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.
View Meeting Minutes for: | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 |
The regularly scheduled Board of Commissioners (BOC) meeting began at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, May 19, 2014 in the Littleton Water and Light Department (LWL) conference room. Present were Commissioner Perry Goodell, Commissioner Eddy Moore, Commissioner Ralph Ross, Financial Services Director Cheryl Wilkins and Superintendent Thomas Considine.
MINUTES REVIEW:
The minutes of the May 5, 2014 regularly scheduled Commissioners meeting were reviewed. Commissioner Ross made a motion to accept the minutes as presented, seconded by Commissioner Moore.
The vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0.
APPOINTMENTS:
La Capra Associates representatives Mr. Stan Faryniarz and Mr. Craig Kieny discussed a handout with the BOC that summarized the department’s first quarter power supply purchases for 2014.
Mr. Faryniarz stated that the winter of 2013 – 2014 was unprecedented and that severe weather started in late November 2013 and lasted through early April 2014. This resulted in significant spot market volatility especially in January and February as hourly electricity prices on the NYMEX sold for almost 19 cents per kWh. The department’s projected resource shortfall, combined with an average increase in load of about six (6) percent, the department was well over their projected budget cost of 8.5 cents per kwh. Mr. Faryniarz concurred that additional resource should have been procured prior to the start of winter to lessen the impact to the department.
The BOC agreed that the department resources were shorter than they would have preferred though they wanted to focus the discussion on preventing a similar event next winter.
Commissioner Ross stated that he is concerned with the department’s position during the heat of the summer months, especially July and August as it greater that 10% open on the spot market.
Mr. Faryniarz stated that he did not feel that the spot prices would fluctuate as they did last winter as other demand are lessened.
The BOC asked La Capra to review the Load Following products offered by Next Era and report back to the department. In addition to begin the process of soliciting additional blocks of power to hedge the department position to about 95% - 100% through the summer and winter months and about 90% on the shoulders months.
Mr. Faryniarz and Mr. Kieny thanked the BOC for their time and excused themselves from the meeting at 2:10 p.m.
FINANCIAL DIRECTORS REPORT:
Mrs. Wilkins stated that the Accounting and Business Solution portion of the iVue utility billing software was placed in service on May 12th. LWL office staff is methodically working through the processes though certain ones are more cumbersome as the Customer Information Services (billing) is not active.
Superintendent Considine stated that the billing side of the software is expected to be placed in service in late June which is one (1) month later than NISC initial implementation estimate. The delay in implementing the billing software is mostly due to NISC converting the Harris data and aligning five (5) years of historical data into the appropriate iVue format.
SUPERINTENDENT/ GENERAL MANAGERS REPORT:
1. Superintendent Considine asked the BOC if they had any particular concerns with the descriptions as printed on the billing statement (i.e. wholesale, distribution, transmission).
The BOC agreed that the customers are familiar with the terminology and the no change is warranted at this time.
2. Representatives from Northeast Utilities are planning to visit the proposed location of a new step down substation in the Industrial Park area behind the transfer station. A June site visit is being discussed. The Department is in contact with the Town of Littleton as they prepare to sell a portion of the proposed parcel to the Littleton Industrial Development Corporation.
The BOC was advised that Fair Point is looking to replace the utility pole line up Mt. Eustis between Cottage Street and the Cyr Road.
Preliminary staking has already been accomplished by LWL. The preliminary staking should facilitate discussion with Fair Point and abutting property owners. There is no established time line for this overhead line upgrade.
GENERAL BUSINESS:
1. The BOC discussed the Towns plan to replace the storm and sewer main on High Street between Pleasant and Jackson streets. The water main is located adjacent to the sewer main on High Street and NHDES is requiring ten (10) feet of separation between sewer and potable water for new construction. The town has asked if the department could replace and relocate the water main to conform to the required code.
Superintendent Considine stated that the total length is about 900 feet which is similar to what was planned for the Maple Street water main replacement/ upgrade.
Following some discussion the BOC agreed to reallocated funds initially encumbered for Maple Street as the High Street project has a greater impact on the water system.
2. The BOC considered an offer from the Franconia Water District to purchase (at a about half-price about) 1,000 feet of 8” Class 52 ductile iron water pipe. Department personnel have schedule a visit to visually inspect the pipe (currently been in a stock pile for about six (6) years) and supposedly the pipe manufacture has previous certified the pipe as in good shape.
Following the inspection by LWL personnel Superintendent Considine will report back to the BOC for further BOC discussion.
ADJOURNMENT:
Commissioner Moore made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by
Commissioner Ross.
The vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0.
Meeting adjourned at 2:43 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.