Alburtis Borough Council held a conditional use and land lease hearing Nov. 11, discussing a potential lease agreement with Verizon Wireless for a 120-foot commercial communications tower and antenna.

Controversy arose regarding the placement of the tower, due to its proximity to the community’s baseball field.

The traditionally empty, or at least sparsely attended, borough hall was encumbered by scornful residents, concerned parents, in addition to at least a dozen children bedecked in Alburtis baseball uniforms.

The Alburtis Planning Commission had recently issued a favorable recommendation regarding the construction of the communications tower. The baseball field is currently zoned for recreational use; other uses are permitted however, as long as the secondary functions do not interfere with recreational use.

Borough solicitor David Knerr explained, “If you meet all the requirements of the ordinance, it is presumed it’s appropriate. However, we still consider it on a case-by-case basis to determine if this particular example of use has some problem with the public health, safety or welfare.”

Regardless whether the communications tower was found to be an appropriate use of the property, the borough still retained the option to reject the tower based on the land-lease agreement, as the land parcel is located on borough property.

The vote to issue the lease to Verizon was split, with Council members Jon Aleszczyk, Sherryann Oels and David Lehr dissenting. The deciding vote was cast by Mayor Kathleen Palmer.

“I’m going to vote no,” Palmer said to applause throughout the room. “It’s a piece of our property that’s for the kids. We don’t have much for our kids to do to begin with.”

The land lease agreement would have granted Verizon use of the 900 square foot parcel for an initial term of five years, netting $23,700 to borough coffers annually.

Council president Stephen Hill lamented, “Just a comment, and this is a strictly business comment… you got to remember, we’re a small borough, we’re filling out. The only way we can get more income to pay for the things everybody wants is by raising taxes or by finding some other ways to raise funds.” Hill continued, “It’s over $20,000 a year… so it’s either this way or two years from now we’re going to be raising taxes.”

Borough council also failed to pass an ordinance regarding the regulation of the mounting of mailboxes throughout Alburtis, a long-standing issue within the borough. Though the majority of councilmembers agree with the spirit of the ordinance, there was dissent regarding the dimensions of containers that would be regulation.

Council vote was again split, with Palmer ultimately dissenting, clarifying, “It would be put to bed, it won’t be put to sleep and we won’t forget it.”

“What you’ve seen tonight is a perfect example of democracy in action,” Hill said.