Sewerage Authority Moves Forward With Cell Tower and Solar Panel Projects

Judging from the name, one might not expect cell towers and solar panels to be one of the main focuses of Bernards Township Sewerage Authority, but they have been for the past few months.

The Sewerage Authority expects to add revenue for the town by using two small portions of their property for the construction of a new cell tower and a solar panel field. The authority met on Tuesday for their regular meeting and Sewerage Authority Administrator Pete Messina gave updates on both projects.

Cell Tower Update

The cell tower is entering the bid process, where cell carriers can bid for the right to build the pole and get their first pick for the placement of their antennae. The second highest bidder takes second pick, and so on. Messina listed the agreed upon specifications for the tower, which has received some opposition from residents and members of the authority. According to the specifications, the authority has the right to reject any bid, the antennae must be flush-mounted to the pole, the pole should be 150-feet tall and it should be designed to accommodate three carriers. Carriers must also submit a check for $2,500 as a fee for their bid.

Messina suggested that the authority consider altering the specifications to allow for the pole to initially hold antennae for only two carriers, with a possible third to be added later. The reason for the change would be to provide more flexibility in the bid process if the authority only receives two bids in the first round. Some cell carrier companies have moratoriums on tower building at different points in the year, so Messina brought up the concern that by requiring a strict three carrier rule, the authority might have to accept delays in moving forward with the project.

Nonetheless, the authority voted to retain the three-carrier rule help guard against the need for a widespread proliferation of cell towers in town. The idea being that if three carriers are on the proposed cell tower, those three carriers might not need to build another tower nearby in a less attractive location.

Not everyone agreed with the policy, however. "I am opposed to the whole concept, so I'm not going to chip in on this," Deputy Mayor John Malay said. "I think by choosing to [build this tower] we are contributing to the proliferation."

Solar Project Update

The plans to build a solar plant on the Sewerage Authority treatment facility property are also in the bid phase, although farther along than the cell tower project.

Messina said that the authority has received an abundance of interest in the project from well-qualified bidders, and expects to receive bids by Feb. 25. The next step will be a review of the bids and a selection of a company to begin construction of the solar panel field at the facility, if the authority finds one of the bids acceptable.

Meeting Notes

Before the regular meeting, the Sewerage Authority held their reorganization meeting. John Carpenter was elected unanimously as the chair and Carolyn Gaziano was unanimously elected vice-chair.

The Sewerage Authority also talked about reviewing plans of the Pingry School's request to remain in the sewerage service area if the school decides to build a new lower school adjacent to their Martinsville campus. The authority expressed their willingness to grant the request if proper measures were taken to ensure that the new facilities would be used strictly for educational purposes.