Factual Timeline: Sprint's Easton Agenda
- April 2000 (approximate)
Ron Kowalski, owner of cell tower property location enters into a
contract (after transferring property title to his wife) with his
firm's client Sprint to build a 150 foot cell tower and diesel-generated
plant on his property. (He is a lawyer with Stamford law firm Cacace,
Tusch, Santagata, a firm representing Sprint cell tower placement and
advice on how to support the Siting Council in Connecticut.)
The contract, which we have not seen, would provide him money personally
for leasing his land to Sprint plus ongoing monthly residuals.
(Kowalski has refused to divulge details of his business arrangement to
Easton Planning & Zoning as requested, or anyone else, but similar
deals are valued in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.)
Ron Kowalski neither notifies or consults with any neighbors of this
business deal.
- 2001
Ron Kowalski becomes a member of the Easton Planning & Zoning
commission and is currently a member of this committee. He belated
notifies P&Z of his intention to recuse himself from discussion of
votes on cell tower-related issues but continues to attend every meeting
and hearing at which cell tower applications are discussed, including
his own.
- August 2001
Sprint pre-applies for this tower with the town with a town
hearing in November, at which time the town P&Z rejects the
application unanimously.
- February 15, 2002
Sprint notifies abutters that they plan to apply for this cell
tower with the Siting Council - an independent body designed to override
towns towards the faster proliferation of cell towers (2002 voted 100%
approvals).
- November 2002
A crane performs testing on 25 Burr Street property.
- December 2, 2002
AWPG learns from the Siting Council that an application to them is imminent - within one month.
- Feruary 4, 2003
Sprint notifies abutting homeowners of its intention to file
application for 25 Burr Street with Connecticut Siting Council "on or
about February 14, 2003".
- October 10, 2003
Sprint files application for 25 Burr Street with Connecticut Siting Council.
Ron Kowalski, also chairman of the town Democratic Committee,
continues to lobby for development throughout the town - his mantra is
:"Easton is not a farming community anymore".
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