Crawford to selectmen: One way or the other, get streetlights back on

CONWAY — The continuing discussion this week on a proposal to turn streetlights back on in North Conway provoked more questions, plus harsh criticism of the current historical light fixtures, but no answer on what changes may be in store.

The Mount Washington Valley Preservation Association came up with a plan several weeks ago to turn on some of the lights that were shut off several years ago in North Conway Village. Under the plan the preservation association would buy new, energy-efficient LED lights and fixtures if the town would commit to putting the money saved toward turning lights back on.

That conversation quickly branched off into a discussion about flags and wreaths on utility poles — something that has been an ongoing issue of concern for some. The historical fixtures, because of their low height, make it impossible to attach either flags or wreaths to the poles.

Going back to traditional “cobra-head” lights — also available in with LED technology — would open up real estate on the pole for attaching flags or wreaths, but it would mean doing away with the historically-accurate lights.

After the initial discussion, the preservation society said it would collect input on which was more important: historic fixtures or flags and wreaths.

The issue was not settled by Tuesday, however, when it again came before the selectmen.

This time, however, several selectmen shared their opinions, which did not favor the decorative fixtures.

“I think they look silly on the telephone pole,” selectman Michael DiGregorio, who works for the phone company, said. “I don’t like them.”

He was not alone: “Those lights do nothing for the town,” selectman Larry Martin, who works for the electric company, said. “They’re hideous. It’s not a becoming look.”

“The biggest mistake we ever did was to take those cobra-heads out,” he said.

The lights, which were originally installed using federal funds as part of the bypass project, are owned by the town, public works director Paul DegliAngeli explained, which is not the normal arrangement. If the preservation society replaced the lights with a similar fixture, the town would have to negotiate a special arrangement with New Hampshire Electric Cooperative.

“I’ve heard rumors there will be no more special arrangements,” said Martin, which, if true, would make the historical lights impossible to replace with new fixtures.

Town manager Earl Sires said he had discussed the situation with the utility, and “the co-op is not anxious to consider any more agreements,” although that doesn’t mean it isn’t a possibility.

The town could go back to the regular light style, Martin said, which would solve several problems: There would be more light, the flags and wreaths could go back on the poles, and the relationship with the co-op would be simplified. “The town should be out of the utility business.”

DiGregorio had a question for the preservation association: Which is more important — flags and wreaths or historic lights?

“The first desire is to have the lights come back on,” Janice Crawford, of the association, said. “People want light.”

DiGregorio asked again a short time later — flags and wreaths or historic lights?

“The lights on are a priority,” Crawford said. “My concern from the businesses is to get the lights on.”

At no time during the meeting was there a clear answer about which decoration was more important.

Either change, however, would allow some of the lights to be turned back on. The next question for officials to answer is whether the decorative lights will even be possible, considering the contract the utility signed with the town for the current lights is something the utility company would rather not duplicate.

If not, that would clear the way for installing LED “cobra-heads,” which would provide savings to turn on other lights. The town could also keep operating the lights as they currently are, but that would not allow for any increased lighting without increased expenditures.

Selectman Mary Seavey, who is also part of the preservation association, spoke up near the end of the meeting. She never would have voted to turn the lights off, she said, because it hurts the look of the town.

“I do think we have to act,” she said.