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 1:03 p.m. on Monday, May 04, 2026, in the LWL conference room. Present were Commissioner Cooper, Commissioner Linda MacNeil (via phone), Commissioner Ralph Ross, CEO Lori Hogan, Accounting Manager Tammy Talotta, and Operations Manager Justen Elliott.
Public in attendance – BG Frazier, Bruce Hadlock, Chad Stearns and Mark Turkewitz, Field Property Manager of VIP, Andrew Fisk of American Rivers, Gabe Bolin of Base Line engineering and Tom Ballestero, from UNH.
MINUTES REVIEW:
The minutes of April 6, 2026, regularly scheduled Commissioners meeting were reviewed.
Commissioner Ross made a motion to approve the minutes as presented, seconded by Commissioner MacNeil.
The roll call vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0
APPOINTMENTS:
Mr. Turkewitz expressed his concern about the amount of the water investment fee for the new property being developed by VIP on Meadow Street. It’s an 8” connection to the water main for fire flow and will be using a 2” connections for domestic water. Per the water rate schedule the connection fee is $91,200 one-time fee.
Mrs. Hogan highlighted that the water investment fees is on the agenda for review. These rates have existed for more than 10 years, but we have changed the way it is applied. It was applied to the size of the line for domestic water, and we changed to a charge on the tap to the main. Mrs. Hogan requested some time to complete this discussion and analysis and would respond to Mr. Turkewitz directly.
There is a public hearing on the transfer of land from the Town of Littleton to LIDC. Chad Stearns has been working with the Town Manager to get the land transfer approved. The next public hearing is Monday, May 11th and Mrs. Hogan will attend to highlight the need for water and electric easements to be granted as part of the transfer.
Mr. Hadlock disagrees with this transfer however, his concerns are more appropriate for the selectboard to consider and is not a LWL issue.
Mrs. Hogan noted that LIDC is scheduling a project to run water and sewer to the land on the other side of the brook behind the transfer station. This entails a 8” tap to our main and will end with a hydrant on the other side of the brook. The project per our current rate schedule would require a 8” water investment fee and a monthly hydrant fee. Mrs. Hogan is requesting a waiver of both the monthly hydrant fee and the water investment fee. The hydrant will be flow tested but will then be turned off and black bagged. A hydrant fee should be waived until the hydrant becomes an active part of our system. The purpose of a water investment fee is to cover the impact on the infrastructure for expansion. The intention is that LIDC will raise funds to cover the build out of water and electric on the property. Eventually the infrastructure will be turned over to LWL, this transfer would constructively cover this cost.
Commissioner MacNeil made a motion to approve the deferral of the hydrant fees and water investment fee for LIDC for the reasons discussed above, seconded by Commissioner Ross.
The roll call vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0
Mr. Hadlock provided a copy of the 1989 warrant article 32, which discusses LWL rate changes. He also provided a copy of the RSA 41:14a that the selectboard is using for the ability to execute the sale / transfer or town assets. Mrs. Hogan will reach out to council to discuss all of these items highlighted by Mr. Hadlock in addition to the charter that outlines the need for political party affiliation for commissioners. Our attorney is on vacation, but Mrs. Hogan will ensure we address all of these issues upon his return.
Mr. Hadlock noted the need for fire protection at the west side substation for the build out of the battery storage project. He noted that Modern Brook could be accessed to address this need but would require an easement. Mrs. Hogan noted that fire protection will be addressed as part of the due diligence when considering battery storage partners.
Mr. Hadlock noted that the prior commissioner Perry Goodell celebrated his 100th birthday just recently. Mrs. Hogan will send a card from the commissioners.
A presentation of the North Branch Dam removal was made by American Rivers and Base Line Engineering. The presentation was extensive and very informative. There were questions and discussion about the project and the protection of our water intake. The project is viewed as two separate projects, the intake is privately funded, and the dam removal has public funding. American Rivers noted that the project will only proceed at the discretion of the commissioners.
The commissioners will take a few weeks to absorb all of the details and to make recommendations at the next meeting. In the interim, Mrs. Hogan will work with Base Line engineering to get permit approvals from the Town of Littleton. Additionally, Mrs. Hogan will
research Primex insurance coverage and performance bonds to address the inherent risk associated with the work on the intake.
CUSTOMER & PUBLIC CONCERNS:
Mrs. Hogan noted that it’s now officially disconnect season. Additionally, we still have a violation for Simon’s Market backflow device. Mr. Simon’s noted that this is in process and has good intentions of getting this address in the next month.
OPERATIONS MANAGER:
The flow test was completed at Brickyard well by Weston & Sampson. We are awaiting the report and we intend to move forward with the additional work.
The electrical staff are working to reconduct the system North Littleton Road. Additionally, the regulator that has been on backorder is being shipped.
Mr. Elliott noted the rover test on the I93 was completed and we have a report and video on the test. The information is being submitted for the hydraulic modeling to determine the repair recommendations.
Radio’s have been ordered and will be replacing the existing system before we start working on the tower at Mann’s Hill.
CEO & TREASURER:
The financial statements for the period ending February 28, 2026 were presented.
Commissioner Ross made a motion to provide the financial statements to the selectboard, seconded by Commissioner MacNeil.
The roll call vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0
Mrs. Hogan noted that we have received a draft of the 2025 Audited Financial Statements and reports. The annual filing with ISO has been completed as required. Mrs. Hogan will review the management letter comments and will make recommendations. The MD&A will be drafted over the next 4 weeks. There are no significant changes on the balance sheet 2024 vs 2025, therefore Mrs. Hogan doesn’t believe that Moody’s will recommend a re-rating.
The Town and LWL received a right to know law request from the attorney’s representing the creditor of Granite State Senior Living (GSSL). The deadline is May 15, 2026 and Mrs. Hogan has been working on providing the documents. Mrs. Hogan just wanted to confirm with the commissioners if they have any documents or communication related to GSSL that needs to be included in our response. They noted that nothing exists.
Mrs. Hogan recommends a review of the water investment fees. When rates changed Mrs. Hogan verified the reasonableness of all of the new rates with comparisons to other towns. However, there was no change in the rates of the water investment fees, the change was in how the rate was applied meter size vs size of connection. Therefore, Mrs. Hogan did not perform a comparison to other towns. She recommends that this research be performed. The commissioners agreed with the recommendation.
GENERAL / OTHER BUSINESS:
Commissioner Cooper noted that he was re-appointed by the selectboard at their last meeting. Mrs. Hogan noted that we’ll conduct the reorganization at the next meeting on May 18, 2026.
We are still awaiting a response from the Town regarding the streetlights.
Mrs. Hogan requested we defer the non-public session under RSA 91-A:3, II(e) to the next meeting.
Commissioner Ross made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Cooper.
The vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0
The meeting was adjourned at 3:40 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.