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Selectboard approves Green Mountain Power line upgrades amid resident worries over ‘double poles’
Summary
The Brookline Selectboard unanimously approved a Green Mountain Power agreement to extend or improve power lines between Hill Road and Whitney Hill Road. Residents urged faster removal of old poles and faster telecom relocations; GMP said telecom companies typically take three to five years to move lines and offered contact information for follow-up.
The Town of Brookline Selectboard voted unanimously April 15 to approve Green Mountain Power’s plan to extend or improve the power line from Hill Road to Whitney Hill Road.
Tim Jones of Green Mountain Power, attending by Zoom, told the board and residents that telecommunications companies typically take "three to five years" to move their lines after power lines are relocated, a timeline that prompted several residents to object to the prospect of prolonged “double poles” on private property. Jones said GMP maintains a notification system to inform the telecom companies when power lines are moved but acknowledged that "GMP has no authority over the other companies." He offered to provide contact information so residents and the Selectboard could follow up directly with Comcast and Consolidated Communications.
Selectboard members said they supported proceeding with the electrical upgrades despite the concern, and agreed to pursue additional outreach to the telecom carriers, including inviting carrier representatives to a future meeting if necessary. E. Mark Bills reported that he and Jones inspected the Grassy Brook Road corridor and that GMP agreed to requests on specific pole placements. The board voted to approve the GMP agreement without delaying the work.
