Committee schedules public hearing on National Grid pole relocation for High/Newton Street

The Gardner City Public Service Committee on Jan. 30 considered a petition from National Grid to relocate two jointly owned utility poles on High Street to address clearance issues for new construction at High and Newton streets and directed the city clerk to schedule a public hearing for Feb. 17.

Committee members and staff said the relocation — moving poles identified in the petition as P30 and P31 approximately 120 feet east from a point about 10 feet south of the High–Newton centerline — would shift lines away from the new house and improve clearance and safety. Staff noted one of the poles includes a street light and that coordination will be required to determine whether National Grid or a city contractor will relocate the lighting.

Under the city's new committee process, the item must remain on standing committee calendars for two meetings before returning to full council; the committee therefore kept the petition on its calendar and asked that National Grid be invited to the public hearing so residents can comment in person or by phone. A final council vote is anticipated March 2 following committee consideration.

The committee did not record any formal vote to approve the relocation at this meeting; it advanced the petition by scheduling the public hearing and retaining the item on the committee calendar for additional review.