National Grid explains new Boston/Second/Third Street gas-main extension; petition returned to full council with no recommendation

National Grid representatives briefed Everett’s Committee on Government Operations and Public Safety on Oct. 7 about a petition to install new gas mains on Boston Street and branches up Third and Second streets, describing the project as a customer-funded main extension that will create three new services and require local permitting, traffic management plans and coordination with city inspectors.

Diana Cuddy of National Grid said the work’s schedule and hours depend on the city permits issued to the project and can include day or night crews. “When the job gets scheduled, a letter goes out from National Grid to all the abutters,” Cuddy said, adding that a door hanger will be used when crews are about to work directly in front of a property.

Councilors pressed for specifics: they asked whether the new mains would be tied into older cast-iron lines, whether customers on adjacent lines would experience pressure drops and who would pay for repaving. National Grid said the extension is a new high-pressure main that will tie into existing infrastructure where appropriate; the company said customers on existing low-pressure mains will not be switched onto the new line and that leak history dictates where older pipe is replaced. For customer-funded work the company said the developer typically bears costs associated with permanent paving or required restorations.

National Grid described standard construction phasing: crews first extend ‘dead’ pipe capped in place, install meters and internal plumbing connections, then energize and test the new line. The company said it uses temporary patching or plating to avoid leaving open holes overnight and follows an inspection schedule that includes a permanent-patch inspection 30–60 days after work and a one-year follow-up inspection. It also said construction staging locations are coordinated with the city and can include private parking lots for which National Grid will reimburse owners when used.

Councilors sought procedural transparency: several asked that mailed or hand-delivered notices include a date so residents can verify when they were notified; Cuddy said notices are managed out of Syracuse and she would request they include a sent date and that supervisors are identified for large jobs. Councillors also asked National Grid to avoid work that interferes with school pick-up and drop-off times when feasible.

Technical details discussed during questioning included: the petition specifies installation of 8-inch and 6-inch mains on the listed streets, the project will add three new services for the development at 380 Second Street (the owner/developer was identified as the Hanover company), and the new mains use polyethylene (yellow) pipe for the main runs.

After questions, the committee voted to return the petition to the full council with no recommendation; the motion passed with one recorded opposition. The referral means the full council will take up the National Grid petition and the committee took no final substantive position on approval.

Next steps: the petition will appear before the full Everett City Council for disposition; National Grid and Engineering will continue to coordinate permit conditions, traffic management plans, notification procedures and inspection scheduling.