Sudbury Select Board delays Verizon small-cell antenna vote to September

SUDBURY — July 26, 2022 — Sudbury Select Board postpones Verizon small-cell antenna petitions to Sept. 13 after public outcry. Network real estate consultant Paula Foley agreed to waive the federal 60-day shot clock on two Boston Post Road utility-pole installations after Chair Charles Russo and members Daniel Carty, Janie Dretler, Lisa Kouchakdjian and Jennifer Roberts said they needed more time to evaluate zoning, health and notification concerns. Carty challenged whether the 2.98-cubic-foot canister antennas, which operate at 40 watts, fall within FCC small-cell limits and questioned why abutters were not notified. Six residents opposed the petitions, with Diana Warren calling the application "materially incomplete." In separate 5-0 votes, the board made the DEI Commission permanent effective Dec. 1, approved a KP Law-drafted response denying any violation in an open meeting law complaint by John Baranowski, and disabled the Zoom chat function for its meetings through March 31, 2023. Interviews with finalist search firms Municipal Resources Inc. and Community Paradigm Associates are set for Aug. 2.