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 business meeting of the Littleton Water and Light (LWL) Board of Commissioners (BOC) began at 1:01 p.m. on Monday,
December 15, 2025, in the LWL conference room. Present were Commissioner Peter Cooper, Commissioner Ralph Ross, and CEO Lori Hogan.
Public in attendance – BG Frazier, Bruce Hadlock & Casey Hadlock
MINUTES REVIEW:
The minutes of December 1, 2025, regularly scheduled Commissioners meeting were reviewed.
Commissioner Ross made a motion to accept the minutes as amended, seconded by Commissioner Cooper.
The vote was in favor of the motion 2-0-0.
APPOINTMENTS: None
CUSTOMER & PUBLIC CONCERNS:
Mr. Hadlock expressed his concern about the increase in water rates. He requested information as to the total increase in water revenue projected for 2026.
Commissioner Ross & Cooper noted that the water department has run at a deficit for more than 10 years. Additionally, DES has noted that due to our rates being too low that we cannot qualify for funding and or grants. This results in large infrastructure projects not being completed. Therefore, we commissioned Horizon Engineering to conduct a water rate study. The study outlined that our rates needed to increase. Their recommendation was 187%. The team decided that this was too high of an increase and they requested that Mrs. Hogan review all of the assumption in the study and to make a recommendation for a phased in approach.
Mrs. Hogan highlighted the recommendation in the study was to bring the water rates from $3.23 to $9.23. Mrs. Hogan reviewed the assumptions in all three of the asset management plans. She recommends that all of the make ready costs be removed from these estimates as our historic approach has always been equipment rental within house labor. This lowered the amount needed by about $400,000 per year. Additionally, Mrs. Hogan looked at costs for drinking water vs. fire flow and recommended the costs be separated in the study. The numbers continued to roll up with a shortfall.
The recommendation of $3.23 to $5.23 does not resolve the shortfall but is just step one of a phased in approach to address the infrastructure.
Mr. Hadlock noted the differences in water & sewer between Littleton and Lincoln. There was much discussion about those differences.
Commissioner Ross noted the importance of properly funding the infrastructure of the system, so the water department does not become another burden to the Town similar to the sewer treatment plant.
Mrs. Hogan noted that we received additional communications from Paul Reitsma. Mrs. Hogan encouraged him to consult an attorney in his disagreement with Consolidated Communications, the owners of the poles.
Mrs. Hogan noted communications with the Rail Trail Village. They are inquiring about the poles that we have agreed to remove however this is subject to the Lafayette Substation being rebuilt which is currently projected in 2027. Additionally, they requested a review of their rate schedule as they are 80% residential. Mrs. Hogan reviewed with the customer service team and does not recommend any changes at this time.
OPERATIONS MANAGER:
Mrs. Hogan noted the status of some ongoing projects, nothing significant to report.
The team had a call with the American Rivers and their engineer to discuss the status of the North Branch Dam Removal. First draft of the plans was reviewed. Mr. Considine noted that instead of moving the intake upriver instead they are recommending lowering the intake by 4 feet. Additionally, they wish to remove the old building and all of the concrete associated with the old intake. Mrs. Hogan noted that the concerns that we expressed with this approach is that it eliminates our redundancy. Additionally, we have specific concerns about the lowering of the intake by 4 feet and what that would do to the PSI and flow of the intake.
The commissioners expressed the same concerns, and Mrs. Hogan will ensure that this is communicated to the American Rivers team. Commissioner Cooper did note that we have not anticipated any costs associated with the dam removal.
CEO & TREASURER:
Morgan Stanley has requested additional documents as part of renewing the MPA. They have requested a certificate of authority and a copy of the minutes authorizing that authority.
The contracts typically executed have already been approved by vote of the commissioners and the paperwork usually follows after the board has adjourned. The proposed certificate expedites the process and moves the contracts along without needless time delays.
Commissioner Ross made a motion to grant authority for Mrs. Hogan as the LWL treasurer to execute certain documents on behalf of the board of commissioners as needed to execute a power supply and other operational documents seconded by Commissioner Cooper.
The vote was in favor of the motion 2-0-0.
Mrs. Hogan noted that the press release was printed in the Caledonian and The Record.
Mrs. Hogan discussed the inventory process and the need to establish a reserve for obsolescence. We have never had a reserve but there is inventory that hasn’t moved in more than 30 years that the team said they would never use for new customers and would only use in case of an emergency repair for very specific customers. Mrs. Hogan will review the phase in of a reserve.
Mrs. Hogan opened the budget hearing. There are no changes being recommended to the capital budget for 2026. The total being $2,252,250 between water and electric.
Commissioner Ross made a motion to accept the capital budget as presented, seconded by Commissioner Cooper.
The vote was in favor of the motion 2-0-0.
GENERAL / OTHER BUSINESS
Commissioner Ross noted that the tree trimming invoices were typically $6,000 per week and have recently been $10,000. Not sure if the increase is due to flagging or area being addressed. Mrs. Hogan will look into this increase. BG Frazier asked about the trimming cost of the Consolidated pole set. The attachment agreements are more than 30 years old and LWL is absorbing the costs of trimming in this pole set area as it can directly impact the system reliability of our rate payers.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:58 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.