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 1:05 p.m. on Tuesday, September 6, 2022 in the LWL conference room. Present were Commissioner Peter Cooper, Commissioner Ralph Ross, Commissioner Linda MacNeil, Director of Finance Lori Hogan and Superintendent Thomas Considine.
MINUTES REVIEW:
The minutes of the August 15, 2022 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
DIRECTOR of FINANCE and HUMAN RESOURCES REPORT:
1. Mrs. Hogan reviewed LWL’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) contract renewal with the BOC. The program is managed by the Center For New Beginnings and the employees’ health care covers the cost of the therapy sessions. The cost to LWL to keep the Center for New Beginnings on retainer is $80 per person per year, the contract renewal is for three (3) years.
Commissioner MacNeil made a motion to renew the EAP contract with the Center For New Beginnings in accordance with the agreement dated
August 31, 2022 for a total cost of $3,360. Seconded by Commissioner Ross.
The vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0.
CUSTOMER & PUBLIC CONCERNS:
Mr. Bruce Hadlock discussed the continuing lawsuit between the LWL and NHDRA/ Town of Littleton (TOL) and that it is a horrific waste of money, time, and effort. He does not understand why the selectmen want to destroy an organization that appears to be working well and trying to fix something that is not broke.
Mr. Hadlock also discussed a NH Supreme Court decision that went against the TOL in a suit against the Town Library/Librarian that was elected as a selectman. The court ruling stated that the librarian is not a town employee but an employee of the library that “is a separate and distinct entity” from the town. (TOL v. Taylor, 138 NH. 419(1994). The court also mandated that the TOL reimburse the defendant for all legal expenses. Mr. Hadlock stated that the library case sounds very similar to TOL lawsuit against LWL, should LWL win the TOL should be made to reimburse the LWL ratepayer all legal expense. Even though the rate payers and taxpayers are generally the same it is the principle of the matter and send a clear message to the selectboard that they were/are wrong.
Following some back-and-forth discussions both the BOC and Mr. Hadlock agreed that they do not understand what is driving the TOL hesitancy to settle or drop the lawsuit other than fear of reprisal by the NHDRA.
SUPERINTENDENT/ GENERAL MANAGERS REPORT:
1. LWL personnel will be working to repair a leaking fitting at the intersection of Cottage Street and Bethlehem Road this week in addition to assisting the contractor for the White Mountain Community College. An 8-inch watermain will be interconnecting between Union Street and Carleton Street to provide necessary fire flow capacity to the new addition.
2. Tesla approached LWL recently regarding the potential of installing electric vehicle charging station at the Hampton Inn on Meadow Street. A site visit was conducted though no further action was taken.
GENERAL/NEW/OTHER BUSINESS:
1. The BOC reviewed a proposal submitted by Northledge Technologies of Jackson, NH to replace the failing Avaya phone (> 12 years old) that has exceeded its useful life. Mr. Considine stated that the final cost will be less than shown in the proposal as the total number of actual desk telephones quoted are twice what LWL needs.
Following some discussion Commissioner MacNeil made a motion to accept the proposal dated August 15, 2022 for an amount not to exceed $18,300. Seconded by Commissioner Ross.
The vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0
2. The BOC reviewed the monthly Daymark Energy report recommending that LWL solicit power supply resources to further hedge its wholesale position. The BOC also reviewed a graft annotating the open power supply position remaining in 2022. Daymark also noted that the market is backward date meaning that prices are trending downward in the outlining years.
Mr. Considine stated that LWL has an open power supply position of about thirty (30) percent remaining between October through December 2022 and about forty (40) percent going into 2023. The needed resources are generally peak day and peak weekend. LWL’s 2022 Operating, and Maintenance budget is carrying an expense of about $80/MW, the actual market is expected to close at around $191/MW. This higher anticipated expense represents a budget shortfall of about $600,000 in 2022 for just wholesale power supply line item. The increase in power supply expenses is largely due to limited domestic liquefied national gas (LNG) production, inflation, and LNG exports to Europe. All these factors are causing market prices to increase to record setting levels. If the winter months (October-March) are colder than average LNG prices most likely will increase.
Daymark is advising the LWL procure the needed resources for Oct-Dec 2022 and look at 2023 later this fall as the market my subside.
Commissioner Ross stated that as LWL is risk adverse we should look at Q1 2023 along with Q4 2022 to see if there is a price point break.
Mr. Considine stated that Q1 2023 could be request, if prices are not favorable LWL could drop bid item from proposal though the focus would be on Q4 2022 needs.
Following some additional discussion Commissioner Cooper made a motion to authorize Superintendent Considine to proceed with procuring the required wholesale power supply resources and execute the contract(s) if reasonable for Q4 2022. Seconded by Commissioner MacNeil.
The vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0.
3. The BOC reviewed an abatement request from a customer at 100 Pine Street that stated that their garden hose leaked causing water to leak for more than five (5) hours.
Following the discussion, the BOC denied the customer’s request.
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 2:40 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.