NORTH ATTLEBORO - Members of First Baptist Church are thrilled with a zoning board decision that means its historic building will not be getting a fresh coat of paint any time soon.

Members of the church and an attorney from a cell phone company successfully convinced the zoning board Wednesday to eliminate its requirement that Omnipoint Communications repaint the church before installing cell phone antennae on the steeple.

While all acknowledge that the exterior building is in need of a new coat of paint, the paint job turned out to be more costly than originally anticipated.

"We've exhausted every avenue," said Tanya Erban, a member of the church. "Believe me, we'd love to have that place painted, but it's just not possible right now."

Omnipoint received permission from the zoning board to place a cell phone tower atop First Baptist Church several years ago, but with the condition that the company repaint the bell tower and trim. It has since been discovered that the flaking paint contains lead and needs to be removed - at a cost of $177,000 to $195,000. OmniPoint said the cost was so substantial that it would have to look for a new location for its antennae if the paint job were required. Church members said they are counting on the money that will be brought in by leasing out the steeple space, and would prefer to leave the church unpainted rather than lose the contract.

"We are a church, like many other churches in the area, that is having financial trouble," Erban said.

"We have a mission and are feeding people 150 meals a week. I don't think those people care about paint or lead on the church."

Both OmniPoint and members of the church declined to disclose to the zoning board how much money the church will receive. But board members ultimately decided it didn't matter.

"The church will be receiving money, and they have the right to do with it what they please. They can feed the hungry with it, they can paint the church with it - they can do what they want," board Chairman Patrick Murphy said.

The plan originally approved by the town called for the construction of a new steeple with a fiberglass roof. The antennae would be located inside the building and the new roof would match the existing one in both color and style.

However, the Massachusetts Historical Commission objected to the removal of the current steeple. It approved a revised plan that calls for the hanging the antennae on the exterior of the building.

AMY DeMELIA can be reached at 508-236-0334 or at ademelia@thesunchronicle.com.