Mayor Frank Picozzi lives in “cell hell.”

That’s right, and those of you who visited his Christmas family display thought he lived on the edge of Hoxsie and Conimicut. Well, you would be right because technically that’s where his house is located. However, his house is one of many in ‘cell hell’ where cellphone reception is nonexistent if not consistently spotty.

Picozzi solved his problem by routing his home calls through the internet. But that doesn’t work for those driving through the no-coverage area that seemingly – depending on the time of day, the weather and other factors – extends north from around Warwick Neck Avenue to about Cole Farm. Until linking to service through the internet, the mayor said he had to walk to West Shore Road to get a signal.

“It’s a big public-safety issue,” he said, noting that many people have given up landlines and rely on cell service.

But it looks like the days of poor service in Conimicut could be coming to an end.

On Monday, Feb. 10, the City Council will consider the petition of TowerCo of Cary, North Carolina, to erect a 135-foot cell tower off Draper Avenue – across the street from school administration offices in the former Gorton Junior High School. That should be welcome news not only to area residents, but also to the school administrative staff and people visiting school offices.

The tower would have space for three services, Verizon Wireless being the main one and the tower’s owner. There is also a space for a city service at no charge to the city. Sean Henry of the city Planning Department explained that the mayor would negotiate a lease for the land should the tower gain council approval. This would be the 12th Verizon Wireless tower in the city.

From his recollection, Picozzi said land leases for cell towers generate about $2,000 a month.  He said if Verizon leases spaces to other services, the city would also be paid some of that revenue.

The mayor thought the tower would improve reception on Warwick Neck.

Another area cell tower is being erected at Clegg Field, off West Shore Road in Conimicut. The existing tower burned last summer and service is being provided by a temporary tower.

TowerCo could not be reached for details about when the Gorton Avenue tower would be erected. Henry thought construction would start before the summer assuming the council grants approval.

The Planning Board approved the tower at its Nov. 13 meeting and provided a favorable recommendation to the council for the tower in the A-10 Residential District with dimensional variances greater than allowed height and located within two miles of another telecommunications facility.