Differences Over Street Light Repairs Appear on the Mend

A critic of National Grid's record for restoring service to local street lights says he's now more hopeful the utility company will restore light in a more timely manner.

Selectman David Van Dam's changed outlook came after two representatives from National Grid spoke to the on Tuesday.

Utility representatives John Upham and Marie Jordan said the months-long wait it had taken to restore some street lights stemmed from miscommunication.

The miscommunication occurred between the town's contractor and National Grid over the lights' reconnection to electrical service, Jordan said.

Jordan said the broken street lights belonged to the town, and it has a contractor maintain these lights.

It is National Grid's responsibility to reconnect the lights to the electrical source after the contractor completes repairs.

The communication breakdown between the contractor and National Grid left some lights in the dark for an extended period, Jordan said.

Van Dam said residents and a town employee complained about  at least one street  light but they received no response from the utility.

Van Dam said it wasn't until he contacted the state senator who represents Swampscott that the problem was resolved.

"I ended up talking to Tom McGee and he got something done," Van Dam said.

Upham apoligized for the inconvenience to customers. He urged anyone who wants to report a broken street light to file the report online at www. nationalgridus.com

At the website  click on Massachusetts and electric customers. Then, under the heading Service Orders, click on street light repairs and enter the information about the broken street light and its location.