HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-02-01 Community Relations Subcommittee MinutesRECEIVED
Minutes of Community Relations Subcom;%A66~~
RMLD Board of Commissi
nol AR 20 P 5 01 '
Date: February 1, 2006
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Place: RMLD Cafeteria
Attendees: RMLD Board Chairman, Andrew Herlihy
RMLD Board Secretary, Ellen Kearns
General Manager, Vincent Cameron
Human Resources Manager, Beth-Ellen Antonio
Community Relations Manager, Priscilla Gottwald
Community Relations Assistant, Bobbi Maillett
The Community Relations Subcommittee meeting was called to order at 6:38 p.m. Andrew
Herlihy was eager to address the Calpine issue, being cognizant of the litigation aspect. Because
of an RMLD cash flow problem, the result of Calpine's bankruptcy declaration, Andrew
expressed his desire that both the RMLD Board and the CAB should be prepared to share
information as a coordinated strategy.
Ellen Kearns wants exposure in the Globe and Herald to reach an audience that might include
judges in the metropolitan Boston area in order to win a sympathetic understanding of RMLD's
situation caused by a big energy company's mismanagement. She suggested an interview with
the General Manager and wants to see this issue in the local papers also. Talking points about a
Calpine presentation included: If either party had a less than investment grade rating they
would deposit money into an escrow account in the other party's name, which is what occurred
when Calpine lost its rating in 2003. The escrow money is in a Boston bank in RMLD's name;
however, the money cannot be withdrawn without the consent of both parties and Calpine won't
agree to the settlement amount proposed by RMLD.
Vinnie Cameron will meet with all four towns' Boards of Selectmen to apprise them of the
Calpine situation. He will meet with North Reading Selectmen on February 6 and with the
Reading Selectmen on February 7. The amount in the escrow account changes daily and because
of litigation, he will state the amount involved is in the tens of millions of dollars. RMLD will
share legal fees with Middleton Municipal Electric and Mansfield Municipal Electric
Departments because they had contracts with Calpine. Thirty days have passed since RMLD
terminated the contract (December 28). RMLD is taking steps to bring suit against Calpine. Ellen
would like Priscilla to call the papers on the day RMLD files suit and would like the headlines to
read, "Calpine Bankruptcy hits RMLD." Vinnie would like to speak to the selectmen in all four
towns before the news hits the papers; however, the Lynnfield and Wilmington CAB members
haven `t scheduled a time for the meeting with Vinnie. Vinnie would like the press release to go
to the papers Wednesday morning.
Ellen said she would like to see coverage about purchasing replacement contracts and having
reporter(s) interview Vinnie portraying Calpine as the "bad guy".
On another agenda issue, Vinnie talked about the Customer Satisfaction survey results.
Customers from the four towns responded similarly.
Community Relations Subcommittee Meeting
2
Those living in the service territory for a long time could not judge rates against the investor-
owned utilities because they were not aware of those rates. The results show In Brief is well read
by an impressive majority and Ellen was pleased with those results. Ellen is concerned with
following up on green energy results. How do we offer it to customers? Vinnie said that we
need to explain green energy to customers, have the interested customer contact us and maybe
offer the service with a one-year commitment.
Andrew would like to see a school rate established; discussion ensued about its feasibility.
Ellen suggested the Customer Survey results be sent to NEPPA and would like the results
included in In Brief.
Ellen wanted to congratulate the staff and Priscilla for doing such a good job on the Customer
Survey.
Meeting adjourned at 7:38 p.m.
Respectively submitted,
Bobbi Maillett