Dedham Resident Speaks Out Against NSTAR

Editor's Note: The following letter was submitted to Dedham Patch by Dedham resident Martin Hanley.

For many months since the demolition of the building at the rotary, there has been a large roll of utility wires carelessly left behind by NSTAR. Should we assume they have no current running though them ? Maybe that would be assuming too much if you look at the record.  

The company, despite their hyped merger so to run a a more efficient utility, continues to treat Dedham like some post-war industrial park. Old double utility poles are on some of most prominent streets. Looks at the corner of Harris and Washington St. (going on well over eight years).  

Despite the efforts of town officials, excuses offered by NSTAR for not removing them are feckless to say the least. Consider that cable and telephone companies  are mere tenants on the NSTAR poles. If they are not moving their wires in a timely basis, I'm sure there are punitive measures that the landlord entity can effect if it truly has a will. But the state law mandating a 90 day deadline for this action is ignored as there are incredibly no fines levied for the violation.

We should stand up for our right not to suffer the careless blight and ugliness inflicted by a group of huge utility companies such as NSTAR while private owners work to maintain the appearance of their property, the volunteer crews of Dedham Civic Pride spend much time and private funds to beautify the town, and the taxpayers pay off construction bonds for upgrading of public spaces and infrastructure. 

Tell your state lawmakers that enough is enough. They should rewrite the law to fine utility companies when they don't do the right thing and make sure it doesn't get passed along to we rate payers. Dedham should permit no more pole installations until this festering situation is fixed and a binding agreement with the town of Dedham is signed.

While we're at it, call Tom May, President of NSTAR over at their beautifully appointed Westwood corporate headquarters, where all the utility lines leading up to their offices are buried underground.