By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — One fiscally conservative selectman said that crosswalk signals were worth the price tag of $4,400 each based on the public safety angle.

“I don’t want to sound like the guy who spends money,” Selectman Ted Shane began.

Typically, Shane votes to do without purchases that could be found cheaper or that the town could put off buying. This go-around, he said he was in favor of allocating funds for the state-approved crosswalk signals that would be put on the Causeway. 

“I know why this came up. I personally know the lady who almost lost her life. She had to sell her property to cover medical bills,” Shane said. 

“If we can save a life for $35,000 — I am for it. If we are going to do one or two, let us do them all,” he said. 

On Monday, the Naples Board of Selectmen voted, 3-2, in favor of purchasing three pairs of crossing signals and putting them up at crosswalks by the Songo River Queen, the Causeway Marina and Freedom Café.

Chairman Jim Grattelo and Bill Adams voted against the motion. 

During the course of the discussion, the board arrived at a consensusthat the worst spot is the crosswalk closest to the Songo River Queen.

“We need something where the Songo is. Half the problem is illegal parking where we aren’t able to enforce it,” Grattelo said. 

Prior to the agenda item, former-selectman Bob Caron II commented on the crossing signals. He spoke during public participation time. 

“The crossing lights on the crosswalk by the town dock are really nice. I walked it a lot this weekend. It stands out really nice,” Caron said.

“The recommendation would be to put one in front of the Songo River Queen. The trucks park there and you cannot see people before they step out,” Caron said. “That is the blindest spot out there on the walkways.” 

Kevin Rogers mentioned another troublesome spot. 

“The one [crosswalk] across from Causeway Marina is no slouch either. That one is sketchy from people coming down the hill,” Rogers said. 

Naples Town Manager John Hawley said that too many crosswalk signals cause people to ignore or become numb to them. 

“I’ve already become numb to them,” Rogers said, adding the novelty has worn off and they are just part of the scenery. 

Shane brought the conversation back to the four worse spots, which was later downsized to three. The four worse spots are: the Causeway Marina, the Songo River Queen, Rick’s Cafe and the Naples Public Library, he said. 

“This is where people park on both sides and step out from behind cars,” Shane said. 

A woman sitting in the audience said the crossing signals that light up are likely to attract pedestrians, especially families with young children, to gravitate to those spots to cross Route 302. 

Also, on Monday evening, there was some discussion about vehicles hitting the signals. 

“Are they removable,” Selectman Adams asked. 

“I don’t want a DOT truck to take it out. It is so close to the road that a wing would take it out,” he said.

Hawley responded.

“We have more vehicles that aren’t DOT hitting our crosswalk signals,” he said. “Any time any of our signals have been hit, there is always a police report and their [the driver’s] insurance covers it.”