Tell Us: Move the Cell Pole?

A representative for wireless communications company Crown Castle denied any willfull wrongdoing at a joint public hearing with the Northport village trustees and zoning board last week.

According to Newsday, Joshua Trauner, Government relations specialist for Crown Castle, said his company found "no fault at how we proceeded" when installing two cell phone poles in the village.

He added he was told that the board was notified before his company proceeded in installing the cell poles-- one on Main Street at Laurel Avenue and one on the highway department garage.

Related: Village Flubs on Cell Towers

The village zoning board gave approval to cellular communications company Next-G, subsequently bought by Crown Communications, to install the poles in March of 2012 after a public hearing.

Because the initial installation locations were voted down by the zoning board, a second public hearing would have been required prior to approval of the new locations.

Village Attorney James Matthews said the hearing was never scheduled before the building permits were issued and blamed it on a miscommunication between himself and village staff.

Trauner said at last week's hearing that his company has the right to rely on validly issued permits.

The village board reserved a decision on the matter. Both parties said they would continue to discuss options to resolve the situation.

Do you think that the cell poles should be moved since the proper procedure was not followed in the public interest? Tell us in the comment section below.

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