Hudson hears concerns about cell towers

Hudson - Hudson town officials said they are powerless to stop cell phone operators from erecting towers in the town and have only limited ability to mandate where they can be placed.

The Hudson selectmen were speaking at the Dec. 1 Board of Selectmen's meeting, in response to a query from Mark Calvanese, who said he opposed the placement of cell phone towers in residential neighborhoods.

Calvanese told the selectmen that his son is recovering from leukemia, and the radiation from cell towers could harm his health.

"There's medical evidence that kids recovering from leukemia in an EMF [electromagnetic field] environment have a poor survival rate," Calvanese told the selectmen.

He said he planned to move from his home on Champlain Drive. Calvanese said he is resigned to the tower, but the town should revamp its procedures in the future.

"We need to revamp the wireless overlay district for cell towers," Calvanese said. "Cell towers should not be built in residential neighborhoods."

But the selectmen said they have little power to stop cell phone companies that want to build in Hudson.

"My heart goes out," Selectman Carl Leeber said.

But he said under federal law, towns cannot exclude cell phone companies from building in towns. Barring construction would open up the town to a lawsuit.

"We don't have the authority," Leeber said. "If we say, 'No,' we can be litigated against."

Leeber said the overlay district was designed to meet the federal requirements.

"The overlay district was an attempt to meet the convolutions of the federal government," Leeber said. "They take the rules and stuff them down our throats."

But Calvanese said that does not prevent the town from banning cell towers from residential neighborhoods.

"I think we can prevent that from occurring," Calvanese said. "I think the overlay can be revised so cell towers cannot be placed in residential areas."

Board of Selectmen Chair Santino Parente promised the town would investigate the issue.

"We have to consider all options and we will look into that," Parente said. "We'll take care of it."

Parente also urged Calvanese not to leave the town and said an active citizenry is essential to the workings of the town, and invited him to join town committees to bring about change.

Parente concluded by asking Calvanese to write down a list of suggestions for the town to consider.