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, May 4, 2015 in the Littleton Water and Light Department (LWL) conference room. Present were Commissioner Ralph Ross, Commissioner Eddy Moore, Commissioner Perry Goodell, Financial Services Director Cheryl Wilkins and Superintendent Thomas Considine.
MINUTES REVIEW:
The minutes of the April 20, 2015 regularly scheduled Commissioners meeting were reviewed. Commissioner Moore made a motion to accept the minutes as presented, seconded by Commissioner Goodell.
The vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0.
FINANCIAL DIRECTORS REPORT:
Mrs. Wilkins discussed National Grid’s March 2015 invoice that was in excess of $69,700 and the National Grid response when questioned by LWL as to the amount of the invoice. Supposedly the March invoice contains a $15,000 error and the department is supposed to receive a rebate. National Grid is attributing the increase in costs to their annual true-up of capital expenses.
Superintendent Considine stated that even with the pending rebate for March, the March invoice was still 200% higher than normal.
SUPERINTENDENT/ GENERAL MANAGERS REPORT:
1. The Town of Littleton Energy Conservation Commission (ECC) is looking for their next project to start preparing for next year’s town meeting. Ron Bolt, secretary of the ECC has contacted the department in regard to the Net Meter program. The ECC is reviewing repurposing the old landfill with the thought of placing passive solar arrays on the property. The ECC is also looking to replace the HPS street light fixtures with the more efficient LED lamp heads.
2. The Dufresne Group (Consulting Engineers) are applying for a grant through the USDA Rural Development Water & Environmental program. This grant is for planning purposes to develop a water system master plan and is expected to cost about $40,000. If awarded by the USDA the grant would cover up to $30,000 of the project cost. Decision and notice of the awards will not be made until late summer and the project may commence this fall.
3. The Littleton Memorial Day Parade Committee has requested a LWL vehicle to take part in the parade scheduled for Monday, May 25, 2015. Following some discussion the BOC agreed to support the committee’s request.
4. Department management will meet with IBEW (union) representative on Thursday, May 7, 2015 to discuss and review the pending changes to the department health care insurance carrier (New England Electrical Workers Benefits Fund). This meeting is a direct result of the NEEWBF making significant changes to the health care program that is going to affect coverages and costs. The union will propose an alternative program that appears comparable in coverage to the NEEWBF plan though costs are significantly higher. Cost data is only speculative at the present time though estimate increases of up to 60% are being discussed with a loss of coverage.
5. The department is scheduled to replace water shut off gate valve on Ammonoosuc Street tomorrow (Tuesday, May 5, 2015) due to a faulty operator control nut. The valve is located at the junction of Ammonoosuc and Saranac Street and a system shut down will affect about eighteen (18) customers.
6. The four (4) inch water main between Main Street and Saranac Street may have a leak that appears to be surfacing near a garage that was built in close proximity to the water main. The leak can be easily stopped by capping the line near Main Street though the need for the line needs to be discussed.
Commissioner Goodell discussed the need for this loop feed when the west end of Main Street is completed as planned as this loop feed will be replaced when the main street water main is extended down Meadow Street to Saranac Street.
7. Stiles Fuel conducted annual maintenance on the heating system for the garage. The inspection revealed that the boilers hot water jacket has previously leaked. This condition is not an immediate concern though we need to be aware that a new heating system may be warranted.
GENERAL BUSINESS:
1. Commissioner Moore signed a notice to the Town Clerk that certifies that the BOC has been reorganized for 2015-2016.
2. Following some discussion relative to a proposed power supply solicitation and purchase Commissioner Moore made a motion to authorize Superintendent Considine to make the necessary arrangements to prepare a request for a proposal to solicit bids and to execute the appropriate contract(s) to secure wholesale power resources to hedge the department 2016 – 2018 power supply position relative to the NYMEX spot market. Seconded by Commissioner Goodell.
Vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0.
3. The BOC discussed and executed a signature authorization for Superintendent Considine to sign on behalf of the BOC as needed to accommodate the time constraints and deadlines relative to certain contracts.
4. The replacement of the decorative lamp post was discussed by the BOC. The entire assembly was crushed and damaged beyond repair by a tree during a storm just prior to July 4, 2014 and has been a point of contention between the department and town. The Department has been cautious as this is a full replacement and differs from typical maintenance type activities (i.e. fixture replacement, changing bulbs or photocell). This repair would most likely set a precedent as more decorative type lamps are being used for their appearance. The Town of Littleton has since placed these types of lights (decorative/ architectural) on their insured property schedule due to the costs involved in a total replacement of this type.
Fred Moody (Town manager) has stated that the light was not placed on their insurance schedule until months after the incident. To help defer costs, Mr. Moody proposes a three (3) way split of the replacement costs (LWL, Town and River District).
Commissioner Moore took exception to the proposal and stated that provisions were made within the towns lighting budget line to accommodate the replacement of this particular lamp post and fixture.
Following some additional discussions the BOC agreed to a three (3) way split as proposed with the condition that the installation costs are to be determined and the split based on the installed cost.
ADJOURNMENT:
Commissioner Goodell 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 2:05 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.