A Franklin Township couple is seeking answers from township officials regarding construction activity at a wireless communications tower on their property, alleging the work was conducted without proper permits and in violation of their lease agreement.

Bradley and Cynthia May, owners of property at 295 Evergreen Road, recently appeared before the board of supervisors to discuss actions taken by American Tower Corporation and its subsidiary, UniSite LLC, which leases a portion of their land under an agreement that dates to 1997.

Cynthia May outlined a series of events beginning in late February. She said a contractor working for American Tower, Crocketts Materials & Services Inc., parked a trailer outside the leased area without permission and operated a diesel generator continuously for several days, creating noise and exhaust issues for nearby residents.

The Mays also contend that construction work proceeded without proper insurance documentation required under the lease.

On March 5, township code enforcement officer Jim Macort issued a stop-work order at the site, citing a zoning ordinance violation.

The couple subsequently notified American Tower of what they described as multiple lease defaults, including failure to obtain valid permits, failure to maintain required insurance, construction activity allegedly conducted in violation of township regulations, trespassing, nuisance conditions, road damage and the installation of fiber-optic cable outside the leased area.

Cynthia May stressed that the couple was not asking supervisors to take sides in their dispute with the company.

“We are pursuing all remedies available under our lease and Pennsylvania law,” she said. “We are asking that this board, as the governing authority of this township, exercise its independent responsibility to enforce the township’s zoning ordinances, respond to formal nuisance complaints and answer the questions that every property owner has the right to ask.”

Bradley May questioned the validity of a building permit issued June 2, 2025, through Lehigh Valley Inspection Services. He noted that he and his wife are the property owners while American Tower is the tenant.

“We just want to know what the ordinances are in the township,” he said. “That’s all we’re trying to find out.”

Township solicitor Tom Nanovic responded that township ordinances are available through public records. When the Mays questioned whether information on the permit application was accurate, Nanovic said the issue appeared to be a civil matter between the property owners and their tenant.

The couple also raised concerns about a mechanical alarm that sounded continuously from inside the tower compound for nearly a week in May. According to the Mays, the alarm began May 6 and continued for several days despite repeated complaints to American Tower, local police and township officials.

The township acknowledged the complaint on May 12 and forwarded it to supervisors and the zoning officer. According to the Mays, an internal communication indicated a maintenance contractor had not responded because of the ongoing dispute between the parties.

The alarm was silenced later that day, but the couple maintains the underlying issues remain unresolved.

Throughout the discussion, the Mays expressed frustration with what they described as a lack of answers regarding the stop-work order, permit records and enforcement actions.

“I think they’re trying to pull the wool over Franklin Township,” Cynthia May said. “Nobody can tell us that permit is valid.”

Nanovic said the township is continuing to process the couple’s Right-to-Know requests and reiterated that many of the issues raised involve a private dispute between the property owners and their tenant.