Letter to the Editor: NSTAR, Officials Agree on DeFazio Park Tree Removal

After negotiating with NSTAR about several trees in the area, five have been marked for removal.

Below is a letter to the editor from officials involved in last July's summit with NSTAR about utility right-of-way and trees at Defazio Park: We are pleased to share that the proof of the coordinated, positive, proactive work of the Town of Needham, concerned residents, and the State Representative with NSTAR on the concerns related to vegetation management along the transmission lines has resulted in good communication and a targeted approach to address five (5) trees which threaten the integrity of the transmission lines at Defazio Park. This week, representatives from NSTAR requested a meeting with the Parks and Forestry Superintendent, Ed Olsen and his staff to discuss two areas of concern along NSTAR’s transmission lines at DeFazio …

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Hurricane Sandy Cleanup Info for Needham Residents

Have a downed wire? Need help clearing a tree from your property? Still without power and need a place to charge your cell phone? Here's what you should know.

As cleanup continues around Needham following Hurricane Sandy, town officials would like residents to keep in mind the following information, as posted on the town website, needhamma.gov. Wires It is very important that residents steer clear of any downed wires. Always assume that downed wires constitute a danger. Please contact Needham Police to report any new downed wires at 781-444-1212. Power If you are experiencing a power outage, please contact NSTAR at 800-592-2000. It is important that you contact NSTAR each day of interrupted service. The Needham Free Public Library will be available for respite and for charging electronic devices on a daily basis. The library hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 9 …

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Letter: Federal Report Suggests a More Reasonable Tree Plan for NSTAR

This letter was submitted by a Needham resident.

This June, NSTAR left  “Courtesy Notifications” on doors of Needham residents who abut the transmission line along the commuter rail tracks citing "strict federal and state standards mandate utilities manage vegetation along transmission lines" driving the new and aggressive policy to clear cut trees within the right-of-way along the line. The Needham Town Hall (www.needhamma.gov) linked to a report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and North American Reliability Corporation (NERC) on “Transmission Facility Outages During the Northeast Snowstorm of October 29-30, 2011.” One of the primary findings of that report is that lines like Needham’s are not covered by federal or state mandates. Because utilities had argued "the …

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Neighbors Petition NSTAR To Limit Tree Removal Plan

Needham residents have drafted a letter to company President Thomas May asking NSTAR to limit work to vegetation that currently threatens transmission lines.

Needham residents are circulating a petition that asks NSTAR to significantly reduce its plan to remove trees and vegetation around transmission lines in town. The petition, available online at gopetition.com, has been distributed door to door and can also be viewed at Louise Condon Realty or at the Needham Golf Club, according to Elmwood Road resident Bill Fitzgerald. In early July, representatives from the gas and electric company announced plans to remove "incompatible" vegetation that lies in a 100-foot zone beneath the company’s electrical transmission lines. NSTAR manages about 400 miles of high voltage transmission right-of-way, part of which follows the Commuter Rail tracks through Needham and crosses many private properties and …

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Needham Officials Submit Concerns to NSTAR

A letter sent Friday, July 27 outlines questions and issues about the company's tree removal project as raised by local representatives at a meeting held last Thursday.

A letter Needham officials submitted to NSTAR last week asks that the electric company "make a good faith effort" to ensure that every property owner has adequate notice about the tree removal work that will be done in the area in the coming weeks. The letter, sent on Friday, July 27, outlines nine requests raised at a summit meeting held on Thursday, July 26 and attended by local legislators and representatives from town departments and state agencies. "The town asks that NSTAR make a good faith effort to assure that every property owner has actual notice of the type of work planned on or adjacent to his or her property, as well as the approximate date that the work will be performed," states the letter, which is addressed to NSTAR …

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Needham, NSTAR Reps Discuss Tree Removal

Requests outlined at the July 26 'summit' meeting will be submitted in writing to the electric company, with work on hold until NSTAR responds.

Needham officials met with NSTAR representatives Thursday morning to further review the company’s plan to remove trees in the utility right-of-way and to request that workers proceed with caution. The July 26 "summit” meeting was organized by State Rep. Denise Garlick, a Needham resident who voiced several concerns about NSTAR’s plan to remove trees at a public meeting held July 10 at Needham Town Hall. Board of Selectmen chairman Jerry Wasserman and vice chairman Dan Matthews were present at the latest meeting, as were Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick and department heads from Park and Recreation, Conservation, Police and Fire, Schools and Public Works. Also attending were representatives from the MBTA, U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch’s office, …

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Needham Asks NSTAR to Halt Tree Clearing Plan

Selectmen, state legislators and local residents voiced serious concerns Tuesday night about an upcoming project that would remove hundreds of trees from the right of way.

Needham residents, selectmen and legislators asked NSTAR representatives to slow down plans to clear hundreds of trees and vegetation from the public right-of-way at a meeting held Tuesday, July 10 at Town Hall. The meeting comes a few weeks after similar plans in towns such as Sudbury and Wayland resulted in public outcry from residents there. Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick said NSTAR representatives were open to the idea of coming to talk with Needham residents before crews arrive in town in an attempt to answer questions and address some concerns. “It’s our obligation to our customers to ensure the most reliable electrical service we can deliver. It’s also our obligation to you to be the very best corporate neighbor we can be,” said …

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NSTAR To Discuss Tree Removal, Vegetation Plan for Needham Right of Way

The Board of Selectmen invite members of the public to come hear the plans at their meeting on Tuesday, July 10 at 7:45 p.m.

The Needham Board of Selectmen will hold a public information session on Tuesday, July 10 regarding NSTAR's maintenance and landscaping of right of way routes in town. "The purpose of the meeting is to allow representatives from NSTAR to outline their plans for managing growth, including the possible removal of trees, near the electric transmission lines within their Right-of-Way (ROW)," according to an announcement posted Monday on the town website, needhamma.gov. In Needham, NSTAR’s electric transmission line generally follows the railroad tracks from the Dover line to the West Roxbury line. The public information session will be held at 7:45 p.m. in the second-floor Powers Hall at Needham Town Hall. Residents will be given the …

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PatchCast

PatchCast: Zipcars, Chocolates and a Long Sought After Tree Removal

A video roundup of the area's latest developments for Wednesday, June 22.

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