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Selectboard approves North Heath Road pole with municipal-attachment stipulation
Summary
The Charlemont Selectboard on April 13 approved a National Grid pole relocation on North Heath Road, adding stipulations to allow municipal attachments without a licensing fee and require reimbursement for municipal fiber attachment costs after residents raised concerns about antennas and visual impact.
Jared Bellows, Chair of the Charlemont Selectboard, on April 13 voted to approve National Grid’s petition to relocate a utility pole on North Heath Road, attaching a condition that municipal attachments be permitted without a licensing fee and that the utility reimburse the town for municipal fiber attachment costs.
The stipulation followed public testimony and technical comments at a hearing opened under Section 22, Chapter 166, of the Massachusetts General Laws. Keegan Lynch described the pole as part of an Advanced Metering Infrastructure rollout and said the antenna on the pole could "potentially serv[e] up to 500 customers" in the surrounding area. Bob Handsaker, the town’s MLP manager, pressed the board on whether the pole would be new or relocated, whether it would be taller, and who would cover licensing and attachment costs, and urged allowing municipal attachments without fee.
Resident Star Atkeson described the visual effects of feeder hardware as a "Frankenstein/barbed wire look," said residents worry about antennas and smart meters, and noted a citizens’ petition on smart-meter installations. Sarah Reynolds, a staff member, told the board its legal authority is limited to pole locations and that equipment specifics and attachment rules generally fall to the utilities and the Department of Public Utilities.
After closing the hearing, the board discussed putting stipulations into the vote and then approved the pole with the stated conditions; Jared Bellows made the motion, Wilder Sparks seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. The board said it would monitor whether the stipulations are honored and reserved the option to withdraw approval if they are not.
Separately, Handsaker said the MLP plans to file public comment with the DPU and is pursuing counsel to represent the town at upcoming hearings; he reported the town received a feeder reattachment quote of $108,000 and more than $8,000 in Dig Safe charges, and said a new attorney offered a fixed-fee arrangement estimated at $5,000–$10,000 compared with a previous $16,000 quote.
Next steps include staff follow-up with the utility and DPU as needed and tracking any required filings or appeals related to attachments and equipment on the approved pole.
