At its July 14 meeting, the Munsey Park Village Board considered an application by The Congregational Church of Manhasset for a building permit to rebuild its steeple and build a small accessory structure attached to the church. The building committee had already approved a reconstruction of the steeple with a lattice design that reflects the design of the lower part of the steeple as it currently exists.

The reason the reconstruction of the steeple is newsworthy is because the church proposes to permit a cellular carrier, Nextel Communications, to operate its antennas in the steeple. The creative idea of installing the antennas in the church steeple came from John Walter, the chairman of the board of deacons of the church and former mayor of Flower Hill. Mr. Walter, an engineer who is familiar with the installation of rooftop antennas, ran into a storm of protest when it was proposed that a cellular tower be erected on the grounds of the Flower Hill Village Hall.

According to an interview Mr. Walter gave to The New York Times he called the people at Nextel and asked them if they were looking for a site in the area and whether they had considered the Congregational Church. They acknowledged that they were and Mr. Walter told them that the time was ripe as the church was in the process of making plans to rebuild the steeple.

Since the church is located within the incorporated Village of Munsey Park, permission to install the antennas has to be given by the village board. The Munsey Park building commissioner originally rejected the plan because of the accessory building which would be the construction of a building not related to the "primary use" of the property, i.e., a church. The church came to the board of appeals asking for a variance and on July 19 the board asked that the church submit a Long Form Environmental Assessment Form. Once that is done the board will make a finding of environmental significance (SEQRA) and submit it to the Nassau Planning Commission. If approved the church will return to the board of appeals for permission to go ahead with construction. Mr. Walter says that he hopes the project can be finished by November.

If it works out it appears to be the classic "win-win" situation. The area will get much-needed improved cellular transmission and the church will get help with the funding of the reconstruction of its steeple. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has determined that cell-tower signals fall within safety guidelines adopted three years ago and Mr. Walter says he is satisfied that no health risks are associated with the project.

In other business at its July 14 meeting, the Munsey Park Board of Trustees reviewed a request from some residents for a change in the parking regulations around Munsey Park School. The board agreed to re-visit the regulations after talking to Jean Kendall, principal of Munsey Park School. The board also discussed the landscaping and parking at the school, subsequent to its recent building construction. The Manhasset Public Schools Director of Grounds, Thomas Mohrman, will meet with residents of the area in the fall.