Millburn Township Committee Awards Cell Tower Agreement to Diamond Towers

MILLBURN, NJ – Cell phone service in parts of Millburn and Short Hills can be spotty, and the township has found a way to be paid for improving it.

Deputy Mayor Frank Saccomandi presented resolution 24-180, awarding a contract to Diamond Towers V LLC to lease land for a cell tower. He began, “I think it is long overdue, cell phone coverage in the Poets Section of town has been abysmal, and in some cases, there's no coverage at all, and that creates a public safety issue.” He asked Business Administrator Alex McDonald what the anticipated revenue would be.

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McDonald responded, “In our discussions with Diamond, we understand that there will be anywhere between one and four carriers on the cell tower. 50% of the revenue would be approximately $45,000 to $105,000, depending on the number of carriers and their leases.”

He continued to say that the propagation of the cell tower will significantly improve the Poets Section’s and Hartshorn’s cell reception. He mentioned that the township will also have space on the tower if needed for backup or emergency communications. McDonald noted that the site at 137 JFK Parkway, the leaf compost site, may become a little bit bigger than anticipated, based on what Diamond needs.

He also shared that it's small cell technology, and. Verizon is applying for a spot by the Short Hills train station.

Committee Member Ben Stoller asked if the township had researched the “best practices on any health issues.” Saccomandi agreed that the township needs to make sure health problems won’t be caused by the cell tower.

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