Select Board approves National Grid pole relocations on Williamsville Road after discussion of unpaid notices and unapproved poles

The Hubbardston Select Board on June 16 approved petitions from National Grid and Verizon to relocate and install utility poles on Williamsville Road, voting to grant locations “substantially in accordance with the plan filed” while reserving follow-up on related compliance issues.

The petitions cover moving several poles to the south side of Williamsville Road as part of a Massachusetts Department of Transportation project that crosses the Burnshirt River. “This is a project to relocate electrical lines to the south side of Williamsville Road between Pole 151 and Pole 146,” National Grid representative Colton Marshall told the board, describing the work as a coordinated effort with MassDOT to straighten spans and move poles to accommodate the bridge project.

The approval came after residents and board members raised complaints about other pole installations that residents say occurred without required notices or a public hearing. Patricia Lowe of Ragged Hill Road told the board, “It has come to my attention ... that National Grid may or may not have put up poles without a petition hearing,” and pressed the board to ensure the company address missed notices and unpaid publication fees. Board members and staff said some petitions had been previously tabled because publication and Butters notices had not been paid.

Select Board discussion focused on two distinct problems: (1) the Williamsville Road petitions before the board, which National Grid said remain part of the DOT-driven bridge project and which the board approved; and (2) separate instances — most notably on Ragged Hill Road — where poles reportedly were installed before the town completed its public-notice procedures. The board directed staff to work with National Grid representatives to “ratify” or otherwise address the Ragged Hill situation and to reach out to affected neighbors so they have a chance to raise concerns.

Colton Marshall said he would relay the board’s concerns to his supervisors and work with Alyssa in National Grid’s grants/permits office to resolve outstanding invoices and missed notices. Town staff confirmed some invoices had been recently sent and that National Grid had been asked to prepay future notice costs to avoid the town incurring postage and publication expenses.

After the remarks and a brief procedural motion, the board voted to approve the petitions from National Grid and Verizon for pole relocations and installations on Williamsville Road “as presented subject to any applicable conditions.” The motion passed with no recorded roll-call tally in the public audio transcript.

The board also recorded details for later follow-up: staff will share work order and contact information with the National Grid representative (Colton), and town staff will monitor whether National Grid pays outstanding publication invoices and provides required notices before future pole scheduling.

The Williamsville Road petitions included references to a DOT permit number (DOTR-609187) indicating partial reimbursement from MassDOT for the bridge work; board members confirmed that the project reimbursement would not require town funds.

The board chair closed the hearing after the vote and asked staff and the National Grid representative to continue communications about the Ragged Hill Road installations and to return to the board if ratification or corrective measures are needed.

Provenance: The petition presentations and discussion begin with National Grid’s description of the project and location on Williamsville Road and continue through the motion to approve and vote.