HomeMy WebLinkAboutLight Comm. 12/02/2020V;
Mansfield Municipal Electric Department
Minutes of Light Commissioners Meeting
December 2, 2020
Present: Chair Jess Aptowitz, Vice Chair Mike Trowbridge, Clerk Neil Rhein, Commissioner
Frank Delvecchio, Commissioner Steve Schoonveld, Light Department Manager Joseph
Sollecito, Office Administrator Laurie Anderson, Business Manager Joseph Pereira and Mike
Nelligan, Powers & Sullivan
The meeting was held remotely due to the pandemic and called to order at 4:30 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.
Citizen Comments — none
-� F ICE
Motion: To approve minutes of the November 2, 2020 Light Commissioners meeting
(Trowbridge/Delvecchio) Passes 4/0/1
Roll call vote: Delvecchio-aye; Trowbridge -aye; Aptowitz-aye and Rhein -aye
(Schoonveld abstained as he was not present at the November 2, 2020 meeting)
MMED FY20 Audit — Mike Nelligan from Powers & Sullivan presented MMED's FY20 audit
report and apologized for the lateness of it. He explained that they were delayed by the Bristol
County Retirement Board who was six weeks later than usual. Mr. Nelligan said that they did
this audit remotely except for the physical inventory. He said there were no issues and Business
Manager Joe Pereira made everything readily available to them. Mr. Nelligan already met with
the audit committee who approved the audit and he is now seeking approval from the Light
Commissioners. If approved tonight, the final copy will be printed tomorrow.
Mr. Nelligan began by reviewing the Management's Discussion and Analysis portion of the
audit. He stated that MMED had a 3% decrease in kilowatt hours as well as a decrease in
purchased power expenses. Next, he reviewed the financial statements. The balance sheet was
pretty comparable to last year. He also reviewed the pension plan and other required
su lementary information.
PP
Commissioner Schoonveld, representative for the Light Commissioners to the Audit
The pension and OPEB has been updated with a new
Committee, said there were no surprises.
set of assumptions including mortality and updated interest rates. He said the Audit Committee
had no issues with it and accepted the audit report.
Chair Aptowitz commented about the pensions and how a few years back there was a delay
with the Bristol County Retirement Board which he finds irresponsible. He thinks it is not
accepta l welt they had well -funded because towait
this makeudit report. He s it hard to budg noted
ted that it is lucky that MMED is
stable
Commissioner Schoonveld agreed the timing was irresponsible. He said that everyone knew
the updates had to be done.
ommissioners, thanked Business Manager Joe Pereira
Chair Aptowitz, on behalf of the Light C
and their wo
Manager Joe Mgan was comfortable Sollecito ith forit then he is comfortable too rk on this audit. He also commented that if Mike
Nel
Motion: To accept MMED's FY20 audit report from Powers & Sullivan
(Trowbridge/Schoonveld) Passes 5/0 A towitz-aye; Rhein -aye; Trowbridge -aye and
Roll call vote: Delvecchio-aye; p
Schoonveld-aye
ollecito reported that there have been delays with the
Choice Connect Project — Manager S
Itron Choice Connect meter reading system because of contract negotiations and the pandemic.
He said there are eleven collectors for which MMED needs to run fiber and reviewed a map of
proposed locations. He thanked Engineer Chris Cox for his efforts on this project. Manager
Sollectio said the designs were finalized a few weeks ago and that MMED is going out to bid
on the splicing.
Clerk Rhein asked when this would be complete. Manager Sollecito said spring or early
summer.
LED roadway lighting — Manager Sollecito said that a few years ago, MMED converted
streetlights to LED but the grant did not cover 650 of these underground development fixtures.
residential
at a cost
of p proposing a 2 year conversion to LED for 000. The light would be focused on the roadway and would not be too
of approximately $275,
bright and intrusive into people's homes. The estimated energy savings for the Town o
Mansfield would be $4738 per year.
Clerk Rhein inquired how they are compared to the lights on North Main Street. Manager
Sollecito said the distribution would be a little different. He said the light will shine to the
sidewalk. There may be some customer issues which he will tweak on a case to case basis.
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Commissioner Schoonveld asked when they will be installed. Manager Sollecito said it would
hopefully be a winter project. They will start on one side of Town and go through it
systematically.
Chair Aptowitz suggested a press release to let people know that MMED is doing this. Manager
Sollecito said they could do a mailing. Vice Chair Trowbridge suggested that instead of a
separate mailing just include it with the electric bill. Manager Sollecito said he has been
discussing the next newsletter with Office Administrator Laurie Anderson and perhaps, could
include it in that.
Motion: To accept MMED's two year plan to convert all Mansfield underground
residential developments to LED lighting at an estimated cost of $275,000
(Trowbridge/Schoonveld) Passes 5/0
Roll call vote: Delvecchio-aye; Aptowitz-aye; Rhein -aye; Trowbridge -aye and
Schoonveld-aye
MMED's New Electrical Vehicle — Manager Sollecito said that MMED is working on a
custom wrap design for the new vehicle and provided pictures to the Board. He has had positive
feedback from those who have already driven it.
Chair Aptowitz asked if MMED was still using the other two cars. Manager Sollecito said one
went to auction and the other is still being used.
Vice Chair Trowbridge asked who will drive the new vehicle. Manager Sollecito said it would
be driven to Littleton for training by the line crew and meter department.
RCS Residential Conservation Services Rebates — Manager Sollecito said that the Board had
previously approved MMED's appliance rebate revisions. He brought with him the new forms
that Office Administrator Laurie Anderson had designed.
Vice Chair Trowbridge asked when the next newsletter would go out to the residents. Manager
Solece Chair
goloutlasap tit would be after the
let people know about ithrebate changes rst of the year. cbefore there President's eridge thought it should
t's Day sales.
Comments from Commissioners — Clerk Rhein thanked MMED for the holiday lights. He
also mentioned that there are two streetlights out on Old Colony Way. Manager Sollecito said
he was aware of those lights and that the line crew is taking care of them.
Vice Chair Trowbridge also thanked MMED for the holiday lights.
Commissioner Delvecchio thanked Business Manager Joe Pereira and Manager Joe Sollecito
for their work on the audit.
Motion: To adjourn at 5:26 PM
(Trowbridge/Schoonveld) Passes 5/0 Rhein-aye;Trowbridge-aye and
Roll call vote: Delvecchio-aye; Aptowitz-aye;
Schoonveld-aye
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Respectfully submitted: Jacqueline Lee
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Sig ature of Clerk
13
17 1�l
Date of Approval