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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-12-17 RMLD Board of Commissioners MinutesReading Municipal Light Board f ! Es( Regular Session s 230 Ash Street, Reading, MA 01867 December 17, 2001 Z f 101 [ ,.D n P Start Time of Regular Session: 7:35 p.m. Start Time of Break: 9:25 p.m. End Time of Break: 9:35 p.m. End Time of Regular Session: 10:55 p.m. Attendees Commissioners: Messrs. Ames, Pacino, Hughes, Halloran, and Swyter RMLD Staff: Messrs. Rucker, Cameron, and Blomley Mses. Bernat and Cavagnaro CAB Members: Messrs. Stevenin, Gehret, Bartlett, Corbett, and Lessard Guests: Mr. Barra of Rubin and Rudman Mr. Tim Blodgett - President of Hometown Connections Mr. Matt Cummings - Reading Selectman Mr. John Carpenter - Reading Resident Mr. Tim Kelly - Reading Resident Mr. Curran - Lynnfield Resident Mr. Ames called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. Report of the Chairman of the Board Mr. Ames said the RMLB takes full responsibility and will support a review performed by the task force. Mr. Ames announced the General Manager has suspended all credit card use and travel, and this meeting would be used to restart some of these processes so the RMLD can get back to some sort of normalcy. Mr. Ames asked people to keep in perspective that the RMLD has the highest financial rating it has ever had and the financial stability of the RMLD is not at all threatened; this situation has no significant bearing on the financial stability of the RMLD. Mr. Ames said the questions are whether we are dealing with an absence of policies or not following the policies and if they are not following policy, they need to determine why. In order to judge the Inspector General's report, Mr. Ames stated he felt the Board needs much more information. The Board asked the public for their comments: Mr. Swyter, RMLB Secretary, noted that written notes are not being taken. Mr. Cummings, Town of Reading Selectmen, requested that public comments be reflected in verbatim written note form. The Board offered the public access to the videotape. Mr. Cummings again requested that their comments be reflected in verbatim written note form. Mr. Ames reported at the Selectmen's December 11, 2001 meeting the Selectmen determined the task force would need professional help to look at the IG report. Attorney Barna, said the RMLB is responsible and cannot discharge this responsibility. The General Manager needs to review the Inspector General's report and show how these expenses comply with the RMLD policy. Mr. Swyter made a motion seconded by Mr. Pacino that the General Manager provide a detailed report on the Inspector General's report with the understanding that this action by the General Manager be separate from any action by the task force. Motion carried 5:0:0. Regular Session Meeting Minutes- December 17, 2001 Page 2 Policies Mr. Ames asked that Mr. Rucker address the credit card policy changes. Mr. Rucker said the new policy would allow for one major credit card (not a travel or department store cards). Only two (2) employees, the Purchasing Manager and MIS Manager will be allowed to use the credit card and it would be used for business equipment and supplies only. In order to add another person, it would have to be voted on by the Board. Mr. Rucker also said that any notes written on receipts should indicate what business expense it is and any questionable charge slips would be denied by the Accounting Service Manager and sent to the General Manager. Mr. Rucker noted that all new policies and policy changes usually go through several processes i.e., attorney review and Board review, the Policies 10 and 5, as proposed, have not received the normal processes. Mr. Rucker hoped that changes to Policies 10 and 5 would be temporary. Mr. Pacino made a motion seconded by Mr. Halloran that the Board accept the changes in Policy 10, RMLD Credit Card, Revision 5 based on the recommendation of the General Manager. Motion carried 5:0:0. Mr. Pacino made a motion seconded by Mr. Halloran that the Board accept the changes in Policy 5, Overnight Travel/Employee Expenses, Revision 6 based on the recommendation of the General Manager. Motion carried 5:0:0. Mr. Pacino made a motion seconded by Mr. Halloran that the Board accept the changes in Policy 13, Use of RMLD Conference Rooms, Revision 2 based on the recommendation of the General Manager. Motion carried 5:0:0. Assignment of Commissioners to Task Force Mr. Hughes admitted that he had in fact signed warrants in emergency cases. Mr. Pacino made a motion seconded by Mr. Halloran that Mr. Ames and Mr. Halloran be selected to the task force. Motion carried 5:0:0. Mr. Curran expressed his concern as to whether or not any member of the Board should be members of the task force and asked Mr. Ames if he thought he would be willing to accept the accusation that they had not overseen the policy. When Mr. Ames said he thought he would, Mr. Curran seemed to accept this. The CAB reported Mr. Roger Lessard would be representing them on the task force. Mr. Barra suggested the task force would need to meet and decide on who should hire the auditor and what the bidding process would require before requesting the RMLD's approval on paying for the audit. General Manager's Report Presentation by Mr. Blodgett on Hometown Connections Mr. Rucker explained that ENE is a cooperative created by the RMLD for the purpose of taking advantage of the wholesale market during deregulation representing a way to reduce risk. Currently, it is a successful entity. Mr. Rucker fizrther explained that Hometown Connections would be a subsidiary created to help the RMLD and would focus on retail services and products to avoid triggering reciprocity. Mr. Rucker said he had drafted an operating agreement. Mr. Blodgett reviewed Hometown Connections, its business, business locations, products and services, successes, staff, affiliations, and goals. Mr. Lessard of the CAB said he would like to have a chance to discuss this new venture. Cable TV Business The Towns of Wilmington and North Reading requested that the RMLD survey Wilmington and North Reading residential ratepayers to determine the merits of offering cable television. Mr. Rucker said he could arrange for the cost of this survey, which he guessed, would be around $40-50k and take approximately three (3) months. Regular Session Meeting Minutes- December 17, 2001 Page 3 Cable TV Business The Board asked Mr. Rucker to put together a budget and begin the process of setting up a survey to question the ratepayers. Attendance at NEPPA Conference at Sturbridge (Commissioner Hughes) Mr. Hughes reported on his attendance at the NEPPA conference. Chairman Report on Cable/TV Subcommittee Review (Commissioner Hughes) The Subcommittee stated that the meetings should be videotaped and that the tape for this meeting would be sent to the four (4) town stations for televising at a cost of around $580.00. Mr. Hughes made a motion seconded by Mr. Halloran that the RMLD meetings be videotaped for public distribution. Motion carried 4:1:0. Mr. Swyter opposed. At 10:55 p.m. Mr. Swyter made a motion seconded by Mr. Halloran to adjourn the Regular Session. Motion carried 5:0:0. The next meeting was scheduled for January 7, 2002 A true copy of the RMLD Board of Commissioners minutes as approved by a majority of the Commission. Mr. David Swyter Secretary, RMLD Board of Commissioners