From Dyke Hendrickson's City Hall Notebook today...
On the subject of municipal projects, a couple of city councilors had a head-scratching moment when pondering the community's plans for future "enlightenment."It's a fair question. One that no doubt will be asked in subcommittee.
City officials have contracted with a consultant to advise it on the pros and cons of revamping the streetlight system.That consultant is George Woodbury. director of energy services for Republic ITS, a California-based consulting firm with offices in Boston.
Woodbury, who was described as a "one-man Wikipedia" because of his broad knowledge of lighting issues, made a presentation two weeks ago at which he said the city could save about $100,000 per year by buying its lights instead of renting them from local utility companies.
Woodbury provided a torrent of facts and figures as to why the city should move forward — preferably now — to convert to a new system.
Councilors voted to send the matter to committee.
But prior to a regular meeting of the council Monday night, councilors Greg Earls and Brian Derrivan noted with some consternation that Woodbury represents a commercial enterprise that promotes new lighting systems.
How objective could this consultant be?
If this saves us money over the long haul, fine. But it's good to get everything on the table first.
5 comments:
If your automobile mechanic suggests you need X repaired, do you question the mechanic's bias?
When your dentist suggests you need root canal work, do you question the bias?
There will always be questions of bias and objectivity; but if you don't listen to the expert, who else?
Well, that's not the same.
I go to the car mechanic because my car isn't functioning. He suggests fixing the X will solve the problem or at least prevent X from breaking completely.
I go to the dentist to relieve pain or prevent pain from happening.
This arrangement is akin to my hiring an replacement window salesman to study the energy efficiency of my house.
Not saying his information isn't accurate, but it's good to know that he presumably would stand to benefit from our purchasing the lights.
I'm guessing the city would be an easier entity to sell to then a giant utility company.
Me? I'd listen to the other communities that have already done this. I'm sure reaching out to those communities will be part of the hearing process.
I'm worried about the fact that the city will have to maintain the lights. Our single electrician is swamped now. Is there any chance we'll hire another? Is one enough? We've been cutting the DPS staff for years; is that going to stop? Is the cost to maintain them being considered?
BTW, I had to do this twice, because there was no verification word displayed the first time.
Thanks for your persistence Dick.
I believe the plan called for hiring an outside contractor to maintain the lights, at a savings.
It's a little late to add a comment to this one, but I just saw this.
http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2011/10/city-forced-to-turn-out-the-lights/286/
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