Civic To Fight Proposed Cell Tower at Planning Meeting

The East Quogue Civic Association has their sights on Jan. 12 when the Town of Southampton's Planning Board is expected to meet to discuss an East Quogue Fire District's proposal to erect a 100-foot, T-moble cell tower on the East Quoguge firehouse, which sits at the corner of Montauk Highway and Bay Avenue.

The civic says it is rallying their members to attend the meeting to let the planning board know that they are against a tower that will carry a T-moble antenna.

The civic says they understand that the fire department needs a tower for communication purposes, however, Bob Kandell, acting president of the civic said, "We don't want to see them include T-mobile."

"We already have a problem with cancer in our community. Many young women, who never smoked got cancer," said Kandell saying that in 1989 his sister-in-law passed way from cancer.

"We want to see this resolved fairly," said Kandell.

The, however has argued that a communications tower is needed in the hamlet.

In order to keep in touch with department members who have been sent into dangerous settings, like a burning building or an iced-over body of water swirling with snow, an uninterrupted radio connection is necessary, said Jackson. He also cited dead spots in Spinney Hills, by Route 27 and the hospital in Southampton.

"We can't loose anyone," said Allyn Jackson, fire commissioner and former superintendent for Southampton Town’s Department of Parks and Recreation at a community meeting in June.

The tower will also, said Jackson result in $2,000 in rent to the fire district each month.

The planning board meeting is scheduled for Jan. 12 at 7 p.m at Southampton Town Hall.