Port North Holds December Village Meeting

Tuesday's meeting covered a renewed contract with the Port Washington Fire Departments, a 90-day moratorium on the building of any cell phone towers, and the possible building of a 25,000-square-foot police headquarters on Channel Drive. About 17 to 20 residents were in attendance, along with four of the village's Board of Trustees and Mayor Robert Weitzer.  

First order of business was a hearing on a proposed contract with the Port Washington Fire Department, with a cost to the village of $364,902.  Cost went up from the previous year due to an increase in government mandates, including medical exams for those 40 and older.  There was also an increase in spending on necessary items such as the self-contained breathing apparatuses, a new ambulance, and updated software.  Fire Chief Tom McDonough was adamant about the departments attempts to decrease spending.  

"We have been consolidating for the last seven years.  We shop tight, and shave everything down as best as we can," McDonough said.  

When all was said and done, the "Ayes's" had it and the Port Washington Fire Department walked away very happy.  

In a second matter, the board passed a 90-day moratorium on any cell phone tower building.  The current code was enacted in 2000 and none of the current trustees nor the mayor were in office then. Since that time, rapid advancements have taken place.

"The code is potentially antiquated and needs to be reexamined," Weitzner said. The moratorium gives the village time to update the code if needed.  

Chris Roth, a Port Washington resident urged the board to review the important health issues that could arise by erecting the tower.  "You need to look at the human side of this," Roth said.

But Weitzer stressed that the hearing was on the moratorium only. In addition, the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 prevents villages from denying cell phone applications based on health matters.

Finally, was the issue of the 4.75-acre parcel of land owned by Publishers Clearing House.  The police aspire to build a 25,000-square-foot headquarters there, while the village was planning to purchase the property to continue with its "bay-walk" plan, which would include a public park rich featuring an ice rink, a gazebo, and a dog run.  

"We want to work with the police – they do a fine job," Weitzner said.  But, he said, he was concerned about the communication and the location of the plan.

Should the police commissioners' plans move forward they "need to come before our board in terms of land use and also file appropriate paperwork with our building department," Weitzner said. 

Adina Genn contributed to the reporting. 

This story was updated to correct an editing error regarding the moratorium on cell phone building. The moratorium is on all cell phone building, not one specific application.