City Council Approves Cellular Tower, Some Residents Fearful of RF Impacts

SEA ISLE CITY – Representatives of Verizon Wireless appeared at the March 24 City Council meeting to answer any lingering questions regarding the project to build a communications tower on Dealy Field. Some of these representatives appeared at earlier meetings, over the past year.
Before they spoke, city Solicitor Paul Baldini reviewed a timeline of various meetings and opportunities for public comment, since Verizon broached its necessity for an additional communications tower in October 2013.
“The time spent on this issue, today equaling more than two hours,” began Council President John Divney, “shows that we have throughout the process conducted exhaustive meetings with ample time for input from the public and that we have heard from the experts how we are fully in compliance with regulations. And the process has made this the most publicly visible ever of any project on city-owned land.”
“Without this cellular monopole, Sea Isle City will only have inconsistent and subpar service for residents as well as tourists,” Baldini added. “We’re not doing this for any financial reason, but to improve service for everybody.”
Baldini noted that as early as January of this year Sea Isle City Mayor Leonard Desiderio and others began to reach out to the community. City officials met with members of the Recreation Committee, who initially “were cautious, interested, engaged and asked great questions about the development plan,” per Baldini.
He noted a number of specific milestone meetings when the public had ample opportunity to be informed and ask their own questions about Verizon’s needs and plans to address them. These included on Feb. 4 when Business Administrator George Savastano, gave an overview of the concept, stating, “It likely would be at Dealy Field,” and the Recreation Committee gave a list of factors from their perspective to include. Minutes from that meeting commented on the “transparency” of the process and that “all were having an opportunity for input.”
Through the course of the next few months, other meetings on the monopole open to the public, and duly advertised, were held. On Feb. 24, council, with all members attending, unanimously approved moving forward with the need for the monopole and there was no opposition from the public.
Baldini stated, “In reality Sea Isle City, like any other municipality, can only regulate, but not prohibit this type of construction under federal FCC law. If the tower is being located in a legally approved zone, for the use contemplated and the bid process is fair and open to all and construction of the facility goes to the highest bidder, then we cannot prohibit construction.”
Baldini then listed other timing benchmarks in the approval process of the tower construction throughout the remainder of 2014. These included notices to bid as legally prescribed, public advisement of the continuation of the bidding process, open-to-the-public meetings with the city planning board, a registered letter sent from the city tax assessor to affected homeowners April 14, 2014 and May 21, 2014, an open public meeting with Verizon presentations and a presentation regarding pertinent regulations under municipal land use.
Speakers presenting for Verizon at the March 24 council meeting included David Collins, of Cedar Knoll, who stated he is an independent consultant. His expert opinion is that “Verizon’s plan, even in a worst-case scenario, is 44 times less than radio frequency (RF) thresholds allowed under federal standards, which are much more stringent than New Jersey’s. We always use a very conservative formula and methodology to assess RF levels and Verizon’s plan is well, well under this level. In fact, home kitchens will have a higher RF than what will be emitted from this new monopole.”
Public comment centered on opposition to both the concept of use of cell phones and other wireless devices as well as the impact the monopole will have on the property values of owners adjacent to Dealy Field.
Material was presented by a couple of residents, which they had researched on the Internet, that they averred demonstrated the carcinogenic impact of RF and that the FCC uses too high a standard of RF emission levels to be safe.
At the conclusion of the lengthy public comment period, Divney said, “We wanted to give the public time to have their concerns and questions addressed and I believe we have done that.”
Once Verizon corporate gives its green light to proceed, construction of the monopole can begin. The company has pledged to withhold construction for the summer period, beginning June 25 of any year when construction is undertaken.
New Ordinance Regulating “Internet-ordered” Taxis
Council introduced and passed unanimously on first reading an ordinance to amend the city’s revised general ordinances relating to taxicab and other vehicles for hire, to create a regulatory framework for operation of vehicles for hire and declare certain conduct to be unlawful for hired vehicles carrying passengers and stating provision of penalties.
Ordinance Affecting Streets
Council introduced and passed unanimously for first reading an ordinance providing for revisions of the speed limit on Venicean Road to 15 mph and adding additional blocks along Pleasure Ave. as one-way to address bike and pedestrian concerns.
Both these ordinances will be on the agenda for second reading and for public comment at the April 28 Council meeting.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.