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 17, 2010 in the Littleton Water and Light Department (LWL) conference room. Present were Commissioner Eddy Moore, Commissioner Perry Goodell, Commissioner Ralph Ross, Financial Services Director Cheryl Wilkins, and Superintendent Thomas Considine.
MINUTES REVIEW:
The minutes of May 3, 2010 regularly scheduled Commissioners meeting were reviewed. Commissioner Goodell made a motion to accept the minutes as presented, seconded by Commissioner Ross.
The vote was in favor 3-0-0.
CUSTOMER CONCERNS:
Mr. Mike Currier (Rotebec Industries) and Mr. Dave McPhaul (Harrison Publishing) asked the BOC what rational was used to justify the proposed Public Fire Protection fee.
The BOC deferred to Superintendent Considine who stated that based on the research that was conducted properties with a fire sprinkler connection received another level of fire protection that residential customers did not have. Additional storage capacity is needed in addition to large water mains that a residential system (500 GPM) would not need; typically commercial property requires higher flows.
Mr. McPhaul stated that a property with a sprinkler system uses less water as only the sprinkler head in the affected area activates and that connection fees were developed for this purpose. In his opinion charging just the sprinkler customers this fee was not fair and equitable and a larger capacity system benefits all that are attached.
Superintendent Considine stated that connection fees are based on the size of the domestic water meter and that there are no fees for fire connections. A year’s hydrant maintenance fee is passed on to the town.
A lengthy discussion continued between all parties. Both Mr. Currier and Mr. McPhaul requested that the BOC reconsider implementation of the new fee and that it be passed on to the entire town through the hydrant maintenance fees.
SUPERINTENDENT/ MANAGERS REPORT:
1. The BOC reviewed the sales figures through April 2010. Water sales are slightly below budget by about 3 ½ % and electricity sales continue a downward trend of about 8 ½ % when compare to 2009.
2. A USDA Rural Development request for grant eligibility determination was submitted on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 for the Oak Hill Avenue replacement project.
Commissioner Moore asked if the project would require an Alteration of Terrain Permit (ATP) prior to commencement of work.
Commissioner Ross stated that the project impact which is less that an acre and less than the 100,000 SF required for ATP (1 acre = 43,560 SF).
OLD BUSINESS:
The Highland Croft project was granted a variance by the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) with the conditions as requested by the LWL. LWL will have to sign off on the project before work can commence. (Refer to LWL letter to the ZBA dated
May 7, 2010).
OTHER BUSINESS:
1. The BOC reviewed a letter from the Littleton Food Coop requesting an exception to LWL policy and that their deposit be returned. The Department advised them that they were not eligible until July 2010 in accordance with LWL policy.
The BOC was in agreement that they would have their deposit returned to them in accordance with Department financial policy after a 12 month period.
2. Commissioner Ross made a motion to table the implementation of the Public Fire Protection Fee pending further discussion and evaluation. Seconded by Commissioner Goodell.
Vote was in favor 3-0-0.
ADJOURNMENT:
Commissioner Goodell made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by
Commissioner Ross.
The vote was in favor 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.