[MassHistPres] Columbia Gas Meters

[Jane Guy]

The Salem Historical Commission asserted its jurisdiction back in the 90s with Massachusetts Electric and has not had a problem since.  Neither National Grid, nor Columbia Gas, should be exempt.   I would suggest sending them a certified letter that they will be in violation if they proceed without approval.  Our guidelines, with a section on Utilities (albeit old), are here..... http://www.salem.com/Pages/SalemMA_Historic/Guidelines.pdf 

 
 
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
 
Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2014 11:30:34 -0500
From: Wendy Nicholas <wendynicholas23 at gmail.com>
Subject: [MassHistPres] Columbia Gas Meters
To: "masshistpres at cs.umb.edu" <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Message-ID: <BA9B2C7C-85DD-4960-8ED8-818B991FDDAD at gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset=us-ascii

> 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
> 
>> 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