Executive Summary
The Licenses and Permits Committee met on June 24, 2026, to deliberate on several Grants of Location for Eversource Energy. The primary focus included infrastructure for new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations on Hudson Street and reliability improvements near Prospect Street. The committee addressed public concerns regarding sidewalk accessibility and the loss of traditional parking spaces due to EV infrastructure. All items on the agenda, including the approval of previous meeting minutes, were recommended for approval by a unanimous vote.
Meeting Information
- Governing Body: Licenses and Permits Committee
- Meeting Date: June 24, 2026
- Meeting Type: Committee Meeting
- Attendees:
- Councilor Emily Hardt (Chair)
- Councilor Lance Davis
- Councilor Ben Wheeler
- Delaney Fisher-Cascio (Clerk)
Approval of Minutes
- Item: Approval of the minutes of the Licenses and Permits Committee meeting of May 13, 2026.
- Action: The committee voted to recommend approval of the minutes.
- Vote Outcome: 3-0 (Roll Call: Councilor Davis: Yes; Councilor Wheeler: Yes; Chair Hardt: Yes).
Public Comments (ID 26-0910 and ID 26-0864)
- Description: Public comments submitted regarding agenda item ID 26-0750 (Hudson Street Grant of Location).
- Action: The committee marked these items as work complete.
Grant of Location - Hudson Street (ID 26-0750)
- Resolution: Eversource applying for a grant of location to "install 10 feet of conduit in Hudson Street from Utility Pole 202 over 9 to a proposed new handhold next to 135 Hudson Street."
- Purpose: To provide a hookup for new municipal electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
- Discussion:
- Jacqueline Duffy (Right of Way Agent, Eversource) noted the item was previously continued to address abutter concerns regarding conduit placement.
- Chair Hardt confirmed that city staff and the Traffic and Parking department have already approved the EV charging stations and verified that the sidewalk will remain ADA compliant with sufficient clearance.
- Councilor Wheeler acknowledged the trade-offs involved in repurposing street space: "I just wanted to own that the city and our committee that we are indeed, removing parking spaces that people may rely on and adding parking spaces at the same time for people who are going to use them specifically for electrical vehicles."
- Action: Recommended for approval.
- Vote Outcome: 3-0 (Roll Call: Councilor Davis: Yes; Councilor Wheeler: Yes; Chair Hardt: Yes).
Grant of Location - Richardson Street (ID 26-0980)
- Resolution: Eversource applying for a grant of location to "install 31 feet of conduit in Richardson Street from utility pole 296 over 1 to a point of pickup at 0 Richardson Street."
- Purpose: To provide electrical service to 6 Richardson Street.
- Discussion: Jacqueline Duffy (Eversource) provided the technical overview. No public comments were received.
- Action: Recommended for approval.
- Vote Outcome: 3-0 (Roll Call: Councilor Davis: Yes; Councilor Wheeler: Yes; Chair Hardt: Yes).
Grant of Location - Somerville Avenue and Prospect Street (ID 26-0981)
- Resolution: Eversource applying for a grant of location to "install 641 feet of conduit in Somerville Avenue and Prospect Street and one new manhole 31333 from existing manhole 27921 and from existing manhole 25406 to a point of pickup at 51 Prospect Street."
- Purpose: Electric reliability improvements in the area near the substation.
- Discussion: Jacqueline Duffy (Eversource) stated the project involves approximately 511 feet of conduit (noting a slight variation from the 641 feet in the formal description) and one new manhole to improve local grid reliability.
- Action: Recommended for approval.
- Vote Outcome: 3-0 (Roll Call: Councilor Davis: Yes; Councilor Wheeler: Yes; Chair Hardt: Yes).
Adjournment
- Motion: Motion to adjourn made by Chair Hardt.
- Vote Outcome: 3-0 (Roll Call: Councilor Davis: Yes; Councilor Wheeler: Yes; Chair Hardt: Yes).
- Adjournment Time: 6:17 PM.