T-Mobile, residents to discuss Saugus cell tower concerns

SAUGUS – After T-Mobile won an open bid to install a new cell phone tower at the Little League field on Hurd Avenue next to the Veterans School, residents of Saugus and representatives from T-Mobile are set to go in front of the Appeals Board on Thursday to discuss the project.According to Town Manager Andrew Bisignani, the new tower will generate $36,000 a year in fees for the town and T-Mobile will make a $12,000 payment to the Saugus Little League for field improvements, all while improving what Bisignani described as a “dead zone.”Some residents, however, are not excited about a possible cell phone tower.?Some people have expressed concern about health issues,” said Bisignani. “T-Mobile will have engineers on hand to discuss this on Thursday.”Steve Fish lives on the corner of Hurd Avenue and Pelham Street, across from the Little League field, and said he is worried about harmful effects of radio waves coming from the tower.?Does the town want, 10 years from now, all kinds of clusters of brain tumors in little kids, or Little League players or the people that live here?” asked Fish. “It?s just for the money and they don?t care about the health of the neighbors or the health of the kids going to the school sucking up the microwaves. What does a microwave do? It cooks. So what?s it going to do to the children?s brains? It?s going to cook their brains.”According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), “Levels of energy from radio-frequency (RF) waves near cell phone towers are not significantly different than the background levels of RF radiation in urban areas from other sources, such as radio and television broadcast stations.”Furthermore, the ACS says the energy given off is “not strong enough to break chemical bonds in DNA” or “affect individual cells in the body.”Brian Pettenati, registrar of the Little League, was at the field Monday morning doing some maintenance and said he supports a new cell tower.?I think it?s a no-brainer,” said Pettenati, who also lives up the street from the field. “These things are all around. You go to Cliftondale Square and there?s like 10 of them on the church. I?m an engineer so I?m kind of knowledgeable about radiation and I?ve worked at a nuke plant. You cause more harm by the cell phone. Kids all have cell phones on them. There?s more harm there than (the cell tower) is ever going to do.”Pettenati said the league will be using the money to install new fencing around the field and install a new, fenced-in batting cage to replace the current cage, which is in rough condition.Another location for a new cell tower will be on Main Street near the Department of Public Works. This project would not need to go before the Appeals Board since the area is already zoned for this. Bisignani said a radio repeater will also be installed to boost public safety radio signals.?These are excellent revenue-enhancing projects with no expense to the town,” said Bisignani. “The tower will look like a tall flag pole and not like traditional towers. The prime consideration (on Main Street) is that it?s a dead spot. Public safety has limited communication in that area. It?s known for having poor reception.”Lt. Mark Torbin said police have had issues with communication in this area of town for several years.?There isn?t a radio repeater that covers that side of town,” said Torbin. “Everything west of Route 1 operates in a gray zone. Depending on the location of the officer, the radio doesn?t pick them up. It?s a serious public-safety issue and it has been for many, many years.”Assistant Police Chief Leonard Campanello said he?s looking forward to the installation of a new repeater, which would make communications across Saugus much more reliable.?The ability for our officers to communicate is essential,” said Campanello. “Especially if they?re not in their cruisers. I think if we?re able to put a repeater in, that will eliminate a large concern for us.”Thursday?s meeting will be held at the Saugus Public Library at 7