really need to go dark?
November 6, 2003
Bridgewater
Raynham
Easton
East Bridgewater
West Bridgewater
Massachusetts
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Joseph Gillis Jr.
You can do something!
At the Bridgewater Annual Town Meeting this spring, when we set the budget for FY2004, there was a reduction in the account for street lights from $134k to $100k. I do not recall any discussion on the issue; it was only one of many departments that had a reduction. Maybe this was a reduced contract cost for electricity, or maybe there was some other savings. The point is, while some mention was made in a different forum (I recall there being a mention of lights being turned off - I just don't remember where or when this was made), I do not believe it was clear the number of lights that would go dark.
In the interest of public safety, especially as we enter a time of long nights, I believe that this savings is not worth the public safety concerns that will come with darkened streets - i.e. difficulty in seeing pedestrians, animals, finding house numbers. The electric company will allow the town to do this, however if the town decides to turn the lights back on before one year of darkness, they will charge the town $25/light or more than $15k.
To show that the same $34k can be saved by being a little more frugal with town departments - excluding Fire, Ambulance, Police - please click here to review this alternative spreadsheet by department.
