New cell towers may fill coverage gaps

06/12/2007

Abbe Smith , Register Staff

MADISON — The last areas of town where cell phones can't connect with the outside world soon may be getting a power boost in the form of four new wireless towers. The Board of Selectmen Monday announced a proposal to place four cell phone towers on town property — including Rockland Preserve and the Surf Club — and invited the public to comment on the idea at a public hearing June 25. The hearing will start at 7 p.m. at the Town Campus.

First Selectman Tom Scarpati said Monday he believes it is time for the town to take action on putting up the cell towers.

"The thing to remember is there are going to be cell towers in Madison whether we put them up or somebody else does," he told those attending the Board of Selectmen meeting Monday morning.

The four potential sites are Strong Field at the Surf Club, the Rockland Preserve, the Bus Depot on Nathan's Lane and the bulky waste site on Ridge Road. The plan is meant to eradicate spotty cell phone coverage in certain areas, including along the beach.

A plan several years ago to put up cell towers at the Surf Club and Rockland Preserve got to the public hearing stage but fizzled before any action was taken.

Scarpati said the town has received comments and letters from residents concerned about safety in parts of town where there is no cell phone coverage.

"It's not just to be able to text your friends or call home," Police Chief Paul Jakubson said after the meeting. He said the issue of not being able to dial 911 from your cell phone during an emergency is a real concern for people.

Jakubson told the Board of Selectmen that the towers also could be used to expand radio communication abilities of the Police and Fire departments and the ambulance company.

"From a public safety standpoint, if we determine that additional transmit sites are needed, we would support the installation of the tower," he said.

In February, the town presented a plan to streamline emergency radio transmissions among police, firefighters, paramedics and dispatchers.

Scarpati said there would be no out-of-pocket expenses to the town to get the cell tower project started.

"This is an opportunity where we can use town-owned land to build towers," he said.

Town officials are in the process of negotiating contracts with two tower-development companies interested in putting up the towers. No leases have been signed and there will be a town meeting for each site proposal.

Administrative Services Assistant Helen Burland estimated each tower could generate $50,000 a year in revenue from contracts with cellular service providers. The revenue would come from the providers paying rental fees to use the towers.

Burland declined to estimate how tall the towers would be, but said in the case of Strong Field, it might be possible to use the existing light poles. She said the other sites most likely would require building new towers.

The possibility of different kinds of towers that blend in with the scenery and what kinds of impacts the towers would have on the town will be part of the public discussion of the proposals.

Selectwoman Kathi Traugh said it is important for residents to participate in town discussions of the cell towers.

"We want people engaged now, early in the process," she said.

Abbe Smith can be reached at asmith@nhregister.com or 789-5615.