Residents press National Grid on pole and push‑brace plans; council seeks neighborhood meeting

At a public hearing before the public service committee, Matthew McDonald of National Grid described two separate grant‑of‑location requests: petition 27‑26 to install a push‑brace near Pole 70 on Pleasant Street and petition 28‑26 to install three jointly owned poles on Jungle Road. McDonald said the Pleasant Street work responds to a rotted tree supporting a brace on the pole and that the Jungle Road work would support a temporary construction service that may later become permanent.

Residents who live on Pleasant Street objected to the proposed placement and to the visual impact of additional equipment. Susan Evers (544 Pleasant St.) said she has lived at her address for decades and that existing poles and attached equipment already impact her view and yard; she told the committee, “I don't want it there,” and asked for a clearer plan showing exact positions. Scott Wood (547 Pleasant St.) said the tree in question is failing and that residents had not received a clear plan in advance.

Councilors and committee members urged National Grid to meet with affected residents to find an acceptable solution and to provide plan copies. Chair Carrie Noseworthy said she would collect resident contact information and asked National Grid to coordinate with the city clerk. National Grid agreed to follow up; the Pleasant Street petition was paused to allow a neighborhood meeting and further clarification, while the Jungle Road petition was recommended for approval contingent on outstanding issues relating to another National Grid petition (and a previously removed tree that had blocked sidewalk work). The DPW sent a written comment approving the petitions but noted that sidewalk work on a separate petition (Lancaster Street) delayed ADA‑compliant sidewalk completion until the tree removal was finished.

Next steps: National Grid will be asked to meet with residents and to provide plan materials to the city clerk; the council set a follow‑up schedule and continued Pleasant Street for further time.