Meeting colors

OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

License and Permits Committee Meeting - December 10, 2025

Meeting Portal — Wednesday, December 10, 2025

BodySomerville, Massachusetts

SessionMeeting Portal

DateWednesday, December 10, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 49:01

Transcript — VerbatimClick a line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:08

Wonderful.

0:09

Some camera issues.

0:11

Hello, everybody.

0:13

This is Councilor Willie Burnley Jr.

0:16

Uh Chair of the License of the Permits Committee meeting for our regular December meeting of 2025.

0:24

And pursuant to chapter two of the acts of 2025, this meeting of a city council committee will be conducted via remote participation.

0:31

We will post an audio recording, audio video recording, transcript, or other comprehensive record of these pursuits as soon as possible after the meeting of the city of Centerville website and local cable access government channels.

0:42

Clerk, can you please call the role to establish quorum?

0:48

Mrs.

0:48

Roll Call, Counselor Davis.

0:50

Here Councilor Klingon.

0:52

Present.

0:53

Councilor Burnley.

0:54

Present.

0:55

With three counselors present, we have a quorum.

0:59

Great.

1:00

And we have a short agenda in front of us with uh meeting minutes to take up and three grants of location, I believe.

1:12

Uh and just for everyone's awareness, we have already had public hearings on all of these items.

1:18

Uh so we will not be entering a public hearing, but I do plan to sponsor members of the public and representatives of the applications to speak to uh concerns that have come up.

1:30

Uh but before that, Clerk, can we take up the minutes?

1:40

Absolutely.

1:41

Item number one is approval of the minutes of the licenses and permits committee meeting of November 12th, 2025.

1:48

On that item, Counselor Davis.

1:50

Yes.

1:50

Counselor Klingon.

1:51

Yes.

1:52

Counselor Brunley.

1:53

Yes.

1:54

With all counselors in favor, that item is approved.

1:58

Great.

1:59

And I saw no discussion on the item.

2:01

Sweet clear.

2:03

All right.

2:04

We're going to take this in order.

2:06

Um so first we have a granted location from Comcast.

2:11

Uh trying to install 49 feet of conduit in Houghton Street.

2:16

Uh to a pickup at 121 Prospect.

2:22

I know that there has been uh members of the public who've been meaning to speak to this item, but first I'd like to hear from Comcast.

2:31

If a representative from Comcast is here, can you please uh press the raised hand?

2:36

Thank you, and then introduce yourself.

2:39

Uh and why explain why this uh pickup is needed, and particularly uh why on Houghton when it's going to prospect.

2:59

And you unmute.

3:01

Okay, sorry about that.

3:02

Um Dave for Walling, Comcast, Nine Forbes Road, Wuben, Massachusetts.

3:06

Um would like to speak in favor of the Comcast petition to place 49 feet of conduit for the purpose of providing the Comcast service, the number 121 Prospect Street.

3:17

Um we're coming off of a utility poll on Houghton Street.

3:21

That is the closest point to the building, and therefore that's why we're proposing to excavate on Houghton Street.

3:32

Thank you.

3:32

And I know there is at least one member of the public here who's wants to speak to this, uh, Miss White.

3:38

Uh, but before I uh let her jump in with these concerns, I just want to ask the basic question.

3:46

Um would this be possible to do from prospect?

3:51

And if so, would that create any issues from Comcast side?

3:56

It'd be more there'd be more excavation work uh to come in from Prospect Street.

4:04

All right.

4:05

Uh with that context, uh yes, Counselor Davis.

4:15

Counselor, you are muted.

4:19

Sorry, thank you very much, Mr.

4:21

Chair.

4:21

Uh if I if you don't mind, I I'd love through you to Mr.

4:25

Flower, just to ask for a little uh to expand that a bit because it it appears that the power is currently coming into that lot on Prospect Street.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Licenses And Permits█████████████████████████████████████████████64%

Procedural█████████████18%

Public Safety███████10%

Public Engagement██████8%

Summary of Proceedings

License and Permits Committee Meeting - December 10, 2025

The City Council's License and Permits Committee convened via remote participation to review three permit applications for utility infrastructure installations and discuss public concerns regarding property access, construction timelines, and utility pole capacity. While the Committee proceeded with approval processes for Comcast and EverSource projects following public testimony, a significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to deliberating conditions to address resident concerns about excavation impacts and property line disputes.

Consent Calendar

Approved the minutes from the November 12, 2025, meeting unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

Lisa White and Mary Moreno (Abutters on Houghton Street): Expressed strong opposition to Comcast's plan to install conduit on Houghton Street directly in front of their homes. They cited a history of excessive street excavations (approx. 25 times in 10 years), concerns regarding a 36-inch gas main, fears of water flow issues, and the presence of a damaged utility pole with loose wires. They requested that the connection be routed via Prospect Street instead.
Tyler Barbosa and Alina Vassanti (Abutters to 70 Vernon Street): Expressed opposition and distress regarding EverSource's plan, characterizing the company's actions as using "fear tactics" to encroach on their property. They objected to any installation crossing their property line, citing emotional trauma due to their grandfather's passing and physical damage to a recently repaired yard. They advocated for using existing space on the 70 Vernon property front and back rather than crossing the fence.
Matthew Penny (Abutter at 19 Warwick Street): Expressed concern and confusion regarding the existing utility pole at 16 Warwick Street. He questioned the necessity of adding new conduits when two empty conduits are already available on the pole and requested clarification on whether the unused conduits would be utilized before any new installation occurs.

Discussion Items

Comcast Conduit Installation (Houghton St.): Comcast representative Dave Flewelling stated that the Houghton Street entry point was chosen as the closest utility pole to minimize excavation distance compared to the Prospect Street option. Responded to concerns regarding sidewalk impact, gas lines, and timeline, confirming a one-day excavation window with street and sidewalk closure limited to that single day, pending an engineering permit to overcome the winter moratorium.
EverSource Conduit Installation (Vernon St.): Representatives discussed a dispute with neighbors regarding the 48-foot conduit run. Clarified that the current plans do not show the line crossing onto property 74, but the Committee emphasized the need to prevent any encroachment. Agreed to add specific conditions requiring EverSource to meet with abutters prior to installation to strictly enforce property lines.
EverSource Conduit Installation (Warwick St.): The Committee discussed the unresolved status of the pole's conduit usage. Acknowledged that the specific answer regarding the use of existing spare conduits versus adding new ones could not be provided during the meeting and considered the lack of information a barrier to immediate approval despite the project being stalled by the winter moratorium.

Key Outcomes

Comcast Grant of Location (Item 2): Recommended for approval with the understanding that work will be delayed until April 15, 2026, following the winter moratorium. The Committee noted that any failure to adhere to the discussed one-day timeline could result in a re-evaluation by the next council.
EverSource Grant of Location (Item 3 - 70 Vernon St.): Recommended for approval subject to two strict conditions:
1. The installation must not cross onto any abutting properties.
2. EverSource must meet with abutters prior to installation to verify and enforce property line boundaries.
- Vote: 3-0 (Davis: Aye, Klingon: Aye, Burnley: Aye).
EverSource Grant of Location (Item 4 - 16 Warwick St.): Delayed and kept in committee until clarification is received from the EverSource division regarding the usage of existing spare conduits versus the installation of new ones. The item will not be resubmitted but will remain pending.
Meeting Adjournment: The committee adjourned unanimously at the conclusion of the deliberations.

Meeting Transcript

Wonderful. Some camera issues. Hello, everybody. This is Councilor Willie Burnley Jr. Uh Chair of the License of the Permits Committee meeting for our regular December meeting of 2025. And pursuant to chapter two of the acts of 2025, this meeting of a city council committee will be conducted via remote participation. We will post an audio recording, audio video recording, transcript, or other comprehensive record of these pursuits as soon as possible after the meeting of the city of Centerville website and local cable access government channels. Clerk, can you please call the role to establish quorum? Mrs. Roll Call, Counselor Davis. Here Councilor Klingon. Present. Councilor Burnley. Present. With three counselors present, we have a quorum. Great. And we have a short agenda in front of us with uh meeting minutes to take up and three grants of location, I believe. Uh and just for everyone's awareness, we have already had public hearings on all of these items. Uh so we will not be entering a public hearing, but I do plan to sponsor members of the public and representatives of the applications to speak to uh concerns that have come up. Uh but before that, Clerk, can we take up the minutes? Absolutely. Item number one is approval of the minutes of the licenses and permits committee meeting of November 12th, 2025. On that item, Counselor Davis. Yes. Counselor Klingon. Yes. Counselor Brunley. Yes. With all counselors in favor, that item is approved. Great. And I saw no discussion on the item. Sweet clear. All right. We're going to take this in order. Um so first we have a granted location from Comcast. Uh trying to install 49 feet of conduit in Houghton Street. Uh to a pickup at 121 Prospect. I know that there has been uh members of the public who've been meaning to speak to this item, but first I'd like to hear from Comcast. If a representative from Comcast is here, can you please uh press the raised hand? Thank you, and then introduce yourself. Uh and why explain why this uh pickup is needed, and particularly uh why on Houghton when it's going to prospect. And you unmute. Okay, sorry about that. Um Dave for Walling, Comcast, Nine Forbes Road, Wuben, Massachusetts. Um would like to speak in favor of the Comcast petition to place 49 feet of conduit for the purpose of providing the Comcast service, the number 121 Prospect Street. Um we're coming off of a utility poll on Houghton Street. That is the closest point to the building, and therefore that's why we're proposing to excavate on Houghton Street. Thank you. And I know there is at least one member of the public here who's wants to speak to this, uh, Miss White. Uh, but before I uh let her jump in with these concerns, I just want to ask the basic question.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI

TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com