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GREENBURGH, N.Y. – A Pennsylvania lawyer has been brought on board to guide Greenburgh town officials through negotiations with a wireless company looking to install wireless antennas throughout the town.
Andrew Rau, of Unruh Turner Burke & Frees, was hired Tuesday in a unanimous decision by the town board. Rau will help Greenburgh decide on the applications by NextG Networks to construct 20 antennas atop utility poles in residential areas.
While working with the town, Rau will be paid up to $350 per hour, capped at $35,000, the board said Tuesday. Any additional payment would have to be approved by the town board.
“The goal for him is to review the NextG application and look at possible locations and work with NextG and the town to come up with appropriate sites to make sure we’re in compliance with the federal law,” Supervisor Paul Feiner said Tuesday.
First proposed over two years ago, NextG has said its primary customer would be MetroPCS, who aims to fill coverage gaps throughout the area. Town officials decided to retain legal counsel earlier this year, hoping for guidance in negotiations and amid threats of legal action over the lengthy review process.
Rau, who was recommended by the town’s Conservation Advisory Council, has been a part of major federal court cases involving municipalities and wireless antenna companies and has represented various municipalities in dozens of wireless facility applications, Feiner said.
Comments (1)
when it came to fortress bible church, feiner had no interest in complying with federal law.
notice how feiner makes no mention of Next G complying with the Town's law.
feiner has little interest in governing. the Town was caught napping a bit as to its antenna law in terms of changes in the marketplace and current technology. but feiner was busy worrying about the tappan zee bridge and ending county government