Licenses and Permits Committee

Meeting Date: December 10, 2025, at 12:00 AM Governing Body: City of Somerville, MA, Licenses and Permits Committee Meeting Type: Regular Meeting Attendees:

• Councilor Willie Burnley Jr. (Chair)
• Councilor Lance Davis
• Councilor Jesse Clingan
• Clerk (unnamed)
• Dave Flewelling (Comcast)
• Lisa White (Resident, 4 Houghton Street)
• Jackie Duffy (Eversource)
• Tyler Barbosa (Resident, Grandson of Maria Vicente)
• Alina Vicente (Resident, Daughter of Maria Vicente)
• Matthew Penny (Resident, 19 Warwick Street)

Executive Summary: The Licenses and Permits Committee convened for its regular December meeting. Key discussions included a grant of location for Comcast to install conduit on Houghton Street, which was approved with a commitment from Comcast to address resident concerns. A grant of location for Eversource on Vernon Street was approved with conditions to ensure no encroachment on abutting properties and a mandatory meeting with abutters. Finally, a grant of location for Eversource on Warwick Street was held in committee to allow for further investigation into conduit usage and to address resident questions.

• Discussion: No discussion occurred.
• Vote:
  • Councilor Davis: Yes
  • Councilor Clingan: Yes
  • Councilor Burnley: Yes
• Outcome: Approved (3-0-0)

• Applicant Presentation:
  • Dave Flewelling, Comcast, 9 Forbes Road, Revere, MA, presented the petition to place 49 feet of conduit to provide service to 121 Prospect Street.
  • He stated that the utility pole on Houghton Street is the closest entry point, minimizing excavation.
• Public Comment:
  • Lisa White, 4 Houghton Street, raised concerns on behalf of Mary Moreno (homeowner).
    • Key Points:
      • The utility pole in front of her house has numerous loose, cut wires.
      • Houghton Street has been frequently dug up (approx. 25 times in 10 years) due to a 36-inch gas main.
      • Eversource repaved the street in October; digging it up again could cause water flow issues to catch basins.
      • Questioned why connection couldn't be made from Prospect Street, where the building is located.
      • Expressed concern about the impact of servicing 32 units on the existing "messy" pole and potential for a large transformer box.
      • Asked about street closure duration, depth of excavation to avoid the gas main, and repaving.
    • Direct Quote: "Our objection to you digging a trench on Houghton Street is that our street has been dug up I can't even count how many times probably 25 times in the last 10 years there's a 36 inch gas main that runs the length of Houghton Street."
• Comcast Response to Public Comment:
  • Mr. Flewelling clarified that while there is conduit on Prospect Street, it's not in close proximity for this building, making Houghton Street the shortest and most efficient path.
  • He stated the excavation is only 49 feet, will be done in one day, and will not affect flooding.
  • The installation involves one 4-inch conduit with a 3/4-inch cable connecting to the existing Comcast plant.
  • He offered to look into cleaning up Comcast wires on the pole and to coordinate with other utilities for a comprehensive cleanup.
  • The street will remain open to traffic, and a temporary patch will be installed the same day, with permanent concrete replacement for any sidewalk impact.
  • Work would likely begin around April 15th, after the winter moratorium.
• Council Discussion:
  • Councilor Burnley Jr. inquired about sidewalk impact and the possibility of diverting pedestrian traffic.
  • Councilor Davis confirmed that the current plan does not show existing Comcast service to the parcel.
  • The committee acknowledged the spirit of cooperation from both residents and Comcast.
• Motion: Councilor Burnley Jr. moved to approve the grant of location as presented, noting that if the process does not meet discussed standards, the next council could revisit the permit.
• Vote:
  • Councilor Davis: Yes
  • Councilor Clingan: Yes
  • Councilor Burnley: Aye
• Outcome: Recommended for approval (3-0-0)

