School It was businessman Declan O’Scanlon, not 13th District State Senator Declan O’Scanlon who spent an hour at the Henry Hudson Regional Board of Education meeting this week to explain why the board should hire his firm for consultation if considering a telecommunications tower on property at the high school located at one of the highest points in the borough.
O’Scanlon, who has operated his own business longer than he was a state senator, assured an Atlantic Highlands resident who asked the question at the meeting, that he is not in violation of any ethical standards by representing the people of New Jersey as well as individual municipalities in his district with his public and private involvement.
As a Senator, O’Scanlon has always followed the ethical regulations in place for elected officials and has never been charged with any violation of any ethical standards.
In his private life, O’Scanlon, a graduate of Monmouth University with dual degrees in psychology and finance, is chief executive officer of FSD Enterprises, LLC, a Red Bank consulting and public relations firm in wireless telecommunications. Founded more than a quarter of a century ago, the firm specializes in helping to bring together elected officials and wireless industry representatives to promote solutions to wireless siting that is mutually agreeable to both. The firm’s expertise includes municipal ordinance construction, wireless technology, and moving trends as the wireless infrastructure continues to grow.
O’Scanlon had been retained last May by the Highlands Borough Council when the borough reached out to him for expertise to determine if it would be possible to install a tower on any borough property. “We did it for two reasons, “ Mayor Carolyn Broullon said this week, “to get rid of the dead zone spots uptown where reception is challenging at best and as a revenue generator.”
O’Scanlon’ s study for the borough concluded there was not sufficient room on any properties on the hill, she said, so Broullon forwarded information to the school administration to see whether the board of education would be interested.
School superintendent Dr. Tara Beams confirmed O’ Scanlon then approached the school to see if they were interested, she forwarded the contact and information to the board .
O’Scanlon came to the meeting this week at the board’s request, to explain not only his own expertise and involvement in telecommunications but also how many school districts or municipalities have towers. In Highlands, currently there is a tower on top of Ptak Towers on Miller St., one at Eastpoint, but residents also complain they do not always have cell phone ability in some parts of the Bayshore.
O’Scanlon noted, and the board displayed on a drawing, the possible site for a cell tower could be on the south easterly side of the building, above the wooded area on the Portland road side.
O’Scanlon noted that more and more towers are being built as more communications are sought by citizens, and they can be a mile apart, and could be revenue producers through lease of the land for public entities. Should the school decide to permit a tower, all construction would be during the summer months when there are no classes, and lease income could range as much as $150,000 a year. O’Scanlon indicated there are no health hazards from cell towers, noting there is more RD exposure from cell phones rather than the towers themselves.
The business executive further noted, as in all his contracts with customers, any agreement with his firm would include initial investigation for an assessment of the property which could possibly be the site for a tower as well as whether the property is suitable for the needs of any wireless carriers. It would also include reaching out to facilitate any necessary on-site meetings with wireless carriers and work to evaluate their equipment and other technical needs.
His contract would also ensure bid specifications are precise and in agreement with the district’s standards and working with the successful bidder(s) to see that leases are finalized and equipment location on the site moves forward efficiently.
O’Scanlon ’s current contract with the borough was set at $2,500 as a retainer and 35 per cent of the first lease payment should a firm be retained through his firm’s consultations . Should the district decide against any construction, his contract would end immediately, he said.
Several Atlantic Highlands residents, parents of children in the school system objected to O’Scanlon’ s being retained, not because of the businessman himself but rather because of their concern for radiation so close to the school.
Board president Richard Colangelo pointed out several times retention of O’Scanlon did not mean approval of a cell tower, but rather consulting services; he noted should a tower be considered on site, it would still have to meet borough regulations and face municipal boards for the necessary approvals. Residents of both boroughs could attend the municipal public hearings for possible construction and would have ample opportunity to express their opinions at that time. The board president said this board meeting was primarily to let the public become more informed about its retaining a professional to aid in any project should the board consider one, and no action was being taken.
The only Highlands resident who spoke about the possible agreement with FSD Enterprises was Highlands council president Joann Olszewski. Speaking as a private citizen who lives adjacent to the school property, Olszewski said she has frequently found difficulties with cell phone connections and would welcome a cell tower in the area to improve communications in areas where cell phones cannot be connected.
Colangelo thanked everyone for their input but did not indicate when the board would complete its review of comments from this meeting or whether consideration of the contract would be on the agenda for the October meeting.
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