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Jayne Benton knows New Canaan needs to improve its cell phone service.
I think we as a town should look at what we can do and what would be an acceptable situation for everyone, said Benton of Adams Lane. But whatever the solution is, she does not want it to include the addition of a cell tower near West Elementary School, where she sends her son Henry, 8. I do not want it to be near a school, she said.
It may not be now. Verizon Wireless was investigating the installation of a cell tower on the water tank, owned by Aquarion Water, near the West School playground off Ponus Ridge Road. Verizon officials planned to present the idea to the Town Council on Wednesday but withdrew from the meeting. Several West Elementary School parents told the Town Council that they opposed the tower as a potential safety hazard to their children.
Verizon spokesman Michael Miller said no formal application was made for the water tower site. Wednesdays meeting would have allowed Verizon and the Town Council to talk about easements on that property. The Board of Selectmen had approved the easement earlier in the day. Without the easement, the water tank is inaccessible, Miller said. Were awaiting direction from the town as to where they stand today, he said.
Our interest is to improve coverage in New Canaan, and if the town now has another site in mind that's different from the water tower they originally suggested, we will give it consideration, Miller said Friday. We've been open to and explored their suggestions because we both want better coverage.
Bentons husband Tom says hes relieved by Verizons about-face. I am glad to know that Verizon has reconsidered the placement of the cell tower and will now work with our town to identify an alternative location away from our schools, he said.
Town officials completed a cell phone service survey last year, and many residents say it is difficult or impossible to get cell phone coverage outside of the downtown area.
What do you think of Verizons plan to install a cell site on top of a water tower? Let us know by leaving a comment below. You can also visit our Facebook page.
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