Norwell Approves Verizon License Renewal, Addresses Cell Tower Concerns
Town increases PEG funding to 5%, residents voice health and safety worries over proposed tower location
NORWELL - January 8 - The Norwell Select Board approved a five-year renewal of Verizon's cable television license Jan. 8, increasing public, educational, and governmental (PEG) funding to 5% of gross revenue. The agreement also includes $45,000 in capital for cable operations support over the first three years.
Gregg McBride, representing the Norwell Cable Committee, presented the license terms to the board. "This license wasn't much of a negotiation. It's a take it or leave it kind of thing. But we did get some good outcomes," McBride said.
The increased PEG funding matches Comcast's contribution, which has been at 5% for several years. The capital funding exceeds the committee's initial request of $40,000 over a 10-year license.
However, the new license includes some concessions, including a maximum five-year term instead of 10 years and Verizon's right to terminate unilaterally after three years.
"I'm told by the folks at KP Law that they haven't done that anywhere, and this is a standard term that they're including," McBride explained.
The board unanimously approved the license renewal following a brief public hearing with no resident comments.
In a separate agenda item, residents voiced concerns about a proposed cell tower near residential areas and water sources.
Joseph Ciardi, a 22-year resident of Grove Street, expressed worry about the tower's proximity to homes. "From my understanding, the inner circle, so to speak, of where people should live should not be less than 1,300 feet away from the tower," Ciardi said.
He cited research suggesting increased health risks for those living within this "inner circle" over a 10-year period.
Kathleen McPherson, a Wilder Road resident, echoed these concerns. "I'm concerned about exposure to low-level radiofrequency radiation, as I'm sure you've heard from a lot of people," McPherson said. "There are indications that this can contribute to major health issues, including an increased risk for cancer."
Town officials addressed the concerns while explaining the legal constraints surrounding cell tower placement.
Town Counsel Robert Galvin noted that health effects from radio frequency towers cannot be used as a defense against siting cell towers, particularly when there's a gap in coverage.
"We're not allowed, as Counsel for the town, if we're faced with this type of an issue and an appeal of raising these issues of health effects from radio frequency towers. We're just not allowed to do that," Galvin explained.
Ilana Quirk, the Town Planner, mentioned that the current proposed location is about 720 feet from the nearest house. She added that the town is exploring options to push the tower further back, balancing distance from homes with coverage needs and wetland restrictions.
Select Board Chair Jason Brown emphasized the board's commitment to finding the best solution within legal constraints. "I completely sympathize with your concerns. I have the same concerns," Brown said. "We can deny it, and we can end up with even a worse situation for a Norwell family, based on the decision that we made to deny it."
The board agreed to continue discussions on the cell tower location, promising to explore all options to mitigate residents' concerns while meeting legal requirements.
In other business, the board briefly discussed the recent Supreme Judicial Court decision regarding the MBTA Communities Act. The court ruled the law constitutional but voided the guidelines for improper adoption. Town officials expect new emergency guidelines to be issued soon.
The meeting also touched on the upcoming budget discussions, with Town Administrator DarleenSullivan indicating that a comprehensive budget presentation is likely by mid-February.