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Council refers National Grid River Street underground petition to Public Services after questions on timing and repaving
Summary
National Grid presented plans to install conduit and roughly eight manholes along River, Federal, Park, Elliot and Rantoul Streets. Councilors pressed for clarity on timing, repaving commitments, and neighborhood impacts; the council closed the hearing and referred the petition to the Committee on Public Services, and later adopted the committee recommendation 7-0.
National Grid told the Beverly City Council on June 25 that it plans to install conduit and roughly eight manholes along a route beginning at River Street and continuing along Federal, Park, Elliot and Rantoul Streets.
Kyle Surrette, representing National Grid, described the proposed work and locations: "National Grid is proposing the installation of I believe it's eight manholes along these streets, starting from an existing manhole on River Street," he said, outlining connections to existing manholes and a riser pole for overhead feed.
Councilors asked whether National Grid would reimburse the city for repaving costs after trenching and expressed concern about timing and downtown impacts. Several councilors — and the mayor — described ongoing negotiations over payment formulas, the condition of specific streets (Park and Cabot versus newer sections such as Elliot and Rantoul), and coordination to avoid conflicts with other construction and business activity downtown.
Mayor Cahill said the city has been negotiating with National Grid on similar issues and emphasized coordination: "We'll be working with them to make sure that whenever they're ready to start this piece of electric work that it's coordinated with and doesn't conflict with and cause problems with the other work that's going on all summer." The mayor also said parts of related high‑voltage work will begin the following week and that Grid may not be ready to start this specific work immediately.
Councilors debated whether to hold the hearing to secure additional negotiating leverage or to await more Grid representatives; several said they were comfortable closing for now and keeping a pathway to further committee review. With no public speakers, the council closed the hearing and referred the petition to the Committee on Public Services. The subcommittee later returned a recommendation to approve the petition and the full council adopted that recommendation 7-0.
Councilors asked staff to continue negotiating reimbursement and scheduling details with National Grid and to ensure appropriate standards for repaving.
