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, August 05, 2019 in the Littleton Water and Light (LWL) conference room. Present were Commissioner Peter Cooper, Commissioner Schuyler Sweet, and Superintendent Thomas Considine.
MINUTES REVIEW:
The BOC briefly discussed the minutes of the July 15, 2019 regularly scheduled Commissioners meeting. No action was taken as a quorum (at least two (2) Commissioners in attendance) could not be satisfied as Commissioner Sweet was not present for this meeting.
CUSTOMER & PUBLIC CONCERNS:
Mr. Considine stated that Mrs. Lois Champagne spoke with him recently and officially wanted to recognize Kevin Sorrell (LWL’s Chief Water Operator) for his assistance in regard to repairs made to their water service line after a leak was detected. Mrs. Champagne stated that Kevin went over and above what was expected and that through his efforts the repairs were made quickly and expenses were kept to a minimum.
APPOINTMENTS:
Mrs. Cathy Parker spoke with the BOC with regard to a $35.00 NSF electronic process fee that she is disputing. Mrs. Parker alleges that she followed the steps to submit her electronic payment and the bank kicked out the transaction at no fault of hers. This has happened several others times to her as well.
Mrs. Kenney (LWL Office Manager) stated that the bank by default will block the transaction if the account data does not match. Credit card payments are approved almost instantaneously whereas electronic check can take up to three (3) days. The LWL billing system provides the customer an authorization number in both instances though a checking transaction will rescind the approval if the funds are not available.
Mr. Considine stated that thousands of electronic transactions are processed correctly each month and in the same way, typically human error is the cause of the confusion.
Following a brief discussion the BOC agreed and approved the rebate of the $35.00 NSF processing fee and that the charge be expunged from Mrs. Parkers account in this case.
SUPERINTENDENT/ GENERAL MANAGERS REPORT:
1. LWL personnel recently placed the upgraded Burndy Substation back in service and the overhead circuits placed back to its normal configuration.
2. LWL support to the contractor working on the Union Street sanitary infiltration project is almost a daily occurrence. Incidents on-site are becoming a nuisance with many that could have been prevented. Time spent on this project by LWL personnel is burdensome and counterproductive for LWL personnel attempting to complete their assigned tasks and projects.
GENERAL/ OTHER BUSINESS:
1. Discussion and any related action with regard to Union Bank’s proposal to manage LWL financial accounts was postponed until the full board is present. Commissioner Sweet stated that he would not participate in this discussion as he is affiliated with the banks board of directors.
2 The Vermont Electric Power Company, LLC (VELCO) provided LWL with a plan with regard to how they propose to assist LWL in managing the 34.5 kV easement. This is a first phase of a more detailed plan to investigate the potential construction of an access road from the Pattenville Substation to Lafayette Avenue. VELCO foresters developed this preliminary proposal based on a recent aerial reconnaissance helicopter flight that they conducted in June 2019. Vegetation control, the removal of danger tree and development of a base map is their proposed first phase. Once completed then the feasibility of construction an access road will be explored.
Following some additional discussion Commissioner Sweet made a motion to authorize Superintendent Considine to execute a service agreement with VELCO, seconded by Commissioner Cooper.
The vote was in favor of the motion 2-0-0.
3. A developer of a utility scale solar project proposed for the Merrill Property will brief the BOC at their August 19, 2019 regular commissioner meeting. Daymark Energy has been contacted with regard to providing comment as to how this scale project may impact LWL from a regulator point of view. Other restriction/impacts discussed around Town of Littleton’s Planning and Zoning rules and regulations.
Mr. Bruce Hadlock commented that to the best of his knowledge Littleton has no regulation governing solar project of this type and that the developers would have to apply for a special exception from the zoning board.
4. Mr. Considine made a request that the meeting be moved to nonpublic session to discuss employee matters.
Commissioner Sweet made a motion to enter into nonpublic session in accordance with RSA 91- A: 3, Paragr aphs II (a) and II (e).
Seconded by Commissioner Cooper.
Commissioner Cooper called for a roll call vote to enter in nonpublic session. Commissioner Sweet - Yes and Commissioner Cooper – Yes.
The vote was in favor of the motion 2-0-0.
Entered nonpublic session at 2:00 p.m.
Public session reconvened at 2:25 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business to come before the board Commissioner Sweet made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Cooper.
The vote was in favor of the motion 2-0-0.
Meeting adjourned at 2:30 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.