Below is a summarized version of the RMLD Board of Commissioners and the Citizens Advisory Board meeting, organized by timestamps and speakers, focusing on key points raised during the discussion in Reading, Massachusetts. This summary condenses the discussion into major themes, speaker contributions, and decisions, avoiding excessive detail while retaining the essence of the conversation. Timestamps correspond to the video linked at the bottom.
- 📋 Summary
- 📑 Agenda Overview
- 🗣️ Public Comment
- 🔗 Liaison Reports – Highlights
- 🔗 Liaison Reports – Highlights (Policy Committee)
- 🗳 Discussion & Vote – Procurement Requests
- 🗳 Discussion – Certificate Retirement Update
- 🏢 Administrator / Manager Report – IT Update
- ✅ Meeting Minutes Approved
- 🔗 Liaison Reports – Highlights (Training & Travel)
- 🗳 Discussion – General Manager Goals Framework (Citizens Advisory Board)
- 🏢 General Manager Report
- 🗓 Future Agenda Items
- ✅ Meeting Adjournment & Executive Session
- 🔑 Key Summary
📅 February 17, 2026 Reading Municipal Light Department Meeting
🕒 Meeting Start: 00:02:49
⏰ Meeting End: 02:06:57
💻 Format: RMLD Office + Livestreamed on RCTV
👤 Chair: Pamela Daskalakis
👥 Attendees: Robert Coulter (Vice Chair), Raymond Porter (Commissioner), Richard Swanson (Commissioner), David Talbot (Commissioner), Vivek Soni, Timothy Woods, Charles Ragusa (Secretary), Robert J. Kasle, Esq., Charles Protopapas, Erica Oliver (Staff)
📋 Summary
The meeting convened first as the RMLD Board of Commissioners and later continued as the Citizens Advisory Board. The Board of Commissioners addressed routine governance and operational matters, including procurement approvals, policy committee updates, IT initiatives, training and travel reports, and approval of prior meeting minutes. A significant discussion centered on renewable energy certificate (REC) retirement levels, with the Board ultimately tabling any increase until fall 2026 pending further analysis and policy review.
The Citizens Advisory Board portion focused extensively on reviewing and refining the General Manager’s proposed organizational goals. Members emphasized measurable metrics, prioritization, and realistic expectations for the first year, covering customer engagement, employee engagement, governance, reliability, cost management, and non-carbon initiatives. The meeting concluded with a General Manager operational update, scheduling coordination, and a vote to enter executive session for collective bargaining strategy.
📑 Agenda Overview
| ⏰ Start Time | Topic |
|---|---|
| 00:02:49 | Call to Order |
| 00:03:18 | Public Comment |
| 00:03:38 | Liaison Updates |
| 00:04:02 | Policy Committee Update |
| 00:05:02 | Procurement Requests |
| 00:14:10 | Certificate Retirement Discussion |
| 00:53:25 | IT Department Update |
| 01:05:37 | Meeting Minutes Approval |
| 01:06:49 | Training & Travel (MMA Update) |
| 01:10:56 | General Manager Goals – Introduction |
| 01:15:01 | General Manager Goals – CAB Review |
| 01:58:14 | General Manager Update |
| 02:00:37 | Scheduling & Calendar Items |
| 02:05:41 | Adjournment & Executive Session |
🗣️ Public Comment
⏰ 00:03:18 – 00:03:38
👤 Presenter(s): Pamela Daskalakis
No in-person or remote public comment.
🔗 Liaison Reports – Highlights
⏰ 00:03:38 – 00:04:02
👤 Presenter(s): Raymond Porter
- No new liaison updates reported.
- Ongoing coordination noted with school-related and recreational initiatives.
🔗 Liaison Reports – Highlights (Policy Committee)
⏰ 00:04:02 – 00:04:59
👤 Presenter(s): Robert Coulter, Raymond Porter
- Policy Committee held its first meeting.
- Initial focus on reviewing existing policies and gathering commissioner input.
- Monthly meetings planned, with recommendations to return to the Board after further review.
🗳 Discussion & Vote – Procurement Requests
⏰ 00:05:02 – 00:13:36
👤 Presenter(s): Erica Oliver
IFP 2025-21 – 65’ Digger Derrick Truck
- Replacement of a 2001 vehicle.
✅ Approved | Vote Count: 5–0
IFP 2025-29 – 50’ Digger Derrick Truck
- Replacement of a 2008 standard digger truck.
✅ Approved | Vote Count: 5–0
IFB 2026-01 – Grounds & Landscape Services
- Three-year contract for grounds maintenance at substations and RMLD properties.
- Awarded to Pathfinder Tree Service LLC.
✅ Approved | Vote Count: 5–0
RFQ 2026-14 – Two SUVs (Greater Boston Police Council)
- Purchase of two new SUVs, including the General Manager’s vehicle.
