>Neighbors upset by a proposed cell tower in Ridgewood call for a committee
THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011
BY KELLY EBBELS
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
A strong showing of residents opposed to the construction of a 140-foot cell tower at a Ridgewood firehouse convinced Village Council members to delay authorizing a bidding process until a thorough public discussion is held.
Last week, the village Engineering Department informed residents within 200 feet of the East Glen Avenue firehouse that Ridgewood was entertaining proposals for a monopole there. Residents questioned why a bid advertisement went out before council members were scheduled to authorize the request for proposals, and why there was not more notice of the government decision-making process.
Nearly a dozen residents stepped forward at Wednesday night’s council meeting, questioning why the bidding advertisement was done so rapidly – as resident Gina Damasco put it, “Where’s the fire?” – and red-flagging the proposed tower as a safety hazard and a blight on the village.
“I’m nauseous about this whole entire process,” Michael Kedersha said. “To try to pass this by without us even knowing is just insulting. It’s a slap in the face,” he added, to calls of “hear, hear” from the audience.
