The City Council will hold a special meeting tomorrow to discuss the proposal that the city acquire all of our telephone polls and street lights.
George Woodbury, the consultant hired to analyze the idea, has delivered a report to the mayor and the council that suggests the city could save between $57,000 to $87,000 per year, over the next three years if we were to acquire the lights. (I just pulled those figures from the summary. No time to parse them yet.)
The idea definitely is gaining some traction among city officials.
The meeting starts at 7 pm tomorrow in the auditorium.
If anyone wants to see the report shoot me an email and I'll try to accomodate. It's likely available in the city clerk's office as it's dated 7/30/2011.
Add: Far as I can tell no mention of shutting of street lights in the report.
6 comments:
Hi Tom,
Terrific meeting.
The City can buy the street lights.
The City would save an amazing amount of money and energy, and that would not just be a one time deal.
The Street lights would not be shut off.
George Woodbury, the consultant, is the best in the business.
The Mayor asked if the City Council would like to be involved. They would, and it was sent to committee.
Thanks Mary!
I'm still unsure why National Grid would sell if they're making so much money off of us.
But I'm willing to listen.
As I understand it Tom, and I could be wrong on the technicalities, it's because of the legislation that our consultant George Woodbury wrote and got passed in Massachusetts. The list of towns that have bought their own street lights is long, and as Mr. Woodbury said, it would be much longer, except that at the moment, there is only one of him, and we are mighty lucky to have him!! Good grief!
PS.
Talk to City Councilor Ed Cameron or Katy Ives, they would be able to give you lots more details. It went to both their committees, and it sounded like there was going to be at least one joint meeting to digest all the information that Mr. Woodbury has given, not just in this meeting, but in the one before it.
They are required by law to sell if the City requests it. Mr. Woodbury actually wrote the law.
I was out of town for the meeting but am more or less up to speed with the process.
Bob Cronin
National Grid is rquired to sell if a City or town wishes to purchase the light fixtures. The poles would still be owned by the utility, except any pole that has a fixture only (no telephone or power service connecting to a house etc.)
Mr. Woodbury wrote the law here in MA.
Bob Cronin
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