L&M Publications
Merrick Life • Bellmore Life • Freeport-Baldwin Leader • Wantagh-Seaford Citizen

The Town of Hempstead’s zoning Board of Appeals’s July 14 decision to postpone hearings on two applications by T-Mobile to install wireless equipment in Wantagh and North Bellmore has spurred residents to take further action. 

In a meeting held at county Legislator David Denenberg’s office on Monday, July 26, residents from Wantagh, North Bellmore and Merrick decided they will attend the Town of Hempstead’s August 3 board meeting to urge the Town Board to place a moratorium on all wireless installations until a new town ordinance   is completed. They urged residents to attend.

The town has hired Richard Cumi of Telecom Sol to help draft the municipal code that could keep wireless equipment away from schools and residences when possible. Town spokesperson Susie Pokalsky said that once the code is drafted, a public hearing will be held at a Town Hall meeting. But no date has been set at this time.

The Wantagh application was rescheduled for Wednesday, October 6. The North Bellmore application was rescheduled for Wednesday, September 15. Both hearings will being at 2 p.m. at the Hempstead Town Hall in Hempstead.

In Wantagh

T-Mobile has proposed to build six antennae on the roof of the Farmingdale-Wantagh Jewish Center on Woodbine Avenue in Wantagh, in the center of a residential community.

Jeanine Boiko of Wantagh said that despite the town’s decision to hold off on hearing T-Mobile’s application until October, “This morning [Monday, July 26] there were workers up on the roof of the temple. We learned that the roof needs to be reinforced before the equipment can go up there. They act as if it’s already a done deal.”

The Farmingdale-Wantagh Jewish Center has no comment. 

T-Mobile spokesperson Jane Builder, Northeast senior manager of external affairs, has stated that “our application for one concealed wireless broadband site on the roof of the Farmingdale-Wantagh Jewish Center strike the optimal balance between the needs of local wireless users and the interest of residents, many of whom rely on cell phones today to stay connected to family, work, friends and emergency services.”

In North Bellmore

In North Bellmore T-Mobile placed an application to install six wireless communication antennas concealed inside a proposed 100-foot-high monopole and equipment cabinets on the ground of 847 Newbridge Road, land owned by the North Bellmore Fire Department, Engine Company 2, at Columbus Avenue, across from East Meadow Avenue.

In Merrick

T-Mobile is also exploring the possibility of erecting a 50-foot flagpole cell tower to replace the flagpole that stands in front of the North Merrick library. This project is still in the discussion stages. Library Director Tom Witt told our sister paper Merrick Life that a T-Mobile representative may attend a library board meeting on August 17 to present a safety study on wireless equipment.

Another meeting is also scheduled for August 16 by the Moms of Merrick/Bellmore Speak Out (MOMS), and the Telecommunications Taskforce made up of civic leaders in Merrick and Bellmore as well as all interested Wantagh residents. The meeting will review a plan of action. For more information you can call Jeanine Boiko at 712-0833. 

By Laura Schofer

Laura Schofer, staff writer for L&M Publications, has been recognized with several awards for many of her feature pieces published in Bellmore and Merrick Life, The Citizen and The Leader.