December 2018 Board Meeting Report

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

December 20, 2018

 

         The Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of Newberry Electric Cooperative, Inc. was held at the Newberry Electric Cooperative, Inc. located in Newberry County, State of South Carolina on Thursday, December 20, 2018.

         The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert, with the determination of a quorum present. 

         The secretary reported that the following Board Members were present:

                        C.J. Bishop                  Leon Fulmer, Jr.          Craig Kesler

                        Blake Brigman            Melanie B. Hawkins   William Lominick

                        Johnnie L. Dickert      Douglas Hipp              John W. Nichols

            Also present were President and CEO G. Keith Avery, Engineering Analyst Michael Martin, and Executive Secretary Deirdre Murphy.  Attorney Thomas H. Pope, III was absent.

        

DIRECTORPOINT PRESENTATION-MICHAEL MARTIN

         At the request of Trustee Kesler, Michael Martin, Engineering Analyst for Newberry Electric, reviewed a presentation of Directorpoint from the internet.  Directorpoint is a program that can be accessed from a cell phone or iPad.  From this program, each trustee would be able to retrieve meeting minutes, By-Laws, emails, and other pertinent information.  Because NEC is a member of Touchstone Energy, NEC will get a discount on the price of the program.  Directorpoint would send a representative to do a 30 minutes presentation and one on one training for $1200.00.  For 15 users, it will cost approximately $4320.00 a year. 

         After some discussion, a motion was made for Mr. Martin to process with getting Directorpoint and setting up the one on one training.  The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.

 

 

 

READING AND APPROVAL OF SPECIAL BOARD MEETING MINUTES

         The Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes of the November 20, 2018 Special Board Meeting.   A motion was made to accept the minutes as emailed.  The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.

READING AND APPROVAL OF REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES

         The Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes of the November 26, 2018 Board Meeting.   A motion was made to accept the minutes as emailed.  The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.

FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT

         Committee Chairman John W. Nichols reported that the Finance Committee held its regular meeting on Wednesday, December 19, 2018 at 7:00 p.m.  Trustee Nichols stated that all members were present.  President and CEO Avery was also present.

         Chairman Nichols reported that the Finance Committee reviewed cash disbursements for November 2018.  All expenditures were found to be in order, and the committee is presenting this report as information.  The consensus of the board was to accept the report.

 

ATTORNEY REPORT

         Since Mr. Pope was absent, there was no Attorney Report.  No one asked for an Executive Session.

        

PRESIDENT AND CEO REPORT

President and CEO Avery reviewed the functions and activities he attended or participated in during the month of December.  He attended a CarolinaConnect Board Meeting.  The contract for non members to get fiber is being completed and should be ready by mid-January.  Non members will have to pay $300.00 for installation, $10.00 more a month than members for the package they pick, and sign a ROW form for communications. Over 5,000 consumers have been connected and/or have signed up with CarolinaConnect. 

 

FINANCIAL AND OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS

         President and CEO Avery reviewed in detail the operational data for November 2018.  The amount of write offs for November is $2,854.11.  A motion was made to accept this amount.  The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

 

MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

 

DEPARTMENT 600-Engineering and Operations

• Davey Tree crews are continuing right of way clearing on Belfast 4, Blair 3, and Bush River 4.
• 43 trees were cut down.
• A Confined Spaces safety meeting was held for the outside employees.
• Alex Brandt is completing his Substation II training at Berkley Electric Coop.
• Hollands Substation, Fairview Circuit 1, 2, and 3 are complete for fiber.
• Fairview Circuit 4 is complete on the NEC side, and the target release date is December 14, 2018.
• Only one virus was shown and it was generated by Michael Martin as a test.

   

  UNFINISHED BUSINESS

   

              There was no unfinished business.

