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Home My WebLink About2009-11-18 RMLD Board of Commissioners MinutesReading Municipal Light Board of Commissioners Regular Session 230 Ash Street Reading, MA 01867 November 18, 2009 T RECEIVED O C. READING, MASS. ZO R DEN 1 P 12: 4b Start Time of Regular Session: 7:36 p.m. End Time of Regular Session: 9:14 p.m. Attendees: Commissioners: Mary Ellen O'Neill, Chairman Philip Pacino, Secretary Ellen Kearns, Commissioner Staff: Vincent Cameron, General Manager Paula O'Leary, Operational Assistant Citizens' Advisory Board, Arthur Carakatsane Richard Hahn, Vice Chair Robert Soli, Commissioner Beth-Ellen Antonio, Human Resources Manager Kevin Sullivan, Engineering and Operations Manager Opening Remarks/Approval of Meeting Agenda Chairman O'Neill asked if there were any suggested changes to or questions on the agenda. There were none. Introductions Chairman O'Neill introduced CAB member, Arthur Carakatsane. Approval of Minutes for Board Meetings October 28, 2009 Mr. Pacino made a motion seconded by Mr. Hahn to approve the Regular Session meeting minutes of October 28, 2009 as presented. Motion carried 5:0:0. North American Electric Reliability Council Compliance Presentation - Mr. Sullivan Mr. Sullivan stated that the presentation is an understanding of why the RMLD has North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) compliance. NERC is broken into eight districts called electric reliability organizations (EROS). The ERO that the RMLD is responsible to is called the Northeast Power Coordinating Council (NPCC) whose area of jurisdiction is all of New England, New York State, Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritime Provinces. In 2004, the NPCC was implemented following the 2003 Northeast blackout. The NERC audits companies to make sure they are complying with the NERC standards. The RMLD is scheduled for an audit during 2011. Audits are on a six-year cycle and some of the types of compliance standards are critical infrastructure, facilities design, connections and maintenance, and protection and control. He noted that every utility in America is responsible to NERC. Discussion followed. General Manager's Report - Mr. Cameron Roundtable Discussion - Mr. Cameron stated that he attended the roundtable discussion on Demand Resources in New England at Foley and Hoag on October 30, 2009. The FERC Chair, John Wellinghoff, was present and spoke on his perspective of demand resources. Also present were some ISO-NE generators who gave their perspective on the Forward Capacity Market in New England. Food Drive-Employees and the Board are welcome to give donations to the food pantries in the service territory. Christmas Lighting November 29, 2009, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. RMLD Calendars - Ready on December 1, 2009. Home Energy Savings Workshop - Reading Public Library, Saturday, December 5, 1:00 to 3:00 P.M. and hosted by the Advisory Committee on Cities for Climate Protection and Reading Elder/Human Services. Regular Session Meeting Minutes 2 November 18, 2009 General Manager's Report PCB's at Gaw Substation;=;Mr. Cameron, Mr. Sullivan, and Chairman O'Neill met with the residents of Causeway Road. A copy of a report describing the contamination found at the Gaw Substation sent to the EPA was distributed to the residents. Included in the report is a plan of how the RMLD wants to proceed in determining the level of contamination. Mr Cameron felt the residents understood that the RMLD is very serious about cleaning up the PCBs and bringing the substation back to a level of no contamination. Mr. Cameron stated that he received word from the EPA yesterday that they accepted the plan of how the RMLD wants to proceed with the clean up and more sampling. Chairman O'Neill asked if Mr. Sullivan could give the Board a timeline in December about further testing and the clean up. Mr. Sullivan stated that it would depend upon what is found. Discussion followed. Financial Highlights, October 2009 - Mr. Cameron Mr. Cameron reported on the financial highlights and commented that the residential sector is staying strong; but the commercial sector is down. He added that the Department is working on a reforecast of the sales and taking into consideration the lower cooling degree days in July, August, and September, the commercial customer base, and energy conservation programs. Ms. Kearns asked if the data could be broken down by towns. Mr. Cameron responded that he would look into the breakdown. Discussion followed. Mr. Hahn is interested in how the RMLD is monitoring its conservation investment. Mr. Cameron stated that there would be an energy conservation presentation in December that will include the requested information. Mr. Cameron said that he hopes to have a seven-month re-forecasted budget by the end of December. Power Supply Highlights, October 2009 - Mr. Cameron Mr. Cameron reported on the power supply highlights. Engineering and Operations Highlights, October 2009 - Mr. Sullivan Gaw Update Mr. Sullivan referred to the Gaw financial chart, and stated that in October there was an upswing of $638,455 of which $530,000 are invoices from the electrical subcontractor. He noted a couple of changes in the tangible milestones. He upgraded the percentages on Transformer 110A replacement to 15% and Transformer 1IOB to 5% because of the relay work that has been done and because 1 10B may be moved tomorrow and then eventually taken offsite. Discussion followed. General Discussion Mr. Pacino commented that Chairman O'Neill gave a fine presentation at Town Meeting and thanked her. Chairman O'Neill asked the Board members to bring any ideas for any new initiatives for FY2011 to the next Board meeting for discussion. Ms. Kearns asked about materials from a program that Mr. Sullivan attended regarding Smart Grid. Mr. Sullivan will forward the materials from the ECNE conference he attended. Board Material Available but not Discussed Rate Comparisons, October 2009 E-Mail responses to Account Payable/Payroll Questions Regular Session Meeting Minutes November 18, 2009 Upcoming Meetings Wednesday, December 23, 2009 7:00 P.M.* Note: Time change Thursday, January 7, 2010 - 2010 T-Shirt Award Ceremony Wednesday, January 27, 2010 CAB Rotation Mr. Hahn volunteered to cover the November 30, 2009 CAB meeting since Mr. Pacino, the scheduled member, and Chair O'Neill would need to attend Special Town Meeting. Executive Session At 8:24 p.m. Mr. Pacino made a motion seconded by Mr. Hahn that the Board go into Executive Session to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining, litigation, Chapter 164, Section 47D, exemption from public records and open meeting requirements in certain instances, and to return to Regular Session for the release of Executive Session minutes and subsequent adjournment. Motion carried by a polling of the Board 5:0:0. Ms. Kearns, Aye; Mr. Pacino, Aye; Mr. Soli, Aye; Mr. Hahn, Aye; and Chair O'Neill, Aye. The Board re-entered Regular Session at 9:14 p.m. Release of Executive Session Minutes Commissioner Pacino made a motion seconded by Commissioner Kearns that the Reading Municipal Light Board of Commissioners approve the release of the Executive Session meeting minutes, as redacted, for July 9, 2003, August 6, 2003, September 11, 2003, October 1, 2003, November 5, 2003, November 12, 2003, December 3, 2003, and December 30, 2003. Motion carried 5:0:0. Motion to Adjourn At 9:14 p.m. Mr. Pacino made a motion seconded by Mr. Hahn 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. Philip B. Pacino, Secretary RMLD Board of Commissioners