Franklin Lakes February 8, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 7 Verizon Wireless to add antennas to existing monopole by Frank J. McMahon The Borough of Franklin Lakes has awarded a contract to New York SMSA Limited Partnership, which does business as Verizon Wireless of Branchburg, to lease borough property for telecommunications equipment and antennas. The property to be leased is located to the rear of police headquarters at the municipal complex on DeKorte Drive. Verizon will construct an equipment shelter and concrete pad and use the monopole located on the site for its cellular communications antennas. The borough advertised for bids to be opened on Jan. 12. However, the only bid submitted was from Verizon Wireless. The bid is for $22,008 per year for the initial five-year term of the lease. After Franklin Lakes Borough Administrator Gregory Hart reviewed the bid, he recommended the lease be awarded to Verizon. The company will become the fourth wireless communications carrier to locate on the monopole, which also contains the borough’s emergency services antenna. The award is based upon meeting the conditions set forth in the bid specifications, including the construction of the equipment shelter and concrete pad in a location specified by the borough. In 1998, a contract was awarded to the cellular communications company Sprint Spectrum to allow the installation of a monopole on municipal property behind police headquarters. The monopole was to contain Sprint’s antennas and the borough’s emergency services antenna, all of which were to be maintained by Sprint, with spaces for future co-locators on the monopole. Nextel later located its antennas on the monopole. In September 2010, the Franklin Lakes Borough Council adopted an ordinance that increased the allowable height of telecommunications monopoles in the borough from a maximum of 130 feet to a maximum of 170 feet, including all antennas. That ordinance also permitted the monopoles, antennas, and facilities located on property owned by the borough to be located within 300 feet of a residential zone. The ordinance was prompted by an application by Metro PCS New York, LLC, which wanted to add its antennas onto the monopole. In November 2010, the borough’s planning board approved an application allowing Metro PCS New York, LLC to become the third wireless carrier to add its antennas to the monopole. According to Hart, including the new contract for Verizon, the borough will receive approximately $110,000 in annual revenue from the borough’s monopole. On Jan. 30, Poppe Construction on Susquehanna Avenue reported that unknown persons had burglarized the premises over the weekend. It did not appear that any property had been taken at the time of the report. Detective Anthony Pacelli, Sergeant James Schnaidt, and Officer Mark McCombs investigated. As a result of a Jan. 28 motor vehicle stop conducted at 1:37 a.m. on High Mountain Road, a 23-year-old North Borough Police Department Report Haledon Man was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated and reckless driving. Sergeant Carmine Pezzuti and Officer Donald Wilson investigated. On Jan. 20, a Ridgewood man, 45, was arrested and charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle. The vehicle had been reported stolen from Ridgewood earlier that day. Sergeant Schnaidt, Officer McCombs, and Officer Francis O’Brien investigated. Adults are welcome to participate in the Franklin Lakes Public Library’s free programs. Retro Rewind acoustic duo, Jeff and Karen, will pay tribute to folk and pop singer/songwriters with a concert of Public library offers programs for adults ‘60s and ‘70s music on Feb. 12 at 2 p.m. On Feb. 16, Sophia Heftler, a geriatric care manager at Distinctive Care Geriatric Care in Ridgewood, will present (continued on page 21)