SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse’s ambitious plan to emerge as one of America’s first 5G cities has hit a series of obstacles as lawmakers raise concerns about the health risks of the burgeoning technology.

At a Common Council meeting Wednesday, city officials and Verizon representatives tried to assure councilors that a 5G network is as safe as any other wireless technology. But councilors voiced skepticism, asking for evidence and questioning the motives of scientists and federal agencies that have said 5G is safe.

Verizon hammered out a deal with Mayor Ben Walsh’s administration that would give the company blanket approval to install small cell towers needed to build a 5G data network citywide. That deal needs council approval before work can begin.

If the deal is approved, Syracuse would be one of the first major cities in America to roll out a 5G network. Verizon has made 5G available in Chicago and Minneapolis. Last week, the company unveiled plans to begin building 5G networks in 20 more major U.S. cities.

The network allows for increased connectivity across wireless devices and could pave the way for new advances in Syracuse like self-driving cars or improved public transit. Walsh has said 5G will bolster the high-tech economy he is trying to support and make Syracuse more attractive to businesses.

But the new technology has stoked fear among residents who are wary of the unknown risks associated with more wireless signals criss-crossing the city. Councilors said they’ve been flooded with calls from constituents asking them to vote no on 5G.

“We’re getting calls also and we’re getting letters from people telling us to vote no, because they’re concerned about the cancer, the frequencies and all that good stuff," said Council President Helen Hudson. She asked city officials to provide documentation demonstrating 5G is safe.

Mark Coon, a representative for Verizon, said the consensus of the scientific community is that 5G is not dangerous. He referred to the American Cancer Society, which has said there is very little evidence to support claims that 5G antennae - called small cells - cause cancer. However, there has been little research done on the topic with humans.

“On the scientific community, it depends who they’re getting paid by,” Councilor Khalid Bey responded.

Coon said the small cell emissions are within standards determined by the Federal Communication Commission and the Food and Drug Administration. The towers give off the same type of signal as any other wireless device.

“All wireless technology for wireless communications transmits radio frequency signals over the airwaves no different than your garage door opener or a baby monitor or the wireless router in your home,” Coon said.

President Hudson responded by citing a recent article from Newsweek about a California child diagnosed with cancer. The child’s parents told the publication they believe the cancer was caused by a cell phone tower on the roof of the school and that a doctor said the cause of the cancer was environmental.

The proposed agreement allows Syracuse to ask Verizon for a health and safety audit at any time. That would require Verizon to test for emissions at small cell sites to ensure signals are within federal standards. If any concerns were discovered, Verizon would shut down its towers, Coon said.

“We’ve never had that happen before,” he said.

Councilor Bryn Lovejoy-Grinnell pointed out that other cities have banned 5G small cell towers, including Portland, Oregon. The city council there called on the FCC to update its research on the health risks associated with wireless technology.

She also challenged Coon’s claim that there was consensus among the scientific community.

“Is what you mean is there hasn’t been a consensus yet on whether there are health and safety risks?” she asked. “My guess is they’re going to say there hasn’t been testing done, not that there’s a consensus among scientists that there isn’t a risk.”

No councilors spoke in support of the plan.

In addition to the health and safety concerns, a local union wants the council to add contract provisions forcing Verizon to use organized labor and meet certain hiring requirements as it builds the network.

Chris Ryan, president of Communication Workers of America Local 1123, said when Verizon built its Fios network it used low-paid workers from out of state and undocumented workers.

“We are ready willing and able to be partners in emerging technology," he said. “However, there isn’t much reciprocity with Verizon Wireless’s willingness to include anybody from the union in any way shape or form.”

Ryan also suggested establishing benchmarks to include people from low-income neighborhoods and minorities in the work.

The new push for 5G comes shortly after the FCC eased its small cell regulations and stripped local governments of most of their authority on deployment. The new rules are intended to ensure America “wins the global race to 5G."

The FCC ruling limited the amount of time a municipality has to review applications from telecom companies to install small cells. It also established a maximum fee a city can charge a company to install small cells. That fee was much lower than what many cities, including Syracuse, planned to charge.

A group of more than 100 cities is suing the FCC, demanding autonomy when negotiating with telecom companies.

Meanwhile, in Europe, more than 230 scientists and doctors from 40 countries have filed an appeal with the European Union asking it to halt the roll out of 5G due to “serious potential health effects."

The council will likely vote on the 5G proposal Monday.

If the deal is rejected, Verizon could still install the network, but would have to seek council approval for towers individually. Company officials have said Syracuse would need at least 600 towers.