- Brief discussion on electric vehicle feasibility.
✅ Approved | Vote Count: 5–0
🗳 Discussion – Certificate Retirement Update
⏰ 00:14:10 – 00:52:30
👤 Presenter(s): Erica Oliver
Overview
Discussion on renewable energy certificate (REC) retirement levels, including cost, risk, and customer bill impacts.
Key Discussion Points
- Comparison of estimated versus actual costs of higher retirement percentages.
- Most customers projected to see under $2/month bill increases.
- Consideration of exceeding state mandates versus cost sensitivity.
- Risks tied to load growth, generation variability, and REC market exposure.
- Importance of policy flexibility and appropriate timing.
Outcome
🔄 Continued / Tabled
- Decision deferred until fall 2026.
- Policy Committee to review relevant policy language before reconsideration.
- No vote taken.
🏢 Administrator / Manager Report – IT Update
⏰ 00:53:25 – 01:05:12
👤 Presenter(s): Erica Oliver
- Reviewed 2025 IT accomplishments, including AMI support, phone system replacement, SCADA expansion, enhanced email security, and Substation 6 video surveillance.
- Ongoing cybersecurity training emphasized.
- 2026 goals include issuing an RFP for CIS/ERP replacement, continued AMI deployment, and expanded cybersecurity initiatives.
✅ Meeting Minutes Approved
⏰ 01:05:37 – 01:06:36
👤 Presenter(s): Charles Ragusa
- December 29, 2025 and January 20, 2026 Open Session Minutes approved as presented.
✅ Approved | Vote Count: 5–0
🔗 Liaison Reports – Highlights (Training & Travel)
⏰ 01:06:49 – 01:10:52
👤 Presenter(s): Raymond Porter, David Talbot
- Report on attendance at the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) Connect Conference.
- Participation in Municipal Light Commissioners Association sessions.
- Identified future educational priorities, including financing, legislation, portable solar, and commissioner roles.
🗳 Discussion – General Manager Goals Framework (Citizens Advisory Board)
⏰ 01:15:01 – 01:58:09
👤 Presenter(s): Erica Oliver, Pamela Daskalakis
Overview
Citizens Advisory Board review of proposed General Manager goals across multiple operational and strategic categories.
Key Discussion Points
- Customer Engagement & Technology: Website improvements, customer portal functionality, measurable usage metrics, and cautious approach to on-bill financing.
- Employee Engagement & Organizational Integrity: Management training, third-party employee engagement survey, consistent performance evaluations, and staffing assessments.
- Governance & Oversight: Continued policy review, end-of-year strategic plan assessment, and formal communications plan with member towns.
- Reliable Power: Reliability metrics (SAIDI, SAIFI, CAIDI), APPA RP3 Diamond designation, pole ownership considerations, Station 6 construction, and AMI deployment targets.
- Low Cost: Cost-of-service study, evaluation of time-of-use rates, and ERP system procurement.
- Non-Carbon Initiatives: Battery storage at Station 3, customer renewable engagement, demand response, and potential APPA Smart Energy Provider application.
Direction
- Emphasis on measurable goals, safety and cybersecurity inclusion, and realistic first-year expectations.
- Goals to be refined and returned for formal approval at a future meeting.
🏢 General Manager Report
⏰ 01:58:14 – 02:00:30
👤 Presenter(s): Jason (General Manager)
- Successful response to a major snowstorm with minimal outages.
- One transformer outage reported.
- Station 6 switchgear delivery expected in early March.
- Initial coordination underway with auditors and consultants for cost-of-service and rate design study.
🗓 Future Agenda Items
⏰ 02:00:37 – 02:05:35
👤 Presenter(s): Pamela Daskalakis
- Fourth Grade Art Contest scheduled for March 25.
- April Citizens Advisory Board meeting confirmed for April 28.
- Warrant approval responsibilities adjusted among members.
✅ Meeting Adjournment & Executive Session
⏰ 02:05:41 – 02:06:57
👤 Presenter(s): Timothy Woods, Charles Ragusa
- Motion approved to adjourn regular session.
- Motion approved to enter executive session under MGL c.164 §47D for collective bargaining strategy related to the ASME LMS union.
- Roll call vote taken; motion carried.
- No return to open session anticipated.
🔑 Key Summary
- Approved multiple procurement contracts for vehicles and services, all by unanimous vote.
- No public comment was received.
- Decision on increasing REC retirement levels was tabled until fall 2026 pending further analysis and policy review.
- IT department reported major infrastructure and cybersecurity progress and outlined 2026 goals.
- Citizens Advisory Board provided detailed feedback on General Manager goals, emphasizing measurable metrics and realistic first-year expectations.
- Reliability, cost management, non-carbon initiatives, and major capital projects remain central priorities.
- Meeting concluded with entry into executive session for collective bargaining strategy.
