HomeMy WebLinkAboutLight Comm. 02/24/2025Mansfield Municipal Electric Department
Minutes of Light Commissioners Meeting
February 24,2025
RECEIVED
Present: Chair Brendan Roache, Vice Chair Walter Wilk, Commissioner Michae) I?rowbNdEFe Light(Rep1�pent
Manager Joseph Sollecito
1015 P1hA 18 P 2: 34
1) Open Meeting — Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance. The meeting was held at the Mansfield Town Hall Room
2AB and called to order at 6:04 PM followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. <, . ',_' :':'' '
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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.
2) Review and consideration to approve the January 27t1, 2025 board minutes.
Motion to approve Board minutes of January 271h, 2025. (Trowbridge/Wilk) passes 3/0
3) General Managers Report
a) Vote to approve Memorandum of Agreements (AFSCME Local 1702 & IBEW 104 financial Assistants unit)
Manager Sollecito goes over that both contracts stay relatively the same with a COLA increase for the first
year and a 3% the next two years. AFSCME is adding testing for distribution transformers. For the Assistants they
added a 5t6 personal day instead of taking it from sick. HR did state that other contracts have the same agreement.
Motion to approve the memorandum of Agreements (Trowbridge/Wilk) passes 3/0
b) Review J. Hayes memo regarding repair work to distributive generator.
Manager Sollecito states the distributive generated was implemented in 2018. It is run based on MMWEC
recommendation to avoid peak power periods. The peak is known about 20 days after the month has ended to see
if we have saved costs. The savings from the generator has exceeded the payback period. Recently the unit wasn't
running at peak capacity. When the team did an inspection check they found oil around the bottom of the unit.
There was damage to the bellow and needed to be repaired. The system is still under warranty so the repairs did not
cost anything. The unit was repaired right before the next peak day and was successful.
C) Review H. Jaffari memo regarding Clark Shore Association/Lake View Condominium Underground Conversion
Project.
Manager Sollecito explains there is single-phase primary feeding the Lake Shore area that is not in good
shape. The trees cannot be cut down due to an ordinance and the electrical system is in the mist of this. MMED (H.
Jaffari) has been working on a solution for this area. The plan is to locate the primary underground and then the
secondaries will go to the houses. The cost is approximately $850K for 12 customers. Manager Sollecito wanted to
bring this to the boards attention since it can be a safety issue. Commissioner Trowbridge responding by saying that
this is not a normal situation and those 12 houses started as summer cottages before becoming a year-round house
Chairperson Roache agreed that this is a safety issue and is worried that it could start a fire and he does not see an
issue with this upgrade.
D) Review H. Jaffari memo regarding cellphone provider.
Manager Sollecito explained that a lot of town departments have moved over to ATT for their cell phone
providers. While we have Verizon there has been issues with service around town. Chris Trask, Brian Klinkhamer,
and Hamid Jaffari have been tasted to try out the ATT phones to see where the drop spots are and see how the
service is. If we switch we will actually save $8 a month. The dept will be moving forward with ATT.
E) Update on State Regulatory issues
Manager Sollecito reviewed that the board asked him to reach out to the state MMA in regards to the
initiatives that the commonwealth is trying to start. He did so and spoke with a few people on the board of the
MMA. There was a meeting set up the impression that was given was that they wouldn't be able to move the
concerns along. Manager Sollecito referenced how the clean truck regulations could create concern with the utility
companies. Vice Chair Wilk brought up the concern of cost for these issues. Manager Joseph Sollecito explained that
giving out data to other companies is an issue and MEAM is working with legal counsel to review these issues. DOER
was sympathetic to the issue but didn't seam to be able to assist.
4) Citizens Questions and Comments
None
5) Commissioners Questions & Comments
Chairperson Roach made mention that Manager Joseph Sollecito review is coming up soon.
6) Any items not anticipated by the Chair 48 hours prior to this meeting
None.
7) Vote to enter into Executive Session for the following Reasons and NOT return to open session.
Motion to enter into executive session for the following reasons:
A- Review and consideration to approve minutes of January 27, 2025 Executive session where exemptions 3
and 6 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 (IBEW Local 104 Financial Assistants and Professional units and AFSCM Local
1702) if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body and the
chair so declares
C- To adjourn at 6:35pm
(Trowbridge/Wilk) Passes 3/0
Respectfully submitted: Toni -Ann D'Ambra
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Sig at of Clerk J Date of Approval