Selectmen Push National Grid for Answers

As work crews continue through Chelmsford to clean up brush that Snowtober left behind, selectmen last night mulled how to best proceed to get answers from to the storm.

Former Selectman and Town Meeting Rep. Clare Jeannotte spoke during open session to encourage selectmen to do "even more" than they already are.

"My perspective goes back to the Dec. 2008 ice storm. I was without for 5 days. I thought this was a once in a life time occurance, maybe twice," she said. "And the worry I have now is the more you hear about response ... You might hear about it becoming the new normal."

Jeannotte said she believes selectmen are the town's voice in the matter.

"There is a lot of investigation to do to mitigate future response," she said.

Town Manager Paul Cohen said work crews are still going around town, now reaching more isolated parts of town to clean up the brush from the storm. The town's two sponsored were widely taken advantage of, said Cohen, though the first was more crowded than the second.

Selectman Matt Hanson, at the board's previous meeting, said he spoke to state lawmakers about the possible measures they were looking to take to keep National Grid accountable. Hanson last night said their presence at a meeting may be helpful for both officials and residents with questions.

Selectman Jim Lane said State Rep. James Arciero told him it was possible to have a National Grid spokesman come to a selectmen meeting to answer questions about the response.

Town Manager Paul Cohen supported the idea, though mentioned the state legislatures should be present at the meeting as they have "more leverage" against National Grid.

"We were patient, now we’ve had it and we want ojective criteria (when it comes to tree trimming) and requirements (that clearly show) if are they doing the job or not, rather than 'we have a vegetation plan' ," said Cohen. "The focus needs to be through the State House."

Lane agreed and said he would draft a letter asking for the National Grid representative to come to a meeting.

"They've offered ... to give an update as to what happens (during) storm recovery and addressing the 15,000 households and businesses without power. I think they deserve these answers," he said. "By bringing National Grid in, it opens the door to give us a seat to be vocal about what hapepned and what's going to be done (in the future)."