Select Board approves Webber Avenue utility pole relocation, continues South Road hearing

The Town of Bedford Select Board on Feb. 23 approved a Grant of Location petition from NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy to relocate utility pole 35/2 at 10 Webber Avenue and continued a separate hearing on a proposed conduit installation at 315 South Road.

David Manugian, the town’s Department of Public Works director, and Joanne Callender, an Eversource representative, presented the Webber Avenue plan. DPW told the board it supports the Webber work and does not anticipate impacts to town-owned utilities based on the submitted plans. The board voted 5-0 to approve the Webber petition after asking about the timing; Callender said work will begin after the Town grants the location and Manugian said the local moratorium is expected to end in mid-April.

On the South Road petition — a proposed ~15-foot conduit to serve 315 South Road — DPW reported that a contractor appears to have installed a riser and trenched across the town right-of-way without notifying the town or Eversource, and that a large oak within the right-of-way may have been damaged. DPW said snow cover prevents a full assessment; it will inspect conditions when the snow melts, consider alternate routing and mitigation, and noted discussions about potential penalties for unpermitted work. The Select Board voted to continue the South Road public hearing to April 13 at 7 p.m. to allow DPW further review (vote 5-0).

The approvals and continuances were conducted by roll call vote with Select Board members Daniel Brosgol, Paul Mortenson, Shawn Hanegan, Terrence Parker and Bopha Malone recorded as voting in favor where noted.