Man Suggests Way To Improve Bernards Twp.: An Ugly Pole Contest

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — A resident brought a unique idea for improving Bernards Township to Tuesday's committee meeting: an "Ugly Utility Pole Contest." Todd Edelstein proposed the idea to help officials find poles that need improvements.

"This could be good fun for some, a challenge for others and a source of information and evidence," Edelstein said. "We can ask residents to take photos of utility poles that look like they need help because of the ugliness."

The Township Committee passed an ordinance in September to form a Utility Advisory Task Force, which will advocate on residents' behalf in communications with utility providers.

Edelstein, who ran for Township Committee in 2019 as an independent candidate, said the pictures could help the task force find poles with issues. Then they could contact the utility company that owns the pole the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.

"What’s an ugly pole?" he said. "I think a pole that looks like it’s about to fall, a pole that is so bent that it looks like it will snap or a pole that looks worn down. The uglier, the better."

The contest could also include pictures of overgrowth of tree limbs into wires, Edelstein says.

"We all know where these poles are," he said. "We see them all the time. We see them so often that they become invisible, because we’re just not paying attention to it. But once we know where they are, I think we’ll be in better shape."

What do you think of the idea? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Watch the full Township Committee meeting below:

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