HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-10-26 RMLD Board of Commissioners Minutes - Executive SessionReading Municipal Light Board of Commissioners
Executive Session
230 Ash Street RECEIVED
• Reading, MA 01867 TOWN CLERK
October 26, 2011 RE;,; ?IiG. MASS.
Start Time of Regular Session: 8:45p.m.
End Time of Regular Session: 9:15 p.m. Z91Z JUL 30 A 11: 2b
Attendees:
Commissioners:
Richard Hahn, Chairman
Mary Ellen O'Neill, Secretary
Gina Snyder, Commissioner
Staff:
Vinnie Cameron, General Manager
Philip B. Pacino, Vice Chair
Robert Soli, Commissioner
MMWEC Arbitration Update
Mr. Cameron updated the Board on the recent events surrounding the MMWEC arbitration and the Power Sales Agreements
(PSAs). Mr. Cameron said that he and Mr. Pacino were initially being deposed on October 31, 2011, however, that date has
been rescheduled. Mr. Cameron explained that his original estimate of Outside Services for the General Manager Division in
the FY12 budget was $50,000, which was based on settling the arbitration in late summer or early fall. Attempts at
settlement by Mr. Cameron and others in the group (Hingham, Danvers, Middleton, Georgetown, Littleton, and Braintree)
have been unsuccessful. Mr. Cameron said that he needed another $100,000 in his Outside Services budget for the arbitration
going the full route.
Mr. Cameron stated that since 2008 through the present the RMLD had spent $222,000 on outside services in the arbitration,
including legal services and Melanson and Heath consultants. Mr. Cameron said that he has calculated that the RMLD has
�ved approximately $225,000 in 2008 and 2009 in the PSAs through decreases in direct and indirect labor billings. The
ings were calculated based on MMWEC data. Mr. Cameron said that these savings are linked to the arbitration case
actions. Mr. Cameron cautioned that the savings he has seen in 2008 and 2009 could be reversed. The RMLD and others in
the group need to find a solution to controlling the labor charged to the PSAs in the future and that is why the arbitration may
go to hearing with no settlement. It is not in MMWEC's interest to settle and cap labor charges in the PSAs
Discussion followed.
Ms. O'Neill asked that Mr. Cameron mention this issue in his report at the next Regular Session meeting. Mr. Cameron
agreed.
NStar Radial Line Support Update
Mr. Cameron said that he has been in discussions with legal counsel in Washington and Boston concerning the unrecovered
transmission payments to NStar between 2003 and 2009. Mr. Cameron reported that when this issue came up he had
discussions with John Coyle of Duncan and Allen. Mr. Coyle didn't think there was a legal argument to be made that could
be used either at the FERC or in court to recoup the unrecovered funds. Mr. Cameron and Ms. Parenteau had discussions
over this issue and decided to have a conference call with Rubin and Rudman and Duncan and Allen concerning the prospect
of litigation for the unrecovered transmission payments. The sense of the conference call was that litigation would be
unsuccessful given the language in Rate 125. Mr. Cameron has decided to set up a meeting with NStar to discuss the issue
with them directly.
Adjournment
At 9:15 p.m. Mr. Soli made a motion seconded by Ms. O'Neill to adjourn the Regular Session.
Motion carried 5:0:0.
• A true copy of the RMLD Board of Commissioners minutes
as approved by a majority of the Commission.
Mary Ellen O'Neill, Secretary
RMLD Board of Commissioners