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 business meeting of the Littleton Water and Light (LWL) Board of Commissioners (BOC) began at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, January 3, 2022 in the LWL conference room. Present were Commissioner Peter Cooper, Commissioner Ralph Ross, Commissioner Linda MacNeil, Consultant Schuyler Sweet, Director of Finance Lori Hogan and Superintendent Thomas Considine.
MINUTES REVIEW:
The minutes of the December 20, 2021 regularly scheduled Commissioners meeting were reviewed. Commissioner Ross made a motion to accept the minutes as presented, seconded by Commissioner MacNeil.
The vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0
CUSTOMER & PUBLIC CONCERNS:
The water supply will be shut down between Rite Aid on Meadow Street and around Walgreens Pharmacy on Dells Road to repair a leaking water main for about four (4) hours on Tuesday, January 4, 2022. The leak was reported by a Maplefields store employee at about 8 p.m. on Saturday evening
January 1, 2022.
SUPERINTENDENT/ GENERAL MANAGERS REPORT:
The Alteration of Terran (AoT) permit to our knowledge has not been approved/issued by the NHDES to T & T Mountain Investments for 786 West Main Street (Highland Croft Property). There has been some back-and-forth discussion between the owner of the property and NHDES officials as to what will be required regarding the groundwater monitoring plan to mitigate potential nitrite/nitrate contamination from the proposed blasting activity. The proposed blasting and quarry activities is expected to last up to five (5) years according to the application.
Commissioner MacNeil asked if the owners have contacted LWL.
Superintendent Considine stated that he expects a visit as soon as the AoT permit has been approved.
GENERAL/OTHER BUSINESS:
1. The BOC discussed the needed revenue portion of the 2022 budget and asked that the margins recommended be refined and presented at their next meeting as to the anticipated impact to each customer class due to potentially adjusting rates.
2. Mr. Considine asked that the fees and charges that are not related to rates be made effective immediately i.e., water connection/investments and fire hydrant fees, etc. Area lighting charges are tied in with the respective rate schedule and will be address at that time.
Currently LWL recovers less than twenty (20) percent of its costs to provide fire protection and charges an annual hydrant lease/rental fee of $80 per hydrant. Increasing the fee by $1.00/hydrant/month or fifteen (15) percent is recommended though LWL customers will still be subsidizing fire suppression activity significantly. American Water Works Association recommends a minimum fire suppression charge of 6% of its gross expenses to provide the needed capacity. LWL with the proposed $1/hydrant/month increase would be at about 3% though actual cost significantly higher.
The water system investments/connection fees were discussed. These fees are typically applied to new service connection and based on the size/capacity of the water meter/service requested by the customer. LWL does not charge on the size of the actual service line size as the water meter size (diameter) governs/restricts the capacity the customer is allowed. The fee is calculated based on the total cost to provide a certain level of water service to typically a residential customer. The current connection fee for a 5/8-inch metered service is $933 and it is recommended that the fee be increased $1,140 and increased proportionally based on the requested metered connection.
Following some additional discussion Commissioner MacNeil made a motion to increase the hydrant fee from $80 to $92 annually and to increase the water investment fee as recommended. Seconded by Commissioner Ross.
Vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0.
3. Commissioner MacNeil made a motion to enter nonpublic session to discuss a matter that may involve attorney client confidential information and a pending litigation in accordance with RSA 91-A:3, II(e). Seconded by Commissioner Ross.
Commissioner Cooper called for a roll call vote to enter in nonpublic session.
Commissioner MacNeil - yes, Commissioner Ross -Yes, Commissioner Cooper – Yes and Mr. Sweet – yes.
The vote was in favor of the motion 4-0-0,
Entered nonpublic session at 1:55 p.m.
Public session reconvened at 2:40 p.m.
MEETING ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business to come before the board Commissioner Ross made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner MacNeil.
The vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0.
Meeting adjourned at 2:46 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.