KENNEBUNK — The Town of Kennebunk’s efforts to save money may leave some areas of town in the dark.
Facing a potential budget shortfall, Town Manager Barry Tibbetts, on recommendation from the Streetlight Committee earlier this year, proposed decommissioning a number of streetlights around town, hoping to save on costs by operating fewer lights in fewer areas. Tibbetts expects to save about $20,000 annually by shutting down a proposed 200 lights, spanning the community’s three major villages.
“It costs money to run a light,” said Tibbetts. “Every streetlight has been looked at.”
Kennebunk’s Streetlight Committee, headed by Chairman Anthony Dater, is currently looking at four major areas of town in which lights have been suggested for decommissioning. The committee has held two public hearings thus far, and will hold two more ”“ on Sept. 9 and Sept. 23 ”“ with the ultimate goal of formulating a recommendation, which they will present to selectmen.
It will be the selectmen who decide whether to switch off the streetlights in question.
Of the 200 lights being reviewed, residents have voiced concern for 94 fixtures, citing safety issues. Resident Lloyd Robinson said he thinks leaving some areas more poorly-lit is a bad idea, with safety issues as his main concern.
“I’m very disappointed in what they’re trying to do,” said Robinson of the money-saving measure. “They’re trying to shut one down right in front of my house. There’s a lot of people that walk out here late in the day.”
Residents in Robinson’s position have an option: They can pick up the tab themselves.
For a cost of about $10 a month, any citizen of Kennebunk can choose to “adopt” a streetlight, leaving it operational while still allowing the town to avoid the pricetag attached to its continued use.
If the Streetlight Committee goes forward with their proposal to decommission all of the proposed lights ”“ and if selectmen take their recommendation ”“ then any streetlights not adopted by residents will be removed and placed in storage.
“Kennebunk Light and Power will take them down for no charge,” said Tibbetts.
While Kennebunk Light and Power has expressed its willingness to cooperate with whatever decision is reached, its head of operations, Sharon Staz, has expressed reservations about the town’s suggestion to remove the lights.
“I advised (the town) against that for a whole number of reasons,” said Staz. “Lighting is very important for safety reasons. It seemed to me that we perhaps had less emotional areas where savings might be found.”
Staz said that all lights go through a process of approval before they’re put in place, and that every streetlight in town has its place for a reason. Tibbetts, however, claims that some of the lights went up with no approval, and that this may influence decisions on certain areas.
“I think it makes good sense to compare the policy to the light,” Tibbetts said.
Staz said, “We will do what we are asked to do.”
— Staff Writer Jeff Lagasse can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 319 or jlagasse@journaltribune.com.
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