Providence committee approves utility easement to power school rebuild on Eastwood Avenue

A Providence City Council 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 to allow installation of a transformer needed for construction of a nearby school, city staff said.

City staff member Andrew told the committee the easement is required to install a transformer that will turn on power and allow construction to continue on the school project. "What you have in front of you is an easement, and it's an electrical easement, for construction of [the school]. They need to install a transformer in order to turn the power on, and in order to install that transformer, they need an easement, granted from the city," Andrew said.

The resolution as read to the committee describes the property as 254 Eastwood Avenue, Assessor's Plat 107, Lot 111, running alongside Interstate 95. Andrew said the project is a full rebuild of the school and estimated the work is "about a two-year project," with students relocated temporarily across the street while construction proceeds.

Vice Chairman Miguel Sanchez moved to approve the resolution. The motion was seconded (second not specified in the record) and approved by voice vote with no opposition or abstentions recorded. The committee had a quorum of five members present when the item was called.

Committee members did not record additional conditions or amendments to the easement in the meeting record. No follow-up tasks, timelines for the easement recording, or permitting conditions were specified during the discussion on the record.

After the vote the committee moved to adjourn. No further public discussion about the easement or the school reconstruction was included in the committee minutes provided.