Editor's Note: The following letter was originally sent to Commissioner Cary Welt, chairman, Board of Fire Commissioners, East Meadow Fire District and is reprinted here at the author's request.)

Dear Chairman Welt:

At the Feb. 11 meeting of the Board of Fire Commissioners, an overwhelming number of residents in attendance voiced their firm opposition to the cell towers and demanded answers about how the situation went as far as it did without community input. Indeed, as you know, we all found it quite arrogant and disrespectful for the board not to have advised the community before going into contract with Omnipoint. Hadn't you any inkling that you should notify the public before (ostensibly) committing the district to such an unpopular and non-firematic course of action? Your obstinate refusal to answer my letter is yet another example of this bad attitude. You should seriously consider being open and honest with the public and the local press.

We were glad that after "further review" you at least stated (for what that may be worth) that you would seek to extricate the district from the contract with Omnipoint.We are, however, quite concerned to still be waiting for you to get back to us and the community of East Meadow in regard to those efforts, as you had promised.

Robert J. Zafonte
President,
East Meadow Civic Association