HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-01-13 RMLD Citizens Advisory Board Minutes� orxGe
Town of Reading
e Meeting Minutes RECEIVED
TOWN CLERK
°•,..,a..� EADING. MASS.
Board - Committee - Commission - council: I016 APR I I A 4 30
RMLD Citizens Advisory Board
Date: 2016 -01 -13 Time: 6:30 PM
Building: Reading Municipal Light Building Location: Winfred Spurr Audio Visual Room
Address: 230 Ash Street
Purpose: General Business Session: General Session
Attendees: Members - Present:
Mr. George Hooper, Chair (Wilmington); Mr. David Nelson, Vice Chair
(Lynnfield); Mr. David Mancuso, Secretary (Reading); Mr. Mark Chrlsos
(North Reading)
Members - Not Present:
Mr. Dennis Kelley (Wilmington)
Others Present:
Mr. David Talbot, Board of Commissioners
Ms. Coleen O'Brien, Ms. lane Parenteau, Ms. Kathleen Rybak ' o
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Mr. David Mancuso, Secretary
Topics of Discussion:
1. Call Meeting to Order — G. Hooper, Chair
Chair Hooper called the meeting of the Citizens' Advisory Board to order at 6:30 p.m.
and noted that the meeting was being audio recorded.
2. Approval of Minutes — G. Hooper, Chair
Materials: Draft May 20, 2015, Minutes; Draft November 18, 2015, Minutes
Mr. Nelson made a motion that the Citizens' Advisory Board approve the Minutes of the
May 20, 2015, meeting as written, seconded by Mr. Mancuso. Hearing no further
discussion, Motion carried 4:0:1 (4 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 absent).
Mr. Nelson noted that the date of the November meeting as noted on the draft minutes
should be corrected to read November 18, 2015.
Mr. Nelson made a motion, with the correction noted, the Citizens' Advisory Board
approve the Minutes of the November 18, 2015, meeting as written, seconded by Mr.
Chrisos. Hearing no further discussion, Motion carried 4:0:1 (4 in favor, 0 opposed, 1
absent).
3. FY17 Budget Process — C. O'Brien General Manager
Ms. O'Brien asked for input on the upcoming FY17 budget review process. The group
agreed that they would like to continue with two separate budget review meetings, but
with the Operating Budget review at the first meeting and the Capital Budget review at
the second meeting. Meeting dates were set for April 6 and 13, with one of the
meetings to be scheduled in North Reading.
Ms. O'Brien noted that she has had preliminary discussions with the Board of
Commissioners regarding changing the RMLD fiscal year to a calendar year. Currently,
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RMLD keeps two sets of books in order to comply with DPU reporting, which is on a
calendar year. This is inefficient and time - consuming. Most utilities are on a calendar
year. It was noted that the RMLD fiscal year at one point did run from January through
December, but it was changed to July through June. Ms. Parenteau noted that she
thought the rationale at the time was to be in -sync with the Town, and believes this
change happened in 2008.
Ms. O'Brien continued, if RMLD started our budget and did the cost of service modeling
in the third quarter, the numbers would be finalized and ready for proper segue into
each towns' budget process. Currently we are trying to develop our numbers at the
same time the towns need the numbers for their budgets. Mr. Mancuso asked If
Reading town management expressed concern one way or the other. Ms. O'Brien
responded, no other than it would be nice to have the numbers. The towns are asking
for number now and we're working on our budget and numbers at the same time. If
we were on a calendar year budget, we would have finished our budgets and they
would be ready to go right to the towns. Mr. Mancuso noted that he was curious as to
why the change was made in the first place; what the history there was.
4. Next Meeting — G. Hooper, Chair
The next meeting of the CAB was scheduled for Wednesday, February 10.
5. Executive Session — G. Hooper, Chair
Mr. Nelson made a motion that the Citizens' Advisory Board go into Executive Session
based on Chapter 164, Section 47D exemption from public records and open meeting
requirements in certain instances, to discuss competitively sensitive Issues, and return
to regular session for the sole purpose of adjournment, seconded by Mr. Chrisos.
Motion carried 4:0:1 (4 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 absent), by a poll of members present:
Mr. Chrisos, aye; Mr. Nelson, aye; Chair Hooper, aye; Mr. Mancuso, aye. Mr. Kelley
was not present.
6. Motion to Adjourn — G. Hooper, Chair
Mr. Nelson made a motion to adjourn the Citizens' Advisory Board meeting, seconded
by Mr. Mancuso. Hearing no further discussion, Motion carried 4:0:1 (4 in favor, 0
opposed, 1 absent).
The Citizens' Advisory Board Meeting adjourned at 7:36 p.m.
Minutes as approved on March 23, 2016.
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