Marblehead orders Verizon to remove double poles

MARBLEHEAD – After some angry exchanges Wednesday afternoon, selectmen have given Verizon a deadline to begin removing the double poles the company is responsible for.Municipal Light Department General Manager Robert Jolly told the board there are 100 double poles in town – damaged utility poles that have been attached to support poles and are due to be replaced – and 40 of them are Verizon?s responsibility. One dates all the way back to 2002 and another on Pleasant Street has generated regular complaints from a neighbor.Jolly said although he has sent emails with Excel spreadsheets listing the poles to Verizon Regional Director Stanley Usovicz none of the poles have been removed.Jolly noted that a newspaper story about a similar situation in Hamilton got results. He said he and Usovicz are longtime friends but his “behind the scenes” efforts were unsuccessful and “I need results.” Usovicz said part of the problem was Verizon employees? 16-day work stoppage in August, but most of it was due to Marblehead?s failure to submit the pole list to Verizon?s database. He said he had not seen Jolly?s list, and offered to set up a meeting for Jolly and Verizon?s construction managers. “Our work schedule is based on our entire database. There?s no database established for Marblehead.”Town Administrator Tony Sasso called Usovicz?s response “gobbledegook,” Selectmen Chairman Jackie Belf-Becker called Verizon?s delay “inexcusable” and Selectman Judy Jacobi said it “tarnishes” the Light Department?s reputation.Selectman James Nye reminded Usovicz of promises he made about service when Verizon was accepted as Marblehead?s second cable TV supplier in 2009.?You?re falling down on the job. We want a little service for the town,” Nye said, accusing Verizon of not caring about Marblehead and suggesting that town employees take poles down and bill Verizon.?We can?t touch their equipment, we?re not indemnified,” Jolly said.Selectman Harry Christensen moved for a review of the situation in two-four weeks, depending on Jolly?s availability. The motion passed unanimously.