City Council

HEARING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, AUGUST 28, 2017 Hearing opened at 7:09 P.M. with Councillor Freda, Chair of the PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE, presiding. All members were present. Kimberly Tavallaimola from National Grid was present at the hearing. The following PETITION was the subject of the hearing: 5-18 National Grid and Verizon New England, Inc.: Christine Street – Install one jointly owned pole on Christine Street between poles 5 and 6. Ms. Kimberly Tavallaimola said they would like to install the new pole 5-1 between poles 5 and 6 on Christine Street for a new transformer installation. The new transformer will feed the service points 57, 62 and 65 and is due to solar power. They are putting the transformers up to protect the rest of the system. Councillor Freda asked if the other two poles would remain. Ms. Tavallaimola said yes. Councillor Pauline Cormier asked her to explain whether this would continue to happen because a lot of people are going solar. Ms. Tavallaimola said they are finding they need to install transformers to protect the rest of the system from solar so it depends on where another transformer is located. A lot of solar customers have the transformer specifically for them. HEARING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, AUGUST 28, 2017, Cont. Councillor Pauline Cormier asked if they could expect more situations where additional poles are going to need to be installed for additional transformers. Ms. Tavallaimola said sometimes they can put them on existing poles if they are in the right spot. They are not going to have to put up a new pole every time. Councillor Feckley asked how big the transformer is in relation to a regular electric transformer. Ms. Tavallaimola said it is the same size - 25kv. It’s not very big. Councillor Feckley asked if it was for one house. Ms. Tavallaimola said it’s for 57, 62 and 65. Councillor Bodanza asked what is the function of the transformer. Does it step the power down because of the solar. Ms. Tavallaimola said it steps the power up and it steps the power down. They are protecting their system from a backfeed by putting the transformer there. Councillor Bodanza said in other words, the excess power from the solar panels can cause disruption or damage to the system and this would be able to regulate it. Ms. Tavallaimola said yes, so they can have continued reliability. Councillor Chalifoux Zephir asked if it evens out the electricity that’s being sent into since solar power is generating more power at different times of the day. Ms. Tavallaimola said once there can be differences in voltages from what is on the lines versus what’s coming from the solar. You can’t have a difference in voltage so the transformer protects that. Councillor Marchand asked if they already installed the solar on the three houses in question. Ms. Tavallaimola said they don’t have anything to do with that, it’s the customer with their own solar companies. Councillor Marchand asked who petitioned National Grid to do this and what’s in it for them. Ms. Tavallaimola said they have to maintain their structure and grid so this is just for reliability. There’s nothing in it for them, it’s just system improvement. Councillor Marchand asked how close this pole would be to the existing poles. Ms. Tavallaimola said she didn’t have the specific distance, but each pole is no more than 150 feet apart. Councillor Marchand said he wanted the exact distance. He also asked if the pole would be installed on the road, on lawn, or on the sidewalk. Ms. Tavallaimola said it’s going exactly in line with the other two poles. She wasn’t sure the surface area it would be installed on, but would get that information to them. Councillor Marchand said he’s concerned with the noise that some of these transformers generate and the nuisance they cause neighbors and asked for the specs on the transformer. Ms. Tavallaimola said she thought she would be able to get this information to them. No one in the audience spoke in favor or opposition to the petition. HEARING ADJOURNED AT 7:23 P.M. ____________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council HEARING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, AUGUST 28, 2017 Hearing opened at 7:23 P.M. with Councillor Freda, Chair of the PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE, presiding. All members were present. Kimberly Tavallaimola from National Grid was present at the hearing. Page 2 HEARING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, AUGUST 28, 2017, Cont. The following PETITION was the subject of the hearing: 6-18 National Grid and Verizon New England, Inc.: Adams Street – Remove one jointly owned pole, pole 7, on Adams Street and relocate it beginning at a point approximately 115 feet northeast of the centerline of the intersection of Adams Street and Cotton Street. Ms. Tavallaimola said they are going to be installing a new pole 7 to replace the existing pole 7 in order to allow proper clearances at 140 Adams Street. Councillor Freda asked if this was where the new construction was being done. Ms. Tavallaimola said they are building over at 140 Adams Street and they needed them to rubber up the primary wires for contracting work being done at the premise. Councillor Marchand asked her to clarify the old pole is coming down. Ms. Tavallaimola said yes. Councillor Marchand asked if it would be done at the same time. Ms. Tavallaimola said the telephone company would typically remove the pole, but she thinks that in this instance National Grid would take care of the whole thing. Councillor Marchand asked if it would be coming down within the scope of this project. Ms. Tavallaimola said she can’t answer that question tonight because it’s based on all the other people attached to that pole removing themselves. The pole can’t come down until everyone is off. No one in the audience spoke in favor or opposition to the petition. HEARING ADJOURNED AT 7:28 P.M. ____________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, AUGUST 28, 2017 Meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. Attendance was taken by a roll call vote; all members were present. The Committee on Records reported that the records from June 26, 2017, July 10, 2017 and July 24, 2017 were examined and found to be in order. The records were accepted. A recess was called at 7:32 P.M. to interview appointees. The regular meeting reconvened at 7:37 P.M. The following COMMUNICATION was received, referred to the FINANCE COMMITTEE and given REGULAR COURSE. C-9 Relative to the appropriation of $10,875.00 to the Election and Registration Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Stabilization Fund. Upon recommendation of the WAYS AND MEANS AND VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, the following PETITION was GRANTED. Vt 9/0. C-6 Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor: Allow the City of Leominster to pursue $26,156.00 through the United States Department of Justice – Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG). Upon recommendation of the LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, the following PETITION was GRANTED. Vt 9 “yeas”. 