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, June 04, 2012 in the Littleton Water and Light Department (LWL) conference room. Present were Commissioner Ralph Ross, Commissioner Eddy Moore, Commissioner Perry Goodell, Financial Services Director Cheryl Wilkins, Operations Manager Richard Herrington and Superintendent Thomas Considine.
MINUTES REVIEW:
The minutes of May 22, 2012 regularly scheduled Commissioners meeting were reviewed. Commissioner Goodell made a motion to accept the minutes as presented, seconded by Commissioner Moore.
The vote was in favor 3-0-0.
OPERATIONS MANAGER REPORT:
1. Mr. Herrington reviewed and discussed the final 15Kv voltage conversion project list with the BOC. The remaining projects vary in complexity and expense, the most noteworthy will be the work required by an outside contractor to upgrade the overhead infrastructure adjacent to Route 302 along Cottage Street to Morrison Hill Drive.
2. Commissioner Moore said that he received an inquiry from a residential customer in regard to the outage last June (2011) which caused a partial power situation on one (1) of the phases coming into the system, and whether the department has corrected the issue.
Mr. Herrington stated that he could set the circuit breakers to drop the whole system. He stated that most commercial three (3) phase customers have some degree of phase loss protection installed and that residential customer have the same option if there was a particular concern of a reoccurring event.
The BOC agreed that dropping the entire system (town) was not an alternative as this type of event was rare. The equipment is available for customers to protect their electronic if they have grave concerns of a reoccurring event.
3. Mr. Herrington stated that the department responded to several storm related “trouble calls” this past weekend in various areas of the system. LWL personnel noted that several locations were found that were potential hazards; an energized line was found on the ground, though the first responders placed traffic pylons to flag the area, LWL believes that personnel should have remained on site to warn others from approaching the downed line until LWL crews could respond. Another incident involved support to LWL crews while establishing a safe work zone on the North Littleton Road. LWL plans to address each situation with the appropriate town agencies to improve incident communications for future events.
FINANCIAL DIRECTORS REPORT:
Mrs. Wilkins reviewed the financial statements for the month ending April 2012 with the Commissioners. Several discrepancies as compared to budget were discussed and explained by Mrs. Wilkins.
SUPERINTENDENT/ MANAGERS REPORT:
1. Mrs. Kenney discussed with the BOC a situation that she has attempted to resolve that involves the maintenance of a spot light used to illuminates the flag above the soldier monument at the Glenwood cemetery. The account was set up when the monument was moved from the intersection of Union, Cottage and Main Street many years ago and has presented maintenance challenges for the current customer.
The BOC agreed that the LWL should restore the light to good working order and directed the department to replace the fixture, remove the electric meter and be responsible for future maintenance expenses with regard to the hardware. The customer account is to be treated as an area light customer and receive a flat monthly fee appropriate to the fixture wattage.
2. Work on the water storage tank is progressing on schedule according to the estimated project timeline established at the preconstruction conference. Excavating for the tank foundation is expected to begin this week; Natgun Corporation is scheduled to begin work on the foundation the week of June 18th.
3. The department will solicit a request for a proposal from pre-qualified power suppliers for base load power on Thursday, June 7, 2012. The department is requesting power resources for its anticipated load in 2013, 2014 – 2015 though it is not known if the suppliers will accommodate the requested term(s) due to market uncertainty.
4. The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) notified the department that our water system was selected for Assessment Monitoring for List 1 contaminants under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3). According to the USEPA ‘s May 7, 2012 correspondence the LWL is required to monitor in accordance with UCMR3 rule. The USEPA is supposed to provide the sample bottles, all costs involved with processing the sample. LWL is responsible for collecting the samples and sending to an USEPA approved lab. The monitoring timeline is scheduled between 2013 -2015 during selected times of the year.
5. The department will be applying to be a participant in Leak Detection Survey sponsored by the NH Department of Environmental Services (NHDES). If accepted a water accountability field survey will be conducted by a contractor provided by the NHDES at no cost to the LWL. LWL will be responsible for accompanying the contractor and for repairing all leaks found..
6. Superintendent Considine suggested that moving the “Customer & Public Concerns” section of the Commissioners Meeting to the end of the meeting would expedite the general business portion. Customers with legitimate thought out concerns/issues will make an appointment in advance and would still have the opportunity to address the BOC early in the meeting without having to wait until the end. The BOC did not object to the proposed suggestion.
GENERAL BUSINESS:
1. Superintendent Considine discussed the proposed realignment of the electric tariff with the BOC due to the shifting power related expenses, most notably transmission expense. As the current electric rate tariff was placed in effect in October 2008 it does not take into account the changes in transmission and wholesale power expense. Expenses for each electrical services provided were more closely aligned with the type of service that the expense was incurred. As a direct result of a reduced wholesale power costs for the first quarter, and projected over the next year a net decrease in the electric rates is suggested. This decrease was somewhat offset as transmission services have continued to increase significantly over the past two (2) years.
The department is suggesting a rate reduction and customers could realize a savings that would vary from about one (1) percent to twelve (12) percent, this would depend on the class that each customer is associated with. The net result to the department’s bottom line is approximately a nine (9) percent drop in energy related revenues. The new rates could take effect on July 1, 2012.
Commissioner Moore asked why all customers were not receiving the same decrease evenly across all classes. Superintendent Considine stated that costs are allocated based on their actual usage and similar load characteristics. Some groups use electricity less efficiently than other groups, this is reflected in lower power quality (load and power factors), which attributes significantly to the difference in total cost allocated toward each class.
Commissioner Moore made a motion to approve the suggested electric tariff realignment and rate reduction and that they were to be effective for all usage billing after July 1, 2012. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Goodell.
Vote was in favor 3-0-0.
2. Commissioner Moore stated that there appears to be some activity in regard to the Highland Croft property owned by Houston-Littleton LLC. As the department has not secured property to build a new well should Brickyard become contaminated due to blasting activities Commissioner Moore suggested that the LWL reestablish contact with the property owner of the Old Airport adjacent to the Persons Concrete Plant.
Following some discussion the BOC agreed that the department should contact the property owner and discuss establishing an option or an agreement in regard to the property and developing a potential production well.
Commissioner Moore also suggested that the department prepare an agreement between Houston-Littleton LLC and LWL in accordance with language contained in the Zoning Committees “Notice of Decision” in advance of any work on the Highland Croft site.
ADJOURNMENT:
Commissioner Moore made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by
Commissioner Goodell.
The vote was in favor 3-0-0.
Meeting adjourned at 2:50 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.