Selectmen upset with Columbia Gas road work
By Mike BergerSelectman John Connolly voiced his displeasure with Columbia Gas construction supervisor Justin Brown on Tuesday night over the utility company’s repeated practice of working past agreed-upon deadlines at various gas projects around town this past construction season.
Columbia Gas requested longer days in November to complete the York Street gas main project (two days’ worth of work, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and one day (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) to abandon an old main at the intersection of Neponset and Walpole streets near the Viaduct. The York Street project is located south of Village Gate Road and Helen Drive.
Connolly said he was particularly upset with the company’s decision to work past the previously agreed upon timeframe of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and then leaving the roads in rough conditions.
“The roads are in deplorable conditions and I don’t think Columbia Gas gives a damn. Washington Street is just a disgrace,” said Connolly. He became even more upset when Brown could not tell selectmen what days they would be doing the work.
Selectmen agreed with Connolly’s points of concern and decided that once Columbia Gas determined the days, then Town Administrator Charlie Aspinwall, after consultation with Police Chief Ken Berkowitz, Fire Chief Charlie Doody, and DPW Superintendent Mike Trotta, would approve them as long as the following stipulations are met with town officials: The projects have adequate police details and lighting, adequate detours, sufficient public notice, and measures to patch the road. Selectmen said they would like both projects to be completed before their next meeting on November 15.
Brown apologized for Columbia Gas’s previous communication mistakes and vowed to work with town officials.
In other news, selectmen approved the Cable Advisory Committee’s recommendations for provisions to be included as part of the negotiations for a new cable license with Verizon. These provisions, as stipulated by Cable Advisory Committee Chairman Jim Sims, include the following: a 10-year license; a stipulation that 4.5 percent of operating revenue go to the town; a $698,000 capital donation over 10 years; high definition channels for local programming; the previous Comcast agreement be used as the base agreement for negotiations; the negotiating period be December 1 to April 1, 2017; a customer service location remain in Canton; customers will be able to purchase their own equipment; and the deadline …
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Posted by Mike Berger
on Nov 4 2016. Filed under News, Town Government.
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