Holyoke council approves perpetual easement allowing Verizon lines to new Peck School

The Holyoke City Council on May 20 voted unanimously to approve an easement granting Verizon New England the right to install and maintain telephone conduits, manholes, cables and related equipment at the new Peck School site.

The easement, presented as a late-filed item, was described by Sean Sheedy, director of maintenance and facilities for Holyoke Public Schools, who said the work is time sensitive because phone service is required for elevator inspection, burglar alarm connectivity and other systems needed for the school to receive its certificates and open on schedule. "We are opening the school in less than three months. This is a mission critical piece of that," Sheedy told the council.

Sheedy said the document updates an older easement and gives Verizon the right to enter city property, locate equipment and perform installation and maintenance. He told the council he had already issued a purchase order and check and had been working with Verizon engineers; he described repeated procedural delays that prompted the late filing so the city could obtain a vote and the mayor’s signature quickly. "If we can get a vote tonight, I can get the mayor to sign it, and then Brenna can certify it for me tomorrow," Sheedy said.

Council members asked whether the easement would be exclusive. Sheedy said it would not prevent the city from later arranging service with another provider; he noted city work on fiber and the possibility of in-house phone services in the future. Attorney Degnan (transcript spelling varies between "Degnan" and "Dignan") confirmed the presentation and its characterizations and said legal review found no problem with the easement language as presented.

Councilor Graney moved to approve the easement and the motion was carried by roll-call vote; the clerk recorded a unanimous vote to adopt item 54.

The approved document names Verizon New England (formerly New England Telephone and Telegraph Company) as grantee and attaches an older Peck School site plan (dated Oct. 18, 1967; revised April 28, 1970) as part of the description of the easement area. The council did not attach an independent monetary consideration to the transaction; Sheedy said there is no monetary value, describing it as a permission/easement arrangement rather than a sale.

The council’s action clears the way, according to Sheedy, for Verizon to schedule crews within days to begin installation so the school can meet its inspection deadlines.