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Council approves National Grid pole relocations, sidewalk display permit and O'Connell Park worship days
Summary
The council approved petitions from National Grid to relocate poles on Amesbury Street, granted a sidewalk produce-display permit for Gomez Meat Market at 274 South Broadway, and approved a request for four days of worship at O'Connell Park in August.
At its June 3 meeting the Lawrence City Council approved several routine public‑way and event requests, including petitions from Massachusetts Electric Company (doing business as National Grid) to relocate utility poles on Amesbury Street, a sidewalk produce‑display permit for Gomez Meat Market at 274 South Broadway, and a request for four days of worship at O'Connell Park.
The city clerk read the notices for two National Grid petitions (document numbers 134‑25 and 135‑25) describing requests to relocate poles and associated fixtures; the petitions were submitted by David Johnson of National Grid. The council opened the public hearing, heard no public comment on the petitions, and approved both relocation requests by voice vote.
Separately, the ordinance committee had forwarded a favorable recommendation on a request to hold four days of worship at O'Connell Park (Aug. 7–10). Pastors Sandra Lopez and Marama Martinez spoke during public comment in support of the multi‑day worship event, thanking the council for allowing three days the prior year and requesting four days this year to serve families in need.
Councilors also approved a request to allow a sidewalk produce display at 274 South Broadway (Gomez Meat Market); council discussion noted the applicant had followed required procedures and several councilors praised that compliance.
Why it matters: These approvals clear public‑way and event permissions that affect street infrastructure, pedestrian access, and scheduled public programs. National Grid pole relocations are typically undertaken for system upgrades or to clear space for construction; the council approved the petitions after plans were filed with the clerk and a public‑hearing process.
Next steps: Permits and relocation work will proceed under standard administrative processes. Specific project timelines, construction impacts or conditions placed on approvals were not detailed in the transcript excerpt.
