Franklin ponders shutting down many street lights

FRANKLIN, N.H.—The City Council in Franklin, New Hampshire, votes Monday night on whether to remove almost half of the city's street lights.

A city committee recommends removing 215 of the city's 513 lights -- four out of ten -- to save money. They cost about $115 a year.

Mayor Kenneth Merrifield opposes the plan and says if it passes, he may veto it. Merrifield says his sense is that people want more street lights, not fewer.

The city would lose money in the first year because of the removal fee, but would save about $23,000 a year after that.

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Information from: Citizen, http://www.citizen.com