This story by Jason Starr was first published by the Williston Observer on Feb. 1.
If Verizon is going to install cell service antennas inside the steeple of Williston’s historic Old Brick Church, it will have to do so over the objections of members of the Williston Historical Society and several other civic leaders with deep connections to the historic building.
The telecommunications company continues to push the idea, first proposed in 2018, as the best way to fill in a dead zone that prevents Verizon users from making calls and accessing the internet on their phones in Williston Village. The Old Brick Church Trustees and the Selectboard both gave informal endorsements when the proposal resurfaced last year.
But about 30 community members packed the Town Hall meeting room Monday for a meeting of the trustees, with several expressing their opposition to the proposal. Two Verizon contractors were also in attendance to present the latest design for the project.
Built in 1832, the town-owned church is on the National Historic Register.
“I just think this is a travesty,” said Williston Historical Society board member and past president Brenda Perkins. “It just is not right to take this church over for a corporate interest.”
Dave Yandell, who co-founded the weekly Brick Church Music Series that went dormant during the pandemic, also spoke in opposition to the proposal. The town currently rents the church out for special events such as weddings and funerals.
“Please don’t change the character of the building,” Yandell said. “It’s fine the way it is, and I don’t think this is an appropriate use.”
Louis Hodgetts, an engineer with Dubois and King in South Burlington who is working on the project for Verizon, explained the latest design Monday. It would involve replacing the wood in the steeple with fiberglass and placing three antennas behind the fiberglass, with a fourth antenna above that. None of the antennas would be visible from the outside, Hodgetts said.
A storage space would be constructed attached to the back of the building with telecommunications equipment to serve the antennas and cooling fans and air conditioning accompanying the equipment. The steeple is Verizon’s best option to improve its coverage gap in the Village, Hodgetts said.
“The goal of this project is to improve coverage in this area,” he said.
Lisa Elowson, a resident of South Road, would welcome the improved cell service. The inability to use mobile phones where she lives is a safety concern, she said. Selectboard member Mike Isham pointed out, however, that wireless phones without a signal can still place calls to 911 for emergency services. Elowson also noted that the town is not currently making much use of the church. According to Town Manager Erik Wells, the town would receive about $25,000 a year in a lease for the steeple space with Verizon.
Several residents encouraged the company to look elsewhere for wireless infrastructure in the Village. They also noted that there are other cell service provider options — T-Mobile and AT&T.
“Preserve the church,” resident Ginger Morton implored the trustees. “There are lots of other avenues that haven’t been explored.”
Kurt Oughstun, a Williston resident and UVM engineering professor, raised concerns about the health implications of cellular infrastructure, noting the proximity of the church to Williston Central School.
“I’m very concerned with the children being exposed to this on a daily basis,” he said.
The trustees plan to vote during their March 6 meeting whether to recommend approval of the project to the selectboard. Any lease with Verizon would need selectboard approval. The time and location of the March 6 meeting has not yet been set. Residents wishing to provide the trustees with comments before the meeting can write them to town staffer Erin Dickinson by email at edickinson@willistonvt.org or by mail to: Erin Dickinson c/o Old Brick Church Trustees, 7900 Williston Road, Williston VT 05495.
