Westport Island planning board prepares for Verizon tower application, flags conflicts and 30‑day timelines

The Westport Island Planning Board on June 23 held a special meeting to organize how it will handle an anticipated Verizon tower and antenna site-plan application, emphasizing conflict-of-interest rules, public-notice steps and the ordinance timelines that trigger formal review.

Chair (speaker 1) opened the meeting and said the town had received a digital copy of Verizon’s application but that “the application is not before us until we have the physical application and enough copies for everybody to start looking at it,” meaning the statutory review clock will not begin until the packet is formally filed.

Why it matters: Under the town's site plan review ordinance the board generally has 30 days to determine whether an application is complete and, if it is, further time windows follow for hearings and a final decision. That schedule will shape how many public hearings the board can hold and whether it needs to hire technical experts to evaluate engineering or radio-frequency issues.

At the meeting the board reviewed two MMA (Maine Municipal Association) guidance documents the chair circulated as background: one on ethics and conflicts of interest and another on telecommunications facilities. The chair stressed that MMA materials are an orientation, “not legal advice,” and that the board will rely on the town attorney for binding legal guidance.

A recurring concern was whether multiple members would face conflicts because of proximity to the proposed site. Member April (speaker 3) said she planned to recuse herself: “I’m eager to recuse myself from this matter. I live too close, and I have passionate feelings about it… I just would feel ethically better to step back at the minute at this point.” The chair and other members discussed the mechanics of recusal, including whether alternates would be asked to sit and whether too many recusals could force the board to find a quorum by exception.

Technical review and costs: Several members noted that the board’s options depend on the technology Verizon proposes, and that the ordinance permits the town to engage outside experts and recover the cost from the applicant through an escrow arrangement. As the chair put it, if “we as a board feel we need expert advice… the ordinance also provides for an opportunity to assess the cost of the expert to the applicant.”

Public outreach and notice: Board members debated relying on minimum applicant notice (certified mail to abutters and newspaper publication) and many urged that the planning board go beyond the ordinance minimums. One member said, “Don’t rely on the applicants,” and recommended additional direct outreach, public show‑and‑tell sessions and clear posting of public hearing dates so residents could meaningfully participate.

Applicant engagement and alternate sites: A Verizon representative (Ms. Burger, speaker 8) told the board the company is testing one or two alternate sites and is willing to present options. She said the company had already contacted the fire chief about a needed repeater and planned RF testing to confirm site viability. She offered to supply multiple hard copies of the application and 11x17 and full-size site plans for board and public review.

Next steps: The board agreed to repeat the Verizon conversation at its next scheduled meeting (July 8) after the formal packet arrives and to consult the town attorney about preemption questions and whether any review steps should take place in executive session. The chair emphasized that the board will aim to educate the public at each stage and be prepared to set hearings quickly once the 30‑day deadlines commence.

The meeting closed after the board and the applicant agreed to provide additional materials and to hold an initial public introduction before formal hearings.