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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLight Comm Minutes 6/5/1995rr t\1 17 (1 LO Board of Light Commissioners " Minutes of Meeting gs OCT -3 , i 41 June 5, 1995 - 0 1_ PRESENT: Chairman Ronald, Commissioners Colella, Pasquale, and 'Rayje. Commissioner Robinson arrived at 7:40 pm. Meeting called to order at 7:18 pm 191MITUMON11 • ►1► � ► _ Three homeowners who were in the process of building homes in Mansfield were at the meeting to request waivers of the $1350.00 developer's connection fee. Thomas Musto had a signed purchase and sale agreement dated October 26, 1994 for Lot 4 Cedar Ridge Lane. Mr. Musto explained that he was building this home himself and that this would be his primary residence. Mr. Musto also stated, that he believed he was exempt from this fee since he had a purchase and sale agreement signed prior to November 1, 1994. The Board of Light Commissioners explained that they felt anyone who had a signed purchase and sale agreement prior to November 1, 1994 would have applied for a permanent meter prior to April 1, 1995. As a result, the Board voted to deny waivers of this fee after April 1, 1995. However, it was the intent of the Board that the Developers would pay this fee and include it as part of the purchase and sale price of the home. The Board voted the April 1, 1995 deadline at a Light Commissioners Meeting and this April 1, 1995 date was never published. As a result, the individual homeowners were unaware of this deadline. MOTION: To approve the waiver of the $1350.00 Developers Connection Fee to Tom Musto for property owned by him at Lot 4 Cedar Ridge Lane. Since Mr. Musto has already paid this fee, the Business Manager was instructed to reimburse Mr. Musto. Royle/Pasquale Vote 4 -0 MOTION: To approve the waiver of the $1350.00 Developers Connection Fee to Donald Ordway for property owned by him at Lot 5 Cedar Ridge Lane. Also, to authorize the Business Manger to create a work order for a permanent meter for this property with the fee waived. Royle/Pasquale Vote 4 -0 -1* NOTE: Commissioner Robinson arrived to the meeting at this time (7:40pm) Commissioner Robinson abstained t MOTION: To approve the waiver of the $1350.00 Developers Connection Fee to Perry DiMascio for property owned by him at 20 Douglas Drive. Also, to authorize the Business Manager to create a work order for a permanent meter for this property with the fee waived. Royle/Pasquale Vote 5 - 0 MOTION: To approve the minutes of May 1, 1995. Royle /Colella Vote 3 - 0 -1* *Commissioner Pasquale abstained from the vote. The Manager advised the Board that PLM has proposed new rates for all Mansfield Electric Customers which will put all of our customers below Mass Electric rates.. The new rates will ensure that the industrial and commercial customers will be much more competitive with Mass Electric rates. The utility business is becoming much more competitive, especially with all the talk of retail wheeling. Retail Wheeling if passed by the DPU will put pressure on companies to shift operations elsewhere and force Electric companies to transmit power from other utilities to existing companies in their territory. The intent of these proposed rates was to ensure that we position our rates to be very comparable to Mass Electric rates, thus being more competitive. 95% of our customers will have lower bills than they would if they were Mass Electric customers, the remaining 5% are customers who have terrible power load factors. The Manager noted that we need a new municipal rate, perhaps with a lower demand charge in order to effectively deal with the High School The new rates delete the steps that exists with the current rates. Additionally, the purchase power cost adjustment will be 1.5 cents per kwh and residential customers will receive a Pasny credit of 2.54 cents per kwh. The new rates will be lower than the current rates and will be much easier for our customers to understand. A customer charge will now be incorporated for all residential commercial customers, There will also be fewer rate categories. The proposed rate categories will be Residential Rate (includes current rates 1, 3, and 5), Commercial Rate, (includes current rates 7 and 21), Low Tension Rate ( includes current rates 23 and 25), High Tension Rate (includes current rate 27). New proposed rates are still needed to address Municipal Rates which will include the current rates 41, 43, 45, 47. Also Rate 49 which is the Municipal Street Lighting Rate and Rate 98 which is the security lighting rates. We also need to address the off peak customers, we currently have 297 off peak meters. The Business Manager also requested that we incorporate minimum and maximum kwh consumption factors to be used in the commercial, low tension and high tension rates. This will assist in determining the correct rate for individual customers who may be better served on a different rate based on their monthly kwh consumption Commissioner Pasquale stated he would like to see a Senior Citizen and Disabled Vets discount, or perhaps an exemption from the customer charge for these individuals. The Manager agreed to look into this. The Manager advised the Board that work still needs to be done as mentioned above. A Public Meeting will have to be held to approve these rates prior to implementation. The Manager is looking to implement these rates in the fall of 1995. Once the completed package is ready, the Manager will again meet with the Board. OSHA EMPLME COLQUANCE MANUAL. The Manager advised the Board that we had an OSHA Employee Compliance Manual. Commissioner Pasquale stated he would like to see a document signed by each employee stating that he/she read and understood this manual and these signed documents would be placed in each individuals personnel file. SUBSTATION MAINTENANCE The Manager presented the Board with a proposal from Boston Edison for our substation maintenance schedule. This is a seven year contract at a cost of $17,000 per year. The Manager advised the Board that he currently budgets $20,000 per year. The Manager requested a proposal from Mass Electric but three weeks later still has not received anything. The Manager recommends Boston Edison based on the price, the years of experience, the qualified employees whose careers are based around substation maintenance and the fact that Edison has all the necessary equipment for substation maintenance. The Manager explained that smaller companies, typically do not have the equipment necessary for this work and we have had to rent the equipment in the past. ► 1 L W�" 0/61109121 The Manager explained that over five years ago, this position was approved by the Board of Light Commissioners with a $25.00 per week increase. However, the position was never filled. At this time the Manager would like to fill the Assistant Business Manager's position but would like the Board to approve the job description. MOTION: To approve the proposed job description for Assistant Business Manager. Pasquale/Royle Vote 5 -0 MOTION: To fund the Assistant Business Manager position at a salary of $31,085.10 out of the monies from Accounting Officer's position. Pasquale/Royle Vote 5 -0 The Manager will submit to the Board of Light Commissioners an analysis of current pay rates for these positions and proposed rate increases for same before the scheduled June 14, 1995 Board of Selectmen Meeting. MOTION: To instruct the Manager and the Chairman of the Board of Light Commissioners to notify the Landlord that the Electric Department would like to renogiate another five year rental agreement and/or the possibility of a buyout of the condo at 125 High Street Unit 4. Also, to advise the Manager to continue looking at the possibility of building or renting a facility where the entire Electric Department would all be under the same roof. Pasquale/Royle Vote 4 -1* Commissioner Robinson was opposed and emphasized the fact that he feels we should build a site. MOTION: To adjourn the meeting at 9:45 pm Royle/Pasquale Vote 5 - 0 THE NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING WILL BE AT 7:00 PM ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1995. Clerk's signature & date