WILTON — Selectmen voted Tuesday to eliminate a streetlight located across from Prospect Street on Routes 2 and 4.

The vote was split, 3-2, with Tom Saviello and Scott Taylor voting against darkening the light. Selectmen Terry Brann, Russel Black and Paul Berkey Jr. voted for the move.

Eleven lights have already been turned off. This is number 12 and will be taken down soon, Town Manager Rhonda Irish.

Voters sought to save money by eliminating streetlights during June’s annual town meeting.

After that meeting, Irish received a citizen request to re-consider shutting off this light. Some residents attended the board’s July meeting to voice concern saying the light was more than a “beacon” for the turn on to Prospect Street.

The board initially voted unanimously to leave the light on while more information about putting up reflectors and cutting brush to expose the entrance could be obtained.

Berkey, who lives on the street as does Taylor, moved to eliminate the light.

“I honestly feel that the light is not a marker for that street. It’s four lanes away. It doesn’t need to be there,” he said.

Taylor disagreed, saying the light helps mark the end of the road and the residents on the street should be considered.

In other business, the board unanimously voted to withdraw the weight posting limit on McCrillis Road from Route 2 to Route 156.

The board posted the road to a limit of 26,000 pounds last year. It was closed to through-truck traffic to avoid wear on the road, which the town had just spent funds to recondition.

Board members said most trucks now stay on Route 156 to Wilton. They intend to watch the traffic flow and can re-instate the road posting at any time.

Work on asbestos abatement at the Forster Mill is almost complete, Town Manager Rhonda Irish told the board. Approval from the state Department of Environmental Protection and the federal Environmental Protection Agency is needed before the owner continues with demolition of the mill. 

Options for demolition are being considered, she said.

The Share Shack at the town’s Transfer Station is temporarily closed, Hollis Tyler, manager, told the board. A place for residents to leave items that others might want to pick up, the Share Shack was accidentally struck by a car last weekend, he said.

Damages are less than $1,000 but the work is on hold while the town waits on the driver’s insurance adjustor, Irish said. It will re-open as soon as the repair work is done.

The Transfer Station will hold its annual Household Hazardous Waste day on Sept. 8, Tyler said. It’s an opportunity for residents to turn in oil-based paints and stains and any other hazardous waste items.

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