After a lengthy debate, the Township board narrowly approved a request by Verizon Wireless to accept a ‘removal bond,? allowing the company to install a new monopole tower in the township.
By a 4-3 vote on Oct. 16, the board decided that the bond was in line with the township ordinance and qualified as a ‘similar instrument? to the other mechanisms for insurance they have used in the past.
The item was originally placed on the Oct. 2 agenda, but was postponed to allow the township’s legal counsel to look over the bond documentation.
Reacting to the attorney’s opinion that expressed some concerns, Township Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk voted against accepting the bond, saying he did not want to ‘set a precedent? by approving the contract.
Trustee Matt Gibb made the motion to accept the bond, noting that Verizon is a ‘reputable? billion-dollar corporation that was using a similarly reputable insurance agency (Traveler’s Insurance) as its bond agent.
Gibb, trustees John Garlicki and John Steimel, and Treasurer Alice Young voted for the $40,000 bond.