MANCHESTER – New technology is on its way to the township and an ordinance regulating aspects of installing those enhancements was recently approved.
The new 5G procedures and standards relate to the deployment of small wireless facilities in public rights of way.
Business Administrator Brandon Umba explained that 5G technology involves meeting the needs of increased energy consumption of mobile networks. Such needs are expected to increase dramatically and are unsustainable in terms of cost and environmental impact. 5G is also said to include solutions that enable operator networks to use as little energy as possible while managing expected growth in data traffic and meeting the needs of both current and future 5G networks.
Councilman James Vaccaro voted against the ordinance and explained to his fellow members of council and the public that he did so out of concern that it could lead to problems and hurt property values.
“I have some concerns,” Vaccaro said when the ordinance was first introduced. He noted that a number of the township’s senior communities have underground wiring and wanted to know how this would impact the installation of equipment and if poles would need to be added.
The official also feared, “a decrease in real estate value” due to unsightly equipment placement and poles. He cited there were situations of this occurring in communities in north Jersey and upstate New York.
“There have also been cases where the equipment which could not be placed on poles and ground boxes were vandalized in the past and that is another concern I have,” the councilman added.
Vaccaro noted the Pinelands Commission had rejected certain aspects of installation plans regarding equipment and that “many of the south Jersey towns that did the installation didn’t experience greater service ratings following the installation.”
Umba replied “if there were no poles in the area, I don’t believe they’d actually put poles up. For 5G they could put them under ground. I could contact our vendor and pose those questions to them.”
“I can find out exactly what kind of options are given for those areas that don’t have poles. I don’t think it would be feasible for that company to install poles,” Umba said.
“No, but they’d probably go with ground boxes which are unsightly,” Vaccaro replied.
Township Clerk Sabina Martin said, “currently it is for those existing poles that I am assuming are for those already receiving service.”
“Most of this, falls under the public right of way and the public utility has a right to do this,” Umba said.
Other ordinances were also approved, which included accepting a donation of vacant property at 1681 Hegstrom Avenue, an agreement for various traffic regulations applicable to 2065 Route 37 and regulating use of roadways, streets, driveways and parking lots for vehicles.
“I believe this ordinance was generated by recommendation of our staff for enforcement on the property. Obviously, they have not built anything there as of yet but there was a request through the construction office and it has more to do with the fire code then it does with any police concerns,” Umba explained referring to the latter two ordinances.
Umba added, “no one is really driving on the property at this point.”
The Council also approved ordinances authorizing the sale of property on 620 Grinnell Avenue and a measure that would put the Division of Personnel under the Township’s Division of Finances.
Umba explained that while this would prove helpful in the administration of that department, any disciplinary actions involving township staff would still be directed to his office for review.
