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 Tuesday, January 18, 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 January 3, 2022 regularly scheduled Commissioners meeting were reviewed.
Commissioner Ross suggested changes on page 2, paragraph 2, regarding the proposed hydrant annual fee. In the second and last sentence add per hydrant per month following the $1.00. Should read “Increase the fee by $1.00/hydrant/month or …...”
Commissioner Ross made a motion to accept the minutes with the proposed changes as stated above, seconded by Commissioner MacNeil.
The vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0
CUSTOMER & PUBLIC CONCERNS:
Justen Elliott LWL line supervisor introduced Derek Gray to the BOC. Derek first day of work is today and he will be filling the vacant journeyman lineman position.
DIRECTOR of FINANCE and HUMAN RESOURCES REPORT:
Mrs. Hogan presented a modification to LWL current 457 plan with Security Benefits. A companion 401a plan will be added to the current 457 plan that will allow for employer (LWL) matching contributions. This new plan is intended to retain and attract new employees to keep LWL relevant and competitive in the current job marketplace. Details of the plan were reviewed and discussed with the BOC with a tentative implementation date of February 1, 2022.
As the final plan documents are not available for execution, Mrs. Hogan suggested that signature authority be given to LWL treasurer as this is in line with the current 457 Plan.
Commissioner MacNeil made a motion granting Superintendent Considine signature authority for the BOC regarding the 401a plan as presented, seconded by Commissioner Ross.
The vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0
SUPERINTENDENT/ GENERAL MANAGERS REPORT:
1. NHDES granted a conditional approval of the preliminary large well siting and groundwater withdrawal application and permit for the proposed Lafayette Well B site (NHDES permit No. 005959). According to Geosphere Environmental the conditions noted by NHDES are typical for this type of project. The sustained pump testing will target well sustainability (quantity) and water quality and testing is expected to commence later this year. The results of the pump test should reveal the characteristics of the well capacity and water quality. All results will be provided to NHDES for final review and permitting approval.
2. A spreadsheet that evaluated the cost for LWL utilizing the digger derrick truck (808 Life Cycle Costs) to set a utility pole was reviewed with the BOC. On average the cost for LWL to set a utility pole ranges from $1,000 to $1,400. This cost does not include the cost to set anchors or if ledge is found and must be mitigated by an outside contractor.
GENERAL/OTHER BUSINESS:
1. Electric Rate Tariff - The financial impact to LWL customers due to the pending electric rate tariff increase was reviewed and discussed with the BOC. It was recommended at the January 3, 2022 BOC meeting that a 14.7% increase is warranted due to significant increases in transmission and wholesale power supply costs going into 2022. The recommended rate increase is anticipated to deliver a one (1) percent margin for LWL electric operations providing nothing changes. The calculated financial impact for each group was based on the following design assumptions: 1) the average consumption of each user group, and 2) projected increase in expenses were applied uniformly across each user class.
For example, a residential class customer (single family home/apartments) average monthly energy consumption is about 600 kWh. This would produce an increase in cost of about $10/month/customer and will vary slightly if the customer’s consumption is above or below the average.
The implementation/timing of the rate adjustment was discussed. The BOC agreed to establish a tentative date of April 1, 2022 to make the needed rate adjustment. Public information notice will provide customers the opportunity for input and comment a month prior to the proposed implementation date.
Following some additional discussion Commissioner MacNeil made a motion to approve a 14.7% electric rate increase with a tentative adjustment implementation date of April 1, 2022. Seconded by Commissioner Ross.
The vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0
2. 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 1:58 p.m.
Public session reconvened at 2:15 p.m.
MEETING ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business to come before the board Commissioner MacNeil made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Ross.
The vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0.
Meeting adjourned at 2:18 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.