The Board meets on the first and third Monday of each month. Meetings begin at 1:00 p.m. and are held in the department conference room at 65 Lafayette Ave, Littleton. Board meetings are open to the public and time is allotted for public comments at each meeting.
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The regularly scheduled Board of Commissioners (BOC) meeting began at 1:10 p.m. on Monday, September 18, 2017 in the Littleton Water and Light (LWL) conference room. Present were Commissioner Peter Cooper, Commissioner Ralph Ross, Financial Director Cheryl Wilkins, Superintendent Thomas Considine, and Littleton Board of Selectmen Chairman Skyler Sweet.
MINUTES REVIEW:
The minutes of the September 5, 2017 regularly scheduled Commissioners meeting were reviewed. Commissioner Cooper stated that he wanted to amend the minutes by adding “and cost estimate” to the third paragraph under Minutes Review and Commissioner Ross stated that the third paragraph under General Business needed to be corrected.
The amended minutes of the BOC September 5, 2017 meeting will be reviewed at the next regular meeting.
CUSTOMER & PUBLIC CONCERNS:
Littleton Board of Selectmen Chairman Skyler Sweet addressed the BOC and asked if they (BOC) had any desire to have some, all, or none of future BOC meetings televised on channel 2. Mr. Sweet stated that there are obviously pros and cons of having the meetings televised but that the decision was totally up to the BOC.
The BOC did not make a decision though agreed that it would make sense that certain meetings could be televised such as rate tariff and the annual wholesale power market update and other type informational discussions.
Commissioner Ross stated that he would not be comfortable discussing the topic until the full board was present.
Some general discussion between Selectmen Sweet and the BOC continued with Selectmen Sweet remaining for the remainder of the meeting.
FINANCIAL DIRECTORS REPORT:
1. Mrs. Wilkins reviewed the highlights of the financial statements for the month ended July 2017 with the Commissioners. Several discrepancies as compared to budget were discussed and explained by Mrs. Wilkins.
2. The BOC reviewed and discussed a written proposal from Primex (Workers Compensation insurer) that would lock-in or “Cap” LWL’s base premium rate for LWL’s workers compensation insurance for a period of three (3) years beginning in 2018. Each of the subsequent years thereafter the premium would be capped and would not increase by more than ten (10) percent above the previous year throughout the term of the contract.
The BOC was in favor of the Primex proposal and Commissioner Cooper executed the agreement on behalf of the BOC.
SUPERINTENDENT/ GENERAL MANAGERS REPORT:
1. The water main relocation project through the REL Commons (TJ Maxx) parking lot between the gas station and plaza is beginning its third week. All water pipe (about 500 LF) has been installed and the final connection will be made this week to tie the plaza and gas station into the new water main. It is expected that all the paved area will be restored by the end of this week with final project completion sometime next week.
2. LWL crews relocated (close proximity of the existing) a new utility pole abutting the Schillings project on September 13, 2017. This new pole will become the fuse/delivery point for the required three (3) phase power supply to the brewery’s pad mounted transformer. The overhead lines have now been transferred and LWL personnel are preparing to transfer the secondary lines though this will require a more extensive outage and will affect a larger number of abutting businesses.
3. NH House Bill (HB) 324 currently being discussed in Concord was briefly discussed with the BOC. The HB, if adopted, will make the NH Department of Revenue Administration (NHDRA) responsible for assessing and setting the tax evaluation price of all private utilities (i.e. hydroelectric, overhead lines, etc.) for all towns in NH. The valuation of the Moore Hydroelectric station if assessed by NHDRA is expected to be significantly undervalued as compared to current estimates according to some experts.
Several local towns especially those that rely on revenue generated by major utility infrastructure such as the Town of Littleton and Monroe may see a significant decrease in their tax base that will directly correspond to an increase in
GENERAL/OTHER BUSINESS:
The BOC reviewed Daymark Energy Advisors proposed monthly fee increase of $1,000. This is the first fee increase that Daymark has proposed since October 2004 when they first began working for LWL. Daymark provided a summary of the tasks and services that they routinely provide LWL under the base agreement. The most notable services that they routinely provided are wholesale power supply procurement an solicitations, acts as liaison with ISONE in matter concerning energy and capacity and they interact as needed with ISONE to managing LWL’s wholesale power market grid resources.
Commissoner Ross inquired as to the term of the agreement?
Mr. Considine stated that the initial terms of the agreement was for a “period of one (1) year, thereafter, either party may terminate work under the agreement upon giving a thirty (30) day written notice to the other.”
ADJOURNMENT:
Commissioner Ross made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by
Commissioner Cooper.
The vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0.
Meeting adjourned at 1:55 p.m.
The regularly scheduled Commissioner’s meeting is held twice monthly on the first and third Monday, at 1:00 p.m., in the Department’s conference room.