Committee approves easement for transformer to advance school rebuild

A Providence City committee voted Jan. 14 to approve a resolution granting an electrical easement to Narragansett Electric Company, doing business as Rhode Island Energy, over a portion of city-owned land at 254 Eastwood Avenue (Assessor's Plat 107, Lot 111) to allow installation of a transformer needed for ongoing school construction.

A staff member, Andrew, told the committee the easement is needed so the utility can install a transformer that "in order to turn the power on" for the construction project. "What you have in front of you is an easement, and it's an electrical easement, for construction of Gyrus Faziano School," Andrew said. He said the transformer installation would allow construction that has already started to continue on schedule.

The presenter described the school project as a full rebuild expected to take about two years and said students are temporarily located across the street while the new building is constructed. He added that the electrical easement is one of several types of easements the city may be asked to grant for the project, noting "sometimes we have sewer easements, sometimes we have mechanical easements. This is an electrical one."

Committee Chair (unnamed) asked for discussion; none substantive followed. Councilmember Jose Martinez moved to approve the item; a second was recorded but the seconder's name was not specified in the transcript. With five members present, the committee voted in favor; the clerk announced the motion passed.

The resolution authorizes the city to assess and grant the easement described in the item. The committee record does not specify a timeline for the actual easement instrument to be finalized, the identity of the seconder, or subsequent administrative steps required to record the easement.

The meeting adjourned after the vote.