By: Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press
Council for the Town of Essex directed administration to remove the old-style Christmas decorations from Essex Centre, until the replacement of streetlight infrastructure is completed as part of future phases of the Essex Centre Streetscape project.
The decision took place at the February 17 Council meeting.
Norm Nussio, Manager of Operations & Drainage, explained the old-style decorations are being hung from Arthur Avenue to Gosfield Avenue, and Cameron Avenue to Maidstone Avenue, on Talbot Street. They are starting to show major wear and tear and are becoming more difficult to maintain each year.
This decision follows the resolution Council supported at the December 1, 2025 meeting. The motion, which Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy presented, directed Administration to provide information regarding the lighted snowflake decorations hung by the Town in the urban cores of the Town of Essex. That included condition, annual cost to repair, and possible cost options for when the decorations need repairs or replacement.
Bondy believed the report that came forward on the decorative lighting was good. She believes it was fiscally responsible, addressed safety concerns, and looked at proactive replacement in terms of Harrow because both wards are so different.
“I really feel like we need data for things like this. I know it’s one of the smaller, low-hanging fruit, but if we’re spending our Town staff in operation’s time and energy and the hassle constantly on broken lights, then we need to fix that. When we see something that isn’t working and we’re getting a lot of complaints…[and] if people see us with Christmas lights that are off, they’re wondering what we’re doing, how are we managing their millions of dollars? So, I think it’s responsible and responsive.”
The Essex Centre BIA purchased the decorative lighting in Essex Centre many years ago, and it has been maintained by Public Works.
The Report to Council Nussio penned on the file adds that the structural integrity of the light poles, and wiring infrastructure inside, are becoming more of an issue each year.
His recommendation was to fully remove these 23 decorations from inventory until the final phases of the Essex Centre Streetscape can be completed on Talbot.
“The light poles and electrical components are far past their useful life, requiring replacement,” Nussio said.
In Harrow, there were no infrastructure concerns, however, the 18 Christmas decorations the Harrow & Colchester South Chamber of Commerce purchased some time ago are in desperate need of replacement. He said Public Works has been maintaining these decorations for a long time, and it is becoming more difficult each year.
The assumed annual cost to maintain them is around $4000 for both Essex Centre and Harrow decorations, not including the annual cost of maintaining the older light poles and infrastructure.
The cost to replace the 23 lights in Essex Centre and 18 in Harrow with half snowflakes is estimated to be $41,800, plus HST. To replace the decorations with the full snowflakes is estimated to be $53,200, plus HST.
That could be brought forward during 2027 Budget deliberations.
Katie Dennis, a business owner in uptown Harrow, said the decorations may seem like small details, “but they play a much larger role in shaping the identity and the vitality of our downtown.”
She spoke of how decorations in neighbouring communities create an experience. “They bring people downtown, they support businesses, and they foster community pride. Respectfully, Harrow deserves the same level of care and presence.”
She believed there may bean opportunity to explore cost-effective replacement options, including working with local businesses and suppliers, through the Town’s proper procurement process.
Dennis was also interested in helping to pursue a fundraising initiative specifically dedicated to replacing and enhancing the decorations in the Harrow Center.
Councillor Katie McGuire-Blais liked the idea of businesses in Harrow and residents operating a fundraiser to help pay for the cost of new decorations.
She hoped, as Council’s liaison to the BIA, that Essex’s administration did not dedicate too much time to the report, as the BIA could have provided background information about the decorative lighting in Essex Centre. She said the BIA conducted a review previously, which is why new lights were purchased for the main core.
“I question whether this report was necessary and encouraged improved communication with the BIA moving forward, so that we can avoid spending limited administration time and taxpayers’ dollars on matters where background information is already available.”
The BIA supports not reinstalling the old lights, but “we do ask to be kept informed should the Town consider purchasing new decorative lighting for Harrow or Ward One.”
She said it would also be fair when the Essex Centre Streetscape projects are complete, the BIA be treated equally with new lighting as well.
In answering Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley’s question on the timeframe for the next phase of the Streetscape, Director of Infrastructure Services, Kevin Girard, said the Town’s five-year capital plan does include phase two – being from Cameron to Maidstone – and phase three, being from Brien to Gosfield.
The cost for phase 2, he said, is anticipated to be $2M.
Girard noted there were complaints from residents this year with the decorations being out because of the electrical not working.
He suggested if groups or individuals are interested in fundraising to reach out to Town administration, which can assist with what costs might be and options that will work.