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Home My WebLink Aboutmin light commission 05/10/04 " "-' A, 1'''\' V E"I" c'Ik:i;\.. i" ..,. .. "', ~\r_vL .<' ;"! ::'Q\.(<: OFF ICE, . ~>.' "',; 'I "0,) < ,,-- Minutes of Light Commissioners Meeting May 10, 2004 (ll. JUL I 2 AM 9: I 2 NSF iELO t1ASSACHUSETTS Present: Chairman Steven MacCaffrie; Vice Chairman David McCarter (arrived late); Commissioner Louis P. Amoruso (Acting Clerk); Commissioner Mike McCue; Acting Director Ann Langille; Chief Financial Officer Kimberly Stoyle; Engineer Chris Cox; Line Foreman Gary D' Ambra and Manager John D' Agostino Light Commissioners Meeting The meeting was called to order at 7:35 followed by the pledge of allegiance. Minutes of April 21, 2004 Motion: To approve Passes 3/0 Questions and Comments There were no questions and comments. r- Jewell Street Poles Leonard Flynn, 102 Jewell Street, distributed a memo regarding the use of laminated poles on Jewel Street which is a scenic road. The memo compares the dimensions and the mass of the conventional pole to the laminated pole. He is concerned with the visual impact because of the size of the laminated poles. He discussed the matter with Shaun Burke, Director of Planning and Development, and John Sullivan, Town Engineer. According to the memo, Mr. Burke's opinion was "It flies in the face of the Scenic Road By-Law. It is the wrong pole in the wrong place". Mr. Flynn stated there has never been a problem with service on Jewell Street unless someone hit a pole on another street. He suggested the Light Dept. try the laminated poles on another road which is not a scenic way and also questioned why the service couldn't go underground? Engineeer Langille explained there are two distribution circuits now on Jewell Street and a third is being added, not just for Jewell Street, but for the purpose of bringing power across Town. There are eight distribution circuits coming out of Gilbert Street, four on West Street, three on Otis Street and there is a need for one more to go to School Street. The eighth will go from Jewell Street to Old Elm Street to School Street. In order to support the three circuits, two conventional poles will be replaced with two laminated poles. If conventional poles were to be used, there would be a need to use four poles instead of two. It would also mean getting permission from the homeowner on the opposite side of the street to place two of the poles on his property. He has been r" ,.. ... contacted and is unwilling to do so which would mean a taking by eminent domain. This r would be a lengthy process for the Town. Dave Columbo, from Consulting Engineers Group, has reviewed the situation and was on hand to give his opinion. He stated the conventional poles are already leaning from the weight and are too short to support a third circuit. A fifty to fifty-five foot pole is needed. One option is a concrete pole which is not advantageous in New England's cold weather. Another is a metal pole, such as steel or aluminum, which is not conducive to climbing. They are also hazardous because they conduct electricity. Mr. Columbo recommended the laminated pole as a solution. He cited Wellesley as an example where these poles were used, although slightly smaller than those which would be used on Jewell Street because they only support one circuit, not three. Line Foreman Gary D' Ambra assured everyone that he had given much thought to the residents of Jewell Street, their homes and the work they have put into them. Eventually the service would be put underground but the funds are not available now. The priority at this time is to keep the vulnerability of the system to a minimum. He also responded to Mr. Flynn's concerns about the Light Dept. following correct procedures for a scenic way, and stated that according to Shaun Burke, a public hearing is not needed. r' Howard Asnes, 94 Jewell St., has concerns about getting in and out of his driveway because the poles will be in his "line of sight". Foreman D' Ambra assured him the Light Dept. would work with him and address his concems. Mr. Asnes wondered how soon the, service would go underground? Foreman D' Ambra stated that he wants all triple circuit streets underground but it would not be in the near future. Commissioner McCue asked if additional work would be required to re-engineer the project if the Light Dept. was to go