By Ryan O’Connor
Staff Writer

Sparks flew in the Bow Board of Selectmen meeting room when resident Bryan Milazzo stood to speak his mind.

Fielding a complaint from resident Ray Cote about a small box found on a utility pole which sets off radar detectors, selectmen began discussing the subject when Milazzo raised his hand to voice his opinion about the same box having been placed near his home. Milazzo sent a letter to selectmen and police complaining about the box outside his Page Road home ­ which was located outside his son’s bedroom window ­ and the box was removed.

Although Cote complains it is illegal to attach items to a utility pole, Milazzo said he is more concerned about radiation from the device, which could have affected his son.

He then said if it is the town’s intent to collect speeding data, it is not working because cars with radar detectors pick up the signal and slow down.

Vice Chairman Leon Kenison said the boxes are being used for planning, not scientific court data, and suggested the town continue to compile as much data as possible.

Selectman Jack Crisp agreed by pointing out that if Milazzo is correct, then the device is working as the board hoped.

“It’s obviously collecting some data and, for those who have a detector, it will cause them to slow down. Isn’t that the intent, to get people to stop speeding?” said Crisp. “We’re trying to use the best available radar technology.”

Milazzo disagreed.

“Beaming radiation into my son’s bedroom isn’t the best technology,” he said. “It’s wrong and it’s flawed.”

Milazzo also said there were many lawsuits involving radiation damage from officers using radar guns, to which Pitts noted the radar guns in question are very early models and not properly shielded like today’s equipment.

Chief Jeff Jaran, who was also in attendance at the Sept. 26 meeting, said Milazzo has filed numerous speeding complaints in the past and owns a radar gun, which he uses to compile speeding data.

He also contradicted the assertion that the box was in place for a long period of time.

“I can assure Mr. Milazzo that it wasn’t out there any longer than three days because the battery only lasts three days,” said Jaran. “After that, the box is taken down, recharged and placed in another location.”

Selectman Harry Judd said the decision to use the radar boxes was the selectmen’s, not the police department’s.

“The second biggest complaint in town is speeding, so we asked the police chief to respond and he has responded just as we asked him to,” said Judd.

Chairman Thomas Fagan abruptly ended the conversation with the rap of his gavel.

As far as the legality of placing the box on utility poles, Judd suggested the town speaks with Verizon to get the OK to use its poles.

Town Manager Jim Pitts suggested because there is a state statute in place prohibiting attaching objects to utility poles, attaching the radar box to a tree may be a more prudent course of action.

Pitts said Verizon is not interested in sending anyone to deal with it because the law is obsolete and its original intent was to prevent interference with utility workers.

With the advent of bucket trucks, the reason for passing the state statute may no longer be an issue, Pitts said.