Methuen City Council held a public hearing at the Great Hall, 41 Pleasant Street, on a petition tied to public service grant WR3106408 to install underground electrical facilities at the intersection of Ellesmere Avenue and Edgewood Avenue.

David Boucher, senior designer for National Bridal, told the council, “I'm here tonight before you asking for a petition to place 2 4 inch conduits from our existing pole on Ellesmere, Road, Avenue, excuse me, approximately 14 feet and into the property of Number 75 Else Edgewood Avenue.” He said that if the petition is granted it would “enable us to go forward to, bring electricity into the property and place 2 new transformers on the property for the service.”

A council member raised concerns about street restoration, asking, “Are we guaranteed you're gonna, repave it?” Boucher responded that the practice is to restore the street “as good or better than it was previously,” and said the customer would normally do the digging and the contractor working with the city would restore the pavement. Chair Marston then opened the floor to any other questions and, hearing none, said he would “entertain a motion to close the public hearing.”

The Vice Chair moved to close the public hearing; Councilor Campagnon seconded. The motion carried with the ayes called and Chair Marston declared the public hearing closed. Council staff told the petitioner the matter will appear on the council’s regular agenda later in the meeting for formal consideration; no final approval of the petition was made at the public hearing.

The petition, as described in the hearing, requests placement of two 4-inch conduits extending about 14 feet from an existing pole on Ellesmere into the property at 75 Edgewood Avenue and the placement of two transformers on that property. The petitioner gave an address of 1101 Turnpike Street, North Andover. The council discussion at the hearing focused on restoration of the street after excavation; the petitioner and chair said the contractor working with the city would be expected to return the pavement to its prior condition or better.

The public hearing record and the council’s vote to close the hearing are part of the public-filed record for agenda item tied to grant WR3106408; the council will take further action on the petition when it appears on the regular agenda later in the meeting.