with Class I poles? Foreman D' Ambra answered in the affirmative. Commissioner Amoruso was uneasy with the change of position of Shaun Burke. Foreman D' Ambra reiterated that Mr. Burke previously stated there was no need for a public hearing. Foreman D' Ambra also made the point that the Board would not want to set a precedent. Chairman MacCaffrie suggested having a hearing to address citizen's concerns. Commissioner Amoruso asked what a delay would mean and how soon this project needed to be done? Foreman D' Ambra answered the project has been talked about for the past year and is now five months behind. Mr. Flynn explained that he didn't know about this a year ago or would have come forward then. He was first made aware when the two poles were dropped off on Jewell Street. Chairman MacCaffrie reminded Mr. Flynn this is not strictly a Jewell Street issue but an issue of getting power from one side of Town to the other. Chairman MacCaffrie asked if there was a motion? Commissioner Amoruso stated this was not a win/win situation, as they would be holding up the project and would probably be in the same position in two months, therefore he made a motion. r" 2 T ... ,r- (' r ; Motion: To support the Light Dept.'s decision to go forward and continue with the project using the laminated poles as planned Passes 2/1 (Amoruso and McCue in favor and MacCaffrie against) Foreman D' Ambra offered to obtain a list of laminated poles used in all municipals in Massachusetts. Financial Report for March 2004 Chief Financial Officer, Kimberly Stoyle, reviewed the profit and loss statement and the balance sheet for March. Total metered sales for March were $1,948k. Total power production expense was $1,565k. Net loss before pj.l.o.t. for the month was $150k and there was a net decrease to surplus after pj.l.o.t. of $190k. The Light Dept., however, is right where it needs to be for year-to-date. CFO Stoyle also reported the Light Dept. is having some difficulty securing power for the summer and is waiting for the new Director to become involved. In regards to the balance sheet, she noted that the Light Dept. would soon be spending cash for Gilbert St. Substation. There were 4 outages for the month, I of which was due to a squirrel. Acting Director Langille gave a Plant & Equipment update. She reported there was not much change other than the addition of work being done on Darby Drive. Verizon is setting new poles and the Light Dept. will be in the area to upgrade it's facilities. CFO Stoyle inquired as to whether the pj.l.o.t. amount would continue to .be 10% or whether it should be a fixed amount? Chairman MacCaffrie's opinion was it should be the fixed amount of $1 80,000. Town Manager D' Agostino concurred that going with the fixed amount is the better option. He explained the Town has never budgeted the $180,000 and the 10% rationale was if the Light Dept. could sustain while paying that amount. CFO Stoyle offered the Light Dept. can sustain the $480,000 now and she would also prefer the fixed amount. Town Manager D'Agostino stated the pj.l.o.t. account will remain as it is now except for GIS which will be an internal charge. A certificate was presented to the Board which gives Acting Director Ann Langille the authority to serve as voting representative to MMWEC until May 14,2004, at which time newly appointed Director Gary Babin would become the voting representative. Motion: To accept the certificate making Ann Langille voting representative to be succeeded by Gary Babin on May 14,2004 Passes 4/0 Old Business Commissioner McCue mentioned the Bird Road meeting and that people have been talking and asking questions of him. He asked Engineer Cox if there was anything new? 3 ~ - . Cox reported he took two homeowners to the Gilbert St. Substation and is surprised there r' haven't been more who have shown an interest. New Business It was Commissioner McCarter's final Light Commissioners meeting. He thanked everyone for the help that was given to him, especially while Light Commissioner Chairman for one year. He stated he wants to see issues resolved and the Light Dept. to move forward. The date for the next meeting was set for Monday, June 7, at 7:30. Adjournment Motion: To adjourn the Light Commissioner's meeting at 9:10 Passes 4/0 Respectfully submitted: Jacqueline Lee 6/16/04 ~~~ - 19nature of C {()-J ~ -tJ zJ Date of Approval ,r' r--- 4