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Board of Selectmen Meeting
<br /> January 5, 1999
<br /> The meeting was convened at 7:40 p.m. in the Birch Meadow School Cafeteria, 27 Arthur B.
<br /> Lord Drive, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Bruce MacDonald, Vice Chairman
<br /> Sally Hoyt, Secretary Matthew Nestor, Selectmen Camille Anthony and George Hines, Town
<br /> Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Assistant Town Manager Russell Dean, Town Counsel H
<br /> Theodore Cohen, Paula Schena and the following list of interested parties: Arthur Kreiger, Stan
<br /> Sherman, Patricia Dente, W. J. Hughes Jr., Jane Fiore, Deirdre Clang, Mike Riordan, John
<br /> Carpenter, Paul McCarthy, Tom Albano, Fred Keefe, Eleanor Keefe, Alicia Ross, Carolyn
<br /> Whiting, Nancy Matheson, Maureen Crowley, Karen Draper, Edward Riopelle, Ray Marshall,
<br /> Marcia deBrigard, Susan Silva, Craig Tateronis, Mary Jean Hughes, Patty Gillen, Gerald
<br /> Markey, Brian Desmond, Pete Jeffrey, Bob Connors, Susan Clark.
<br /> Discussion/Action Items
<br /> Consideration of Continued License of Auburn Street Water Towers by Lucent Technology and
<br /> Omnipoint—The Secretary read the notice of the hearing.
<br /> The Town Manager noted that in 1995 the Town was approached by a firm interested in placing
<br /> antennas on the Bear Hill Water Tower. The Board of Selectmen charged Camille Anthony and
<br /> -- the Town Manager to investigate the existence of these antennas in other towns. A memo to the
<br /> Board of Selectmen summarizes the findings. The Board of Selectmen approved the request but
<br /> Nextel did not proceed.
<br /> In 1996, AT&T approached the Town to place antennas on the Auburn Street Water Tower.
<br /> Hearings were held on July 9, 1996 and July 30, 1996 and the Board of Selectmen granted them
<br /> a license. Omnipoint approached the Town in 1997 to place antemzas on the Auburn Street
<br /> Water Tower. A hearing was held in August 1997, they met all the requirements, and the Board
<br /> of Selectmen granted.them a license. Sprint approached the Town in 1998 to place antennas on
<br /> the Auburn Street Water Tower. A hearing was held on October 20, 1998 and the Board of
<br /> Selectmen denied the license. Testing has since been conducted by the Department of Public
<br /> Health to assess radiation levels. Neighbors of the water tower are now requesting the removal
<br /> of AT&T and Omnipoint antennas from the water tower.
<br /> Town Counsel H Theodore Cohen noted that the AT&T and Omnipoint-licenses are identical.
<br /> Both license agreements are irrevocable. They can only be revoked upon a finding of default
<br /> such as non payment of rent, or failure to comply with any other part of the agreement.
<br /> Bruce MacDonald asked if the companies would be in default if they were not operating within
<br /> FCC guidelines. The answer was yes.
<br /> Jane Fiore, Health Services Administrator, noted that she was charged with having the
<br /> Department of Public Health come out to the neighborhood to test. On November 16, 1998, she
<br /> and Bob Watkins tested the public way around the Water Tower. Testing was done at the
<br /> sidewalk in front of the homes.
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