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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLight Comm. 11/02/2020Mansfield Municipal Electric Department Minutes of Light Commissioners Meeting November 2, 2020 Fn JNI CE ti ec A C: 43 Present: Chair Jess Aptowitz, Vice Chair Mike Trowbridge, Clerk Neil Rhein, Commissioner Frank Delvecchio, Light Department Manager Joseph Sollecito, MMED Office Administrator -' Laurie Anderson and Justin Humphreys from TBA Architects 1 The meeting was held remotely due to the pandemic and called to order at 5:30 PM. Chair Aptowitz read the following: "Pursuant to Governor Baker's March 12, 2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, 18, and the Governor's March 31, 2020 Order imposing strict limitations on the number of people that may gather in one place, this meeting of the Town of Mansfield's Light Commissioners is being conducted via remote participation. No in -person attendance of members of the public will be permitted, but every effort will be made to ensure that the public can adequately access the proceedings as provided for in the Order. This meeting has been posted on the Town's website. To provide virtual access to this meeting by the public, the Town is utilizing the GoToWebinar platform. The instructions are below on how members of the public attending this meeting virtually will be allowed to make comments if they wish to do so, during the portion of the meeting designated for public comment. Again, these instructions can be found below or on the Town's website at www.mansfieldma.com" 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. Motion: To enter into Executive Session at 5:32 for the following reasons and to return to Open Session A) Pursuant to M.G.L. Ch. 164, Section 47D and M.G.L. Ch. 30A, Section 21, Exemption 10, to discuss trade secrets or confidential, competitively -sensitive or other proprietary information (Rhein/Trowbridge) Passes 4/0 Roll call vote: Delvecchio-aye; Trowbridge -aye; Aptowitz-aye and Rhein -aye The Board returned to Open Session at 5:54. Equipment Storage Building — TBA Architect (J. Humphreys, Principal) updated the Board of the project status and detailed the costs for direct design and architecture work specifically for 'Electrical & Plumbing' based upon the changes to the design. The total overall budget for outside (reimbursable) expenses would require an increase of $16,620. Manager Sollecito is requesting an additional $16,620 for reimbursable expenses for design and engineering services. Motion: To approve a $16,620 increase in the budget for TBA Architects design and engineering services for the equipment storage building (Rhein/Delvecchio) Passes 4/0 Roll call vote: Delvecchio-aye; Trowbridge -aye; Aptowitz-aye and Rhein -aye Vice Chairman Trowbridge left the meeting at 5:57 pm. Residential Conservation Services — Manager Sollecito discussed the existing MMED `Appliance rebate' program and what changes he is proposing. He explained that other utilities are reducing or eliminating the rebate dollar amounts for certain traditional equipment due to the market of readily accessible `Energy Star' appliances. However, most utilities are now offering rebate incentives for other non-traditional equipment such as `heat -pumps' and EV chargers to promote decarbonization. He proposes that MMED revise their offerings accordingly. The only appliance rebate to be eliminated will be dishwashers as it represents only water savings but no electrical energy savings. MMED Office Administrator Laurie Anderson reviewed the proposed reductions in the appliance rebate amounts. Then she reviewed the proposed additions, such as battery chargers, water heaters, WIFI enabled thermostats and weatherization. A customer would be allowed one of each type of rebate every three years instead of the current cap of $150 per year. She said that what they are proposing is very similar to what other utilities are offering. Chairman Aptowitz thought taking away the rebate for the dishwasher looked bad and was concerned about residents complaining. Manager Sollecito reiterated that there is no electricity savings, only a water savings with the dishwasher. Clerk Rhein questioned the 2020 RCS expenditures, noting that there was no senior citizen luncheon because of the pandemic. He also asked about having no money in the marketing budget, Office Administrator Laurie Anderson said there will be as a Go REO and Connected Homes flyer would be going out soon. Motion: To approve the proposed changes to the RCS Appliance Rebate offerings beginning in January 2021 (Rhein/Delvecchio) Passes 3/0 Roll call vote: Delvecchio-aye; Aptowitz-aye and Rhein -aye Chairman Aptowitz would like to see a draft of what will be going out to the residents regarding the appliance rebate changes. DOER Solar Rebate Program — Manager Sollecito reported to the Board that 10 solar systems have been installed in Mansfield. Out of the $60,000 that has been allocated for this, $53,000 has been spent. MMED (through MMWEC) can access additional DOER grant funds if MMED can increase its offering by $6,000 for a total of $66,000. There are two projects pending, one would require approval to extend funding by $1000 and the second project has not yet been approved. Motion: To approve an extension of MMED's budget allocation of the DOER Solar Rebate program by $6000 for a total of $66,000. 