Council grants some National Grid petitions, rejects one; renews licenses and confirms appointees

Everett City Council on March 1 handled a string of petitions and administrative orders, approving some permits and license renewals while sending larger-budget items to committee or special meetings.

On utility work, the council granted a National Grid petition to install underground conduit at 14 Baldwin Avenue to power new street lights at Wasket Playground after a public hearing and discussion of sidewalk restoration. The motion for favorable action passed on roll-call 7–3; dissenting councilors cited unrelated concerns but the council approved the permit. A separate National Grid petition for temporary service at 380 Second Street (to a customer-owned manhole tied to a development) failed on a 5–5 tie after residents raised concerns about repeated street digging and pavement restoration. Later in the meeting, the council approved a petition for conduit at 33 Mystic Street (linked to an Encore parking garage) by roll-call 6–3 while asking National Grid to answer outstanding questions about circuit upgrades at nearby Glendale Towers.

The council also handled several administrative items in grouped votes. It renewed three hospitality licenses (Prescott House lodging, Bridal and Main Hotel innholder license, and an extended-hours license for Loved Hot Dog Buffet) by a combined 9–0 vote. Reappointments to the Zoning Board of Appeals for Rebecca Edmondson Coram and Derek Shuster were approved 9–0. Separately, appointments to the Board of Assessors and the Board of Health were confirmed (items 19 and 20) by roll-call 9–1.

On finances and operations, the council approved an order to appropriate $115,000 from free cash to the Fire Department (50,000 for equipment maintenance; 65,000 for BLS operating funds) by roll-call 10–0. A separate proposal to borrow $1,140,000 for improvements at the old Everett High School was not decided that night; items related to the school were referred to a special meeting scheduled for March 7 for fuller review.

Several items were referred to committees for follow-up (e.g., an Equiter five-year dispatch contract to Ways & Means) and others postponed to future meetings. The council repeatedly emphasized that contractors must fully restore streets and sidewalks after conduit installations and requested follow-up from National Grid on outstanding neighborhood issues.