Licenses and Permits Committee — Minutes, Dec 11, 2024

City of Somerville, Massachusetts City Council Licenses and Permits Committee Meeting Minutes 6:00 PM Wednesday, December 11, 2024 The meeting was held via Zoom and was called to order by Chair Burnley at 6:05 PM and adjourned at 7:23 PM on a roll call vote of 3 in favor (Councilor Scott, Councilor Mbah, Councilor Burnley) 0 opposed, and 0 absent. Councilor Mbah arrived at 6:25 PM. Others present: Michael Potere - Licensing Operations Manager, Melissa Ripley - Assistant City Clerk Roll Call City Councilor At Large Willie Burnley Jr., City Councilor At Large Wilfred N. Mbah and Jefferson Thomas (J.T.) Scott Present: 1. Approval of the Minutes of the Licenses & Permits Committee Meeting of October 23, 2024. Committee Minutes (ID # 24-1541) ACCEPTED RESULT: City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr., City Councilor At Large Mbah and Scott AYE: 2. Public Hearing 2.1. New Flammables License, 74M Property Owner, LLC, 74 Middlesex Avenue, storing 6,870 gallons. License (ID # 24-1560) Councilor Burnley opened the Public Hearing. There were no speakers, and Councilor Mbah asked why the applicant was not in attendance. Licensing Operations Manager Potere verified that the applicant was notified. Councilor Burnley closed the Public Hearing. RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED RESULT: City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr., City Councilor At Large Mbah and Scott AYE: 3. Renewing Garage License, Dewire Family Trust, 141 Beacon Street. License (ID # 24-1109) Councilor Burnley expressed support for the application due to the longstanding existence in the city. Councilor Scott shared concerns about the lack of communication from the applicant. Councilor Burnley moved to add a condition to the license: that the family Page 1 of 4

Licenses and Permits Committee Meeting Minutes December 11, 2024 trust keep the property clean and well managed. The motion was approved on a roll call vote of 3 in favor (Scott, Mbah, Burnley). Councilor Burnley noted that the applicant will need to renew the license again in April and will have another opportunity to appear before the Committee. RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS RESULT: City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr., City Councilor At Large Mbah and Scott AYE: 4. Eversource applying for a Grant of Location to install approximately 115 feet of conduit in Medford Street and Warren Street, starting from Utility Pole 228/4 to a point of pickup at 16 Medford Street. Grant of Location (ID # 24-1554) Councilor Scott sponsored the applicants to speak. Jason Wright and Jacqueline Duffy represented and Dave Flewelling represented Comcast. Councilor Scott noted that there is a double polling problem in Somerville, he gave an overview of grants of location requests, which extends service through the public right of way to get to new buildings, new construction, condo buildings and the like, some of which are commercial buildings. The hope for tonight is to have a conversation about how we can work with Eversource, to create a plan and act upon that plan to clean up the double polling concerns. Mr. Wright was asked to submit an electronic version of the double utility pole document into public record as soon as possible. For context, double poles are where two poles are stapled together to secure a broken or failing pole, commonly referred to chunking. Jason Wright confirmed that poles are shared resources, users include Eversource, Comcast, Verizon, RCN, Street lights, and the fire alarm system. When poles are replaced or changed, work orders are entered into NJUNS or the National Joint Utilities Notification System, a database created to facilitate double pole removal - between utilities. Councilor Scott explained his understanding of Eversource's process for removing a pole, once pole is removed, the utility submits a ticket within NJUNS, an alert (NTG, aka ‘next to go’) is sent to the next utility. Further, everything should be entered in NJUNS, so other utilities will know the doubled pole has been removed, if the information is not entered into NJUNS, a phone call is placed to the other utilities. Jason Wright confirmed the NJUNS process is correct. Councilor Scott asked how a lack of communication and data entry into NJUNS can be addressed. Jason Wright responded by saying you have my word, and confirmed they are working to address this issue. Councilor Scott, responded by saying your word is not enough. Councilor Scott noted on the double pole list there is a column labeled Eversource notes. This column says 'ready to go', does this mean this pole is ready to be removed. Jason Wright confirmed that to be correct. Councilor Scott noted there are 15 poles that used to be double poles and now are single poles. Page 2 of 4

Licenses and Permits Committee Meeting Minutes December 11, 2024 Further, he noted only 20% of the double poles in Somerville are in the database. Which means 80% aren’t. Councilor Scott inquired how long ago did Eversource receive from Jesse Moos, of The Somerville Engineering Department, the list of double poles in Somerville. Mr. Wright stated the list was provided to Eversource about 2 months ago. Councilor Scott asked how Eversource will be addressing this list. Councilor Scott thoughts are to recommend this item for approval. Councilor Scott then shifted to the Comcast request. Comcast’s representative, Dave Flewelling - Comcast Construction, uses NJUNS to process pole transfers. Mr. Flewelling noted, they have completed 12 pole transfers and have another 2 slated for completion next week. Councilor Scott moved that representatives from Eversource, Comcast, RCN, and Verizon and any other service providers come before this Council to discuss transfers, pole removals and any other overhead service. The motion was approved on a roll call vote of 3 in favor (Scott, Mbah, Burnley). RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED RESULT: City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr., City Councilor At Large Mbah and Scott AYE: 5. Eversource applying for a Grant of Location to install approximately 4,098 feet of conduit and three new manholes in McGrath Highway, Washington Street, and Joy Street. Grant of Location (ID # 24-1555) See item #24-1554. RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED RESULT: City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr., City Councilor At Large Mbah and Scott AYE: 6. Comcast applying for a Grant of Location to install approximately 43 feet of conduit in Warren Street, starting from Utility Pole 1 to a point of pickup at 16 Medford Street. Grant of Location (ID # 24-1556) See item #24-1554. RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED RESULT: City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr., City Councilor At Large Mbah and Scott AYE: 7. Eversource applying for a Grant of Location to install approximately 65 feet of conduit in Washington Street, from Utility Pole 358/29 to a point of pickup at 192 Washington Street. Grant of Location (ID # 24-1557) See item #24-1554. RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED RESULT: Page 3 of 4

Licenses and Permits Committee Meeting Minutes December 11, 2024 City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr., City Councilor At Large Mbah and Scott AYE: 8. Eversource applying for a Grant of Location to install approximately 53 feet of conduit in Somerville Avenue, from existing Manhole 28941 to an approximate point of pickup at 557 Somerville Avenue. Grant of Location (ID # 24-1558) See item #24-1554. RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED RESULT: City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr., City Councilor At Large Mbah and Scott AYE: 9. Eversource applying for a Grant of Location to install approximately 122 feet of conduit in Laurel Street and Somerville Avenue, from Utility Pole 199/0 to an approximate point of pickup at a proposed handhole at 515 Somerville Avenue. Grant of Location (ID # 24-1559) See item #24-1554. RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROVED RESULT: City Councilor At Large Burnley Jr., City Councilor At Large Mbah and Scott AYE: Referenced Documents: • L&P - 2024-12-11 Double Utility Poles Somerville Page 4 of 4