To the Editor:

Embarrassed — that's how I feel whenever anyone brings up the town of Rensselaerville and an emergency-use cell tower in the same sentence or thought. Why embarrassed? I am stunned and shocked that some of the citizens within our township feel so passionate about a "view" that it takes precedence over lives and property of our residents.

On Feb. 15, a home in the town (in the hamlet of Potter Hollow) was destroyed by fire. Maybe available cell service to call 911 would have made no difference; but we just won't know.

What we do know is that, as desperately as the town is trying to erect a tower for emergency use, a small group of residents is wasting town resources, forcing the Town to defend a lawsuit that attempts to prohibit the erection of the tower because it might harm the viewshed.

It is difficult to understand how anyone can put human life (the tower is for emergency services ) second to a "view," but that is exactly what they are doing. The group defies the findings of Albany County engineers and insists that their experts know better places for the tower. They just want the town to move the location.

In the meantime, more houses will burn, and, God forbid, more ambulances will be delayed and perhaps even criminals will go unapprehended because a small group of residents (who already have cell service) want the town to move the site, in their minds, to a less obvious spot.

It is a senseless waste of Town money and time defending themselves from such a selfish lawsuit that is so embarrassing and sad.

Linda Mormile

Preston Hollow