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Politics & Government

Cell Tower Looms, Budget Passed for Manorhaven

Residents wonder about status of Manhasset Isle cell tower while trustees pass resolution pertaining to 2010-11 budget.

There's an enormous pink elephant in Manorhaven Village Hall and no one seems to be talking about it. The reference, of course, is to the cell tower still looming in the middle of Manhasset Isle. Rather, the talk is of plantings, parking lots and personnel at this month's Board of Trustees meetings.

It's just the way it is — at least for the time being, until the residents decide to revolt through the legal or electoral system. Unfortunately, the federal government, through the Telecommunications Act of 1996, put a muzzle on fighting cell phone sites based on health or environmental issues.

As a result, not much news about the tower was given to those in attendance on Thursday night. Mayor Michael Meehan read a prepared statement that said AG Towers has filed new plans with the village building department to relocate the tower, but that the tower will still be on the pump station property.

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"This is all the administration will be saying on the subject," said Attorney Gerard Terry, Manorhaven's village counsel, after Meehan read the statement.

In response, resident Dorit Zeevi-Farrington said, "The cell phone tower is the biggest issue the village has ever faced. As I see it, this show was timed perfectly, now that elections are around the corner. I expect to see more of this 'noise making' before June 15. It is unfathomable to see how these elected officials are so engaged in lauding their meaningless achievements in the face of their inaction."

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Mayor Meehan added the stop work order remains in effect and the case continues to wind its way through the legal system. "We continue to seriously explore every legally appropriate avenue to address the residents' legitimate concerns," he said.

Something a bit more pressing did go on at the meeting though.

The Board of Trustees passed the village's budget for the fiscal year beginning June 1, 2010 and ending May 31, 2011 was adopted at a total of $2,533,254, a 1.95 percent increase from last year. Mayor Meehan simply said, "It's all about transparency." According to state law, the budget had to be adopted by May 1.

One key to the budget was the inclusion of the annual sewer cleaning and maintenance contract which was reinstituted after a multi-year absence. Terry explained by saying, "The village had been put at risk."

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