Somerville committee approves Eversource permit, conditions company to evaluate poles and lines on Ivalu Street

The Somerville Licenses and Permits Committee approved a grant of location for Eversource on March 11, but added a condition requiring the company to conduct a formal evaluation of utility poles and lines on Ivalu Street and submit a written report before construction begins.

Councilor Emily Hart (Ward 7), chair of the committee, introduced the application (ID26-0181) for 62 feet of conduit to be installed on Ivalu Street and asked an Eversource representative to speak on the item. Jackie Duffy, representing Eversource, told the committee she would follow up with the division and had already contacted the city’s community relations staff about the site.

Resident Chris Dwan of 26 Ivalu Street told the committee he first raised safety concerns about the poles and lines in January 2020 after power lines chafed two mature street trees, which later died. "It was not and the trees subsequently died of their injuries," Dwan said, describing the issue as a long-standing safety and maintenance concern on his block.

Councilor Mark Davis noted the council has repeatedly addressed abandoned or dangling wires and double poles and said a state law gives the city authority to remove unclaimed wires and charge utilities, though practical obstacles include confirming ownership and the city’s capacity to do the work.

Committee members discussed how utilities coordinate pole removals through a shared database that lists double poles and an order of precedence indicating which carrier will move lines first. Committee members and Duffy agreed the process can be slow when multiple utilities (for example, cable providers and Verizon) must each relocate lines before an old pole can be removed.

After discussing options, Hart proposed — and then moved — a condition that Eversource perform a written, formal evaluation of the poles and lines on Ivalu Street and submit the report to the city before construction begins. Hart said the condition aimed to ensure safety concerns are addressed and to provide documentation the city can use to follow up with other utilities if needed.

The committee took a roll-call vote on the condition. Councilors Davis, Wheeler and Hart voted yes. The committee then voted to approve the agenda items and minutes and adjourned.

The committee did not specify a timeline for when other utilities would relocate their lines; Duffy said the city’s database identifies which utilities are "next in line," but she could not provide a firm timetable for when the double poles on Ivalu Street would be fully cleared. Mr. Dwan said he will forward the 2020 email he sent reporting the original problem.

Next steps: Eversource is expected to provide the committee with a written evaluation of the poles and lines on Ivalu Street as the condition of the grant of location approval.