Fire Chief Say He's Open To Cell Tower Ideas

While residents and members of the rally troops to fight a proposed, 100-foot, T-Mobile cell tower at the on Montauk Highway, East Quogue Fire Chief Greg Celi says he's willing to listen.

"No matter how you cut it up, this is going to be a community decision," said Celi.  "It is what the process is supposed to be."

Residents have argued that there are other locations that should be explored and that they understand that there is a need for a tower, but do not want to see T-mobile incorporated in the plan. They have even posted an stating just that.

Celi says the fire department has done its homework and researched a variety of places to install a cell tower that would accommodate the needs of the fire department — there are a number of dead zones in East Quogue, he said.  However, he said that from the information that has been made available to the fire district, other options have been exhausted due to a lack of infrastructure such as electrical ability. Or, he said, some other locations, are "not optimal."

"They are not going to provide us as good of service as a spot behind the firehouse," he said.

Understanding that the community has expressed a desire to see a referendum put up that would allow a cell tower to be erected without T-mobile by using community money to pay for the tower, Celi reiterated, "It's a community decision."

Celi said whatever is decided, it is the East Quogue Fire District's desire to ensure that "perfect" communication is made available "to prevent any kind of accident from happening due to a lack of communications." 

"The district is committed to providing that for us," he said.

A public hearing on the cell tower, which was heldover from last month, is scheduled for Feb. 9 at 7 pm. at Southampton Town Hall.