HomeMy WebLinkAboutLight Commissioners 04/27/2026Municipal Electric Department
of Light Commissioners Meeting
April 27 2026
Present: Chair Maureen Doherty, Vice Chair Kostas Loukos, Clerk Michael Feck, Commissio4rA±alYet Wilk;
Commissioner Brendan Roche, Light Department Manager Joseph Sollecito
1) Open Meeting —Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance. The meeting was held at the Mansfield town HaIINRoom
2AB and called to order at 6:33 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.
2) Motion to review and consideration to approve February 10, 2026 Board Minutes. (Feck/Loukos) 4/0
3)General Manager's Report
a) Review FY2027 rate recommendations with Mayhew Seavey, FILM
Changes in`FY27 budget from FY26 indicate a',possible need to adjust the rates. Purchase power costs overall are
$2.3 million, higher and sales are flat. Distribution rates produce a 2.7% rate of return which is on the low side.
Without having'a .2 cent purchase power charge adjustment there would be a loss of 1.9 million.
Recommendations are to adjust the purchase power charges %cent to build up rate stabilization services. Adjust
distributionenergy charges to achieve a 4% overall rate of return. Increase the demand chares by $3.00/Kva to
move toward cost of service and decrease energy charges to the same for customers to preserve the same
revenues under the present rates. Commissioner Wilk asked why distribution goes up and that is due to
inflation.
b) Review and consideration to approve FY2027 Operating Budget
Overall net income budget is increasing $548,768 which is a'4% increase. Residential customers are 89% of the
customer base. Sales are evenly; balanced among all areas. Residential is 37%, large commercial is 35 % and
small commercial, medium commercial and municipal is the remaining 38%. For non -power expenses the total
will increasing 5.4%which is comprised of labor costs and vendor costs which is 19% of the total expenses. Labor
costs will be increasing by 2.4%and non -labor by 11%. Non labor is going up because the cost of tree trimming
has gone up. The voluntary payment to the town has been flat at $780,000.
Motion to approve FY2027 Operating Budget. (Feck/Roche) 5/0
c) Review and consideration to approve FY2027 Rate Adjustments per J. Pereira memo
For Fiscal Year 2027 all customer Rates went through comprehensive changes. Impact was primarily a shift
between Purchase Power rates and Distribution rates across all customer sectors. Overall impact is a small
decrease in customer bills compared to March approved rates.
Motion to approve FY2027 Rate Adjustments per J. Pereira memo. (Feck/Roche) 5/0
d) Review and consideration to approve FY2027 Capital Budget
Carry over projects add up to about 1.8
projects add up to 1.4 million. The gene
million.
Motion to approve FY2027 Capital Bud,
e) Review and consideration to approve a
report
The Department of Public Utilities repo
adjustment report, Capital Budget, and
basis so the terms are slightly different.
million and will be updated as they are completed. The new capitol
ral plant adds up to 1.5 million. Total FY26-27 capitol budgets add to 4.8
(Feck/Roche)5/0
sign Mansfield Electric's 2025 Department of Public Utilities (DPU)
the annual report forthe town which is similar to our Rate
budget but for the calendar year not the fiscal year. It is gap
f) Review and consideration to approve authorizing the General Manager to execute Purchase & Sales
Agreement for property at 130 High Street; Mansfield, MA
i) Review memo from license site environmental LSP
This is a property across from the Mansfield electric parking lot that used to be owned by national grid.
Mansfield Electric has always had an easement over there. This property is not useful to build on but is useful to
Mansfield Electric to put a concrete cap on top to use as storage for transformers. It would be $70,000 to
purchase and $40,000 to do environmental testing. Since there would be no building or digging there wouldn't
be a need for the environmental testing.
Motion to approve authorizing the General Manager to execute Purchase & Sales Agreement for property at
130 High Street; Mansfield, MA. (Feck/Roche) 5/0
ii) Review and consideration to approve 'Declaration of Uniqueness' of National Grid property located at 130
High Street: Mansfield, MA
A Declaration of Uniqueness is a Municipal entity so there does not need to be solicitation for the purchase
of property and that starts a time table to be able to purchase the property.
Motion to approve 'Declaration of Uniqueness' of National Grid property located at 130 High Street:
Mansfield, MA (Feck/Roche) 5/0
g) Project Updates
i) Reconductoring of MIMED and NGRID facilities along Chauncy Street (Route 106) from Route 140 to
Copeland Drive
National grid had a large push to get their part done but there are still about 9 poles that Mansfield Electric
will need to replace. Due to strategizing the project it will take some time to get this completed.
ii) MMED Office Facility paving project
The office parking lot in front of the building will be paved and it will take about a week to complete.
Customers will not be able to park in front but their will be spots on the side of the building for them.
4) Citizens Questions & Comments
None
5) Commissioners Questions & Comments
a) Performance Review of General Manager
Chair Maureen Doherty did not have the hard copies but the average remarks were high fours. Comments that
came out through the process is to add goals next year. The commission board would like to update the form for
next year. The board appreciates the monthly reports and open communication.
6) Any items not anticipated by the Chair 48 hours prior to this meeting
None
7) Motion to enter into Executive Session for the following reasons and not return to open session. (Feck/Roche) 5/0
a) Review and consideration to approve minutes of June 16, 2025 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 3, to discuss strategy
with respect to litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the
public body and the chair so declares.
Respectfully submitted: Toni -Ann D'Ambra
7 /�-() 44
Signature Date of Approval