Concerned Residents Make a Showing at Cell Tower Hearing

At least 50 concerned residents showed up to a Southampton Town planning Board public hearing on Thursday night for an , according to East Quogue resident Don Bouchard, who has been fighting the project.

"It was a good turn-out," said Bouchard. "I'd say about a dozen people spoke against the tower."

The proposal, submitted by the East Quogue Fire District, calls for the installation of a 100-foot, T-Mobile cell tower behind its on Montauk Highway. T-Mobile has stated that it will pay the district for rental of the property.

Bouchard said that during the hearing, he presented the planning board with a petition that was signed by 487 residents.

The urges the planning board not to approve the cell tower and asks that the East Quogue Fire District explore other options. It also states that the residents understand that the fire district needs improved communications, but a T-mobile tower is not the way to go.

East Quogue Civic Association memebers have expressed similar feelings.

Bob Kandell, acting president of the civic, said, "We are interested in exploring other options to improve the Fire District communications needs outside of installing a 100' pole in the center of the Hamlet.  We feel that a true, in-depth study has not been done by the Fire District.  We want to help the Fire District choose the best solution to their communications needs."

The signatures collected by Bouchard were gathered both by an on-the-ground campaign, knocking on doors, and on an Internet website that Bouchard created with fellow East Quogue resident Brad Murphree.

What was missing from the hearing, said Bouchard was rebuttal from the East Quogue Fire Department.

"There was no vocal support from the commissioner or anyone else from the fire district," said Bouchard, who feels that it is incumbent on the district to disseminate information to the public about their proposal just as the

"They [The East Quogue School District] sent out three mailings," said Bouchard. "But we have a project from the fire district where there is a lack of information from the person proposing it."

The planning board left the hearing open for 30 days for write-in comments and Bouchard says he is organizing a write-in campaign through his website.

"We will have links to send an e-mail directly to the planning board," he said.

The East Quogue Fire District did not provide comment by press time, however, in says he's willing to listen to the community.

"No matter how you cut it up, this is going to be a community decision," said Celi.  "It is what the process is supposed to be."