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Select Board denies pole-relocation petition at 14 Hussey Street, approves multiple utility service petitions
Summary
The Select Board closed a hearing and voted unanimously to deny a petition to relocate a utility pole at 14 Hussey Street after staff and the fire chief raised access and parking concerns. The board also approved several National Grid service petitions and required conditions to protect roadway restoration and drainage.
The Select Board on Monday denied a petition to relocate a utility pole at 14 Hussey Street and approved multiple other petitions for new electric service, including about a dozen National Grid requests across town.
14 Hussey Street: Licensing and public-works staff briefed the board that an existing pole had been examined and that moving it would interfere with a recommended accessible parking space and could block fire-apparatus access depending on the relocation. Staff also reported Historic District Commission (HDC) violations at the property for landscaping and driveway changes done without HDC permits; the property has received an HDC violation notice. After public discussion and a motion to close the hearing, the Select Board voted unanimously to deny the petition to relocate the pole and instructed the applicant to pursue HDC approvals as appropriate.
Other petitions and approvals: Staff and National Grid representatives presented a series of petitions for new service to individual properties (7 North Gully Road, 10 Hulbert, 75 Paco Mo Road, 1 Kimball Avenue, 109 Tom Nevers Road, and a larger conversion on Willard Street/Hulbert Avenue that removes overhead poles). Where relevant the board conditioned approvals on restoration of road shoulders and matching pre-construction drainage conditions; staff said National Grid agreed to restore affected areas to prior condition. Several petitions were approved by roll call.
Why it matters: The denial at 14 Hussey underscores the board’s concern for public-safety access and preservation of historic-district process in cases where property owners have undertaken unpermitted changes. The series of National Grid approvals represents routine utility expansions for new service across the town but included conditions from staff to protect roadway drainage and curb access.
Quotes: “If this pole is moved back ... they wouldn't be able to get any fire apparatus through there,” licensing staff said when explaining the fire chief’s objection. “We should deny this and let them go through the HDC,” Select Board member Matt said during debate.
Ending: The denied petition at 14 Hussey was closed and rejected; staff will monitor compliance with HDC actions. Approved National Grid petitions will proceed under staff conditions to ensure roadway restoration and drainage protections.
