The regular meeting of the Board of Electric Commissioners was convened at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at the Burlington Electric Department, Burlington, Vermont.

Commissioners Jennifer Wallace-Brodeur, Scott Johnstone, Jan Harris, and Sarah Judd were present. Commissioner Christine Salembier was absent. Staff members present included: Barbara Grimes, Tom Buckley, John Irving, and Charlie Willette. Other staff members present included Ken Nolan and Shawn Enterline. Patricia Crowley, Clerk, was present. Channel 17 was present for the taping of this meeting.

Commissioner Wallace-Brodeur called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m.

Agenda
There were no changes or revisions to the agenda.

2. Minutes of the November 8, 2006 meeting:
Commissioner Johnstone moved to accept the minutes for the November 8, 2006 meeting. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Judd and approved by all Commissioners present.

3. Public Forum
No one from the public was present for the meeting.

Commissioners’ Corner
Commissioner Johnstone let the viewing audience know what a stunning volume of work BED does for its ratepayers as noted in a monthly report sent to the Commission each month. Ms. Grimes thanked Commissioner Johnstone.

Commissioner Johnstone also wanted Ms. Grimes to let the McNeil Station employee know that the Commission is thinking of him during his difficult time after his home burned down. Ms. Grimes stated that she would reiterate this to the employee.

4. General Manager/Commission Information Items
Ms. Grimes updated the Commission regarding the Riverside Avenue project that is currently wrapping up. Ms. Grimes stated that our crews were there this past weekend taking the wires off the wooden poles. She informed the Commission that the next thing to come down will be the poles. Ms. Grimes reminded the Commission that BED expects some concerns next summer regarding the number of utility pole bases that were being put in for lighting. She stated that BED did not do the lighting design as this is a state design. Ms. Grimes let the Commission know that a meeting will be taking place soon with Planning and Zoning to discuss the difference between continuous lighting a non-continuous lighting, is there a standard that we can agree to that is defensible? BED needs to be concerned when it moves away from the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) that it doesn’t expose the Department, and, therefore, the ratepayers, to litigation if someone is injured and claims that it was because it wasn’t lit well enough or the accident happened because of lighting.

Ms. Grimes stated that BED staff (Bill Suder and Shawn Enterline) are looking at leased lights and are in the process of moving all of the stacks of books into a tariff and are also making sure that BED has the proper inventory as everything up until now has been done by hand.

Ms. Grimes informed the Commission that a legislator from John Irving’s parents district in Massachusetts has written to him to let him know that the rules had moved in to final committee action and that BED should be hearing something within a month.

5. ***CONSENT AGENDA***
5.01 October Financial Reports
Upon no discussion of the Consent Agenda items, this item was passed with the approval of the agenda at the beginning of the meeting.

6. 2007 McNeil Station Calendar Year Budget (Vote)
John Irving presented the 2007 McNeil Station Calendar Year Proposed Budget.

After a brief discussion, Commissioner Johnstone moved that the Board of Electric Commissioners approve the 2007 McNeil Station Calendar Year Budget and this item be forwarded to the Board of Finance and the City Council for final approval. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Harris and approved by all Commissioners present.

7. ***EXECUTIVE SESSION***
Lamoille Project Update
Commissioner Johnstone moved that the Board of Electric Commissioners enter into Executive Session at 5:55 p.m. to discuss agenda item #7.01, Lamoille Project Update, a litigation matter; the premature disclosure of which could place the Burlington Electric Department at a substantial disadvantage. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Harris and approved by all Commissioners present. The Commission returned to regular session at 6:21p.m. upon motions of Commissioners Johnstone and Wallace-Brodeur.


There being no further business to discuss, Commissioners Johnstone and Harris moved to adjourn at 6:22 p.m. which was approved by all Commissioners present.

 

Patricia J. Crowley, Clerk

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