Awkward.
That might be the best word to describe the Marblehead Light Commission meeting on April 29, which included shouting and one Light Department worker storming out, as commissioners discussed how to replace General Manager Joe Kowalik, whose contract is not being renewed.
Kowallik, who has led the Marblehead Municipal Light Department since 2018, sat at the head of the meeting table. Last month, the Light Commission announced that it would not rehire Kowalik after his contract expires next spring. The commission offered Kowalik up to $200,000 in bonuses to complete his term while it seeks his replacement. Kowalik earns an annual base salary of $179,978.24.
Commissioner Jean-Jacques Yarmoff spoke about needing more responsive and proactive leadership at the Light Department. He identified one general manager candidate, Jon Blair, whose career Yarmoff has been following for a few years. Blair was the general manager of the Ipswich Light Department for seven years and now works as a consultant.
In fact, the meeting agenda included an interview with Blair, but that was postponed.
The commission is finishing a job description for the new general manager and hopes to post it soon. If more than three candidates apply, the commission will form a subcommittee to hold interviews.
Commissioner Adam Smith listed three qualities they are looking for: an experienced industry leader skilled at strategic planning, a good team builder and communicator, and an “innovator capable of managing complex regulatory environments, developing forward-looking energy initiatives.”
One resident attending the meeting angrily accused the commission of violating open meeting laws, which he said must have happened for them to have already identified Blair as a candidate.
Commissioner Mike Hull, who wants to keep Kowalik as general manager, said Kowalik was being “bum rushed” out without proper cause. A department employee also shouted about the process and stormed out of the meeting.
Meanwhile, Kowalik took several moments to outline MMLD’s recent successes, including:
- Delivering the town’s 2024 electric power needs with a 65% carbon-free wholesale power portfolio, a 55% increase from 2023.
- Delivering a 3.4% decrease in our 2024 average wholesale power cost to 10.9 cents/kwh, from 11.28 cents/kwh in 2023.
- The average Marblehead residential customer saves 40% on their monthly electric bill as compared to a customer in Salem or Swampscott, which equals a savings of $1,135 per year.
- Receiving APPA Excellence in Reliability recognition, based on a national comparison of electric outage data. MMLD is a four-time winner.
- Receiving notice of award for a $1.33 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy Grid Resiliency & Innovation Partnership grant program to improve the resiliency of our main electric supply lines from Salem, which are under increased threat of damage from climate change.
- Making substantial progress on the Village 13 substation upgrade project.
The MMLD also approved an additional $200,000 for the Village 13 project, along with a $360,000 voluntary payment to the town from its operating income.
