The Public Facilities Committee approved the following (see Report and watch the meeting video):
- Appointment of Alexander Lee to the Sustainable Materials Management Commission: (6-0)
- Reappointment of Alan Gordon to the Sustainable Materials Management Commission: (6-0)
The Public Facilities Committee voted to hold the following, with detailed discussions on each:
- National Grid Requests for a grant of location in Canterbury Road, Centre Street, Walnut Street, and Washington Street: (6-0) Public Hearing Continued. National Grid’s extensive plan to replace aging gas mains raised questions from the committee regarding the necessity of replacing pipes that might still be serviceable. Concerns were voiced about the environmental impact of such extensive work and whether more sustainable, less disruptive solutions could be considered. The cost implications were also discussed, with some Councilors questioning if the financial outlay for new installations could be better allocated towards more urgent city needs or innovative solutions like transitioning to renewable energy sources. Ten members of the public spoke in opposition.