Councillor requests alternative options to emergency radio tower at McKinley School

By Barbara Taormina

REVERE – The McKinley School redevelopment with the proposed 145-foot radio tower for the Regional Emergency Communications Center (RECC) was the first item the Zoning Board of Appeals addressed at their meeting on Aug. 27. The applicant, the City of Revere, is seeking variances for the height of the tower and a variance on side yard setbacks to allow the tower to be constructed on the side of the building.

Mayor Patrick Keefe stepped up to offer an introduction to the project. “This is a matter of high-level importance,” said Keefe, adding that it will protect residents in Revere, Winthrop and Chelsea as well as the many people who visit Revere. Keefe stressed the tower will not pose any health threats to the teachers and children at the McKinley School Early Education Center, which will share the space at McKinley with the emergency call center, nor to anyone in the area.

“The issue is it’s going to be something they don’t want to look at,” said Keefe, adding that he empathizes with that sentiment and he will see the tower from his home.

“We always talk about public safety and how seconds matter,” said Keefe. “To think we would have an unreliable emergency communications system is a non-starter.”

Keefe said if the size of the tower can be reduced without compromising the level of service, we will do it if it is reasonable.

The mayor told the board the city would be okay with members continuing the hearing until their next meeting this month since the City Council and others have questions about the tower.

Director of Planning and Development Tom Skwierawski, the project manager for the McKinley redevelopment project, said the tower, which he called a redundant, resilient tower, will be built on a 19-foot by 19-foot foundation in a well five feet deep. He stressed it is not a 5G cell tower but rather a radio tower using microwaves to communicate.

Jay Mazzola, the director of operations for the RECC, explained that dispatch for emergency calls works fine now with fiber. However, according to Mazzola, if the fiber goes down, and apparently it has been damaged many times over the past few years, the microwave system takes over seamlessly. “It’s crucial that we have microwave backup,” said Mazzola. “It protects everyone out on the street.” The height allows radio communication to reach the water tower in Winthrop and the Veterans Home in Chelsea.

Revere Fire Chief James Cullin and Police Chief Maria LaVita both shared their support for the tower, which will allow first responders to continue communicating with portable radios while they are inside of buildings and when the fiber system is compromised. “On a great day, we’re not using the tower,” said LaVita. “But it’s a hugely important tool for us going into buildings with portable radios. If our communication goes down, it is going to be a lot uglier than that tower.”

Ward 4 Councillor Paul Argenzio, who represents the McKinley School neighborhood, said residents and officials would like the city to look at other options. Argenzio said the McKinley redevelopment project was introduced two years ago, but the radio tower was proposed two weeks ago. And Argenzio said there are a lot of outstanding questions.

“The visual impact on this old established neighborhood will be immense,” he told the board. Argenzio said neighbors had concerns about property values, availability of home loans, insurance costs and possible health effects that may or may not exist. He said there should be studies that show that the tower poses no health risks. He also suggested getting a second opinion from another company.

“Everyone is excited about the project; we would just like to pump the brakes on this to see if we can get some answers,” said Argenzio.

“It’s important to note that it’s microwaves, not 5G,” said ZBA Chairman Michael Tucker, adding that that puts the fear factor to rest.

Skwierawski said that unlike 5G antennas that operate consistently, the radio tower will only be in use when the fiber system goes down.

A Prospect Avenue resident said he believes the city has existing infrastructure to make the system work without the tower. He said his son’s Spiderman walkie-talkie can pick up signals from Boston when they are on Reservoir Road. “There’s no reason to put this so close to our kids and teachers,” he added.

Argenzio filed a motion to have the project team meet with the City Council to answer questions and discuss alternative options.