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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLight Comm 12/03/1984BOARD OF LIGHT COMMISSIONERS AGENDA DECEMBER 3, 1984 1. 7:30 P.M. Meeting Called To Order 2. Minutes of November 13, 1984 3. Signing of Proclamation 4. 7:45 P.M. Budget Workshop 5. Adjournment BOARD OF LIGHT COMMISSIONERS MINUTES OF MEETING DECEMBER 3, 1984 PRESENT: Chairman Wills, Commissioners D'Onofrio, McNair, Manager John Larch. Commissioner Dunn arrived at 8:15 and Commissioner Levine arrived at 7:40 P.M. Office Manager Allan Jones was also present. 7:30 P.M. Meeting called to order. * Minutes of November 13, 1984, approved. D'Onofrio/McNair VOTED: 3-0. Proclamation for purchase power preference rights was signed by board members. The Board then proceeded to go over the Electric Department budget for 1985. They discussed accounting system highlights, base rates and purchase power cost adjustment. It was noted that there would not be a rate adjustment at this time. There was a question on employee retirement which had a 30% increase. Office Manager will look into it. Board went over wage and salary increases. Production and clerical wages will be discussed in detail at a later date as they depend on contract negotiations. There was also a question on the amount the Electric Depart- ment is charged for Treasurer & Accountant's Office. As per town meeting vote in 1984, it should be $42,000 instead of $52,000. * MOTION: To verify those costs and check actual costs. D'Onofrio/McNair VOTED: 0-4 Motion failed. It was questioned how they could calculate actual costs of collection services and bookkeeping for the Electric Department. Mr. Larch noted that currently the cost of the Town Accountant's and Town Treasurer's Offices are apportioned 1/3 each to the Town, Water and Sewer Departments and the Electric Department. He noted that it is a state requirement for them to collect the money and keep the books for us. There was also a short dis- cussion on payroll analysis and performance evaluations. Board went over estimated purchased power and sales figures. It was asked if they should provide an off peak rate to industrial customers. Mr. Larch spoke about the power supply situation and what the state energy office is doing in that area. Board agreed they would like EDER to try to do a study and to find out if the Manager would get a cost if they had a consultant do it for time of day rates. There was also discussion on whether or not MMWEC could do a time of day rate study for the town. Mr. Dunn would like preliminary feedback on this matter. Commission reviewed Distribution Operations and Distribution Maintenance. Ms. Levine questioned maintenance of building structures and plant maintenance as the brick on the High Street building is falling apart. It should;be re -pointed. Mr. Larch will look at it. Commissioner McNair asked about moving the office down to the plant. Mr. Larch feels it could be done for around $25,000 or less. Board would like to see a plan for renovating garage and cost. Also, they would like to see a comparison of utility costs vs. paying rent at the Town Hall. Also, how the Department would serve the customers. This should be done before we get a new computer. Board of Light Commissioners December 3, 1984 Page 2 Board asked about miscellaneous maintenance in 598 account. Street lights were brought up along with Christmas tree lights. Mr. Larch spoke about a federal grant for lights and he will find out if it is still in effect to make application. Commissioners went over Customer Services, uncollectible accounts and General and Administrative costs. Mr. Larch noted that he would like Mr. Jones to take a utility accounting course. He would also like to attend more conferences. Board then went over the $9,000 for the cost of service study which was questioned. Mr. Larch noted that it would verify where the rates are coming from and from what class. MOTION: To eliminate $9,000 for the Cost of Service Study. D'Onofrio/Dunn VOTED: 4-1 Levine opposed. Mr. Larch noted that he received a vote last year to do it again this year and that it should be left in the budget. Commissioner D'Onofrio mentioned about potential litigation from industrial customers if it was done and he would like to wait and see what happens. * AMENDED MOTION: To take out of this year's budget and place in 1985 budget. Levine VOTED: 2-3 Wills, McNair & D'Onofrio opposed. ` Christmas tree lights were discussed next. * MOTION: To increase amount from $5,000 to $10,000 for Christmas tree lights. Dunn/McNai'r VOTED: 4-0 Wills abstained. MOTION: To accept the front part of the budget wage and salary, operations maintenance, customer service and general and administrative as presented with notes: Non-acceptance of labor figures subject to collective bargaining and $9,000 from 923 account. Also, to add $5,000 to the Christmas tree account and $1,500 for account 153 (2 P.T. summer help) which was not in and should have been. Dunn/McNair VOTED: 5-0. Commissioner Dunn asked about street light outages in the industrial park and if we should contract services to repair the lights on. It was suggested that it go back to the designer as it will be expensive to fixrthe cable. Mr. Larch will find the extent of the problem and what it will cost for cable replacement. It was also decided to do an analysis on leasing a bucket truck or buy one with capital money. Mr. Larch mentioned that he will have an analysis on a new computer for next week. Board feels it should be compatable with NCR equipment. MOTION: To increase to a total of $1,250 for new file cabinets which include file cabinets for the Light Commissioners. D'Onofrio/Dunn VOTED: 4-1 Wills opposed. Board of Light Commissioners December 3, 1984 Page 3 Board went over item for two typewriters. * MOTION: To change it to one and look at something else. D'Onofrio/McNair No vote. * MOTION: To increase for word processing equipment from $1,800 to $10,000. Levine/McNair No vote. * AMENDED MOTION: To change amount from $10,000 to $3,000. Levine/McNair VOTED: 4-1 Wills opposed. * MOTION: To approve capital outlay except for bucket truck. Dunn/Levine VOTED: 5-0. It was noted that the next meeting will be January 7, 1985 at 7:30 P.M. * There being no further business, meeting was ADJOURNED at 10:50 P.M. D'Onofrio/Dunn VOTED: 5-0. Approved as written. nc � 7 R E S O L U T I O N WIiEREAS, most hydroelectric facilities in the New England region have been licensed by the federal government under the provisions of the Federal Power Act of 1920; and WHEREAS, licenses issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission are issued for up to fifty years; and WHEREAS, the Federal Power Act includes a municipal preference clause that gives states, municipalities, and other governmental agencies a preference in the issuance of licenses for hydroelectric projects on public streams; and WHEREAS, the municipal preference extends to relicensing situations where the municipal proposal is equally well adapted as any other plan to utilize the water resources in the public interest; and WHEREAS, municipal preference was accepted as a reasonable political compromise by all parties concerned, including private utilities, at the time the legislation was passed; and WHEREAS, private utility investments in hydroelectric projects were made with full knowledge that the licenses were for a limited term and would be subject to municipal preference upon renewal, and there has been ample opportunity to amortize the investment and earn a fair return over the license term; and WHEREAS, the municipal preference provision provides a meaningful form of competition in an otherwise monopolistic industry inasmuch as the competition for licenses results in improved applications and better use of a limited public resource and also helps provide a yardstick by which,the per- formance of private monopolies can be measured against that of publicly -owned power systems; and WHEREAS, ownership of these licenses by publicly -owned systems will be of significant help in maintaining lower electric rates that will directly benefit Mansfield's consumers in the Town of Mansfield. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mansfield Board of Light Commissioners supports retention of the municipal preference provisions of the Federal Power Act of 1920 and opposes pending or future legislation which would repeal the municipal preference in project relicensing. Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner stoner November 21, 1984