National Grid petition for Pleasant Street pole continued to March 9 after neighbor concerns

The Leominster City Council’s Public Service Committee continued a public hearing on Petition 27‑26, a request by Massachusetts Electric Company (doing business as National Grid) and Verizon New England Inc. to install a jointly owned pole and associated fixtures on Pleasant Street.

National Grid representative Matthew McDonald told the committee the company met with abutters and the city’s construction department and is reviewing design alternatives. He said both abutters expressed opposition to a push‑brace at the location shown in the filing and that the designer is awaiting confirmation from one resident before finalizing placement. "Neither of them wanted a push brace or a pole," McDonald said, describing efforts to find an alternative that balances abutter concerns and system reliability.

Committee members debated whether to give the utility leave to withdraw and refile or to grant additional time to reach an agreement. Several councilors, including the ward representative, favored a continuance so the company and neighbors can finalize a plan; councilors noted that requiring a withdrawal and refile would restart a lengthy process. The chair said that if a redesign is substantially different from the original petition, National Grid would need to refile, but if modifications are close to the petition the council could proceed without a new public hearing.

The committee recorded a vote granting further time (the transcript records a 7–0 vote) and scheduled the petition to return on March 9 for follow-up. The council instructed National Grid to contact the clerk with any resolution prior to that date. No final order or approval was adopted; the matter remains pending.