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 2, 2024 in the LWL conference room. Present were Commissioner Linda MacNeil, Commissioner Ralph Ross, Commissioner Peter Cooper, Director of Finance Lori Hogan and Superintendent Thomas Considine.
MINUTES REVIEW:
The minutes of the December 18, 2023 regularly scheduled Commissioners meeting were reviewed. Commissioner Cooper made a motion to accept the minutes as presented, seconded by Commissioner Ross.
The vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0
CUSTOMER & PUBLIC CONCERNS:
On Monday, December 18, 2023 a severe winter storm caused heavy rainfall and high winds that resulted in damaging flood waters and numerous electrical outages.
The Ammonoosuc River (that crested at more than 12 feet) caused significate damage to a section of 10-inch water transmission main in Bethlehem Hollow. The section of watermain that parallel the river was subject to significant soil erosion and damage due to the turbulent flood waters scouring under the pipe. The water main was moved about four (4) feet towards the river resulting in several leaking pipe joints. The damage to the water main was not evident until the following day when the water receded. LWL personnel were able to make the needed repairs late on Tuesday, December 19, 2023.
Storm damage incurred by the electric distribution system generally affected the higher elevations though various nuisance/small outages were reported throughout the service territory. All LWL personnel were engaged in storm restoration activities that began at 6:00 a.m. Generally, electrical damage was not serious and was the result of trees and small branches that caused the outages. Unlike the storm on Christmas Eve 2022 the weather remained relatively warm throughout the day, power was restored by 10:30 p.m. on Monday, December 18, 2023.
Mr. Considine will attend a Federal/State Emergency Management assessment briefing this week to discuss the water main situation with federal officials regarding the availability of disaster relief funds that may be available to assist in repair activities.
DIRECTOR of FINANCE and HUMAN RESOURCES REPORT:
1. The disbursement of the power supply rebate for December is complete, about $445,400 was rebated back to electric customers as projected and a RGGI rebate will be disbursed in January in the amount of about $13/ 1,000 kWh of electric consumption.
2. The Commissioners accepted the financial statements for the month ended October 2023 as presented and approved distribution.
GENERAL/OTHER BUSINESS:
1. The BOC reviewed and discussed the proposed changes to the Collective Bargaining Agreement that was tentatively agreed upon by the LWL negotiation team. Commissioner MacNeil stated that she would like to read the full agreement before signing the final documents though she has no objection to the changes proposed.
2. The BOC reviewed the proposed impact of the changes to the draft 2024 Operating and Maintenance (O&M) budget that resulted from the union agreement. The line items affected were wages, health care and some miscellaneous lesser times, the combined hourly impact of about $3.60 is anticipated with greater than eighty (80) percent affecting the electric division.
3. The proposed major equipment and projects for 2024 were discussed and reviewed with the BOC. There are still some blank dollar values shown that Superintendent Considine stated that he would return to the BOC for discussion as estimates are not readily available at this time. The work needed to repair the water main in Bethlehem Hollow damaged during Monday, December 18, 2023 is an example that needs clarification and further project development before a recommendation. Noteworthy items/projects for 2024 are the implementation/expansion of the Advance Metering Infrastructure (AMI) network, the design of the new Lafayette Substation replacement, and the replacement of the pressure reducing vault on Crane Street and utility 1-ton pickup truck with plow.
Following some general discussion Commissioner Cooper made a motion to approve the 2024 proposed Operating and Maintenance budget dated
January 2, 2024 as presented, and the major projects and equipment replacement plan dated January 2, 2024 as presented. Seconded by Commissioner Ross.
The vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0.
Mrs. Hogan stated that she will begin the process of determining the default budget for the Town of Littleton 2024 town meeting warrant article.
4. Mrs. Hogan suggested that the meeting be moved to a nonpublic session to discuss a matter that involves personnel.
Commissioner Cooper made a motion to enter Nonpublic Session in accordance with
RSA 91-A:3, II(a) – Personnel matters. Seconded by Commissioner Ross.
Commissioner MacNeil called for a roll call vote to enter nonpublic session.
Commissioner MacNeil - Yes, Commissioner Ross- Yes, and Commissioner Cooper - Yes.
The vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0,
Entered nonpublic session at 2:30 p.m.
Public session reconvened at 2:35 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 Cooper.
The vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0.
Meeting adjourned at 2:37 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.