Licenses and Permits Committee – May 13, 2026

Items Recommended for Full Council

Eversource Grant of Location – Kent Street and Somerville Avenue – Recommended 3-0 with conditions

The committee recommended approval of Eversource's application to install 318 feet of underground conduit running from existing Manhole 14831 to a point of pickup at 22 Kent Street, plus additional conduit connecting Manhole 14831 to existing Manhole 8634. The approval was conditioned on Eversource repairing the dangerously leaning Pole 191/0 located at the corner of Somerville Avenue and Kent Street.

Jackie Duffy from Eversource clarified that the pole in question is not technically a "double pole" but is leaning significantly. Eversource is working to replace it, which will require a planned outage. She noted that when the new pole is installed, a temporary double pole condition may exist until other utilities transfer their equipment off the old pole.

Items Referred to Committee

Eversource Kent Street Grant of Location (Item 26-0525)

This item was referred from the full City Council after its public hearing, with concerns raised by Councilor JT Scott about leaning/double poles in the vicinity. The committee resolved the issue by adding the pole repair condition described above.

Committee Discussion

Underground vs. Overhead Service

Chair Hardt asked clarifying questions about how the conduit work relates to overhead wires and what determines whether a service is fed underground or overhead. Duffy explained the decision is site-specific and made by Eversource engineers based on the best way to feed each service location.

Nearby Double Poles

Councilor Ben Wheeler noted that while this specific location does not involve double poles, there are double poles nearby — including one on Ivaloo Street and another at the intersection of Ivaloo and Harrison. He emphasized the council's continued interest in seeing progress from Eversource and other utilities on double pole removal.

Status of Earlier Ivaloo Condition

Chair Hardt reminded attendees that a previous grant of location on Ivaloo had been conditioned on a safety inspection of nearby double poles and wires. Duffy did not have a status update but committed to checking with the division.

What's Next

• The Kent Street/Somerville Avenue grant of location, with the pole repair condition, heads to the full City Council for final approval.

• Duffy will follow up with Eversource's division on the status of the Ivaloo Street double pole safety inspection and on plans to replace additional leaning poles on Kent Street.

• A broader discussion of double poles citywide is expected to take place in the Sustainability and Infrastructure Committee in the next month or two.