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Select Board approves Eversource conduit to serve barn at 77 Oxbow Road after applicant dug trench in advance
Summary
The Select Board approved Eversource’s request to place conduit in Oxbow Road to serve a barn at 77 Oxbow Road after the property owner acknowledged crews dug the trench before filing for permission.
The Select Board approved a petition from utility company Eversource to install approximately 9 feet of conduit under Oxbow Road to serve an accessory structure at 77 Oxbow Road, after public discussion about the work having already been excavated.
What happened: David Tosi, the property owner and contractor who spoke at the hearing, explained that crews trenched a run from his driveway to a handhole and then to a pole to install service for a barn behind his house. He said he authorized the work because an open handhole presented a short‑term safety hazard and an inspector approved the completed installation. “I took that initiative on my own to do it,” Tosi said, apologizing to the board for not completing the town’s permit process before trenching.
Board concerns: Select Board members and neighbors said the property owner had notice of the grant‑of‑location process but proceeded before the formal approval; the board criticized the contractor’s decision and warned that the town may consider penalties for future deliberate noncompliance. A neighbor raised concerns that an adjacent large tree was already in poor health and that trenching near the tree could have contributed to further decline; the applicant disputed that the trench affected the tree and said he had previously offered to remove the tree at his expense but the neighbor had declined.
Outcome: After hearing from the applicant, a retired master electrician who testified on behalf of construction judgment calls, and limited public comment, the Select Board voted to approve the Eversource petition and sign the grant of location. The board emphasized it would follow up on process changes and consider penalties or clearer enforcement to avoid similar incidents.
Next steps: Eversource may proceed with its underground conduit installation as approved; the town said it will review internal procedures about grant filing and enforcement and may return with revisions.
