HomeMy WebLinkAboutLight Comm. 09/18/2023Mansfield Municipal Electric Departmen RECEIVED
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Minutes of Light Commissioners Meeting
September 18, 2023 7073 NOV 22 A 9 Oq
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Present: Chair Mike Trowbridge, Clerk Maureen R. Doherty, Vice;'CTri N1411eCr
Commissioner Brendan Roche and Light Department Manager Joseph Sollecito
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.
Motion: To approve the minutes of the July 17, 2023 Light Commissioners meeting
(Doherty/Rhein) Passes 3/0
Review of School to Work Program — Manager Sollecito introduced school superintendent
Teresa Murphy who explained the School to Work program. She distributed a flyer "Career
Practicum at Mansfield High School". This is a semester long course for 121h grade students
which allows them to go into the workplace. It is a great opportunity for students to learn skills
and the student is often employed there after their internship is completed.
Project Updates — Manager Sollecito said that there was a walk thru for the Gilbert Street
storage shed, which is in the current capital budget, but no one showed up for the walk thru and
MMED did not get any bidders. He did follow up and the response was that it was soon after
Labor Day and it was not on their radar. He anticipates more responses from solicitors at a later
date.
Manager Sollecito said that the plans for the office renovations are still being fine-tuned. They
will be going out to bid in October.
MMED is close to getting specs together for the gate project which will be tied to MMED's
security access. Manager Sollecito said they are close to getting the specs together and will
hopefully go out to bid in the next couple of weeks. He also let the Board know that the cost
will be going up from $80,000 to $130,000.
Distributive Generator Peak Shaving Program — This,l�oject was put together in 2016 and
runs only 3-4 times a month during a transmission (or capacity) peak but is very beneficial to
ratepayers. Unfortunately, in June and Judy there was not one day which was a very high peak
day so the peak hour was missed. Manager Sollecito said it is very important that they do not
miss the peak. In August and September, they operated the unit during the peak hour.
Capacitor Bank locations — Manager Sollecito reviewed Engineer Jaffari's memo regarding
the efficiency of capacitor banks. Manager Sollecito said that since 2011 or 2012 some of them
were taken off-line because they weren't needed for voltage stability due to the installation of
the Bird Road substation. He says they need to have a study to look at the locations of capacitor
banks. He said some may be removed and some may be maintained.
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Distribution Transformer Procurement — Manager Sollecito presented another memo from
Engineer Jaffari. This one was regarding Distribution Transformers inventory. He explained
the industry is facing a shortage of transformers. Padmount transformers are most critical and
even more delayed in delivery, taking over 52 weeks for delivery. Manager Sollecito thinks
that it would be prudent to put an order in now as they do not want to be caught short.
Clerk Doherty questioned whether a larger purchase could be made with other light
departments. Manager Sollecito said that MMWEC was going to try that but it turned out to
be too complicated so MMED will take care of it themselves. Chair Trowbridge suggested that
Manager Sollecito check in with North Attleboro Electric about making a purchase together.
Manager Sollecito said he would do that.
July 2023 Financial Statements — Manager Sollecito said that MMED's net income for July
is $268,000 compared to prior year of $201,000. He said that the generation charge payable is
$1.9 million vs. receivable of $3.5 million in FY23. He explained that last year they were
catching up. MMED's cash position is similar to last year. Energy sales for the month of July
were up from last year while small commercial is down. Manager Sollecito and MMED
Business and Finance Manager Pereira have been discussing financials since rates went down
in July. MMED is slightly under -collecting `Distribution' revenue so they may have to raise
the distribution charge in the future. They will not know until it gets closer to the winter.
Branded Apparel — Manager Sollecito reminded everyone that the MMED's logo changed
two years ago and since then, there are new employees and new commissioners. He is
proposing a purchase of at least two branded clothing items for each person at an estimated cost
of $7000. He said that he did not need approval from the Board but just wanted to run it by
them.
Dates for 2024 Light Commissioner meetings — Manager Sollecito said it was time to set up
the Light Commissioner meetings for 2024. There was discussion about whether the
commissioners prefer to meet during the same week when they meet as Select Board. Manager
Sollecito said it is dependent on the availability of the room which is free the Yd Monday of
every month, excluding holidays.
Citizens Comments — none
Commissioners Questions and Comments — none
KP Law/extension of Manager Sollecito's contract — Chair Trowbridge said the Board had
been questioning whether they could extend Manager Sollecito's contract beyond three years.
Manager Sollecito provided an opinion from KP Law saying they could enter into a contract
beyond the three years.
Motion: To extend MMI;D Manager Sollecito's contract to 12/31/26
(Roche/Doherty) Passes 4/0
Clerk Doherty requested that a copy of the KP Law finding be posted on the website along with
Manager Sollecito's contract.
2
Motion: To enter into Executive Session at 6:12 for the following reasons and to not
return to open session
a) Review and consideration to approve of minutes of July 17, 2023 Executive Session
where Exemption 2 was declared
b) Pursuant to M.G.L. Ch. 164, Section 47D and M.G.L. Ch. 30, Section 21,
Exemption 10, to discuss trade secrets or confidential, competitively -sensitive or
other proprietary information (Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric
Company — MMWEC Special Project 2015A) provided, in the course of activities
conducted by a governmental body as an energy supplier under a license granted
by the department of public utilities pursuant to section 1F of chapter 164 and
when such governmental body determines that such disclosure will adversely affect
its ability to conduct business in relation to other entities making, selling or
distributing electric power and energy and the chair so declares.
(Doherty/Roche) Passes 4/0
Roll call vote: Doherty -aye; Roche -aye; Rhein -aye; Trowbridge -aye
Re pectfully submitted: Jacqueline Lee
Si tore of Cler
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Date of Approval