Village of Saddle Rock officials have put the future of a proposed cellphone tower back in the hands of residents, who this week received an e-mail questionnaire asking for a vote in favor – or against – the installation of the 125-foot structure.
The distribution of the e-mail came after several months of contentious debate between residents who questioned possible health concerns associated with the tower, while weighing the benefit of a deal with a cellphone provider, which will pay the village $100,000 a year for the next three decades to have the antenna in Saddle Rock.
“That’s democracy at its best,” Village of Saddle Rock Mayor Dan Levy said. “Nobody can point fingers at anybody. Anybody can express their opinions.”
Saddle Rock’s board of trustees voted unanimously last Wednesday to send the e-mail to its residents asking for their opinion on the tower.
The board also established that a “super majority” of residents would have to be in favor of the project for village officials to go ahead with constructing the single-pole cellphone tower.
“The total households that respond will be tallied,” Levy said. “If 75 percent of that is positive, the antenna will go on. Less than 75-percent positive, it will not go on.”
Levy said the village has collected 260 e-mail addresses of residents, who received the questionnaire last week. The Village of Saddle Rock has 285 households.
“The truth is none of that is necessary, or required, but I think its important for the community to (give) its opinion,” Levy said.
The e-mail contained a description of the project and included a “yes or no” question, as to whether the resident would like to have the cellphone tower installed, Levy said.
“The survey will basically explain what the antenna is,” the mayor said. “It will be household yes, household no, an address. That’s it.”
Results of the survey are tentatively scheduled to be released at the next board of trustees meeting on Wednesday, July 11 at 8:30 p.m. at Saddle Rock Village Hall on 18 Masefield Way, Levy said.
If residents approve the deal to place the cellphone tower in the village, Levy indicated in February that Saddle Rock would received a $100,000 signing bonus in 2012 – on top of $100,000 a year for the next 30 years from East Islip-based Suffolk Wireless.
In other business, Saddle Rock trustees approved a $137,369 contract with Great Neck Alert Fire Company for 2012-13.
“Alert does a phenomenal job for us and the rest of the community,” Levy said. “I have nothing but praise for the entire company. I think they do a remarkable job to help us in any way they can.”
The village receives its fire protection from Alert and its ambulance service from the Vigilant Fire Department.
“It’s not only fire,” said Michael Green, the chairman of Alert’s board of directors. “It’s also rescue services, auto accidents and stuff like that.”
Green attended last week’s meeting along with Alert Fire Company Chief Raymond Plakstis Jr.
“It’s a small community,” Levy said. “These people are all here for the most part. They do what they do out of love for the community. They do a phenomenal job.”
Levy also announced an inter-municipal agreement to have Saddle Rock’s streets cleaned by the Village of Great Neck.
The contract is worth $1,600 and covers Saddle Rock’s 30 streets, which encompass 2 1/4 miles, being maintained by the Village of Great Neck’s three street-sweeping vehicles, Levy said.
“Their mayor and I thought it would be silly for us to spend the money, we used to spend a lot of money, on an outside company to sweep out streets,” Levy said of negotiations with Village of Great Neck Mayor Ralph Kreitzman. “Instead, I’m paying less than a third of that in paying the Village of Great Neck to sweep out streets.”
Levy said Village of Great Neck workers have already begun sweeping Saddle Rock’s streets.
As part of the agreement, Saddle Rock’s streets will also be swept twice a year, instead of once, as they had traditionally been maintained, Levy said.
