[MassHistPres] Electric Meters in Historic Districts

[Jane Guy]

Masshistpres had a thread on Electric Meters back in July.  There were
about 10 responses that you could check in the archives.  Mine was as
follows:


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