HomeMy WebLinkAboutLight Comm.. 05/22/2023Present:
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TOR CI.FRKS OFFICE
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Chair Mike Trowbridge, Vice Chair Neil Rhein, Clerk M �,APlSFtk TS
Commissioner Diana Bren, Commissioner Brendan Roche and Light DepartmentCMaan ger
Joseph Sollecito
Mansfield Municipal Electric Department
Minutes of Light Commissioners Meeting
May 22, 2023
The meeting was held at the Mansfield Town Hall, room 3AB and was also virtual via
GoToWebinar. It was called to order at 5:30 PM followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
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.
Reorganization of Light Commissioners -
Motion: To nominate Mike Trowbridge as Chairman
(Rhein/Bren) Passes 5/0
Motion: To nominate Neil Rhein as Vice Chairman
(Bren/Roche) Passes 5/0
Motion: To nominate Maureen Doherty as Clerk
(Bren/Rhein) Passes 510
Motion: To enter into Executive Session at 5:34 for the following reasons and to return
to open session
a) Review and Consideration to Approve of minutes of March 20, 2023 Executive
Session where Exemptions 2,3 and 10 were declared
b) Pursuant to M.G.L. Ch. 164, Section 47D and M.G.L. Ch. 30, Section 21,
Exemption 3, to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining
(International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) — Financial Assistants
unit) if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position
of the public body and the chair so declares.
(Doherty/Roche) Passes 5/0
Roll call vote: Doherty -aye; Roche -aye; Bren-aye; Rhein -aye; Trowbridge -aye
Return to open session at 5:49 pm
Motion: To approve the minutes of the April 10, 2023 Light Commissioners meeting
(Rhein/Bren) Passes 510
Chairman Trowbridge welcomed two new members to the Board, Maureen Doherty and
Brendan Roche.
Motion: To approve the IBEW Local 104 Financial Assistants Memorandum of
Agreement (FY23-FY25)
(Bren/Roche) Passes 510
MMWEC Designation of Voting Representatives and Alternates Certificate — Manager
Sollecito explained that this designation had to be done in case of his absence.
Motion: To approve the MMWEC Designation of Voting Representatives and Alternates
Certificate
(Bren/Roche) Passes 510
March 2023 Financial Statements — Manager Sollecito reviewed the March financial
statements and explained the lag in the financial statements is because they still don't have
April numbers. MMED's operating cash position is $13 million which is down from $14.3
million in March 2022. Energy sales are down 2.7% compared to last year and Manager
Sollecito said energy consumption is down in a lot of industries right now across the board.
Project Updates — Manager Sollecito reported that the floor was resurfaced in the equipment
storage building which is now complete. He said they are waiting on shelving then it is good
to occupy. Regarding the office renovations, Manager Sollecito said a couple of walls need to
be added and bathrooms will be renovated. Specifications for this project still need to be
finalized. The other project is the Gilbert St storage shed. Manager Sollecito said that the scope
of this project is not like the equipment storage building and is only estimated to be in the range
of $135K. He also reported that MMED now has five mechanical gates and they will do a gate
replacement, making one gate manual with a chain. This project will incorporate the garage
doors too. Chairman Trowbridge suggested that they discuss the security aspects of this project
in the next executive session.
Citizens Questions and Comments — none
Commissioner Comments — Commissioner Bren and Vice Chair Rhein welcomed new Board
members Brendon Roche and Maureen Doherty,
Clerk Doherty questioned what happened to MMED's Volt vehicle. Manager Sollecito said
there were two recalls. The first is in regards to over charging the vehicle beyond 85% and that
is not yet fixed. The second recall was more concerning. The fibers on the seatbelts were a fire
hazard but that has been corrected and the staff is now able to drive the vehicle.
Commissioner Roche thanked Manager Sollecito for the tour of the MMED facilities. He also
thanked him for the work done this past weekend regarding the outage in West Mansfield.
Manager Sollecito said that the padmount switches on Plymouth Street need to be replaced and
he reviewed this with the Line Foreman. He would like to get this done now before there are
more problems at an inconvenient time and said they have a plan in place.
Chair Trowbridge asked about setting a date for the next meeting. Manager Sollecito said it is
currently set for Monday, June 12 but he will know better in a couple of weeks whether it will
be necessary to have the meeting.
Motion: To adjourn at 6:07 PM
(Bren/Roche) Passes 5/0
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N re of Clerk
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Da e of Approval