Council opens and closes two National Grid public hearings on pole relocations; no objections recorded
Loading...
Summary
The council heard National Grid representatives and brief public comment on two petitions to relocate mid‑span poles (Park Hill Road and Holly Street) needed for transformer installation and building clearances; both hearings were opened and closed and will be voted later as part of the agenda.
Northampton — At its Feb. 5 meeting the City Council opened and closed two public hearings on National Grid petitions to relocate utility poles, hearing technical explanations from a company representative and limited public support comments.
The first petition (25.355) would relocate a pole on Park Hill Road to allow installation of a transformer to serve a customer who recently installed solar panels. Ken Kriegel, representing National Grid, explained that available poles in the area are already used by underground primary services feeding transformers on long driveways, leaving no available capacity for a transformer for this customer.
Jazz Hanley, a resident, spoke in the room to confirm they had installed solar panels and supported the pole upgrade.
The council closed that hearing after a roll‑call motion passed. The meeting then opened a second petition (25.357) to install a jointly owned mid‑span pole and relocate an existing pole on Holly Street; Kriegel said the street is narrow and already constrained by two possible relocation sites and new nearby construction that requires minimum building and OSHA clearances.
No public objections were recorded during the hearings and councilors indicated they would take the petitions up as part of the legislative process later in the agenda.
What’s next: Both petitions were listed on the consent agenda; staff will prepare necessary legal and engineering documents for a final council vote at a subsequent meeting.
