HomeMy WebLinkAboutLight Comm Minutes 6/26/1996Board of Light Commissioners
Minutes of Meeting
June 26, 1996
PRESENT: Commissioners Colella, Madan, and Mahana
Commissioner Pasquale entered the room at 7:43 am
Chairman Robinson was absent
Meeting called to order at 7:40 pm
MOTION: To appoint Mr. Madan as Chairman in the absence of Chairman Robinson.
Mahana/Colella Vote 2 - 0 - 1 *
*Commissioner Madan abstained
MOTION: To approve minutes of June 3, 1996
Colella/lvlahana Vote 3 - 0
CAST IRON STREET LIGHT POLE BID AWARD
Three bids were submitted for 40 cast iron street light poles. The Manager recommended
that the bid be awarded to the lowest bidder, Grainger Rush Company at a price of
$1,277.00 per pole.
Commissioner Mahana said he would like to see a bid for only 20 poles to see if the bid
price is somewhat lower.
MOTION: To direct the Manager to not accept any of the bids that were submitted for
40 poles and to instruct the Manager to seek new bids for 20 poles.
Mahana/Pasquale Vote 4 - 0
SCHEDULED LIGHT COMMISSIONERS MEETINGS
MOTION: To meet twice a month as Light Commissioners on cable prior to the
Selectmen's Meeting on the 1 st and 3rd Wednesday of each month..
Colella/Mahana
Mr. Colella and Mr. Madan both stated they would like to be more informed of Light
Department issues and problems and felt they would benefit fiom having meetings twice
a month. Commissioners Pasquale and Mahana felt that once a month was sufficient to
meet as Light Commissioners and that if an issue needed to be discussed the Board could
request that the Manager meet with the Board prior to the scheduled Selectmen's meeting.
Colella/Mahana
Motion failed
Vote 2 -2
MOTION: To meet as once a month as Light Commissioners on cable prior to the
Selectmen's Meeting on the 1st Wednesday of each month.
Colella/Pasquale Vote 4 - 0
CC& F BETTERMENT ACT
Commissioner Colella asked the Manager for more information regarding the CC & F
Betterment Act. The Manager advised the Board that the manholes and ductlines that are
a part of the betterment were completed late last fall. The department is presently
installing a new feeder into the park and when that is completed work will begin on
reconductoring the underground.
MANAGER'S CONTRACT
Commissioner Colella questioned why the Town is paying the Manager $250.00 per
month for medical insurance. The Manager informed the Board that the Town
reimburses the Manager $250.00 per month which is used to purchase life insurance in
lieu of the Town providing the Manager with medical insurance. The Manager informed
the Board that the Town was paying $489.00 per month to provide medical insurance so
the Town is benefiting since they only pay $250.00 per month as opposed to the $489.00
Commissioner Colella then asked why the Manager receives a $250.00 monthly car
allowance as opposed to being provided a Town vehicle. The Manager informed
Commissioner Colella that this was part of his contract.
MOTION: To instruct the Manager to not purchase a four wheel truck which had
previously been approved as part of the 1996 Electric Department Budget.
The Manager informed the Board that the vehicle is no longer required
since we are not filling the meter reading position.
Colella/Mahana Vote 4 - 0
MOTION: To transfer the Backhoe to the Highway Department for their use and the
Manager can call Dan Clifford at the Highway Department when he needs
to use the machine.
Colella/Mahana
**This motion was withdrawn"
MOTION: To instruct the Manager not to purchase the backhoe and refuse delivery
of the backhoe.
Colella/Mahana Vote 1 - P
"Commissioner Colella was in favor.
The Board agreed to leave the backhoe at the Electric Department. However,
Commissioner Mahana stated that he wanted a monthly report of the number of hours the
backhoe is used.
Commissioner Mahana commented on the fact that the Electric Department made
payments to the Town in excess of $760,000 dollars and questioned why. The Manager
explained that 165,000 was the payment in lieu of taxes and the additional $580,000 was
for our share of expenses for insurance, worker's compensation, unemployment, and
allocation of town department salaries. Commissioner Mahana stated that perhaps
instead of paying a portion of the Treasurer's salary, the Electric Department should be
moved to the Town Hall and collect their own cash receipts. Commissioner Mahana also
stated how he feels it was a grave error that we purchased the High Street condo a mere
ten days prior to the election.
Commissioner Mahana also questioned why the Electric Department made a 24.7% profit
when by law we can only make an 8% profit. The Manager informed the Board that the
reason for the large rate reduction in 1996 was due to the fact that we made a large profit.
The new rates have been designed to generate a revenue of $80,000 for fiscal 1996.
Commissioner Mahana did not feel that we should have provided a lower rate to the High
School and as a result he would like to see a new rate study performed next year.
Commissioner Mahana requested that we file a note to ensure that a new rate study is
performed next April, 1997.
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Chairman Madan advised the Manager that he heard rumors of constant power outages in
the Industrial Park. As a result, he and Commissioner Mahana met with several
executives of companies within the industrial park. The companies complained that they
are experiencing outages almost on a weekly basis, to the point where they have to send
employees home almost every week. The Manager provided the Board with a detailed
report of all outages that occurred in the Industrial Park in the last two years.
The Manager also informed the Board that he didn't understand why companies would be
sending employees home from work due to outages that were never reported to the
Electric Company.
The Board instructed the Manager to meet with the executives in the Park in order to find
out what problems these companies are experiencing.
Commissioner Mahana also requested that the Manager look into providing energy audits
for the industrial customers. The Manager advised the Board that the Electric
Department did not provide energy audits for industrial customers because they could
cost as much as $5,000 per building. Mr. Mahana requested that the Manager obtain cost
estimates from independent auditors.
Chairman Madan requested that the Manager put a recording voltmeter on one company
at the end of each feeder to determine if they were experiencing voltage problems.
In addition, the Board instructed the Manager to prepare an agenda for a meeting with the
industrial customers in the park in order to gain more insight into the alleged problems.
MOTION TO ADJOURN AT 3:40 PM
Colella/Pasquale
Vote 4 -0
Next Scheduled Meeting • Wednesday. July 10 1996 at the Town Hall at 730 lL
Clerk's signature & date =- - -• -