← City Council · 2026-04-06 · City Council Meeting 4/6/26
NO# 31257578 National Grid to install a JO Pole on 357 Porter Street close to Orchard Lane and Porter St
Agenda original PDF
Minutes original PDF
i. (ID # 2026-628): NO# 31257578 National Grid to install a JO Pole on 357 Porter Street close to Orchard Lane and Porter St Meeting was back in session from brief recess at 8:00 PM Motion to Open public hearing made by President Freeman at 8:01 PM Comments on the floor: -David McLaughlin of 5 Indian Hill Road owns this property and wants to get power connected to it. It has been a long and arduous process and he appreciates council passing this. There were no comments via Zoom Motion to Close public hearing made by President Freeman at 8:03 PM Motion to Recommend made by Councilor Finocchiaro Seconded by Councilor Jamaleddine All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: John Obremski Motion to Recess to return to Appropriations & Oversight meeting made by Councilor Williams at 8:04 PM Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro All were in favor and meeting was recessed VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Appointments/Reappointments Motion to Conjoin 7 Reappointment orders (#2026-308, #2026-448, #2026-380, #2026-355, #2026- 356, #2026-454, #2026-354) made by Councilor Williams. Seconded by Councilor Romanul All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: John Obremski Motion to Approve as conjoined the 7 Reappoinment orders made by Councilor Williams Seconded by Councilor Karamcheti All were in favor and motion passed 4 RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: John Obremski
Transcript
▶ 1:05:46 Bradley Freeman: make a motion to or you seek unanimous consent to enter a public hearing for ID 2026-628. Seeing no objection, the public hearing is now open. Just so everyone knows how this will work is National Grid and DPW will come up, present on the petition. If there's anyone in the audience who'd like to speak to it, they'll have the opportunity to do so. We'll then close public comment. Council will deliberate and vote on the underlying petition. At this time, for National Grid, would you like to come forward?
▶ 1:06:23 Speaker 8: Good evening, councilors. Yeah, my name is Moses Okokoro. I'm here on behalf of National Grid Electric. So for this request, National Grid is petitioning to install a pole right beside 375 Portal Street here in Melrose. It's basically to address an aerial trespass situation over in neighboring lots. Customer called to complain, and we just want to provide the remedial action for that condition. Thank you.
▶ 1:06:53 Bradley Freeman: Thank you very much. Do any councilors have any questions for National Grid or Mr. Okokoro?
▶ 1:07:02 Speaker 3: Seeing none. Thank you, gentlemen.
▶ 1:07:05 Bradley Freeman: Is there anyone from the public here who would like to speak to this petition?
▶ 1:07:10 Speaker 3: Sir, please.
▶ 1:07:13 Bradley Freeman: I don't have the mic. If you can just, we'll just ask National Grid to... Okay. Thank you. Thank you.
▶ 1:07:21 Speaker 3: Hi, David McLaughlin. I own the property that I'm trying to get power to. It's taken me about 16 months to get this far. Excellent. Will you share your address with us, please? I'm sorry. Say it again. Will you share your address with us, please? Yes. Five Indian Hill Lane in Melrose. Thank you. I own most of the property, and behind where the vacant land is, and I'm just trying to get power to one of my lots, and it's been a long and arduous process. So I'm hoping that we can finally get this done, and if you have any questions, let me know. I just want to get power. That's all I'm looking for, and appreciate the opportunity to get it. Thank you very much. Thank you, sir. Is there anyone else in the public who'd like to speak tonight?
▶ 1:07:59 Bradley Freeman: With that, I'd seek unanimous consent to close the public hearing. Seeing no objection, public hearing is now closed. What is the will of the committee on ID-2026-628?
▶ 1:08:11 Speaker 1: Councilor Finocchiaro. Make a motion to recommend.
▶ 1:08:15 Bradley Freeman: Second. Motion recommended by Councilor Finocchiaro, seconded by Councilor Jamaleddine. On discussion. Seeing none. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes. Thank you very much. At this time, I will seek a recess to enter back into Appropriations and Oversight. Can I have a motion for a recess?
▶ 1:08:35 Speaker 2: So moved.
▶ 1:08:36 Speaker 1: Second.
▶ 1:08:36 Bradley Freeman: Motion by Councilor Williams, seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro. We are in recess.