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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLight Comm. 01/20/2020Mansfield Municipal Electric Department Minutes of Light Commissioners Meeting January 22, 2020 �1�L Present: Chair Neil Rhein, Vice Chair Frank Delvecchio, Clerk Steve Schoonvel'd,tr Commissioner Michael Trowbridge, Commissioner Jess Aptowitz and Light Department Manager Joseph Sollecito The meeting was held at the Mansfield Town Hall Room 3AB and called to order at 5:30 PM followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Chair Rhein stated that this meeting is being televised and taped for future broadcast and asked if anyone in the audience was intending to record the meeting to please state their intentions. No one did so. A complete copy of the Board packet containing all documents that are referenced in the minutes is on file at the Mansfield Municipal Electric Department office. Citizens Comments- none Motion: To approve the minutes from the November 19, 2019 Light Commissioners meeting (Aptowitz/Delvecchio) Passes 5/0 Financial Results for November 2019 — Manager Sollecito said the net income through the month of November is $32,153 compared to $1,284,935 for the previous November. He explained that there had been a misidentification of the customer credits which has been corrected. The generation charge payable is $143,907 and MMED's cash position through November 2019 is $15,119,380. Manager Sollecito told the Board that MMED is on track with returning $2 million to the ratepayers in the form of `Customer Credits' for both residential and commercial accounts. He also said that energy sales were low for November 2019 but that MMED currently has some on -going projects. Clerk Schoonveld questioned November's actual figure of a net decrease to surplus of $259,297 versus the budgeted amount of $1,320,571. He asked if MMED was on budget and Manager Sollecito said that they will be fine. Commissioner Aptowitz said he wondered what the December figures will be and if MMED would be in an ok position. Manager Sollecito said he will follow up to explain conditions for the difference between budget and actual in Net Income. Gilbert Street Substation Transformer Replacement Project — Manager Sollecito said that one of the items previously approved in MMED's capital budget was the replacement of two transformers at an anticipated cost of $2.23M. The first transformer has been replaced and the second will hopefully be energized soon. He said the final cost will be $1,445,489 coming in under budget by approximately $769,000 due to the competitive bidding process for the two transformers. Chair Rhein questioned being so much under budget and Manager Sollecito said it was due to good timing on the purchase. Equipment Storage Shed — Also included in MMED's capital budget is the installation of an equipment storage shed. Manager Sollecito said that the primary need for it is so that cable will not be outside in the elements. It will also be used to store transformers and the three vehicles which do not fit in the other building. He was requesting approval to move forward with preparing a full engineering design study as well as the bid documents. Commissioner Trowbridge questioned the type of building and Manager Sollecito said that it will probably be a lean-to but it has not been finalized yet. Commissioner Trowbridge said he looked into this and thought the price seemed high as he saw larger ones for less. He said his preference would be to have four sides and also cautioned about checking with Conservation before completing the design and committing all of the money. He suggestedg the architect come to a Light Commissioners meeting to address the Board. Commissioner Aptowitz pointed out that in the previous budget this shed was $300,000 and now that cost has doubled. For $600,000 he said he is not convinced in the need. Manager Sollecito explained that this shed would be very helpful to the line crew when responding to problems and outages. It would prevent cable reels from damage and allow access to that equipment to go easier and quicker during emergencies. Commissioner Aptowitz then brought up the possible acquisition of land that had previously been discussed and wondered if this could all be tied in together. Clerk Schoonveld agreed with Commissioner Aptowitz and believes there needs to be broader plans. He said he was unclear where MMED stood with the acquisition of the property next door to the Light Department but if they did acquire the land that perhaps a shed belongs over there. Clerk Schoonveld also questioned if MMED had gone back to a CIP meeting because the cost of the shed has now increased to $600,000. Manager Sollecito said they had not as he wasn't sure that was necessary. Commissioner Trowbridge said he too thought that MMED needs to go back to a CIP meeting because of the Town Charter. Building envelope work — Manager Sollecito said that in 2017 MMED learned that the floor in their building at 50 West Church Street was no longer sound and the building could no were also given a list of other building envelope measures that would longer be used. They need to be addressed in the near future. The floor was immediately taken care of and the list of other items was put on hold due to the possible acquisition of the property next door to the Light Department. Manager Sollecito said he is now recommending that MMED go ahead with this work which has an estimated cost of $180K to $200K and is asking for approval to move forward with the preparation of a detailed project scope and bid documents. Motion: To approve MMED to move forward with the preparation of a detailed project scope along with associated bid documents for the work to be done at the 50 West Church Street building (Aptowitz/Schoonveld) Passes 5/0 MMWEC's Power Supply — Manager Sollecito reviewed a four year forecast of MMWEC's power supply. He said he will be using this information when putting together MMED's operations budgets. Pa Comments from Commissioners — Vice Chair Delvecchio brought up the Go REO program. He said that a constituent pointed out that it is a very nice program but that it doesn't fit the bill as far as reaching "green" goals. Chair Delvecchio suggested it may be something the Board wants to look at and discuss some goals and objectives as to how they can cost effectively get more green energy. Chair Rhein was looking for an update on the green community status as he thought it was moving rather slow. Manager Sollecito said that Town Manager Dumas had a timing issue with the fiscal year but that there is a meeting scheduled with Mr. Dumas. At 6:05 PM a motion was made by Clerk Schoonveld to enter into executive session. Motion: To enter into Executive Session for the following reasons and to possibly return to open session for vote to approve job descriptions: 1) Pursuant to M.G.L. Ch. 164, Section 47D and M.G.L. Ch. 30 A, Section 21, Exemption 3, to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body and the chair so declares. 2) To review and vote to approve minutes of November 19, 2019 Executive Session 3) Vote to return to open session (Schoonveld/ Aptowitz) Passes 5/0 Roll Call Vote: Delvecchio-aye; Trowbridge -aye; Schoonveld-aye; Aptowitz-aye and Rhein -aye Respectfully submitted: Jacqueline Lee Signature of Clerk ate of Approval