Wiscasset’s Conservation Commission hopes the select board and other residents will consider the financial benefits of replacing the town’s street lighting with energy and cost-saving LED lighting.

The town leases its street light fixtures from Central Maine Power. Commission Chair Anne Leslie told selectmen Tuesday, other Maine communities including Freeport are investing in LED lights to save on rental fees and energy costs. In June, Waldoboro voters will consider conversion.

Leslie and commission member Marty Fox estimate Wiscasset pays CMP an annual lighting equipment charge of about $19,660 to rent streetlights.

Conversion is costly but the payback is between three and four years, they said.

Leslie said the Lincoln County Regional Planning Office has helped gather information about conversion and its benefits. Selectmen appeared open to hearing a proposal including an informational meeting to be facilitated by the LCRPO.

“It sounds like a great idea and I’m all for it, if it can save us some money,” said Selectman Katharine Martin-Savage. She suggested it might be worth considering partnering with another town on the project.

Fredette retiring

Shari Fredette, town treasurer and human resources director, announced she was retiring effective Feb. 16.

“I would like to thank you all for the great opportunities you have given me as an employee of the Town. I have enjoyed working with and learning from colleagues for the past six years, and I am ready to move on to the next phase of my life,” she wrote in a letter to Town Manager Marian Anderson.

Fredette offered to help in the transition to a new treasurer.  Selectmen accepted Fredette’s resignation “with regret” and wished her well in her retirement.

Wiscasset’s downtown winter parking ban is in effect until April 15. The board is considering requiring parking stickers for downtown residents who park overnight in municipal parking lots.

Monthly departmental reports

Police Chief Jeff Lange announced he’d made a conditional offer to hire U.S. Army Sgt. Allen Tarrance as a full-time police officer. Tarrance would join the department in February.

Lange said the department is seeing an increase of heroin arrests. He mentioned a recent drug overdose of a pregnant woman. It remains under investigation.

EMS Director Toby Martin reported the delivery of the new ambulance has been delayed until the end of February or early March. Voters approved the $96,690 purchase of a 2013 Ford ambulance. The money will come from capital reserve with no impact on this year’s property taxes. Fire Chief T.J. Merry said the department responded to two structure fires and six motor vehicle accidents and assisted EMS on three calls. Merry noted there are 20 active members on the department’s roster.

Public Works Director Doug Fowler noted the town crew had put up over 50-plus holiday trees on the town common in time for the annual tree-lighting Dec. 2.

The presentation of the Public Advisory Committee’s amenity recommendations on  the Maine Department of Transportation’s downtown project was postponed until selectmen’s first meeting in January.