Bill > H3868

This bill grants the town of Framingham the authority to impose fines on utility companies that fail to relocate or remove utility poles and wires within specified timeframes, overriding existing state laws. A "utility company" is defined broadly to include any entity that provides services like electricity, telephone, gas, or cable television, and owns the associated poles and wires. The bill outlines specific conditions under which relocation or removal is considered "practical," such as when a replacement pole or conduit is installed, or when all wires have been removed from a pole. Fines can range from $250 to $1,000 per location per day, depending on the delay and the specific violation, with a maximum of $1,000 per location per day after 60 days for wire relocation and after 21 or 60 days for pole removal. The town can also fine companies for failing to initiate new pole installations or for not reporting changes in pole or wire status through shared systems within seven days. Utility companies can request exemptions, which require a public meeting and the sole approval of the Framingham board of selectmen, and any collected fines will go to the town's general fund or a fund for public way improvements.