HomeMy WebLinkAboutLight Comm. 12/20/2017Mansfield Municipal Electric DepartrREVE I V E p
Executive Session Minutes of Light Co giy�S gti�WtW I CE
December 20, 2017
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Present: Chairman Jess Aptowitz, Vice Chairman Frank Delvecchio, Clerk Steve
Schoonveld, Commissioner Michael Trowbridge, Commisso�3!}cting Town
Manager John Stanbrook, Director Joseph Sollecito and Fin 8ra1 Ss it J cq eline Lee
The executive session was called to order at 6:25 PM.
Motion: To approve but not release the minutes from the October 23, 2017 Light
Commissioners executive session
(Trowbridge/Delvecchio) Passes 5/0
Roll call vote: Trowbridge -aye; Delvecchio-aye; Schoonveld-aye; Rhein -aye and
Aptowitz-aye
MMWEC Renewable Power Generation Project -In a previous MMED executive session,
Director Sollecito informed the Board about the Berkshire Wind Project, a proposal from
Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC) regarding renewable
power. He said that MMWEC is looking to push this project forward. He reminded the
Board that MMED already meets and exceeds the non CO2 generating standard. For
renewables, however, MMED does not meet the standard. Participation in this project would
increase MMED's renewables. There was also discussion about how much of an increase
there would be to the residential and/or commercial customer's bill. Director Sollecito stated
that Mayhew Seavey of PLM believes it would add .25 to .35 cents to each residential
customer's monthly bill. Director Sollecito thinks it may be closer to .35 to .40 cents. He
noted that MMED prides itself on being on the lower side of rates.
There was then a discussion about renewables amongst the Board members. Chairman
Aptowitz believes that residents will start asking the Board members what they are doing in
regards to renewables. Commissioner Trowbridge doesn't think that 35 cents is a significant
increase. Vice Chairman Delvecchio questioned what MMED would do with their RECs
(renewable energy credits). Director Sollecito said the only benefit to holding onto them is to
show how the Town of Mansfield values the renewable resources. However, keeping them
provides no economic benefit. Most municipal utilities sell the RECs in the marketplace.
There was discussion as to how much renewable sources are presenting in the MMED system.
Director Sollecito informed the Board that in regards to the use of solar, there are
approximately four commercial solar accounts and fifteen residential solar accounts as well as
the solar farm at Branch Street. This accounts for a small percent (approximately 1.5%) of
MMED's total power portfolio.
He said that he was not looking for a vote this evening but just needed to know informally if
the Board wanted him to proceed and bring this project forward to an open session in January
2018. All five Board members were in agreement with moving forward and a roll call vote
was taken.
Roll call vote: Trowbridge -aye; Delvecchio-aye; Schoonveld-aye; Rhein -aye and
Aptowitz-aye
Contract negotiations with MMED Director Sollecito- Chairman Aptowitz stated that
Director Sollecito currently does not have a formal contract. Instead he has a letter from the
Town outlining his starting salary of $142,000 and other benefits such as six weeks of
vacation and a car allowance. Chairman Aptowitz noted that the starting salary has since
been increased to $149,000. Director Sollecito then provided a spreadsheet to the Board
members showing the salaries of those in other municipals who have similar duties to himself.
Clerk Schoonveld pointeout that some of those listed on the spreadsheet had been doing
their job for many years. Director Sollecito said that he believed he was capable of doing a
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comparable job or better.
Chairman Aptowitz said that they need to come up with a three year contract and that he did
not think there was a need for a Town meeting in order to do that. Director Sollecito
suggested that the Board first needs to take the vote which will make him Manager of MMED
and Chairman Aptowitz said that will be done at their next meeting. Chairman Aptowitz then
offered to work on the contract along with Town Counsel.
Motion: To authorize Chairman Aptowitz to work with Town Counsel on a three year
contract for MMED Director Sollecito
(Trowbridge/Schoonveld) Passes 5/0 Rhein -aye and
Roll Call Vote: Trowbridge -aye; _Delvecchio-aye; .Schoonveld-aye;
Y
Aptowitz -aye
Chairman Aptowitz said that he would refer to the letter outlining Director Sollecito's benefits
and use the items from there to insert into the new contract. He said he will also be changing
his title from Director to General Manager.
Commissioner Trowbridge made a motion to increase the base salary to $157,000 but there
was no second.
As no other motion was made, Chairman Aptowitz passed the gavel to Vice Chairman
Delvecchio so that he could make a motion.
Motion: To institute a 6% increase to MMED Director Sollecito's base salary bringing
the figure to $158,136.75 as of July 1, 2017
(Aptowitz/Trowbridge) Passes 5/0
Roll Call Vote: Trowbridge -aye; Delvecchio-aye; Schoonveld-aye; Rhein -aye and
Aptowitz -aye or Sollecito's car
lowance
Motion:
monthly tcreaserMMe an D Direct
$500onal $6000 being added lto he base salary monthly to
y
(Trowbridge/Rhein) Passes 5/0
Roll Call Vote: Trowbridge -aye; Delvecchio-aye; Schoonveld-aye; Rhein -aye and
Aptowitz -aye
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Motion: To adjourn at 7:15pm
Roll Call Vote: Trowbridge -aye; Delvecchio-aye; Schoonveld-aye; Rhein -aye and
Aptowitz-aye
:Respect lly submitted: J queline Lee /
ignature of Clerk ate of Approval
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