[MassHistPres] Columbia Gas Meters

[Wendy Nicholas]

> Ralph, National Grid did the same thing in the Historic Armory District in Providence, RI maybe 5 years ago. Only they didn't send letters in advance. They just started installing new meters on the fronts of people's houses. 
> 
> The residents organized to fight it. And succeeded. After you've worked so hard to restore your historic house, you sure don't want to have an ugly gas meter slapped front + center?!!
> 
> One of the houses to first receive a new meter was home to a state legislator. He was very angry.  As I remember, he worked with the neighbors and colleagues in the General Assembly to pass legislation limiting the Gas Company in historic districts statewide. 
> 
> I don't remember the specifics, but you could check RI laws to find the legislation. I believe the legislation requires the company to go before historic district commission and to get owners' permission. Or at least notify them. 
> 
> Definitely get out ahead of this. 
> 
> Wendy Nicholas
> C: 617-872-0696
> 
>> On Jan 31, 2014, at 12:00 PM, masshistpres-request at cs.umb.edu wrote:
>> 
>> Send MassHistPres mailing list submissions to
>>  masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
>> 
>> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>>  http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres
>> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>>  masshistpres-request at cs.umb.edu
>> 
>> You can reach the person managing the list at
>>  masshistpres-owner at cs.umb.edu
>> 
>> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
>> than "Re: Contents of MassHistPres digest..."
>> 
>> 
>> Today's Topics:
>> 
>> 1. Columbia Gas meters (Ralph Slate)
>> 
>> 
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> 
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2014 07:40:33 -0500
>> From: Ralph Slate <slater at alum.rpi.edu>
>> Subject: [MassHistPres] Columbia Gas meters
>> To: MassHistPres MA <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
>> Message-ID: <52EB99C1.20203 at alum.rpi.edu>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>> 
>> Columbia Gas, which supplies natural gas to Springfield homeowners, 
>> apparently just send notice to every house on a historic street in 
>> Springfield stating that they would be moving their gas meters to the 
>> outside of their houses. They did not contact the historical commission, 
>> and I suspect they just feel they don't need to bother (since this is 
>> how the electric company behaves).
>> 
>> Have any other communities experienced a similar situation?
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> 
>> Ralph Slate
>> Chair, Springfield Historical Commission
>> 
>> 
>> ------------------------------
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> MassHistPres mailing list
>> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
>> http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres
>> 
>> 
>> End of MassHistPres Digest, Vol 95, Issue 18
>> ********************************************