35-17 Kristen Kelly on behalf of the Planning Board: Modify Section 22-50.4.1 of the Leominster Zoning Ordinance to remove the words “shall service no more than two (2) lots” and replace with “are not permitted”. Page 3 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, AUGUST 28, 2017, Cont. Upon request of the PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE, the following PETITION was given FURTHER TIME. Vt 8/0. Councillor David Cormier abstained due to a possible conflict of interest. 5-18 National Grid and Verizon New England, Inc.: Christine Street – Install one jointly owned pole on Christine Street between poles 5 and 6. Upon recommendation of the PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE, the following PETITION was GRANTED. Vt 8/0. Councillor David Cormier abstained due to a possible conflict of interest. 6-18 National Grid and Verizon New England, Inc.: Adams Street – Remove one jointly owned pole, pole 7, on Adams Street and relocate it beginning at a point approximately 115 feet northeast of the centerline of the intersection of Adams Street and Cotton Street. Councillor Freda asked that we request the Petitioners send notification once the existing pole has been removed. Councillor Bodanza, Chair of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, read the Financial Report for the City into the record. Account balances are as follows: Stabilization Account $12,020,480.00 Upon recommendation of the FINANCE COMMITTEE, the following COMMUNICATIONS were GRANTED and ORDERED. Vt 9/0. C-7 Relative to the appropriation of $268,000.00 to the Highway Capital Outlay Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Stabilization Fund. ORDERED: - that the sum of Two Hundred and Sixty Eight Thousand Dollars ($268,000.00) be appropriated to the Highway Capital Outlay Expense Account; same to be transferred from the Stabilization Fund. RE: Replacement of street sweeper. C-8 Relative to the appropriation of $23,500.00 to the Emergency Management Agency Capital Outlay Expense Account Prior Year; same to be transferred from the Stabilization Fund. ORDERED: - that the sum of Twenty Three Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($23,500.00) be appropriated to the Emergency Management Agency Capital Outlay Expense Account Prior Year; same to be transferred from the Stabilization Fund. Upon recommendation of the WAYS AND MEANS AND VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, the following APPOINTMENT was CONFIRMED. Vt 9 “yeas”. Peter Niall – Disability Commission – Term to Expire April 15, 2020 Upon recommendation of the WAYS AND MEANS AND VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, the following ELECTION ORDER was ADOPTED. Vt 9/0. CITY OF LEOMINSTER WARD TWO PRELIMINARY ELECTION ELECTION ORDER September 26, 2017 ORDERED: that the City Clerk be and she hereby is authorized and directed to notify and warn the voters of the City of Leominster to assemble in their respective polling places in the following ward and precincts of the City, designated by the City Council as follows: WARD 2A FRANCES DRAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOOL 95 VISCOLOID AVENUE WARD 2B FRANCES DRAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOOL 95 VISCOLOID AVENUE WARD 2C FRANCES DRAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOOL 95 VISCOLOID AVENUE On Tuesday, the 26th day of September 2017, then and there for the purpose of giving in their votes for the election of candidates for the Ward Two School Committee. Page 4 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, AUGUST 28, 2017, Cont. And it is further ORDERED: that the polls shall be opened at 7:00 A.M. and closed at 8:00 P.M. and that notice shall be given by publication of this order in a conspicuous place in the office of the City Clerk. Per Order Leominster City Council True Copy Attest: Lynn A. Bouchard City Clerk Under old business, Councillor Chalifoux Zephir asked for clarification on the backup documentation relative to Communication C- 2, specifically, as to whether the reimbursement from the State was based on a formula. Councillor Bodanza said yes. It’s ultimately Federal money but this money is reimbursed by the State based on a formula. Councillor Chalifoux Zephir also requested the status on the meeting request that was sent to the Superintendent, Chair and Vice Chair of the School Department and the School Committee Members and asked that follow be sent to those that had not responded. Councillor Marchand requested a status on the school busing relative to: where cuts were made, what they equate to in savings for the school year, what the fee is they are charging the student and how much is anticipated being collected or are in progress, and the impact on the neighborhood pickups. In accordance with Section 3.6 of the Leominster City Charter a vote was taken to bring down the Health Director, Chris Knuth and Bob Grudziecki, for an information session regarding transformers installed as a result of solar energy and the impact on the surrounding residents. Under new business, a committee meeting was established for the President’s Committee on Street Acceptance on Wednesday, September 6, 2017 at 5:30 P.M. A committee meeting was also established for the President’s Committee on City Ordinance Review on Wednesday, September 6, 2017 at 6:00 P.M. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:37 P.M. ________________________________ Lynn A. Bouchard, City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council Page 5