Whitman Selectmen Tuesday night joined the effort to block plans by the Patrick Administration to close Taunton State Hospital.

“There is some real concern within the region about that proposal,” said Town Administrator Frank Lynam.  “Taunton State Hospital serves southeastern Massachusetts and the Cape and the nearest facility would be north or west of Boston if they were to close that.”

The town has received requests from state Sen. Marc R. Pacheco, D-Taunton, to have other communities join him in sending letters of support for the facility and a proclamation of its need and importance to the community.

Both of those requests were approved and signed by the board.

“This would place a tremendous strain on the Massachusetts health care system,” the resolution read in part. “… this would also leave southeastern Massachusetts with a shortage of care for residents in need of mental  health services.”

Many patients would have to be moved to Worcester State Hospital, causing hardships to family members, according to the resolution.

Selectman Dan Salvucci said he has spoken to state Rep. Geoffrey Diehl, R-Whitman, who supports keeping Taunton State Hospital open and that most other representatives Diehl has talked to also support it.

Selectmen also heard an overview of potential energy savings to the town by replacing streetlights with LED or induction lighting by Scott Newman, business development manager for Massachusetts cities and towns with Siemans Industry Inc. of Shrewsbury.

But a comparison of what the town now spends on street lighting to tariffs on watt usage from National Grid will be needed before a cost estimate is possible before the board takes any action.

“Cost considerations are up front – the purchase of the streetlights and the installation – and that’s your heaviest cost, and then you are looking at maintenance cycle costs of those fixtures,” Newman said.

Newman was invited to make the presentation on the recommendation of Selectman Lisa Green after she heard a presentation on LED street lighting at the Mass. Municipal Association’s convention last fall.

Whitman has between 100 and 152 street lights using 70 watts of power. A switch to LED lights could potentially create a 50-70-percent reduction in energy consumption, but payments to National Grid are now based on a rental formula. There is currently no tariff formula to apply to an LED conversion, Newman said. But he added National Grid will soon be on board with a formula by May.

“Looking at the conversion formula, installation is key but to do that, you have to take ownership first,” Newman said. “Once those numbers are had we can go into understanding the project and the cost of the project.”

Town ownership not only changes the utility’s billing but also requires the town to assume maintenance responsibility. The current orange lights don’t give off true color, making if difficult for public safety personnel to see – and be seen, Newman said.

“The Kelvin in LED light shows true color and allows for police to have that sense of security in their job,” he said.

Salvucci said he and Police Chief Christine May-Stafford have discussed the visibility limitations of the current streetlights and how better lighted streets will aid law enforcement. But he asked if maintenance would require an additional division at either the fire department or DPW. Newman said his company maintains any streetlight heads they install. The town would only purchase poles with no existing lights, otherwise only the light fixtures would need to be bought.

In other business, Selectmen again heard a request by Brendan Murphy, whose property abuts the new police station, to have the town erect a six-foot high, 100-foot long fence on town property to protect him and his tenants from much of the lights and noise at the station. Trees and shrubs planted there offer little protection in winter and do not deter trespassing, he said.

Murphy, whose property is seven feet lower than the police station lot, has obtained an estimate from a local company of about $3,000 for the fence.

Selectmen expressed concern about setting a precedent for abutters to town properties and whether the fence would make any difference in controlling light pollution. Murphy offered to buy the land from the town, but Lynam said the town would not sell the strip – which would landlock conservation land behind it.

Selectman Chairman Carl Kowalski asked Lynam for some more research into the effect of the lighting, fencing estimates and conservation issues to report back for a March 20 meeting.

Meeting notes

• Selectmen approved the application of Thai All Seasons Inc. for a Common Victualler’s License on the premises at 11 South Ave., subject to final inspections and approvals by the Board of Health, Building Commissioner and fire chief. The restaurant, which is not yet seeking a liquor license, is expected to open by the first week in March, according to co-owner Bora Lim of Quincy.

• Selectmen approved the appointment of James M. Fallon to a three-year term as constable on the recommendation of Police Chief Christine May-Stafford. The appointment is subject to receipt of a Public Official’s Bond.

• Selectmen opted to take no further action regarding a request by the town of Erving to support House Bill 00200 in support of a change in the commitment of Electoral College votes to the winner or the national popular vote. State Rep. Geoffrey Diehl, R-Whitman, has indicated that the bill is unlikely to emerge from committee and the majority of states must pass it.

• The board supported  a lease-purchase agreement for breathing apparatus for the Whitman Fire Department.

• The board entered an executive session regarding collective bargaining issues to return to open meeting only for the purpose of adjourning.