Lawrence committee presses National Grid on rising "double" poles, sends one request to full council

Lawrence City’s Ordinance & Intergovernmental Relations Committee spent its Dec. 9 meeting pressing National Grid about the number of new utility poles and the slow pace of removing older, jointly owned (“double”) poles.

National Grid representative Jeff Saffler told the committee his team estimated 171 poles were installed in 2025 while roughly 132 poles were removed during the same period. "In 2025, there were a 171 poles installed," Saffler said, adding that about "132 represents number of poles that have been removed, like double poles." The figures are estimates, he said, and reflect coordination challenges among multiple owners on a given pole.

Council members said the city has repeatedly seen new pole installations without timely removals of the superseded or jointly owned poles, producing visual clutter and potential safety and accessibility issues. Councilor Gabriel Del Rosario proposed drafting an ordinance that would require both owners of a jointly owned pole to appear at ordinance hearings and would set a 30-day removal window with penalties for noncompliance. "When they come for a request, a J O pole — both of them need to be here," Del Rosario said, adding the ordinance would include removal timelines and enforcement measures.

National Grid said it participates in monthly coordination meetings with the Department of Public Works and the city, and that removals often depend on other carriers (for example, Verizon or other wire owners) completing their wire transfers. Saffler said National Grid does not receive payment for installing a double pole and that the company also prefers to see double poles removed.

After the discussion the committee voted to send one jointly owned pole request — for a pole near Berkeley Street and Montgomery Street (doc 407) — to the full City Council for a public hearing. Members present voted in favor of forwarding that item.

Committee members also asked National Grid to provide contact names for other carriers and to attend a future DPW meeting with a project overview explaining why specific reliability equipment is being installed and how it benefits residents. Saffler agreed to follow up with contacts and to request that other carriers attend future coordination meetings.

Next steps: doc 407 will appear at the full council for a public hearing; Councilor Del Rosario said he will file an ordinance proposal to require joint owners’ participation and a 30-day removal requirement, and staff will request more detailed project and coordination information from National Grid and other carriers.