THE Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) has signalled its intention to bring under control the expansion of cellular transmission towers (cell towers) across Corporate Area communities without its approval.

On Tuesday KSAMC councillors teamed to unanimously approve a resolution brought by two Opposition members — Councillors Andrew Swaby (Vineyard Town) and Patrick Roberts (Molynes Gardens) — noting that while the current procedure only involves the Town and Country Planning Authority (TCPA) requiring a community survey to be conducted by the applicant prior to erecting a transmission tower, the relevant technical representatives of the KSAMC must become involved in the execution of the community surveys prior to approval.

The motion also noted that of a sample size of 100 people who are currently required to be interviewed, at least 25 per cent of these individuals (within the community) must live within the immediate vicinity of the proposed sight.

The resolution also called for the TCPA to ensure that submission of the approval of applications for cellular transmission towers to the council must be accompanied by a decision-making matrix.

It also asked that the resolution be forwarded to the ministries of Local Government and Community Development; Science, Energy and Technology; Economic Growth and Job Creation; as well as the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) and all municipal corporations as well as the Portmore council.

Mayor of Kingston Councillor Delroy Williams said that the Government side accepted that it cannot ignore the setting up of the cell towers across the municipality without the involvement of the council.

“It is the best opportunity for residents to participate in the process. At least they should be given an opportunity to participate,” Mayor Williams said.

According to Councillor Swaby, who tabled the motion, constituents in his division had told him that towers were being set up without the knowledge of householders living in the vicinity of the site.

Swaby was also concerned that the requirement from the applicant to set up the towers meant that the applicant was overseeing its own self. He said there were cases in which residents have been asked to write their comments with pencils, but sign the document with pens.

“You cannot ask the applicant to oversee themselves. You can put up the transmission towers without making householders in the immediate vicinity know … and if the people are misinformed about that, [the application] will not be accepted and they cannot put it up,” he said.

Swaby also revealed that property owners can collect up to $1 million in fees for the use of the area where the towers are located, but the neighbours do not have access to that kind of benefit. He said that in densely populated areas neighbours should know this and should also be allowed to benefit from the fees which are paid.

He was backed by his seconder Councillor Roberts, who insisted that the resolution did not need much debate as it is a crucial subject which has to be addressed. He said that the municipality should take charge of the petitions and not the other way around as “whoever pays the piper call the shots”.

“This is what is happening, and I am asking that the applicant should apply to the KSAC for approval before going forward. It’s a simple, crucial resolution and no debate is really necessary,” he added.

Government member Vernon McLeod (Havendale) said that as councillors are required to answer all queries from the constituents, the KSAMC should take responsibility to protect the residents by executing the community surveys procedures and seeing that the approval is worthwhile. He also suggested that the council confine the setting up of the towers to KSAMC-owned properties, including community centres, as this would benefit constituents as well.

Mayor Williams closed the debate by calling on the town clerk and the city engineer to have the necessary procedures ready and to look at all the issues that can make a progress report at the end of the process.