Council approves three National Grid pole installs after applicant says reclosers will shorten outages

Marlborough City Council on Monday unanimously approved three petitions from Massachusetts Electric (National Grid) and Verizon to install joint-owned utility poles in residential sections of the city.

Al Galvan, a design engineer for National Grid Electric, told the council the company plans to install reclosers and new poles so outages can be isolated and restoration times reduced. “So, we're proposing to install a recloser out here on the feeder to assess any voltage issues and outage time frames. Um, this will cut down on any outage time. It'll isolate the outages and keep people on much quicker than prior,” Galvan said while describing the equipment need and new pole placements.

The three petitions covered: a pole labeled P4150 on Forest Street (order 26-109680), a 50-foot H1 mid-span pole labeled P150 on Highland Street (order 26-109681), and a 50-foot H1 mid-span pole labeled P1550 on Washington Street (order 26-19682). Each petition was presented as needed to host newer equipment and reclosers in areas that had experienced voltage or outage issues.

Councilors repeatedly noted the city engineer’s comments were to be included as conditions. Councilor Robey asked for clarification about an incorrect location in the engineering communication for the Forest Street order and sought assurance that the city engineer’s conditions and corrections would be part of the approved record. The chair and the applicant indicated the engineer’s specified conditions and corrections would be incorporated.

Councilors Picillo and Ficillo moved the respective approvals with the city engineer’s conditions. All three petitions were approved by roll-call vote, each recorded 10-0.

The approvals authorize National Grid and Verizon to proceed with the pole installations subject to the conditions and comments submitted by the city engineer, including technical corrections flagged during council discussion.