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, December 17, 2018 in the Littleton Water and Light (LWL) conference room. Present were Commissioner Ralph Ross, Commissioner Peter Cooper, Commissioner Schuyler Sweet, Financial Director Cheryl Wilkins, and Superintendent Thomas Considine.
MINUTES REVIEW:
The minutes of the December 3, 2018 regularly scheduled Commissioners meeting were reviewed. Commissioner Sweet made a motion to accept the minutes as presented, seconded by Commissioner Cooper.
The vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0.
FINANCIAL DIRECTORS REPORT:
1. Mrs. Wilkins reviewed the highlights of the financial statements for the month ended October 2018 with the Commissioners. Several variances as compared to budget were discussed and explained by Mrs. Wilkins.
2. Mrs. Wilkins informed the BOC that Vachon Clukay PC (Auditors) sent a representative to observe and spot check LWL’s 2018 physical inventory count. Several inventory listed items were selected from each operating division and the counts verified by the auditor with LWL personnel observing/assisting.
SUPERINTENDENT/ GENERAL MANAGERS REPORT:
1. The NH Public Utilities Commission recently distributed the proceeds from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) auction held in December 2018 (No. 42) to LWL for disbursement. Eligible LWL customers will receive a rebate in the amount of about $3.91/1,000 kWh on their January 2019 statement.
2. The State of NH Department of Revenue Administration advised LWL (Letter dated 12/14/2018) that effective January 1, 2019 the State of NH will stop collecting the Electric Consumption Tax (ECT). This is in accordance with house Bill 517 that repealed the $0.0055 / kWh tax that was established under RSA 83-E in May 2001.
Though this action does not affect LWL rates directly the average residential customer will see their overall charges drop monthly by about thirty-six (36) cents.
3. Commissioner Ross inquired if there was much interest shown with regard to the newspaper ad soliciting a new technician. Superintendent Considine stated that several resumes were received and the screening process should begin soon.
GENERAL/ OTHER BUSINESS:
1. Superintendent Considine stated that the union (IBEW Local 1837) membership on December 4, 2018 ratified the 2019-2023 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The terms were agreed to by vote of the BOC at their November 19, 2018 during nonpublic session. Following a brief discussion each of the Commissioners and Superintendent Considine signed Article 31 (contract duration) officially accepting the CBA for the next five (5) years.
2. The 2019 proposed Operating and Maintenance (O&M) budgets were presented to the BOC for approval. Several minor changes to the power supply line items were made following discussions with Daymark Energy that generally affected power supply cost relative to purchase made off the spot market.
Commissioner Cooper commented that the margin appears to be in line with standard as depicted in the auditor’s report. Superintendent Considine stated that the anticipated margins will most likely vary as a result of final sales and weather impact.
The 2019 proposed Capital Improvement (construction projects and equipment) Plan (CIP) was presented to the BOC for approval. With the exception of the cost to install needed soft-start equipment at the Goss pump station nothing has changed from the initial review that was previously discussed.
Commissioner Sweet asked if the security in the front office lobby area should be reviewed and possibly improved in regard to employee safety. Superintendent Considine stated that the current office configuration was a compromise as front office security was discussed at length during the 2013 renovation. Primex Risk Management (insurance carrier) will be contacted with regard to this matter.
Following some additional discussion Commissioner Sweet made a motion to accept the 2019 O&M budgets and CIP as proposed, seconded by Commissioner Cooper.
The vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0.
ADJOURNMENT:
Commissioner Sweet 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 2:15 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.