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Politics & Government

Sewerage Authority Votes to Prepare Bid Specifications For New Cell Tower Despite Some Opposition

Public will have opportunity to comment on proposed cell tower specs.

The old adage, "Better the devil you know, than the devil you don't," was a prevailing theme at last night's Bernards Township Sewerage Authority meeting. The members discussed a potential cell tower at the Sewerage authority property in Liberty Corner.

As noted earlier this week in Patch, a crane test was conducted on Jan. 9 at the proposed location, 762 Martinsville Rd. The crane was set at a height of 150 feet. Members of the community and the authority were invited to view the crane from various locations and then offer comments on the aesthetic impact.

This made for a lively debate at last night's meeting. Initially, most committee members perceived the crane/cell tower to be largely "invisible to innocuous" and generally "unobtrusive." There was no denying that it would still be noticeable, but would it detract from Basking Ridge's quaint charm and historic feel?

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Pete Aprahamian, a Bernards Township resident, provided his perspective. Using his laptop, Aprahamian displayed approximately 20 photos of the crane test, many of them clearly depicting that the tower would be  obvious from a variety of different vantage points.

Aprahamian's concerns were threefold; 1) would the addition of the cell tower at this site fly in the face of the new mayor's 2010 goals for promoting the beautification of Basking Ridge, 2) is there sufficient land and height to accommodate and attract enough carriers or future requests, and 3) is the monetary incentive outweighing other concerns.

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The Authority members were receptive to Aprahamian's position but feared that if they did not work with the cell companies now they would lose whatever leverage they had over new cell towers built in town.

While they acknowledged that a cell tower would be visible, both Township Committee members John Malay and John Carpenter commented on whether it was more beneficial for the town to control the placement, size and design of a new cell tower in Bernards Township, or risk that a private organization would become a candidate and there would be no such leverage.

The Township can cap the size, height and number of carriers using the tower. And, if the Township goes forward with it, it is possible that they might preempt additional private construction of cell towers in Bernards Township.

Former Sewerage Authority member Diana Boquist expressed her dismay over the lack of a clear town policy regarding such endeavors. She said that the addition of the cell tower would be in opposition to maintaining Bernards Township as a scenic, pristine place with an old time feel.

Township Committee member Carolyn Graziano recommended that the committee only move forward with the project if  there were  a minimum number of carriers and specific physical limitations.

Sewerage Authority Adiminstrator Peter Messina assured the Authority members that these considerations could all be addressed in the proposal specifications. Both the Sewerage Authority and members of the public will be able to review and comment on the specs prior to putting them out for bid.

The bid alone does not obligate the town or the Authority to make an award. The Authority voted to take the next step and have Messina prepare the proposal.

On a separate note, after 18 years of service, Diana Boquist will be leaving the Sewerage Authority. The committee formally recognized her contributions as member, prior chairperson and treasurer.

Current Chair and Township Committee member Mary Pavlini presented Ms. Boquist with a commemorative plaque and thanked her with the "deepest appreciation and sincerest gratitude."

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