HomeMy WebLinkAboutLight Comm. 07/27/2020Mansfield Municipal Electric Department
Minutes of Light Commissioners Meeting
July 27, 2020 C I C E
Present: Chair Jess Aptowitz, Vice Chair Mike Trowbridge, clerkei�Mein,
Commissioner Steve Schoonveld, Commissioner Frank Delvecchio, Light -]Department
Manager Joseph Sollecito, Line Foreman Ralph Bellavance, Annika Nilsson Ripps,fro -TBA
Architects and Justin Humphreys from TBA Architects
The meeting was held remotely due to the pandemic and called to order at 4:30 PM followed
by the Pledge of Allegiance. 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 participate or submit questions and comments in advance of the meeting."
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 April 29, 2020 Light Commissioners meeting
(Rheinfrrowbridge) Passes 5/0
Roll call vote: Delvecchio-aye; Trowbridge -aye; Schoonveld-aye; Aptowitz-aye and
Rhein -aye
Financial Statements for May 2020 — Manager Sollecito stated that the net income through
the month of May was $2.07 million compared to FY19 net income through May of $2.63
million. MMED's operating cash position through May 2020 is $16.71 million vs $14.57
million in 2019. Manager Sollecito said that customer credits are on track and energy sales
were up.
Commissioner Schoonveld questioned why May energy sales were so high. Manager
Sollecito explained it was the weather and people working from home because of the
pandemic.
Garage Exterior Repairs — Manager Sollecito told the Board that last week the low bidders
for the garage exterior repairs informed MMED that they were withdrawing their bid. He said
he expects to get better bids in the fall.
Storage Facility — Manager Sollecito reminded the Board that MMED would like to build a
structure on the existing floor on West Church Street for storage of equipment. They had
several on -site meetings with staff, consultants (TBA) and representatives of Board of
Commissioners (Trowbridge & Rhein) to discuss plans. He said that Annika Nilsson Ripps
and Justin Humphreys of TBA Architects and MMED's Line Foreman Ralph Bellavance
were present to answer any questions.
Ms. Ripps said that based on the criteria they were given from Manager Sollecito about the
storage of transformers, they have determined that storm water is a concern. She noted that
storage for the winter is very important.
Manager Sollecito said that there are minor design related issues internally that still need to be
determined. He asked that Line Foreman Bellavance speak to the Board regarding the need
for the storage structure.
Line Foreman Bellavance stated that MMED has a digger derrick; backhoe and a bucket truck
in need of storage. He explained that they are running out of room and that reels of wire have
been falling apart due to being left outside. He also said that there is a need to keep
transformers on hand and they are in need of storage too.
Chair Aptowitz wondered if they should have another meeting about this as there are so many
pieces to it. Vice Chair Trowbridge thought they should approve the next phase, including
`Geo-technical' and `Geo-mechanical' study to get this to the Conservation Commission so
they could move forward.
Motion: To approve the next phase of MMED's equipment storage structure on West
Church Street
(Trowbridge/Rhein) Passes 510
Roll call vote: Delvecchio-aye; Trowbridge -aye; Schoonveld-aye; Aptowitz-aye and
Rhein -aye
2019 DPU Report — Manager Sollecito explained that MMED is required to file a report with
the DPU every year. He also requested authorization from the Board to sign the report for
them because of the current pandemic.
Motion: To approve MMED's 2019 DPU report and to authorize MMED Manager
Sollecito to sign the report for the Board
(Trowbridge/Delvecchio) Passes 5/0
Roll call vote: Delvecchio-aye; Trowbridge -aye; Schoonveld-aye; Aptowitz-aye and
Rhein -aye
MMWEC Voting Representative and Alternates Certificate — Manager Sollecito said that
every year a MMWEC voting representative and alternates certificate needs to be completed.
Motion: To approve the MMWEC Voting Representative and Alternates certificate and
to authorize MMED Manager Sollecito to sign the certificate
(Trowbridge/Rhein) Passes 510
Roll call vote: Delvecchio-aye; Trowbridge -aye; Schoonveld-aye; Aptowitz-aye and
Rhein -aye
Hired Contractual Service Rates — Manager Sollecito told the Board that these rates have
not been changed in years and the current process is burdensome to develop both an
`estimate' and a final true -up of total costs per project. An internal memo from MMED
Business and Financial Manager (Joe Pereira) stated that the current process creates a
significant amount of internal administrative work and is recommending MMED make
standardized rates. The new rates will reflect the total actual charges and include a small
markup.
