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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-12-30 RMLD Board of Commissioners MinutesReading Municipal Light Board of Commissioners Regular Session 230 Ash Street 4J Reading, MA 01867 December<30, 2003 w# ~_D t,. r Start Time of Regular Session: 7:05 p.m. End Time of Regular Session: 7:40 p.m. Attendees: Commissioners: Hughes, Pacino, Herlihy and Ensminger RMLD Staff: Mr. Cameron Chairman Pacino called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. APPA Legislative Rally/Additional Travel Mr. Cameron received a call and had a prior e-mail from Alicia Pritchett fr om ZCorum for him to attend a Broadband over PowerLine Seminar on Wednesday, February 4, 2004. Currently, Messrs."Cameron and Hughes will be attending the APPA Legislative Rally and would like to add this extra day on to their itinerary. The reason for Mr. Cameron bringing this to the Board's attention is that it will require him and Mr. Hughes to stay on an extra evening and create the need to rent a vehicle because this seminar is in Manassas, Virginia. In order to comply with the General Manager's Agreement and Policy 19, Board of Commissioners for Mr. Hughes, he is notifying the Board. Mr. Cameron pointed out the seminar includes a lunch but they will not attend this because the company putting on the seminar may eventually become a vendor of the RMLD. Mr. Ensminger inquired if there was an additional cost associated with attending this seminar? Mr. Cameron replied the seminar is free. Mr. Herlihy added the broadband over power lines is a big issue to consider. Mr. Ensminger mentioned a Reading resident who is higbly,.interested in this issue.: He told the resident that the General Manager and Mr. Hughes will be attending the seminar. Mr. Pacino commented the sense of the Board is that they are in all in agreement that the Messrs. Cameron and Hughes can attend the seminar and add on the extra day of out of state travel. Executive Session At 7:08 p.m. Mr. Ensminger made a motion seconded by Mr. Herlihy to enter Executive Session: Move that the Board go into Executive Session to discuss strategy with respect to litigation,. discussion. of a: competztiyoly sc sitiwe n issue and to return to Regular Session. Mr. Pacino called for a poll of the vote: Mr. Ensminger Aye; Mr. Pacino Aye; Mr. Hughes Aye; and Mr. Herlihy Aye. Motion carried by show of hands. Motion carried 4:0:0. After adjourning out of Executive Session the Board returned to Regular Session. Mr. Cameron noted relative to the Board meeting posted on January 14, 2004, he is deferring the Cost of Service Study presentation as the parallel testing is continuing and the system will not go live until March 1, 2004. Mr. Ensminger inquired as to what the hold up is, and will the pushing out of the go live date have any downstream effects? Regular Session Meeting Minutes December 30, 2003 After adjourning out of Executive Session the Board returned to Regular Session. Mr. Cameron replied there have been some problems in the parallel testing. The automatic meter reading worked off the Gemini system with one handheld and when introducing other handhelds caused miscalculations. It is however working correctly on the CIBFMS side with calculations. Mr. Cameron pointed out this will not be a cost overrun. The new system is not ready to put in new rates and this allows for the opportunity to review the rates in the Cost of Service Study. Mr. Cameron added the CAB needs to see the rates first to be in conformity with the Twenty Year Agreement. Also, CAB member Mr. Van Magness would like have the Cost of Service Study to review before the meeting. Mr. Cameron would like to have a joint meeting with the CAB and RMLD Board of Commissioners. Before the meeting, however, he would like to have the Rate Subcommittee meet to have all their questions answered. Mr. Cameron has to check with Ms. O'Leary to see the availability of the CAB. Mr. Cameron would also like to try to have the RMLD Board meet once a month unless there is a need to deviate from this schedule. Mr. Ensminger inquired on holding future meetings on labor negotiations. Mr. Cameron replied labor negotiations would be starting after the first of the year. Based on this there may be meetings scheduled. Mr. Hughes inquired about the correspondence received from Beth Klepeis, Town Treasurer relative to the health care benefits in the General Manager's Agreement? Mr. Cameron replied this is being deferred to the General Manager Subcommittee. Mr. Ensminger added the Town's legal counsel should review this to verify it is correct. Motion to Adjourn At 7:40 p.m. Mr. Hughes made a motion seconded by Mr. Ensminger to adjourn the Regular Session. Motion carried by show of hands. Motion carried 4:0:0. A true copy of the RMLD Board of Commissioners minutes as approved by a majority of the Commission. Daniel A. Ensminger, Secretary RMLD Board of Commissioners