[MassHistPres] MassHistPres Digest, Vol 53, Issue 3

Thu Jul 1 19:00:33 EDT 2010

Chris's comment is helpful in that it makes clear that the building code is
not the only basis of an Historical Commission's authority.  However, it's
very difficult to enforce given that local commissions tend to act via a
property owner; they have a very limited ability to act against a utility.
Arguably, this affects more than meters - overhead wires can certainly
affect a district's appearance and redundant wires are often left on
buildings until it's convenient to remove them.  
If it is determined that the issue is widespread, perhaps this becomes an
appropriate basis for legislation to clarify the authority of regulations
stemming from the MHC and even create an enforcement mechanism.  The
Secretary of State's Office would be the right avenue for such legislation,
with support from local district commissioners reaching out to their
representatives.

M. Russel Feldman, AIA, NCARB
TBA Architects, Inc.
241 Crescent Street
Waltham, MA 02453
(781) 893-5828 tel (781) 893-5834 fax (617) 429-5033 cell

TBA is accredited by the Better Business Bureau

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Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2010 1:48 PM
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Subject: MassHistPres Digest, Vol 53, Issue 3

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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: Electric Meters & other utility locations (Joe Booth)
   2. Re: Electric Meters & other utility locations (Jane  Guy)

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Message: 1
Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2010 13:00:42 -0400
From: "Joe Booth" <jbooth at DyerBrownSouthCoast.com>
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Electric Meters & other utility locations
To: "Chris Skelly" <skelly-mhc at comcast.net>, <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Message-ID:

<C10FDED04BC00B4389E48C268CEC6ACD13AAAF at primary-server.DyerBrownSouthCoast.l
ocal>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

New services are required to have a permit with the local building
department electrical inspector, and are regulated by the state building
code which makes reference to the electrical code, both commercial and one
and two family code makes reference to the electrical code. The actual
hook-up by the power company is not regulated by the electrical code.
Normally the electrical inspector will have to approve the rough-in of the
meter socket, weatherhead and service drop from the weatherhead prior to the
power company arrival to the site. It is the electrical inspector that
authorizes the power company to come to the site to install the service
cable back from the weatherhead to the municipal system in the street or
underground. 

Joseph M. Booth, AIA  

President 

Direct    (774) 206-8002

Mobile   (508) 243-6049

jbooth at dyerbrownsouthcoast.com <mailto:jbooth at dyerbrownsouthcoast.com> 

Dyer Brown SouthCoast, Architects 

One Johnny Cake Hill 

New Bedford, MA 02740 

Tel   (508) 999-6220 Fax (508) 990-1265 

www.dyerbrownsouthcoast.com <http://www.dyerbrownsouthcoast.com/>  

This Email is confidential and may contain copyright material of Dyer Brown
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________________________________

From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu
[mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of Chris Skelly
Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2010 1:02 PM
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Electric Meters & other utility locations

The meter is still a structure and is still regulated by the historic
district commission whether a building permit is needed or not.  This is in
the same way that low fences and walls may not need a building permit either
but would still require a certificate.  I'm not suggesting that solves your
concerns because the building permit requirement greatly assists in
notifying contractors, utilities and owners that a certificate is needed
before installation can commence. 

So, if the structure is installed without local historic district commission
approval, it is still a violation.  Educating the utility may help on this
one.  Chris.

Christopher C. Skelly

Director of Local Government Programs

Massachusetts Historical Commission

220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125

Ph: (617) 727-8470 / Fax: (617) 727-5128

Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us

http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcidx.htm

*******Stay Informed on Historic Preservation Topics by joining the
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From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu
[mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of Kristi Chase
Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2010 9:32 AM
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: [MassHistPres] Electric Meters & other utility locations

We have a spate of new electric meters being placed on the front of
buildings in our LHDs.  We only find out about them when the owners object,
otherwise the electricians just install them wherever.  The City Electrical
Inspector told me that the placement of meters does not fall under MGL 143
section 6A because the Electric Code is different from the Building Code and
therefore we have no say about the location.

How are other cities handling this?  Are there other tools we could be using
to relocate the meters? 

Thanks, 

Kristi Chase 

Kristenna P. Chase, Preservation Planner Historic Preservation Commission
Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development
93 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA  02143
(t) 617-625-6600 x2525, (f) 617-625-0722 

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Message: 2
Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2010 13:48:04 -0400
From: "Jane  Guy" <JGuy at Salem.com>
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Electric Meters & other utility locations
To: <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Message-ID:
	<D39A7AB07C46FE45B08F8F1C5B7F8E83038919C9 at salemexch01.Salem.local>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Back in 1992, the Salem Historical Commission sent the following letter to
New England Telephone, Massachusetts Electric and Boston Gas:

        Enclosed please find four maps which indicate properties that are
located in Local Historic Districts in Salem, MA.  These properties are
within the jurisdiction of the Salem Historical Commission.  For these
properties, please be reminded that the installation of meters,
transformers, electrical entry units, stove pipes, vents, cables, wiring and
other service or installation equipment for any utilities must be installed
so as not to be visible from any public way.

        In general, the Salem Historical Commission suggests that
installations be made into the basement on the least visible facade of the
building.  It is imperative that equipment never be placed on the main
facade of a building in an historic district.

        For properties where installation may result in visible equipment,
the utility provider or property owner must apply for and receive a
Certificate of Appropriateness or Hardship prior to the installation.  This
will save the unnecessary waste of time and money should the Salem
Historical Commission require the removal of such equipment from an
inappropriate location.  The Salem Historical Commission will be pleased to
work with you on solutions to problematic installations.

        We have enclosed blank applications for you to photocopy as needed,
along with a summary of the procedures for filing applications.
If you need assistance, please contact Jane Guy, the Clerk of the Commission
at the Salem Planning Department, One Salem Green, Salem, MA,
(508) 745-9595, Ext. 311.

Since then, when an electrician tells a homeowner, or tries to argue with me
that Mass Electric won't allow meters in the basement, I just inform them
that they need to tell ME that the property is located in an
historic district and that meters outside must receive approval.    We
also tell the homeowner that we will be happy to provide a letter for ME if
requested (can't recall every having to write one).  As a result, I cannot
remember the last time I got a complaint that meters were installed visible
from a public way (although  I am sure some have slipped through the
cracks).  It also helps that we have a Building and Electrical inspector
that refer homeowners in historic districts to me before issuing any
permits.

Jane A. Guy
Assistant Community Development Director City of Salem Department of
Planning & Community Development 120 Washington St., 3rd Floor Salem, MA
01970
978-619-5685
(F) 978-740-0404
jguy at salem.com
www.salem.com

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