Motion: To approve the recommended contractual rates
(Delvecchio/Rhein) Passes 5/0
Roll call vote: Delvecchio-aye; Trowbridge -aye; Schoonveld-aye; Aptowitz-aye and
Rhein -aye
Miscellaneous Service Fees — Manager Sollecito reviewed the fees in the chart which he
distributed to the Board. He noted that these fees have not been changed in quite a while.
Clerk Rhein questioned who pays these fees and how much money MMED is making from
them. Manager Sollecito responded that these fees are paid by customers / contractors upon
request for such services. Otherwise these costs would be covered by all ratepayers.
Motion: To approve the recommended service fees
(Trowbridge/Delvecchio) Passes 3/2
Roll call vote: Delvecchio-aye; Trowbridge -aye; Schoonveld-no; Aptowitz-aye and
Rhein -no
Commercial Deposit Policy — Manager Sollecito had a discussion about MMED's
Commercial Deposit Policy. He explained that MMED takes the three highest months of
usage to determine the deposit amount for a customer. He also told the Board that previously
MMED could terminate service to a commercial customer if they withdrew from the auto pay
they were signed up for in lieu of placing a deposit. Now, because of the pandemic, MMED
cannot terminate service and approximately twenty commercial customers have withdrawn
from auto pay.
Manager Sollecito also explained about how the electric account goes back into the landlord's
name when a tenant closes their account. He has drafted an "Application for Continuous
Electric Service to Landlord's Premises" form which he is recommending that MMED have
all landlords sign to be kept on file.
Motion: To approve the proposed changes in the Commercial Customer Deposit Policy
(Rhein/Trowbridge) Passes 5/0
Roll call vote: Delvecchio-aye; Trowbridge -aye; Schoonveld-aye; Aptowitz-aye and
Rhein -aye
Discussion of Collections Moratorium — Manager Sollecito told the Board that MMED's
debt is up about $200,000 which represents approximately 1200 customers. He said he
thought it would be a lot worse than that. He said that MMED is reaching out to customers
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but cannot send termination notices at this time. He mentioned one commercial customer
who has been behind but has paid a significant amount in the last month. Chair Aptowitz
asked that Manager Sollecito disseminate the information about that one customer to all of the
members of the Board.
Performance Review of General Manager Joseph Sollecito — Chair Aptowitz said the
review was comprised of sixteen questions and that he had put together a summary sheet. He
noted that it was either "meets" or "exceeds" for all of the sixteen questions. Vice Chair
Trowbridge said it was a great year. Clerk Rhein said it has been a pleasure working with
Manager Sollecito and feels he is great with communication. Commissioner Schoonveld also
felt Manager Sollecito was great with communication but feels he has to do a better job of
hiring and have better, inclusive hiring practices. Commissioner Delvecchio felt Manager
Sollecito was doing a good job.
Chair Aptowitz said that normally they would all sign a cover sheet and that he wasn't sure
how to handle it at this time. He said he would send it to Human Resources and then they
could all sign it later.
Motion: To approve the performance review of General Manager Joseph Sollecito
(Trowbridge/Delvecchio) Passes 5/0
Roll call vote: Delveccbio-aye; Trowbridge -aye; Schoonveld-aye; Aptowitz-aye and
Rhein -aye
Chair Aptowitz asked Manager Sollecito to check on the dates of his contract and get back to
the Board with that information. He then questioned how to handle the compensation. Vice
Chair Trowbridge suggested putting it off until the next meeting. Everyone agreed.
Comments from Commissioners — Commissioner Schoonveld asked if MMED was done
with the possible purchase of the property next door to them. Manager Sollecito said yes, that
MMED had withdrawn their offer.
Chair Aptowitz commented that the Light Department is moving in a good direction. He
suggested that going forward the Board should make enough time for meetings so that they
can make sure they address everything that they need to address.
Motion: To adjourn at 5:30 PM
(Trowbridge/Schoonveld) Passes 5/0
Roll call vote: Delvecchio-aye; Trowbridge -aye; Schoonveld-aye; Aptowitz-aye and
Rhein -aye
Respectfully submitted: Jacqueline Lee
Sig ature of Clerk
Date 6f Approval
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