By AUBREY HAWKE
Waltham Times Contributing Writer
City councilors are addressing residents’ complaints about National Grid damaging city and private property while performing utility-related work.
The councilors voted at their Oct. 28 meeting to have city officials work with National Grid to address those complaints and develop better processes for notifying and communicating with residents and Waltham workers about National Grid work planned in the city.
More specifically, the City Council voted to pass “National Grid Work on Private Property Resolution,” which asks that the city “explore opportunities to collaborate with National Grid on improving the notification and communication process to Waltham residents, Waltham public safety departments and Ward Councillors when working in Waltham neighborhoods and that when National Grid and other utility contractors perform work on private property, they return that private property to its original condition.”
The resolution came in response to recent complaints from Waltham residents, who said they were surprised by National Grid work on their private streets or land – work that they said damaged property in some cases, said Ward 3 Councilor William Hanley
The Times emailed National Grid public relations officials on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 requesting comment but received no response.
Hanley, who spoke about the resolution at the Oct. 28 meeting and to The Waltham Times in a follow-up interview, said he had been hearing such complaints from constituents but felt the tipping point was when one Ward 3 family’s water main was damaged during National Grid work. He said the family had no running water for half a day.
Hanley said National Grid needs to leave properties the way it found them.
Hanley also said National Grid, a natural gas and electric utility, needs to do a better job notifying residents in advance of work happening around their homes. He said he believes National Grid attempts to notify residents but is not doing a sufficient job in making sure residents get its messages.
City Council news in brief
In other action at the Oct. 28 meeting, the City Council
- discussed possible ways to get state funding for road and sidewalk work.
- passed a resolution to investigate and apply for grants to fund the installation of more electric vehicle charging stations in Waltham.