   

  NEW BUSINESS

   

APPOINT VOTING DELEGATE AND ALTERNATE FOR NRTC ANNUAL MEETING

         President and CEO Avery reviewed information from Chris Martin, Vice President of Member and Industry Relations, on the voting delegate and alternate delegate for the NRTC Annual Meeting to be held on March 10, 2019 in Orlando, FL.  Trustee Nichols informed the board that he will not be attending, therefore a new alternate needs to be appointed.  A motion was made to nominate Chairman Dickert as the alternate.  The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.

APPOINT VOTING DELEGATE AND ALTERNATE FOR NRECA ANNUAL MEETING

         President Avery directed attention to the NRECA Annual and Regional Meeting Voting Delegate Certification and Credentialing Process form.  The meeting will be held in Orlando, Fl in March.  A motion was made and seconded for President and CEO Avery to be the voting delegate and Chairman Dickert to be the alternate delegate.  This motion passed unanimously.

APPOINT THE NOMINATION COMMITTEE FOR THE 2019 NEC ANNUAL MEETING

         President and CEO Avery reminded the trustees that the 2019 NEC Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 17.  A Nominating Committee needs to be appointed to make nominations for the election.  Trustees Dickert, Hipp, and Kesler recused themselves from the voting process since they intend to run for re-election.  Vice Chairman Lominick presided over the voting.  A motion was made to use the same committee members from 2018. The motion was seconded and passed without any opposition.  Executive Secretary Deirdre Murphy will check with the members of the committee to see if they are able to serve.

        

APPOINT THE CREDENTIALS AND ELECTIONS COMMITTEE FOR THE 2019 NEC ANNUAL MEETING

         President and CEO Avery reminded the trustees that a Credentials and Elections Committee needs to be appointed for the 2019 NEC Annual Meeting.  Trustees Dickert, Hipp, and Kesler recused themselves from the voting process since they intend to run for re-election.  Vice Chairman Lominick presided over the voting.  If there is any opposition for the trustee seats, President Avery will get four people who are not members of Newberry Electric to count the votes.  A motion was made to use the same committee members from 2018. The motion was seconded and passed without any opposition.  Executive Secretary Deirdre Murphy will check with the members of the committee to see if they are able to serve.

 

CENTRAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE DECEMBER EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT        

         President Avery directed attention to the Central Electric Cooperative Executive Board Meeting Report for December 2018.  This was accepted as information.

ECSC BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

         President Avery reviewed the ECSC Board highlights from the December 5, 2018 meeting.  This was accepted as information.

EMPLOYEE POLICY ADVISORY COMMITTEE REVIEW

         President and CEO Avery reviewed the proposed employee policy changes submitted by the Policy Advisory Committee.  Attorney Pope reviewed the changes before they were submitted to the board for approval. 

         A motion was made to accept Policy # 300-208, Administrative Excusal for Funeral or Bereavement.  The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.

         A motion was made to accept Policy #300-210, Leaves of Absence Without Pay.  The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.

         A motion was made to send back to the advisory committee Policy # 300-213, Administration Excusal for Court Appearances, to be revised.  The motion was seconded and passed without opposition. 

 

NOT ON AGENDA

         President Avery stated that he and Attorney Pope have been reviewing the By-Laws, and that the changes are to be voted on by the membership at the Annual Meeting on April 17, 2019.

         Since Newberry Electric is changing banks, South State Bank needs approval to conduct a credit check on Trustees Dickert, Lominick, and Nichols, along with President and CEO Avery.  This is to be sure there is no problem with the finances of the Coop.  A motion was made to give South State the approval.  The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.

         Several forms from First Community Bank needed signatures from various trustees to complete the changing of banks.  These trustees were asked to please be sure to sign before they leave the meeting.

         Thank you notes were passed around from the Pi Beta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, and LifeBridge thanking NEC for the donations to their organizations.

         Chairman Dickert presented Trustee Hawkins with the Director Gold certificate.

           

ADJOURNMENT

         There being no further business and without objections, Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert adjourned the December 2018 Regular Board Meeting at 8:25 p.m.

 

                                                                                    ____________________________

                                                                                    SECRETARY

____________________________________

CHAIRMAN