Taunton Municipal Light Commission approves multiple equipment contracts, fiber projects and retroactive GM pay increase

The Taunton Municipal Light Commission voted March 18 to award a series of equipment and services contracts, approve two major fiber projects and make the general manager’s cost-of-living salary adjustment retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025.

The actions affect distribution and communications infrastructure maintained by the Taunton Municipal Light Plant (TMLP) and include approvals for a SCADA upgrade budget adjustment, a 144-fiber rebuild in the Berkeley neighborhood and installation of fiber into the new Taunton Public Safety Building at 90 County Street.

General Manager Kimberly Holmes told commissioners the SCADA upgrade — previously awarded — now has a revised budget estimate of $600,000 based on returned bids, and the commission authorized staff to proceed with cooperative purchasing and pricing for the project. "The current budget estimate is now $600,000," Holmes said during the meeting.

Procurement and contract awards

The commission approved multiple bid awards recommended by TMLP departments:

- RFP 25-02 (inspection and repair of Unit 9 safety and non-return valves): award to International Valve and Instrument Corp., fixed price $50,761. The Power Production Department recommended the award and the commission approved it.

- IFB 25-01 (Skater Master upgrade, services and licensing): award to Schneider Electric Smart Grid Solutions for a total implementation price of $525,238. Commissioners discussed an earlier request for an additional $100,000 to major projects to cover costs; the commission later amended the award motion and eliminated the separate $100,000 addition from the award vote.

- IFB 25-04 (20 upright S&C Omni-Ruptor switches): award to WESCO for a total price of $150,400; commissioners noted possible exposure to tariffs and escalation.

- IFB 25-04 (five S&C Omni-Ruptor switches): award to WESCO for $31,800.

- IFB 25-02 (electric line tree clearance for the town of Raynham/Rainham): award to Pathfinder Tree Service, estimated total $795,000, not to exceed 52 weeks; only two vendors responded to the solicitation.

- RFP 25-01 (tower painting services): award to Public Utilities Maintenance Inc. for $598,600; Fairway Electric submitted a higher qualifying bid.

- IFB 25-03 (UPS refresh): award to Insight for $104,598.74; CDW submitted a higher bid and several listed vendors did not respond.

Bids to advertise and equipment authorizations

Commissioners authorized advertising for sealed bids and proposals on several items requested by T&D engineering for stock and upcoming projects, including:

- 100,000 feet of 144-count fiber optic cable (estimated price approximately $1.56 per foot, total ≈ $156,000) for stock and upcoming projects; and - Invitations for bids for (1) current and potential instrument transformers (various sizes; lead times estimated at about 18 months), (2) 15 kV reclosers for switch replacements and distribution automation, (3) 500 MCM copper MV105 15 kV cable for stock and MassDOT-reimbursable projects, and (4) 1/0 and 477 kcmil aerial spacer cable hardware for stock and MassDOT-reimbursable projects.

Major projects: fiber rebuild and public safety building

The commission approved a major project request to rebuild fiber in the Berkeley area: run new 144-fiber cable from West Water Street to Berkeley Common, approximately 25,000 feet, with a projected budget of $350,000 and a 2025 start. TMLP staff said the existing 48-fiber cable is more than 27 years old, showing degradation and lacking capacity for potential "fiber to the home" expansion.

Separately, the Taunton Police Department requested that TMLP extend backbone fiber into the new Taunton Public Safety Building at 90 County Street. Holmes said the Taunton Public Safety Project will reimburse the TMLP project up to $120,000; the commission approved the work at an estimated budget of $130,000.

Other administrative and procedural actions

- The commission voted in public session to apply the previously discussed cost-of-living increase for the general manager retroactively to Jan. 1, 2025; the topic had been discussed in executive session at an earlier meeting and was placed on the public agenda to record the vote.

- Commissioners approved installation of a street light on West Water Street (pole 19R1) at the request of a local volunteer; the installation recommendation will be forwarded to the Taunton City Council for its approval.

- The commission voted to forward minutes of the Aug. 12, 2024 meeting to the City Council to document that the commission previously took a public vote related to a stipend matter, after the City Council's Committee on Finance and Salaries requested further review.

Routine business and next steps

The commission accepted the minutes of the Feb. 7, 2024 meeting and approved a series of regular warrants covering multiple dates in early 2025. Commissioners discussed tariff and escalation risks on some equipment purchases and noted thresholds under which staff would revisit contracts if unexpected tariff charges materialize.

Chairman Dimelo called a roll for an executive session at the end of the meeting on competitive advantage and contract negotiations; commissioners did not return to open session. The commission scheduled its next regular meeting for April 15, 2025, at 4 p.m.