The Board meets on the first and third Monday of each month. Meetings begin at 1:00 p.m. and are held in the department conference room at 65 Lafayette Ave, Littleton. Board meetings are open to the public and time is allotted for public comments at each meeting.
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The regularly scheduled Board of Commissioners (BOC) meeting began at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, May 16, 2016 in the Littleton Water and Light (LWL) conference room. Present were Commissioner Eddy Moore, Commissioner Perry Goodell, Commissioner Ralph Ross, Financial Director Cheryl Wilkins and Superintendent Thomas Considine.
MINUTES REVIEW:
The minutes of the May 2, 2016 regularly scheduled Commissioners meeting were reviewed. Commissioner Goodell made a motion to accept the minutes as presented, seconded by Commissioner Ross.
The vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0.
APPOINTMENTS:
Mr. David Harkless and Mr. Justin Daigneault representing a local bicycling club presented the BOC with an informational packet. The packet outlined and proposed that a bike pump track and dog park to be constructed on the site of the old impoundment reservoir at the top of School Street. This would be constructed on basically the foot print of the old reservoir adjacent to the new water tank.
Superintendent Considine stated that though he supports a fenced in dog park in Littleton adjacent to the water system is not an appropriate location. In addition vehicle parking in close proximity and above the tank is problematic and presents potential concerns with regard to the LWL NHDES drinking water sanitary survey. The lower gate was installed years ago to preventing vehicles accessing the area and the dump of garbage and other debris near an active water tank. Though the tank is covered this is the primary control point for the gravity water system and a potential contamination entry point as there are a number of drains in the area. Having petroleum byproducts and concentrated dog facies in close proximity to our drinking water sends the wrong message to our customers in regard to their health and safety of their potable water.
Commissioner Ross thought that the area was part of a conservation easement voted on at town meeting some years ago. Not sure how that would affect the proposed planning and permitting of the project.
Superintendent Considine stated that the old Littleton landfill site off Industrial Park Road was discussed in the past especially for the proposed dog park. Parking is already available, the area is partially fenced in, there are no residential abutters, no contamination risk potential and the area in not in a conservation area.
Commissioner Moore stated that the BOC would take their request under consideration though no decision would be made today. He thought that the town may have to be brought in to the discussion with regard to abutters at some point and final permitting.
Mr. Harkless stated that they are under no time constraints and thanked the BOC for their time and excused himself from the meeting at 1:40 pm.
FINANCIAL DIRECTORS REPORT:
1. Mrs. Wilkins reviewed the financial statements for the month ended March 2016 with the Commissioners. Several discrepancies as compared to budget were discussed and explained by Mrs. Wilkins. The largest discrepancy is that electricity sales are below budget projections compounding matters.
2. All requested data was recently provided to the Nyhart Company in regard to LWL’s compliance with Government Accounting Standard Bureau statement 45 – retiree’s post-employment benefits. Theoretically, retirees present a liability to the LWL that may reduce LWL’s net worth if the dollar amount is determined to be materially significant. A full report is expected by the end of the month to determine (estimate) the extent of the liability.
SUPERINTENDENT/ GENERAL MANAGERS REPORT:
1. LWL has been asked by one of the prospective contractors on the town’s School Street improvement project to store pipe, basin and other construction materials adjacent to the School street reservoir behind the gate.
The BOC was in agreement as the request is for temporary use and that any damaged surface area must to be restored to per construction condition that they had no objections.
2. Several water service lines will be upgraded and one hydrant will be replaced as a direct result of work being done by the Town of Littleton contractors on School and Hill Street. The department has already surveyed the work within the project limits and will coordinate with the successful contractor to upgrade LWL infrastructure.
3. As Trans-Canada has requesting an abatement of their 2015 property tax assessment. The Littleton select board has called for an executive (nonpublic session) meeting of the Moore Dam reevaluation committee on Thursday, May 19, 2016 at the Opera House tower room. Both Commissioner Moore and Superintendent Considine are committee members and are scheduled to attend.
4. Eversource (formally Public Service Company of NH) had a brief telephone conversation with Superintendent Considine recently in regard to moving forward with plans for a new interconnection to their U199 line. The project was proposed by LWL several years ago in an effort to mitigate the risks associated with maintaining a pole line through mountainous terrain in addition to increase reliability and improving power quality factors. Another meeting is planned that will begin firming up a proposed timeline and set some preliminary milestones.
5. The BOC was shown a partial video taken by Pittsburg Tank & Tower Maintenance Company in regard to the inside condition of the 1.5 Million gallons Mt. Eustis water tank. The video was taken by a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) in late March 2016 and shows some concrete debris on the floor of the tank that is concerning. It is not known at this time if the debris was the result of ice scour damage or recent maintenance activities. As only a small portion of the tank was inspected (estimated at < 1/3) by the ROV due to mechanical difficulties, the exact location and the severity of the damage could not be accurately determined. If the tank needs to be taken out of service for repairs it will require thorough prior planning to maintain adequate pressure throughout the zone. Further evaluation is required before any decision is made.
ADJOURNMENT:
Commissioner Ross made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by
Commissioner Goodell.
The vote was in favor of the motion 3-0-0.
Meeting adjourned at 2:12 p.m.
The regularly scheduled Commissioner’s meeting is held twice monthly on the first and third Monday, at 1:00 p.m., in the Department’s conference room.