Staff
The town will save big bucks on its phone and internet expenses thanks to a telecommunications audit.
Council authorized entering into an agreement with Telcom Enterprises to implement telecommunications savings to the tune of $5,494.59/month or $65,935.08 on an annual basis.
This is a 46 percent savings compared to the town’s current telecommunications costs of $143,687.28 per year.
Back in March, council agreed to have Telcom Enterprises perform a telecommunications audit in an effort to streamline fees incurred on a monthly basis.
The completed audit presented several options for the town to achieve savings.
These include:
•substituting Bell Canada long-distance with Telizon, and Bell Megalink with a Vianet Megalink;
•consolidating its 28 accounts to make them more manageable from an accounts receivable perspective; and
•maintaining its mobility wireless with Tbaytel at the new corporate rate plan for all devices currently on the new 4G network, and converting all devices on the old CDMA network to the new Tbaytel 4G network.
Also at Monday evening’s meeting, council:
•approved a request from the City of International Falls to jointly host a visit by Gary Doer, Canadian Ambassador to the United States. The two communities will host a breakfast or luncheon for the ambassador’s visit. The town will commit up to $1,000 for this event;
•approved Minutes of Settlement for 209 McIrvine Road (2013) and 538 Church Street (2013). The total impact of the reassessment consists of a reduction of $1,364.81 in municipal revenue, and $173.20 in education revenue;
•approved travel and per diems claims for Mayor Roy Avis for attendance at the Ministry of Finance meeting in Espanola. The total amount was $1,093.96;
•referred a financial request from The Heart of the Continent re: Heart of the Continent Partnership/National Geographic Geotourism Initiative 2013 to the Administration and Finance executive committee for recommendation;
•passed a bylaw to acknowledge the exercise by Copperlight LP (formerly Skypower Limited) of a right to extend an option term under an Option to Lease Agreement (1003 Frog Creek Road);
•passed a bylaw to authorize a funding agreement with the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada) to allow Fort Frances to host evacuees from Attiwapiskat FN threatened by flooding;
•held a hearing re: an application to make a vacant property at 446 Third St. East tax exempt;
•agreed to replace computer server 01. This is a budgeted expenditure;
•accepted consolidated financial statements for the year ending in Dec. 31, 2012;
•proclaimed Oct. 20-26, 2013 as “Seniors’ Week” in the Town of Fort Frances as requested by Sister Kennedy Centre; and
•amended the owner’s name on the limousine services agreement from Paul Bock) to 539989 Ontario Limited, who are doing business as North Air Services.
