Cell Tower -- To Be? or Not To Be?

Watchdog © 2012

Greetings Watchdog Readers,

An Important Reminder

Tonight, Thursday, February 2, 2012 the Board of Directors has scheduled a Special Meeting of the Board so the Board and Members might be on the same page regarding information that will or should be provided by the broker for AT&T. AT&T has entered initial discussions with the Board to provide a Cell Tower ostensibly at the east/south end of Maikoiko Street Park. The meeting tonight is an open meeting and will provide opportunity, if handled correctly, for members to ask questions that may not be touched on during the presentation or came to mind as a result of the presentation.

It is especially important for those who are not inclined to have the Cell Tower, or at least not in its proposed location, to be heard regarding legitimate concerns. 

There are a couple of things to keep in mind. In 2006 the 'first' cell tower fiasco was coming to its final negotiations. Watchdog had only just been appointed to the Board during this final phase. By 2007, the contracts had all been signed and the environmental portion of the process was initiated. There was a legitimate group of members who were vehemently opposed to the erection of the Cell Tower; some for health reasons, some for other reasons, and they made their thoughts and feelings very well known. In fact, Watchdog received many threatening emails from members reflecting the strength in their disapproval made clear. The big thing that was done wrong back in 2006 and even 2007 was the Membership was never invited to participate in the process. As it turned out, because of that, the Board in August 2007 requested the attorney at that time to write a letter to essentially stop the process. And so it was.

This time the Board has moved on this the right way. They included the Cell Tower in a survey that was sent out to members. Over 60% of the 170 respondents were positive responses. They then added it to their January 14th regular Board meeting and discussed it openly before members gathered that day. They began the 2012 Annual Meeting with an announcement to ascertain by vote when a most convenient time would be for the members to attend an informational only meeting. They found the first week of February was best. And so we have arrived at this date and the first in what should be a couple of public meetings by the provider [AT&T] will be tonight.

I believe appreciation and plaudits should go to the 2011 Board for following the right path on this one. Whatever happens as a result of this meeting tonight and the Board's ultimate decision to this point they have functioned absolutely appropriately. 

The Board will do well to build on their success in this particular instance by truly 'hearing' the objections or the approvals from members who speak during the meeting. Not simply appease the members with the meeting yet act on an agenda already set to move ahead. Members must realize however, should they do so, while it may appear to be 'disrespecting' the members concerns, they have done all they conscientiously needed to do to bring this project to this point and moving ahead has been sanctioned by the 60+% of the 13% percent of the Membership who bothered to fill out the Survey. Everyone had an equal chance to share their vote and of those who availed themselves it ended with a positive vote to proceed. 

So Good Job 2011 Board of Directors. Let's see how the 2012 Board proceeds from here!