• Applicant Presentation:
  • Jackie Duffy, Eversource, presented the petition to install 48 feet of conduit to supply electric service to 70 Vernon Street.
• Public Comment:
  • Tyler Barbosa, grandson of Maria Vicente, and Alina Vicente, daughter of Maria Vicente, spoke on behalf of Maria Vicente, resident of 74 Vernon Street (abutting property).
    • Key Points:
      • Neighbors at 70 Vernon Street had previously attempted to encroach on their property for utility installation.
      • They have repeatedly refused permission for any work on their property.
      • Expressed concern about emotional distress, destruction of plants, and financial burden of repairs.
      • Stated there is sufficient space on the front and back of 70 Vernon Street for electricity installation without encroaching on 74 Vernon Street.
      • Believed the grant of location was being used as a "fear tactic."
    • Direct Quote (Tyler Barbosa): "My grandma has worked at Gillette, helplessly, for days to earn this money. is causing emotional turmoil for them to impede on our property and using a grant of location as a fear tactic to impose."
    • Direct Quote (Alina Vicente): "Yes, they should not be in our property whatsoever."
• Eversource Response to Public Comment:
  • Ms. Duffy stated that current plans do not show any encroachment on 74 Vernon Street's property. The handhold is planned for 2 feet onto the customer's (70 Vernon Street) property.
  • She acknowledged prior disagreements between the neighbors.
  • Ms. Duffy offered to investigate if the installation could be moved slightly to further distance it from the property line and agreed to a stipulation that Eversource would not go near 74 Vernon Street's property.
• Council Discussion:
  • Councilor Burnley Jr. sought clarification on whether Eversource could supply power without impacting abutting properties.
  • Councilor Davis noted that the plan before the council did not show encroachment and that private property disputes were outside the council's authority. He supported a condition to prevent crossing property lines.
  • Mr. Barbosa requested to see documentation of the proposed line. Ms. Duffy displayed a map showing the proposed conduit path, which appeared close to the property line.
• Motion to Condition the Grant of Location: Councilor Burnley Jr. moved to condition the grant of location with two stipulations:
  1. The conduit shall not cross onto any abutting properties.
  2. Eversource shall meet with the abutters (the Barbosas/Vicentes) prior to installation to ensure the property line boundary is respected and enforced.
• Vote on Conditions:
  • Councilor Davis: Yes
  • Councilor Clingan: Yes
  • Councilor Burnley: Aye
• Outcome: Conditions approved (3-0-0)
• Motion to Approve as Conditioned: Councilor Burnley Jr. moved to approve the grant of location as conditioned.
• Vote on Approval:
  • Councilor Davis: Yes
  • Councilor Clingan: Yes
  • Councilor Burnley: Aye
• Outcome: Recommended for approval as conditioned (3-0-0)
• Note: Work is not expected to begin until April due to the winter moratorium, allowing time for property line discussions.

• Applicant Presentation:
  • Jackie Duffy, Eversource, confirmed this installation is for an accessory dwelling unit at 16 Warwick Street.
• Public Comment:
  • Matthew Penny, 19 Warwick Street, raised concerns.
    • Key Points:
      • There are already three conduits on the pole, with two empty.
      • He questioned why Eversource would not use the existing empty conduits instead of adding new ones.
      • He was informed by Eversource (Trish) that the empty conduits belonged to other utilities.
      • Expressed frustration at not receiving clear answers from Eversource despite his efforts.
    • Direct Quote: "I don't know what, there's already three conduits on that. There's two empty conduits on the poll, as it is. I don't understand if they are going to use those empty conduits for the power or are they going to try to add more conduits?"
• Eversource Response to Public Comment:
  • Ms. Duffy stated she has sent numerous emails to her division to determine if the two spare conduits can be used or if a new one will be installed. She has not yet received an answer.
  • She noted that Cambridge allows four rises on a pole, and she is unsure of Somerville's limit.
  • She suggested tabling the item to allow time to resolve the conduit usage question.
• Council Discussion:
  • Councilor Burnley Jr. acknowledged Mr. Penny's unanswered questions and the potential for tabling the item.
  • Councilor Davis supported holding the item in committee until more information is available, especially since work won't start until April.
  • The Clerk confirmed that the item would remain in committee and would not need to be resubmitted.
  • Councilor Clingan agreed with keeping the item in committee to ensure residents' questions are answered.
• Outcome: The item was held in committee for further investigation and resolution of Mr. Penny's questions regarding conduit usage.
• Final Comment (Matthew Penny): "I'd like to thank the committee for taking it up. And I'd also like to say I don't have any issue with them cutting the street. and I hope that the conduit issue can be resolved I don't want to in any way slow down the project or have any objection to it. It's just that I think it could be the poll issue, I think, can be resolved. And it just needs a little more time."

• Motion: Councilor Davis moved to adjourn the meeting.
• Vote:
  • Councilor Davis: Yes
  • Councilor Clingan: Yes
  • Councilor Burnley: Aye
• Outcome: Adjourned (3-0-0)