We find it interesting that the proponents for placing cell phone antennas on a new water tower continually use Sea Cliff's village code as their argument. If any of these individuals who have written letters to this paper had read the code, they would be aware that it clearly states "no wireless telecommunications facility shall be located within 300 feet of an historic building or structure." The code also states that "the board may disapprove an application for any of the following reasons...conflict with the historic nature of a neighborhood or historical district."

As we have stated in our previous letters, the proposed new water tower topped with cell phone antennas and fiberglass panels would be located in the center of Sea Cliff, surrounded by historic buildings. The mayor and trustees clearly saw the importance of protecting these structures, which is why they included this in the village code. We brought up this issue at a village board meeting on Aug. 23 and, interestingly, there was no response from the pro-water/cell tower contingency.

At that meeting, one Altamont resident and one of our neighbors on Main Avenue stood up and asked the board to prevent a cell tower from being erected anywhere within our village. We think that this is obviously the best scenario for Sea Cliff and what everyone would want. However, one Altamont resident actually stated that she had been speaking with Aquarion Water Company about how they could accommodate more cell phone carriers on the tower. She even offered to relay the detailed information to Mayor Krieb.

While it is certainly everyone's right to try to protect his or her own immediate neighborhood, there is something very unsavory about actively trying to help erect a cell tower in another area of the village. It is clear that some individuals in favor of the water/cell tower plan have an agenda that does not have the best interests of Sea Cliff at heart.

Erin and Francis Wahlgren