2 (Rhein/Delvecchio) Passes 3/0 Roll call vote: Delvecchio-aye; Aptowitz-aye and Rhein -aye COA/Library parking lot lighting — Town Manager Kevin Dumas joined the meeting for the discussion about this parking lot lighting. Manager Sollecito reviewed the items necessary for the project and said the total cost is anticipated to be $56,493. Chairman Aptowitz asked if this expense was part of the PILOT. Manager Sollecito said it is not as it is a below the line expenditure. Clerk Rhein said that for safety reasons, this lighting is an improvement. He noted that they are also not overdoing it at the expense of the neighbors who could be bothered by the bright light. Commissioner Delvecchio inquired about the wiring. Manager Sollecito said that the Town electrician would be doing that work and that it is accounted for in this estimate. Motion: To authorize MMED to spend $56,493 from retained earnings to install exterior lighting for the Mansfield Public Library facility (Rhein/Delvecchio) Passes 310 Roll call vote: Delvecchio-aye; Aptowitz-aye and Rhein -aye Form A Lots — Manager Sollecito explained to the Board that "Form A" construction lots have a unique designation as they are not under the regulatory authority of the Planning Board. He recommends that Mansfield Electric should revise the current policy to determine electric utility service requirements for both overhead and underground construction. Motion: To add the following new section (104) to existing Article 100 (General Information): 104 — Form A Lot Construction: When a proposed new construction development is determined not to be within the authority of the Town of Mansfield Planning Board (e.g. Form A Lots), Mansfield Electric will review the developers construction plans and shall determine service requirements for overhead or underground construction based upon the electrical infrastructure in place. All construction costs shall be billed at the Department's sole discretion (Delvecchio/Rhein) Passes 3/0 Roll call vote: Delvecchio-aye; Aptowitz-aye and Rhein -aye Liens and Termination Schedule — Manager Sollecito told the Board that property owners who have not paid their electric bill can have their past due balances transferred to the Town as a property lien. If not paid, this amount can eventually be placed on their real estate tax bill. MMED sent 77 notices and 26 customers paid in full and 15 customers are on a payment plan. He said that if MMED did not hear from the remainder of the customers by the next day then they would be on the list being sent to the Treasurer's Office. Manager Sollecito also explained that the Governor prohibited Investor Owned Utilities (IOU's) from terminating electricity until November 15 because of the pandemic. He said that he has been having conversation with the DPU and other utilities do proceed with terminations during the winter. He said that MMED usually does not but they are looking to schedule terminations for one week, the week of 11/16—11/20. Manager Sollecito believes that if they don't then next spring there will be an unmanageable amount of debt. These shutoffs would include those customers with balances higher than $500 and are not on a payment plan and have been unreachable. He also said that customers have been given plenty of notice with phone calls and hand delivered notices. Clerk Rhein asked what happens if a customer calls and says they lost their job. Manager Sollecito said that they would be given a payment plan with a down payment. Chair Aptowitz noted that detailed records of calls and letters should be kept. Financials for September 2020 — Manager Sollecito reviewed the financial statements for September. He said that MMED is in good shape and energy sales are up 2.1% compared to last year. MMED Accountant Joe Pereira, Mayhew Seavey from PLM and Manager Sollecito have been looking at the small commercial rate and think they will wait until after the new year to consider a reduction in rates. Citizen comments — none Motion: To approve the minutes from the September 21, 2020 Light Commissioners meeting (Rhein/Delvecchio) Passes 3/0 Roll call vote: Delvecchio-aye; Aptowitz-aye and Rhein -aye Any items not anticipated by the Chair 48 hours prior to this meeting — Manager Sollecito told the Board that MMED expects to be seeing a significant environmental offering soon in regards to power supply. He believes the information will be available next week. Motion: To adjourn at 6:55 PM (Delvecchio/Rhein) Passes 3/0 Roll call vote: Delvecchio-aye; Aptowitz-aye and Rhein -aye Respectfully submitted: Jacqueline Lee Signa ure of Clerk 11ate of Approval rd