By WPRO News
Johnston Mayor Joe Polisena says he’s reached a deal with National Grid, taking the town off the hook for the bill to light state roads which go through town.
Polisena describes a light bulb moment thinking about budget cutting while looking out the window of town hall at the intersection of state highways Atwood and Hartford Avenues.
“I was looking out my window one evening in my office and I happened to look and there was back to back telephone poles and there were two street lights. I said ‘who’s the fool that’s paying for that?’ I found out I guess I was the fool,” he said.
The settlement will save Johnston about $275,000 a year and no doubt will be followed by the other towns and cities in Rhode Island. RIDOT director Peter Alviti says the lights won’t be turned out, and the money to pay for it will likely come through costs savings associated with the installation of LED lightbulbs.
