By Laura Lane
The fire department buildings under consideration are located at 197 East Meadow Avenue and on Carmen Avenue in Salisbury at the corner of Salisbury Park Drive.
Omnipoint couldn't be reached for comment at press time.
Commissioner Carey Welt, the chairman of East Meadow Fire Department Board of Fire Commissioners, said in a telephone interview that the department first became aware of the public's dissatisfaction with their decision to allow the cell towers a month ago. "About five or six people came to our meeting and said they had concerns," Welt said. "They said the cell tower is a health hazard which is contrary to our research. They also said it would be unsightly and would decrease property values. We would have put it in a pole so that wouldn't have happened."
A 1996 Federal Telecommunications Act prohibits local zoning boards from considering perceived or possible health effects when ruling on cell-tower sites. But the issue may not get to the Town of Hempstead's Zoning Board of Appeals if the fire department is able to get out of their commitment to Omnipoint.
A call to the town by the Herald confirmed that the cellular company has not filed an application yet.
There were approximately 75 people at a recent fire department meeting which included 36 department members.
Residents were unhappy that the fire department had made a commitment to the cellular company without including them in the decision.
"Why did you sign a contract without notifying the public?" one woman asked.
"When the application was filed the public would have seen it and could object to it when it was held at the town," Welt answered.
He explained that the fire department had been trying to find ways to reduce taxes and had been approached for years by different businesses to put up cell towers. Omnipoint was offering a quarter of a million dollars and after doing research and finding that cell towers weren't harmful, they thought agreeing to the offer would benefit the community.
"We wouldn't do anything to jeopardize people in the district; that would be counterproductive to what we do," Welt said. "We know about the community resistance so we asked to break the contract."
Joseph Frank, the fire department's lawyer said he's in the process of trying to get out of the agreement.
Residents complained that the department wasn't aware of the public's disapproval of the plan because the public never knew what the department was doing. Welt agreed that communication was a problem and agreed to put out a newsletter three to four times a year.
One resident asked if the fire department could let the community know if an application is filed by Omnipoint with the town's zoning board of appeal. Welt said a notice would be sent to all of the area schools.
Bob Zafonte, the President of the East Meadow Civic & Community Service Association said he isn't certain that the fire department will reverse their decision to allow Omnipoint to use the two properties for cell towers.
He'd written a letter to the Board of Fire Commissioners on Feb. 4 on behalf of his civic group stating their concerns.
"That letter never got a response," Zafonte said. "In the past my civic group has been active in fighting cell towers in East Meadow. I believe that if there is a large penalty, the fire department may have wiggle room to get out of having to reverse their decision."
Without the money from the cell towers Welt said taxes will more than likely have to be raised. "We're not in the business of making money," Welt said. "We project what our needs are at the end of the year and budget accordingly. Tax dollars offset it."
To find out if an application has been filed with the Town of Hempstead Zoning Board of Appeals, call (516) 489-5000.
