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Government

State Sen-Elect Mike Barrett Talks Legislative Priorities

Appearing before Bedford's Board of Selectmen recently, Mike Barrett, state Senator-elect in the Third Middlsex District, discussed his legislative priorities.

By Christopher Gambon Dec 5, 2012

During a recent meeting of the Bedford Board of Selecmten, incoming state Sen. Mike Barrett, D-Lexington, was one of two incoming lawmakers to present his legislative priorities to the local officials.

During the Dec. 4 meeting in Bedford, that town's newest advocates on Beacon Hill -- Barrett and state Representative-elect Ken Gordon -- spoke with the Bedford Selectmen during their Dec. 4 meeting about Bedford's legislative priorities.

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The Selectmen also asked Barrett and Gordon to advocate for more pressure at the state level on investor-owned power companies, such as NSTAR, in complying with state laws placing time limits on double poles as well as in requiring more transparency from power companies during times of widespread outages in relaying information to residents on how long it will be until their power is restored.

Selectman Mark Siegenthaler said the issue with double poles is not the most pressing problem plaguing Bedford -- while it is a big deal to some in Lexington -- but it is an accurate depiction of the relationship between municipalities and power companies.

"It's symptomatic of the problems between municipalities and utility companies," Siegenthaler said. "Our dependence on them is so clear."

Barrett said he would strongly support legislation allowing municipalities to form municipal light companies.

"There is so much unhappiness with these utilities," Barrett said. "There is absolutely the possibility of putting more heat on them."