Service Agreement (MMSA) with Tbaytel.
This will be a cost-savings to the town, as well as allow access to improved voice and data features.
Also at Thursday night’s meeting, which was postponed from last Monday due to a lack of a quorum, council:
•referred a letter from Fort Frances Community Clinic executive director Marlis Bruyere, asking town council for tax relief at the old library building (363 Church St.), to the Administration and Finance executive committee for its recommendation;
•approved applications for tax adjustment re: 410 Crowe Ave. (2012) and CNR-leased vacant property (2010, 2011, and 2012);
•approved a flag-raising request from Autism Ontario re: World Autism Awareness Day on April 2;
•agreed to write a letter of support for a funding application being prepared by the Boundary Waters Dragon Boat Festival committee;
•referred a financial request from the Rainy River District Music Festival Association, re: the 73rd Festival of the Performing Arts in April, to the Administration and Finance executive committee for its recommendation;
•referred a letter from Leroy Carpenter, re: sale of property legally described as PT HB RES PCL 8372, to the Planning and Development executive committee for its recommendation;
•referred a letter from Rosanna DeGagne-Tweedie, re: water bills for multi-residential properties at 810 Cornwall Ave. and 352 Church St., to the Operations and Facilities executive committee for its recommendation;
•agreed to a request from the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association to send a letter of support to Premier Kathleen Wynne over stakeholder opposition to proposed Endangered Species Act transition measures;
•passed a bylaw to approve certain agreements and Minutes of Settlement with Bowater Canadian Forest Products Inc. (now known as Resolute FP Canada Inc.) and the Municipal Property Assessment Corp. (MPAC); and
•passed a bylaw to approve a funding agreement with the minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs for Ontario (this is for funding to assist with the preparation of an asset management plan).