LISBON — The Town Council voted unanimously to approve a proposal that allows Central Maine Power to convert all CMP-owned lights to LED lights.

More than 520 CMP-owned streetlights in town would be converted. The conversion would save the town $22,770 a year and there is no cost to the town to convert, Town Manager Diane Barnes said.

Barnes said the only cost to the town would be if police presence is needed for traffic or safety reasons.

According to Barnes, three towns are in the queue to convert their lights, with 18 towns getting agreements approved and signed.

“There are multiple cities and towns doing this across the state and that is why we wanted to get this approved quickly so we can get into that queue,” Barnes said after the meeting.

The process of ordering and installing can take up to five months, possibly longer.

“I didn’t want to sit on this too long because of all the other communities doing it,” Barnes said. “I don’t want the town to be held up in a queue.” 

Despite the measure passing unanimously, some councilors had reservations about the contract.

Chairman Normand Albert said he was concerned about specific parts of the contract.

“Obviously, it looks like a great deal for us to be able to update our lighting, but I am concerned with the terms and conditions of this because in this contract it says, “When such poles are furnished strictly for area lighting, the customer shall pay a special facilities charge,’”Albert said.

“What is this ‘special facilities charge’ and is it a monthly charge, a yearly charge, or is it per light?” he asked.

Despite his reservations, Albert voted in favor of the measure, saying he wanted confirmation of what exactly the special fee is.

The town won’t have to come up with the money upfront but the town pays leasing fees on each of the streetlight fixtures including the bracket and the head with the light.

“I just want to make sure before we sign a 15-year lease we get the details of that fee,” Albert said.

Barnes said she will confirm the specifics of the charge Wednesday when she calls CMP.

Resident and Maine Master Naturalist Program volunteer Alan Seamans said the contract seems like a win-win situation for the town and its residents. The program is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven enterprise that trains people to become citizen-naturalists.

“There is an economic benefit to converting and it’s great that the town doesn’t have to come up with the money upfront,” Seamans said. “LED lights are so much more efficient and environmentally friendly and it makes sense to do this.”

In other business, Councilor Kasie Kolbe said a new logo for the Moxie Festival would soon be unveiled.