BIDDEFORD — Biddeford residents who attended last night’s city council meeting hoping to stop the construction of a cellphone tower at 384 Hill St. were disappointed once more when the council voted not to rescind its earlier decision to permit the contract zone required for the tower’s construction.

As meeting attendees checked their own cellphones and occasionally received calls, 11 city residents spoke ”“ several passionately ”“ about the dangers posed by cell tower radiation to children and the elderly. Many had spoken at the last council meeting held on Sept. 2, and some accused the council of “passing the buck” to residents in favor of business development at all costs.

The location of the tower, to be constructed by VC Properties, LLC, doing business as Mariner Tower, LP, of Kennebunkport, is near a school and many residences. A citizen-organized petition drive, undertaken by opponents after the council approved the plan would have placed the decision on the November ballot, failed to garner sufficient signatures from registered voters.

The discussion was originally scheduled as the last item on the council’s agenda, but the council voted unanimously to move it ahead of several other discussions. Each speaker was provided with five minutes, although a few exceeded the limit. Mayor Alan Casavant was forced to rule “out of order” speakers who called out from the audience.

After all speakers had been heard, council members explained that the approval followed the legal process required by the Federal Communications Commission. City attorney Keith Jacques added that FCC regulations stipulate a governing body cannot prohibit the construction of a cell tower due to perceived or potential health issues. The council noted that there are three other towers in densely populated areas of Biddeford that are near schools.

— Janice Vance can be contacted at [email protected].