During the meeting, attention was given to the issue of double poles, which have become a point of contention due to their increasing numbers and the slow pace of removal. A council member recounted a personal encounter with a National Grid contractor installing a new pole near their home, highlighting the problem’s visibility and prompting questions about the number of poles removed in the past year. Although some progress has been made, with estimates revealing that 171 new poles were installed and 132 removed in 2025, council members voiced dissatisfaction with the overall pace of addressing the backlog.

A strong sentiment was expressed that other cities do not face the same challenges, and the council member called for increased accountability from National Grid and clearer communication regarding pole management.

The discussion also clarified that while National Grid owns the poles, the city owns the street lights, which complicates the coordination process for pole removal. Meetings with National Grid have been ongoing, but their effectiveness was questioned, as council members stressed the need for more efficient communication and accountability.

Attention then shifted to the roles of other utilities, such as Comcast and Verizon, in the pole management process. A participant pointed out Comcast’s responsibility in the removal of double poles. Confusion over joint ownership of poles by Verizon and Comcast led to calls for including Verizon representatives in future discussions to ensure all stakeholders are involved.

In response to the utility pole issues, a council member proposed a new ordinance requiring both owners to be present for new installation requests and setting a 30-day timeframe for the removal of double poles, with penalties for non-compliance. This proposal aims to establish enforceable regulations to prevent utility companies from operating without restrictions.

Beyond the utility pole discussions, the meeting also addressed various proposals concerning parking and traffic regulations. Document discussions included proposals for handicap parking across the city, with the council unanimously agreeing to send several proposals to the full council for public hearings. However, discrepancies in addresses led to certain items being tabled for clarification.

Additionally, the meeting featured a significant volume of proposals and motions concerning parking regulations, licenses, and traffic studies, many of which were withdrawn as blocks without discussion. These withdrawals suggest an effort to streamline the agenda and focus on more issues, such as the utility pole management challenges.

The council also engaged in a debate over the pace of progress on utility pole projects. While some members advocated for halting all projects until more information from utility companies was received, others emphasized the importance of addressing reliability issues for residents. A motion to proceed with a joint pole installation on Berkeley Street was passed, while another proposal faced a motion to table it.

The council reiterated its authority to deny installations and emphasized the need for proper protocols to be followed.