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Home My WebLink Aboutmin of light commission 06/18/01 -... .~ LIGHT COMMISSIONERS MEETING Minutes of June 18,2001, 7 p.m. ./I.....,..'..:i..."L'D \'II-\\"jl t Present: Chairman Brad Wills, Clerk Michael McCue, Lou Amoruso, Dan D~<&.S P, C H USE T T S David McCarter Light Department Director: Jack Beliveau Light Department Financial Officer: Kimberly Stoyle Light Department Engineer: Ann Langille Town Manager: John D' Agostino Line Foreman: Gary D'Ambra RECE\VEO _ II f'l r- n 11 e n \. F H~ E ; ':1 I . !-~' "'" .,'", ~ ....... .." o I OCT \ 2 M1 8: 40 Motion: To go into Executive Session to discuss pending litigation and return to open session at conclusion of discussion. (Amoruso/McCue) 4/0 Passes Roll Call Vote: Amoruso-aye, McCue-aye, Donovan-aye, Wills-aye The board reconvened in open session at 8:30 p.rn. followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Minutes of May 14,2001. Motion: To approve the minutes. (Amoruso/McCarter) 5/0 Passes Executive Minutes of April 9,2001 Motion: To release minutes. (Amoruso/Donovan) 5/0 Passes r- Questions and Comments None Light Department Director's Report Financial Report . Ms. Stoyle went over the financial statements with board members. Metered Sales for April 2001 was $1,993k, up 32% from April 2000. This was due to increase in Power Production Cost Adjustment. April 2001 cost of Purchased Power was $1,488k, up 8% from prior year. It helped that nuclear stayed on line and prices leveled off in April 2001. Net increase before Payment in Lieu of Taxes was $301k, after Payment in Lieu of Taxes was $255k (profit.) YTD Net Income was $46lk and after Payment YTD in Lieu of Taxes was $299k. We are on track with our budgeted amount for the year. Director Beliveau noted there is a lag time in the profit because we pay for the power in one month and consume it in another. Next month may be a little flat. In answer to Selectman Amoruso's question regarding the reflection of the $20k donation to the council on aging, Ms. Stoyle said it is done annually, in November. Net Utility and Plant is 73% higher than April 2000. Cash looks like it is up 103% but things to keep in mind are the expansion of the substation, depreciation fund transfers and monies to be returned from MMWEC in August ($960k-$1.2 million.) Chairman Wills questioned why MMWEC returns money to us the end of August. Director Beliveau said they effectively over bill us; that way MMWEC does not have to borrow money. Ms. Stoyle mentioned this figure is accrued over a twelve- month period. Chairman Wills was informed that there is between $1.5 and $2 million substation costs remaining. ,r'" Director Beliveau updated the board on outages. Two outages were due to squirrels. Four hundred and fifty people were affected for thirty minutes because of the failure of a lightening arrester (a seven- dollar item). The June 17th outage by St. Mary's Cemetery was due to a lightening strike. The line crew r- had to wait for lightening to leave the area before using the buckets. The June 15th outage in the West Street area was a peak of all time peak usage. The feeders had to be reset. Project Status Ms. Stoyle reported on the web page proceedings. The ensuing scrutiny centered on necessity, pros and cons, timeliness and costs of the web page. Also considered was contracting help Vs using Town of Mansfield employees Vs hiring a college or high school student to set up and/or maintain the web page. Motion: Don't hire a contractor until we get the MIS director. (McCarter/Amoruso) 1 /4 Fails Director Beliveau believes the Wireless Network will save town money with payback in a couple of years. Plans are in the works for a presentation at the next meeting. He explained the system, delays and implementation of the bar coding system. GIS is closed on our part. The town engineer will bring it to its conclusion. Ms. Stoyle explained the process of converting to the new billing system and corresponding dates. Director Beliveau praised Engineer Ann Langille and Line Forman Gary D' Ambra regarding their leadership and resourcefulness resolving problems connected with the Gilbert Street Project. New England Power actively interfered on this project. Director Beliveau examined the resulting costs, possible future consequences and course of action to be taken. The Scada System is in, being tested and implemented. The proceedings regarding the West Street Bridge/CCF project were discussed. The Gilbert Street Land is still under negotiations; Director Beliveau does not have a recommendation at this time. Gilbert Street road cutting cannot be done without special permit, a vote of the Board of Selectmen. A discussion regarding the road cut followed. Issues examined were why cut, length of time for the detour, notification and how they were notified, scenic road issue, how wide and placement of cut, and whose standards are be met upon completion, how to uphold those standards and who is the final inspector. ,r'" Motion: Move to cut Gilbert Street. (Donovan/McCue) 5/0 Passes Director Beliveau mentioned the breakfast with the industrial customers is set for 8:30 a.m on June 19th, at the Holiday Inn in Mansfield. This meeting is to keep the business community informed and to open lines of communication between the representatives of the Town of Mansfield and the representatives of the town's industry. Chairman Wills thanked Director Beliveau for no cost overruns, doing a good job staying within budget and for a timely completion of the substation. Town Manager D' Agostino initiated discussion on the investigation of lock boxes, acceptance of credit cards and their effect on the Town of Mansfield. Items considered were costs, function, customer service, acceptable error rate, who to employ, what is a lock box, why use lock boxes, why not use Town of Mansfield's lock box and cost effectiveness of going out of the Town of Mansfield. Selectman McCarter would like to hear the opinion of the Treasurer. This will be a future agenda issue. Old Business Selectman Donovan mentioned that a bird's nest on light pole at or about 125 Court Street looks as if it is a fire hazard. The situation will be looked into and solved. Mr. D'Ambra stated Verizon has said they will start work next week moving poles. ,,-.. r ... . . .. r' Selectman Amoruso inquired as to the progress of the credit cards. The Treasurer is the custodian of all accounts and has not returned the cards required for implementation. Town Manager D' Agostino will investigate the status of the credit card situation. Chairman Wills brought up the Wireless Network. It was decided that each member should investigate the Wireless Network topic. A vote will be taken at the next meeting. New Business Selectman McCarter congratulated Director Beliveau on his recent appointment to the Board of Directors of MMWEC. Director Beliveau mentioned the upcoming NEPP A Conference in Portland, ME, from August 19th - 22od, 2001. Selectmen Donovan and Amoruso cannot attend. Selectmen McCarter and Wills will attend. Selectman McCue will get back to Ms. Stoyle. Date of next meeting: August 6, 2001, 7:30 p.m. Adjournment Motion: To adjourn at 10:20 p.m. (Donovan/McCarter) 5/0 Passes r ~4~1Id c;, AU& Of Date of Approval r , ~