HomeMy WebLinkAboutLight Comm 10/15/2025 (2)Mansfield Municipal Electric Department
Minutes of Light Commissioners Meeting
October 15, 2025 RECEIVED
TOliYH CLERKS OFFICE
Present: Chair Maureen Doherty, Vice Chair Kostas Loukos, Clerk Michael Feck, Commissioner Brendan
Roche, Commissioner Walter Wilk, General Manager Joe Sollecito, Business and FinaiU WIjajdr A Niehg,
Town Accountant Nick Monticello
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1) Open Meeting — Call to Order & Pledge of Allegiance. The meeting was held at the Mansfield Town
Hall Room 2AB and called to order at 5:33 PM.
2) In coordination with the Town of Mansfield Audit Committee, review and discuss MMED Audit
results as presented by Laura Stone & Kevin Sullivan of CBIZ
Audit Committee members: Chair Saravanan Karuppusamy, Jack Cooney, Kostas Loukos, Steve Schoonveld
Laura Stone gave an overview of the audit. She said this is a draft report and that it can be changed and
then finalized, though they do not anticipate anything significant. They are still testing the OPEB census
data file. She noted that the inventory count was done on July 7, 2025. There were some improvements
from the prior year, but still some issues that need to be resolved. The year end fieldwork was done in
August, where they look at cash, receivables, liabilities and other areas.
She then gave a review of the report, a copy of which can be viewed at the Electric Department offices.
The net pension liability is the largest issue. It is a portion of the Town's share of Bristol County
Retirement. The operating income is consistent with that of the prior year. The Light Department has
been aggressively funding for health insurance, so the proportionate share is an asset.
An issue was discovered that the count of staff in the census data report was incorrect. The report was
run with only active recipients, not all those who were eligible to receive benefits. This was the case in
the 2023 census as well. This was determined to not be material to the position, only about $102,000 for
MMED. It does mean that there needs to be a change to the review process.
Ms. Stone noted that there was a significant deficiency in the controls over inventory. Manager
Sollecito stated that changes have been made but it still needs more work.
The topic of the PILOT was also brought up, with the commission discussing the possibility of new
ways to formulate that.
Audit Committee Motion: To accept the audit report with one correction on page 27 and pending
the census testing being finished. (Schoonveld/Loukos) Passes 4-0.
3) Consideration of Municipal Electric Commissioners to vote to approve MMED FY2025 audit
Light Commission Motion: To accept the audit report with one correction on page 27 and pending the
census testing being finished. (Roche/Feck) Passes 5-0.
4) General Manager's Report
a) Review and consideration to approve recommendation of award for Voltage Regulator CL-7
Control Units based on H. Jaffari memo
Motion to award the bid to Eaton Company for a cost of $80,255. (Loukos/Roche) Passes 5-0.
b) Update and notice of Conduit Extension Project — Justin Drive/Jewell Street/Balcom Street
This is the last part of the underground project going from the manhole at the corner of Balcom Street
and Justin Drive to six ducts to riser poles. This will take away the susceptibility on Justin Drive and
Jewell Street. The bid will be awarded on Friday, October 17, so that the project will be done before
deadline expires for paving on November 15.
c) Discuss MMED `Student Electrical Engineer' position
The commission voted to approve the position back in 2018. A couple of opportunities fell through.
Rather than reaching out through the schools directly the department will now be advertising through Town
communications methods. The hope is to get someone local for the position.
5) Citizens Questions & Comments - None
6) Commissioners Questions & Comments - None
7) Any items not anticipated by the Chair 48 hours prior to this meeting - None
8) Adjourn
Motion to Adjourn at 6:25pm (Roche/Loukos) Passes 5-0
Respectfully submitted by Katherine Duggan
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Signature of Clerk Date