REGULAR BOARD MEETING

January 28, 2019

 

         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 Monday, January 28, 2019.

         The meeting was called to order at 6:33 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, Attorney Thomas H. Pope, III, Chief Financial Officer Arthur Guy, President and CEO of Central Electric Power Cooperative Robert Hochstetler, President and CEO of the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina Mike Couick, Utility Attorney Frank Ellerbe of Robinson Gray, and Executive Secretary Deirdre Murphy.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

            Chairman Dickert introduced the guests and then requested that the meeting adjourn into Executive Session.  A motion was made to adjourn into Executive Session.  The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.  Chairman Dickert adjourned into Executive Session.

            After updates from Mr. Hochstetler, Mr. Couick, and Mr. Ellerbe, a motion was made to reconvene into Regular Session.  The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.  Chairman Dickert reconvened the meeting into Regular Session.  There were no actions and no voting acted upon during the Executive Session.

 

READING AND APPROVAL OF REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES

         The Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes of the December 20, 2018 Board Meeting.  A motion was made to accept the minutes as emailed with one correction.   In the Directorpoint Presentation, the sentence should read, “Directorpoint is a program that can be accessed from a cell phone or iPad.”  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 Monday, January 21, 2019 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 December 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

         Mr. Pope requested that the meeting adjourn into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing a personnel matter. A motion was made to adjourn into Executive Session.  The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.  Chairman Dickert adjourned into Executive Session.

         After Mr. Pope updated the Trustees, a motion was made to reconvene into Regular Session.  The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.  Chairman Dickert reconvened the meeting into Regular Session.  There were no actions and no voting acted upon during the Executive Session.

        

PRESIDENT AND CEO REPORT

President and CEO Avery reviewed the functions and activities he attended or participated in during the month of January.  On January 28, he met with Edgewater Shores HOA to discuss fiber to the home.  He and Mr. Dickert attended a CarolinaConnect Board Meeting.

FINANCIAL AND OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS

         President and CEO Avery reviewed in detail the operational data for December 2018.  The amount of write offs for December is $2,707.79.  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.
  • The Samsung Relocation is in progress and should be finished the end of January or the first of February.
  • Stoney Hill Ckt 2 is in the process of fiber.
  • As of January 28, 814 customers have signed up for fiber.  65-70 installs are behind because of the weather.

     

    OLD BUSINESS

     

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 # 300-209, Usage of PTO (Workers Compensation).  The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.

 

WASHINGTON RALLY

         President and CEO reminded the trustees that the Washington Rally is April 28-30, 2019 in Washington, DC.  Six of the trustees plan to attend.

 

 

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

FEDERATED SAFETY AND LOSS PREVENTION ASSESSMENT

         President and CEO and Mr. Arthur Guy reviewed the January 8, 2019 Safety and Loss Prevention Assessment from Jason Springs of Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange.  This report was accepted as information.

 

CERTIFICATION OF DELEGATES FOR CENTRAL ELECTRIC POWER’S ANNUAL MEETING

         President and CEO Avery reviewed information from Ms. Andrea Mathis, Executive Assistant to CEO of Central Electric.  The Annual Meeting will be held on March 20, 2019.  A motion was made to keep the delegates that Newberry Electric has now.  A motion was made that President Avery and Chairman Dickert continue as delegates.  The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.

 

CENTRAL ELECTRIC POWER COOPERATIVE JANUARY BOARD MEETING SUMMARY      

         President Avery directed attention to the Central Electric Cooperative January Board Meeting Summary.  This was accepted as information.

 

METLIFE’S FREE WILL PREPARATION SERVICE

         President Avery reviewed information from Vice President of Human Resources Leann Hutto, on MetLife’s Free Will Preparation Service.  This is a free service that is provided through NRECA for employees and directors.  If there are any questions, please contact Mrs. Hutto.  This was accepted as information.

 

SPRING 2019 TRUSTEES ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE APRIL 8-10, 2019-MARINA INN AT GRANDE DUNES, MYRTLE BEACH, SC

         President and CEO Avery referenced the information for the Spring Trustee Association Conference to be held April 8-10, 2019 at the Marina Inn at Grande Dunes in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Any trustee interested in attending needs to return their information sheet so that reservations can be made.

 

NOT ON AGENDA

         President Avery stated that he will be having surgery on January 31, 2019, and Chief Financial Officer Arthur Guy will be the contact person until he returns to work.

                       

ADJOURNMENT

         There being no further business and without objections, Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert adjourned the January 2019 Regular Board Meeting at 9:11 p.m.

 

                                                                                    ____________________________

                                                                                    SECRETARY

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CHAIRMAN