Port Washington residents can look forward to better AT&T cell phone service following the Police District reaching an agreement with AT&T for the company to lease space on the cell tower behind police headquarters on Port Washington Boulevard.
The tower has been owned by the district since June 1, 2012, when the district exercised its option to take ownership of the monopole at the conclusion of Verizon’s 20-year lease.
AT&T will join Verizon as the second provider situated on the tower. Verizon is currently paying $5,532 per month to the district. AT&T will pay the same rent.
Police commissioner Jim Duncan thanked Commissioner Dave Franklin for reaching out to AT&T and negotiating with their representatives.
The commissioners voted to retain the services of Todd Ruggiero, a telecommunications attorney, to complete the contract with AT&T. Ruggiero worked with the district to finalize a new contract with Verizon last year. Although it took many months to finalize the deal with Verizon it is anticipated that having the prototype contract already in place will facilitate a quick completion of the AT&T contract.
Also during the meeting of the commissioners, Chief James Salerno relayed Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth’s appreciation for the police presence during the PSEG meeting at Harbor Links Clubhouse on March 24. That meeting became rather raucous at times and the police presence was reassuring for all residents.
The commissioners also voted to approve expenditures for additional lighting on the four police cars the district has purchased and to donate outdated portable and mobile equipment to the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management. The District has 20 mobile phone units and 30 portable phone units, all linked to an outdated and unused 800 call system. The office can use the devices for spare parts.
Local resident Steve Kaplan, who served on the police district’s charter revision committee, reported that the revisions are ready to be sent to Albany for approval. Kaplan will be the point person with the legislature to steer the amendments through the approval process.
One resident at the meeting said that he was not sure the amendments would pass muster with the state since one of the amendments provides term limits for Port Washington police commissioners. “The legislature does not like to go near anything with term limits for fear of setting a precedent that could some day affect their tenure,” said this individual.
The board also passed a resolution designating the sum of $228,500 for termination benefits due police officers upon their retirement.
