The offer comes in appreciation for the many favors and courtesies extended to the firefighting community by Roosevelt Island residents in the period after 9/11/01.

A retiree from the Special Operations unit, John Connolly, who lives in Rivercross, suggested the bells would be heard only during waking hours, with a volume control to keep them from being intrusive.  The system is computer controlled and mostly solid-state, using sampled bells of recognized quality.  Connolly, whose e-mail address is cjjbudcon@aol.com, is looking for resident comments on the idea, gathering information in preparation for the donation.

Connolly said that RIOC President Herb Berman was receptive to the idea, but in a later contact with RIOC, concern was expressed that some residents might object to the sound.  “Use of the carillon could be limited to special occasions,” Connolly said, citing Roosevelt Island Day, commemorations of September 11, Thanksgiving, weddings, and special holidays.  He told The WIRE that one of the companies offering carillons will provide a one-month trial period.

“I think having the sound of bells in the center of the community will add to our feeling of community,” Connolly said.  While anticipating that the carillon might be used on occasion by religious organizations using the Chapel, Connolly said that he sees the carillon as a non-religious community matter that will serve to give the Chapel a traditional voice.  The system uses outdoor speakers for outdoor sound projection, but can be switched to indoor speakers when their sound is desired for use during a church service.  A standard keyboard can be used to play the system “live,” though an extensive repertoire of recorded music is available.

Connolly said that the system can be used to ring the hours at selected times; for accuracy, the unit’s timekeeping is controlled by the U.S. Atomic Clock in Fort Collins, Colorado.  The system can be set to sound either cast Flemish bells or English bells; the Flemish are more subdued with less “clang.”

The donation would have to be accepted by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC).