Hello, good evening.

I'm Emily Hart, City Councillor for Ward 7 in Somerville.

Welcome to the February 25th meeting of the licenses and permits committee.

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

We'll post an audio recording, audio video recording, transcript, or other comprehensive record of these proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting on the City of Somerville website and local cable access government channels.

Thank you.

And we're joined tonight by uh Clerk Potier.

And if you could call the roll.

Absolutely.

This is roll call, Counselor Davis.

Here.

Counselor Wheeler.

Here, Chair Hart.

Here.

You have a quorum.

Okay, thank you.

We have a uh just a few items on the agenda tonight.

Um the first one is approval of the minutes of the licenses and permits committee meeting of February 11th.

Are there any is there any discussion or question on that item?

Okay.

Um seeing none, we'll lay lay that on the table for approval later.

The second item is a public hearing.

Um this is an item that we did discuss at the last meeting, but was not noticed properly for a public hearing.

So um I'll go ahead and read the item and then open the public hearing.

Uh this is uh new used car dealer class two license, USA Auto Hub 61 Prospect Street, 15 vehicles outside, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.

to 7 p.m.

Saturday, 9 a.m.

to 3 p.m.

and Sunday closed.

Um before I open the public hearing counselors, do you have any um thing to discuss on this?

No, excited for this.

All right.

I declare this public hearing open.

Is there anyone in attendance who is interested to speak on this item?

Please just raise your electronic hand, if so.

Seeing no hands, manager.

Okay.

Thank you.

Maybe we'll wait just another second.

Um if there's still no um hands, then I declare this public meeting closed.

And um move that we recommend, but we refer this for recommendation.

And we can lay that on the table as well for later, I believe.

That's recommended.

Thank you.

Uh so moving on to the third item.

Um, this is Eversource applying for a grant of location to install a total of 25 feet of conduit in Oak Street from utility poll 258 over two to a point of pickup at 10 oak street.

And I would like to take this up in conjunction with item five, which is also a grant of location.

Ever source applying for a grant of location to install a total of 75 feet of conduit in Prospect Street from utility poll 291 over 12 to a point of pickup at 91 Prospect Street.

Um before uh I'm if there is there anyone here who's interested to speak on this item.

Madam Chair, through you, I do see the applicant with their hand raised.

You are unmuted from our end.

Wonderful, great.

Welcome, Jacqueline Duffy from Eversource.

How are you tonight?

Good.

How are you?

I'm excellent.

Thank you.

Um, this we don't have any answers for because it it's I guess counselor Scott wanted to say the same owner owns the property, and it's been immense problems over the years, and it claims that they're under construction, but there is no issued building permits.

We uh we have nothing to do with the building permits, so I have no answers for you on this part on our end.

Okay, all right.

Um my inclination would be to keep these keep keep them in committee until um there is a permit file, a building permit filed with the city.

Um, you know, we don't dig up the streets, you know, if there's no active, you know, construction going on and building that is the electricity is needed for.

And how would we know when they get the building permit?

Would someone tell us or um I imagine the applicant who's requesting the service could notify you?

Okay, perfect.

Uh counselor Wheeler and Counselor Davis, do you have any questions or anything to add on this?

Through the chair, I'm just you know curious as part of uh my education of uh how these city systems work.

Um if there's no building permit for these uh were the hookups that are involved in these um initiated in a a previous phase of this developer's plan that then they've moved away from how did we get to this point the um the owner contacts us saying that they're going to build and that they need electricity, so we get it the ball rolling as soon as we get the application going, and we don't know what the owner is doing on their end as far as building permits or anything.

So we get it going because sometimes it can take months for us to get on to the um the docket to have the hearing heard.

So that's why it's up here now without a building permit.

Thank you for that.

Uh Stephanie.

And uh also just to be clear, I I see just by looking on the map that 10 Oak Street and 91 Prospect Street, um that that seemed to be linked, those are sort of opposite sides of the same block.

The the 38 evolution is that in the same situation or or with this uh okay, we're only talking about items three and five, not item four being thank you.

That's correct.

That is correct, yes.

Yes.

Okay.

Um so we are in a slightly different situation with both of these though, because um item three, we held a public hearing for at the last city council meeting.

Um, but item five, there was no public hearing.

So um my um what I would like to do is to um keep number three, item 26-0177 in committee and discharge with no recommendation, item five, 26-0185 to the city council meeting for a public hearing.

And then we can bring it back to the committee at that point um until we have further information about these two properties.

Okay.

I can put a note on both of these work orders that no work is to be done because of the building permits.

We have like a log and people go in and look and see where it is.

Um you know, progressing.

So I can put a note on both of them saying no work is to be done until a building permit is issued.

Thank you.

That's excellent.

And counselor Davis, yes.

Um yeah, thank you, man, Chair.

Um, and I'm just sort of thinking timing-wise, we actually actually maybe an opportunity to um to to ask this uh tomorrow night because the item that we're discharging with assuming that it's the the vote of this committee to do so, um would it would put that item then before the council um as you noted so that we can then properly notice a public hearing um and have it on it.

Um but I I I think I'd I'd like to have a better sense of the ward counselor's concerns and sort of what the ward counselor is looking for as a you know as an outcome here.

Um so perhaps we could we could ask that that question of the ward council whether that whether that you know happens tomorrow night at the council meeting or or um you know, or just prior to our our next conversation if this is gonna go back to committee.

Um otherwise I'm not not quite sure.

You know, we're seeing that we're kind of going around we might end up going around in circles a little bit, but um I just interrupt one second.

Um Lance, you are right because um it says on here that JT said that there's been an immense problem over the years, so it's not just the building permit.

This is what I'm taking from what's written here.

Yes, so it's more than just the building permit.

So Lance, you're right.

Uh maybe JT can talk about more.

I'm happy to provide more background as well.

Um, but also to clarify, I don't think it's gonna be able to be heard tomorrow night because of notice because there wasn't proper notice.

I believe it will be the following.

So on that, madam chair, if I may.

So the the item itself will be properly before the city council tomorrow night if if we if we vote to discharge it.

We couldn't take an action on it because as you noted that we we need to have that public hearing.

But I was just pointing out because it's there that if further clarification from the ward counselor is is needed or wanted, that that would be an opportunity to hear that.

Although, you know, we certainly could, as I said, just could do it in otherwise as well.

Um and and I'll just note to um to Miss Duffy's um uh you know statement there.

I think we also just need to make sure that we're we're aware of um and sort of conscious of what this as it as you know as the licensing body, what we can and and maybe can't consider in terms of the application before us.

So um, you know, perhaps the the clerk's office and or law could give us some some guidance there in sort of connection with what you know what what the ward counselor might be looking for as an outcome.

Um but I think certainly obviously we have we have to hold off until the public hearing happens.

Um and so you know, let's let's get a little more.

I I would like to get a little more clarification and and make sure that we then have some guidance on what you know what we could what we can and can't consider and whether or not to say yes or no to the two grants of location that are before us.

Okay, thanks so much for for clarifying that.

Um uh counselor Scott was going to drop by if he was available tonight.

So I'll just check in briefly to make sure that he's not here, Clerk Potier.

Madam Chair through you, I do not see counselor Scott in the attendees list right now.

Okay, excellent.

Excellent.

Yes, I'm more than happy to um hear from him more tomorrow.

Um that makes sense.

Um I did you know, looking through the application, um it looks like you know, for the grant of location that we have, it looks like the point of pickup is just shown as like right at the edge at the property line.

Um, and I did see um at least one of these properties listed for sale that like recently uh went up for sale, like within the past week.

So it does appear that there's um there's movement, um, but that you know that that just uh confirmed for me that there's not a plan, you know, uh there doesn't seem to be uh plans for a building that have been approved um in the city, which okay.

Any other comments?

Yeah, stuffy.

No, I don't have anything.

Okay.

Anything else committee members.

Okay.

Um so we vote on uh well, we could um should do we vote on these now, Clerk Potier or Madam Chair Three.

That would be within your discretion as the other items on the table are for approval.

You may want to take number five on its own um to be referred without recommendation if you'd like.

Yeah, that sounds great.

On item five to be referred with no recommendation back to the city council.

Counselor Davis.

Yes.

Counselor Wheeler.

Yes, Chair Hart.

Yes.

That item will be referred back to the city council without recommendation.

Thank you.

Great.

Um, so now back to number four grant of location.

Um, this is ever source applying for a grant of location to install a total of 62 feet of conduit in Ivalu Street from utility poll 179 over five to a point of pickup at 38 Ivalu Street.

Um, so this we did hold the public hearing at the previous city council meeting.

Um, and there were concerns raised um by a resident.

Um so I'll just note um and I I went to look at the situation and saw you know the issues that the resident was talking about with double, it's a very short street.

There's a double poll at the beginning of the street, a double poll at the end of the street, and then in the middle, quite a lot of wires, wires hanging on tree branches that look like they're um you know, perhaps not great for the tree.

Um as well.

So wanted to discuss that with you, um, Miss Duffy and also other counts, you know, um counselor wheeler and counselor Davis.

If you have anything to add or ask right now, feel free.

Um I went out there yesterday and looked at it and I took pictures.

I sent it to our overhead crew, but most of them are all down the cape.

As you know, we have significant out of outages down there.

And I sent it and he said the supervisor told me that on the one with the double pole, we are off of the old pole.

So we're waiting for transfers from the other utilities to come off.

Okay.

The other two poles, in my opinion, I think they need to be replaced.

And the why is like, you know, because it's they're leaning and they look like they're all polls.

That's my opinion.

I'm not an overhead person.

So I'm just waiting for them to come back um from the Cape, so I can get a definite answer on it.

But yes, I do see the concern.

Okay, excellent.

Thank you so much for for reaching out and and taking a look and finding out that information.

I will note the other double poll I saw is on Harrison, um, but right at the end of I Baloo at that intersection.

I don't know if you happen to see that one as well.

Uh, I don't know if I saw that one.

I'll have to go back and look.

Okay, thank you so much.

Yep.

Um counselors, any discussion questions.

I just appreciate Chair Hart and Ms.

Duffy, um, both of you uh taking this residence concerns seriously.

And uh, you know, as you know, we we all want there to be flexibility for for EverSource and for all of our utilities um to you know to be able to add on and add wires and and add pipes where necessary.

And uh as uh counselor Davis pointed out at a previous meeting, there is a point where we want to make sure we're not just tanking uh elements on indefinitely, and especially when we're talking about double poles.

Um hopefully that is something that is treated as a temporary measure where um where we are coming back and expecting to consolidate to move to a single strong pole that's not about to fall down.

Um, you know, for the sake of the the street, it's trees and it's residents.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, so um, like I said, I really appreciate you, Miss Duffy, for um doing that work ahead of time.

And given that there is more information that needs to be uh figured out.

I would like to keep this in committee as well until we have kind of a better idea of what the scope of um you know the you know conditions are for approval.

Um so that is my recommendation.

Any discussion on that through the chair, if I may.

Um, I am curious about uh when there is a situation where, for example, you know, we're hoping that uh a double pole gets replaced.

Is that something where the burden is going to fall on whichever property owner was initiating the the desire for this conduit?

Uh do they end up sort of holding the bag, so to speak, and having to suffer uh for the weight.

Where does the urgency come on the part of ever source or whoever is going to do the replacement?

That that double pole is up the top of the street.

Um and the work is being done down the end of the street.

So I mean, we could do the work for that customer.

I think I think it said with the stipulation that we get rid of the double pole.

Um there is a new pole up there, but it's just hooked on right now, it's braced.

So we just have to get the other utilities off of that.

So it is holding up that customer.

I think it's at 30, or no, is it 26?

26.

Nope, 26 is the one that complained.

I'm sorry.

30 38, I believe.

38, yeah.

So that's down the end of the street.

So we could hook up that customer.

Um, because it's going underground.

And with the stipulation that we do change those poles, change at least that double pole, because I said that the other two needed to be looked at.

But it's up to you what you want to do.

Thank you.

Um, do you know, Miss Duffy, if this is a new construction or like are are people living in at the It looked like it was an upgrade when I rode by today?

It was kind of I mean, yesterday it was kind of tough with the snow, but it looks like it's an upgrade.

Let's see what it has on.

Yeah, hold on one second.

Just to provide electric service 38.

So it's an existing house, but I think it's just being like rehaps.

Yes.

I mean, I certainly don't want to make someone um who, you know, if there is someone living there, you know, make them wait uh for the service.

Um, at the same time, you know, I'm a little hesitant to approve this without um, you know, to allow the work to be done before the fixes are are in place.

Um we could my hesitation in going ahead and just approving it uh with conditions that will be done later, is that we don't exactly know um the scope of of what the what being fixed means in this situation, um, because like you explained, Miss Duffy, the there are you know you have to wait on the other utilities for the poll.

Do you know for those lines that are draping through the tree?

Do you know if those are ever source lines?

I don't know.

The the the lowest ones uh cable, cable and um internet and verizon that we're at the top of the poll.

Okay, but there are a lot, there are a lot of wires when I went by.

Um and then there's the issue of the other of the other double poll um on Harrison, right?

So um so are we gonna add that one into the stipulation for this one for Ivalu?

Yes, I would like to include that as well, because it it is basically on that street being in the intersection.

Thank you.

Um I think I would still rather wait and keep this in committee for now, if that unless you know, uh Counselor Davis or Counselor Wheeler, you object to that idea.

I'd be interested to hear sounds like a good idea.

Okay, thank you.

All right, so um I don't need a motion or anything, I believe, to keep that in committee.

So I think we're done with that item.

Is that correct, Clerk Potter?

Madam Chair through you, that is correct.

Okay, all right.

Uh thank you, everyone.

Thank you, Miss Duffy.

Really appreciate it.

Uh you're welcome.

Have a good night.

Be safe, everyone.

Thank you, you too.

So we can now take a vote on the items that were laid on a t on the table.

Absolutely, madam chair.

The items on the table are acceptance of the committee meeting minutes from February 11th and the public hearing that was held on item two.

Counselor Davis.

Yes, Councillor Wheeler.

Yes, Chair Hart.

Yes.

The minutes are accepted, and the item is recommended to be approved.

Excellent.

Thank you.

I appreciate it.

Um, and just one thing I wanted to check, Clerk Potier before we end.

Did I close the public meeting on item two?

Madam Chair, through you, you absolutely did at 6.03 p.m.

Sorry, just wanted to check to make sure I had to skip it.

Okay.

All right.

So that's the end of our meeting.

Thank you, everyone.

Appreciate it.

Madam Chair, on adjournment.

What if you like me to take a roll call vote?

Yes, please.

Absolutely.

On adjournment, counselor Davis.

Yes.

Counselor Wheeler.

Yes.

Chair Hart.

Yes.

The committee is adjourned.

Thank you.

Good night, everybody.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Clerk.