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 1:00 p.m. on Monday, November 03, 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 October 20, 2014 regularly scheduled Commissioners meeting were reviewed. Commissioner Moore made a motion to accept the minutes as presented, seconded by Commissioner Ross.
The vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0.
CUSTOMER & PUBLIC CONCERNS:
1. Mrs. Kenney discussed the “preferred billing” option within the utility billing software and the intended function. On our old billing software this option catered to customers that were on a fixed income and would adjust their billing due date to coincide with their scheduled pay date.
Superintendent Considine stated that this is an exception to office policy. LWL should not have to manage a customer’s account or when their pay their bills. This option also allows customers to extend their payment due date.
The BOC expressed no particular preference as to this payment option. It appears to be on a case by case basis. The final decision should be left to the discretion of department management and the BOC would support that decision.
2. Mrs. Kenney also discussed the on-line credit card/ electronic payment system with the BOC. Several commercial customers have questioned why a $1,000 cap was placed on the maximum dollar limit allowed per transaction.
Following a brief discussion with the BOC it was decided that the capped maximum limit would be increased temporarily and reassessed when processing data is available for analysis. These limits can be easily adjusted based on expenses associated with increasing the maximum dollar limit per transaction.
FINANCIAL DIRECTORS REPORT:
Mrs. Wilkins reviewed the financial statements for the month ended September 2014 with the Commissioners. Several discrepancies as compared to budget were discussed and explained by Mrs. Wilkins.
SUPERINTENDENT/ GENERAL MANAGERS REPORT:
1. As a direct result of the implementation of the NISC utility billing software on July 5th several office staff employees voluntarily did not take a summer vacation. Department policy mandates that only one week can be brought into the “new year” and that week must be taken before the end of the first quarter. Superintendent Considine requested and exception to policy for office staff personnel be granted. He suggested that certain office personnel be allowed to utilize their earned time through the entire year as a way of saying “thank you”. This exception would only apply for calendar year 2015.
Following a very brief discussion the BOC agreed and granted the exception to policy based on Superintendent Considine’s recommendation. The BOC stated that they appreciated the office employee dedication through the conversion process as it was a busy and chaotic time especially considering that the office staff was short one person.
2. The department is planning to submit a grant application to the NHDES with regard to asset management and financial planning relative to the water system. The majority of underground water system was GPS located in connection with a water conservation grant award to LWL in 2013. Cartographic Associates is preparing an estimate to provide GIS modeling of the water system GPS data previously collected in 2013. The maximum project limit is $15,000 and NHDES will match 50% under this grant program.
3. The department recently had a telephone conversation with La Capra Associates in regard to the department connecting to the Northeast Utility 115 Kv transmission line in the Littleton Industrial Park. This would improve department reliability and power quality and is expected to be a more cost effective in the long run. La Capra was asked to provide the department a quote that is intended to evaluate the economic an operational viability of LWL proposal relative to the interconnection.
4. The proceeds received through the NHPUC relative to the ISONE September 2014 Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative auction will be distributed in November 2014 to LWL customers. The rebate rate is set at $0.00280 per KWh or $2.81 per 1,000 KWh. Customer’s November statement that included KWh use will show a line item annotate as “Rebate” and the message area will explain the rebate.
GENERAL BUSINESS:
1. Superintendent Considine advised the BOC that our internet network provider has suggested that the server room’s ambient temperature should be between 65 – 68 degrees. This is a direct result of the heat being produced by the equipment operating in the area and to prevent premature equipment failure the cooler temperature is highly suggested.
Upon review by the department, the HVAC solution provided by Vermont Heating and Ventilation and was deemed acceptable.
The BOC agreed with the special HVAC requirements needed in the server room to protect the monetary investment and operational needs of the department.
2. The BOC briefly discussed an email sent by Stan Faryniarz, La Capra Associates relative to a conversation that he had on LWL’s behalf with Jerry Leone from Casella Waste Management. Casella is one of the developers of the long-delayed methane gas fired generation project proposed at the Bethlehem Landfill.
No action taken by the BOC with regard to the La Capra email.
ADJOURNMENT:
Commissioner Ross made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by
Commissioner Moore.
The vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0.
Meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m.
The above read and approved.
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.