CHAPTER 7.
ELECTRICITY.*

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Note: As to building regulations generally, see ch. 4 of this Revision.

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§ 7-1. Superintendent of wires– Qualifications, appointment and term.

§ 7-2. Same– Powers and duties generally.

§ 7-3. Permit required for connections, installations and additions.

§ 7-4. Space on poles and in underground signal conduits to be reserved for city.

§ 7-5. Placement of street lights over public ways.

§ 7-6. Utility contact information on equipment.

Sec. 7-1. Superintendent of wires– Qualifications, appointment and term.

The superintendent of wires shall be an experienced electrician, licensed by the commonwealth as a journeyman electrician. He shall be appointed by the mayor, subject to confirmation by the city council, for a term of one year from the first Monday in February.

(R. O. 1960, ch. 19, § 1.)

Sec. 7-2. Same– Powers and duties generally.

The superintendent of wires shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) He shall supervise every wire over or under streets or buildings and every wire within a building designed to carry an electric light, heat or power current, shall notify the person owning or operating any such wire whenever its attachments, insulation, supports or appliances are improper or unsafe or whenever the tags or marks thereof are insufficient or illegible, shall, at the expense of the owner, remove every wire the use of which has been abandoned and every wire not tagged or marked as required and shall see that all laws and regulations relative to wires are strictly enforced.

(b) He shall have jurisdiction over the fire alarm telegraph system and all other electric wires and wire systems now or hereafter owned by the city.

(c) He shall have the care and management of all electrical apparatus, machinery, wires and other property connected with the fire alarm telegraph system belonging to the city, shall keep the same at all times in good working order and shall have access to all buildings and places necessary for this purpose.

(d) In performing his duties pertaining to the management and control of the fire alarm telegraph system, he shall be under the general direction of the chief of the fire department and shall consult with him on all matters involving the workings of such fire alarm system.

(e) He shall have the right, at any time, to inspect any wires, conduits, systems, apparatus or furnishings hereafter installed and used for the transmission of an electric current for light, heat or power within or upon any building or structure, and if found unsafe or dangerous or likely to become so, or if the installation or condition thereof is in violation of law or ordinances, he shall notify the owner or any person having an interest therein to remove or repair the same and may order the service discontinued or otherwise render the service inoperative, and the service shall not be resumed except with his written permission.

(f) He may make such rules and regulations in accordance with the National Electric Code as adopted and amended by the National Fire Protection Association as to provide safe and proper installation of apparatus both for outside and inside construction.

(g) He shall keep records of all inspections made and permits issued, and these records shall be open to inspection at all reasonable times by any interested parties.

(R. O. 1960, ch. 19, §§ 3 to 5, 11; 12-23-63.)

Sec. 7-3. Permit required for connections, installations and additions.

In no case shall a current of electricity be connected with a system of wiring or apparatus intended to be used for power, heat or lighting, nor shall any person change the position or make additions to any wiring system or install any new work or electrical apparatus without first obtaining written permission from the superintendent of wires. The superintendent shall be given full opportunity to inspect the same before such work is completed, and when any electric wires designed to carry any electric light or power current are to be concealed, a written permission must be obtained from the superintendent of wires. He shall give written permission and approval for all such work and connections immediately, unless in his judgment such apparatus or wiring endangers life or property or is not in accordance with the laws of the commonwealth and this Revision or any rule or regulation adopted by virtue thereof.

(R. O. 1960, ch. 19, §§ 6, 7.)

Sec. 7-4. Space on poles and in underground signal conduits to be reserved for city.

Space on all poles in public streets or ways shall be reserved for fire alarm, police signal or other signaling systems belonging to the city and used exclusively for municipal purposes.

In any underground signal conduits, such sufficient and necessary space as shall be determined by the superintendent of wires shall be reserved free of expense for the use of fire, police and other telegraph, telephone and traffic signal wires belonging to the city and used exclusively for municipal purposes, and the city, by its superintendent of wires and other proper servants, shall be allowed access to such conduits at all times and shall be allowed equal facilities and privileges with others using the same conduits in putting in, taking out and repairing wires.

(R. O. 1960, ch. 19, §§ 8, 9.)

Sec. 7-5. Placement of street lights over public ways.

(a) Any person or company desiring to construct a line, wire, pole or conduit utilized for the transmission of electricity shall, in writing, petition the city council to install said apparatus and wire dedicated to the illumination of a public way. A public hearing shall be held on the petition, and written notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be mailed at least seven days prior thereto by the clerk of the city to all owners of real estate abutting the part of the way upon, along, across or under which the line is to be constructed, as such ownership is determined by the last preceding assessment for taxation. After said public hearing, the city council may, by order grant to the petitioner a location for such line specifying therein where the poles, piers, abutments or conduits may be placed, and in respect to overhead lines may also specify the kind of poles, piers or abutments which may be used, the number of wires or cables which may be attached thereto and the height to which the wires or cable may run.

(b) The order granting a location, shall be recorded by the city clerk in books kept exclusively therefor, and where notice has been given as hereinbefore provided by the clerk of the city, shall certify on said record that the order was adopted after due notice and public hearing as hereinbefore prescribed, and no such order shall be valid without such certificate.

Sec. 7-6. Utility contact information on equipment.

All public or private utility companies shall be required to affix or otherwise post information identifying the utility, including local contact information, on any equipment located in a public way or on private property, including but not limited to junction boxes, switching stations or any related devices. The utility shall be responsible for maintaining such identification in good and legible condition, and shall keep all such equipment and devices free of all other stickers, markings or other objects.