Executive Summary
The Licenses and Permits Committee met on March 11, 2026, to address a grant of location request from Eversource and approve previous meeting minutes. The primary discussion centered on Grant of Location ID 26-0181 for Ivaloo Street, which served as a catalyst for a broader debate regarding the city's long-standing issues with double poles and hazardous utility wiring. After hearing testimony from a local resident regarding property damage and safety concerns, the committee approved the grant of location with a specific condition requiring Eversource to perform a formal safety evaluation and submit a written report on the infrastructure conditions of Ivaloo Street.
Meeting Information
- Governing Body: Licenses and Permits Committee
- Meeting Date: March 11, 2026
- Meeting Type: Remote Participation
- Attendees:
- Councilor Emily Hardt (Chair)
- Councilor Lance Davis
- Councilor Ben Wheeler
- Clerk Letelier
- Quorum: Established with all three committee members present.
Approval of Minutes
- Item: Minutes of the Licenses and Permits Committee meeting held on February 25, 2026.
- Action: The minutes were laid on the table and subsequently approved at the conclusion of the meeting.
- Vote Outcome: Approved 3-0 via roll call (Councilors Davis, Wheeler, and Hardt voting in the affirmative).
Grant of Location ID 26-0181: Eversource - Ivaloo Street
- Proposal: Eversource applied for a grant of location to install a total of 62 feet of conduit in Ivaloo Street from utility pole 179/5 to a point of pickup at 38 Ivaloo Street.
- Key Discussion Points:
- Infrastructure Concerns: Chair Hardt and Councilor Wheeler raised concerns regarding the poor condition of poles and hanging wires on Ivaloo Street.
- Utility Precedence: Jackie Duffy (Eversource) explained the "pecking order" for removing double poles, noting that Eversource moves first, followed by cable/TV (RCN/Comcast), and finally Verizon. She identified RCN as the next utility to move on pole 3 and Verizon on pole 6.
- Legislative Context: Councilor Davis noted that under state law, the city has the authority to remove abandoned wires and charge the utilities, though capacity and identification of wire ownership remain challenges.
- Public Comment Summary:
- Chris Dewan (Resident, 26 Ivaloo Street): Summarized a history of complaints dating back to January 2020. He stated that utility lines caused significant damage to local flora: "Eversource's power lines were chafing against [two mature trees], sparking, smoking, and causing damage... the trees subsequently died of their injuries." He requested that the utility be held accountable for maintaining equipment to prevent safety risks.
- Official Action and Conditions:
- The committee moved to approve the license with a specific condition proposed by the resident and Chair Hardt.
- Condition: "Eversource making a formal evaluation of the poles and lines on Ivaloo and submitting a written report of their findings."
- Vote Outcome:
- Vote on Condition: Approved 3-0 (Roll Call: Davis-Yes, Wheeler-Yes, Hardt-Yes).
- Final Vote on Item: Approved as conditioned 3-0 (Roll Call: Davis-Yes, Wheeler-Yes, Hardt-Yes).
Adjournment
- Action: The meeting was adjourned following the conclusion of the scheduled agenda items.
- Vote Outcome: Approved 3-0 via roll call (Councilors Davis, Wheeler, and Hardt voting in the affirmative).