Allegheny
Energy awarded Thurmont contract
By Richard D. L. Fulton
News Editor
THURMONT,
Md. – The town board of commissioners voted 3-0-1 (Commissioner
Glenn D. Muth effectively abstaining) at their Nov. 29 meeting
to enter into a five-year wholesale power supply agreement with
Allegheny Energy Supply Company.
According
to the terms of the contract, Allegheny, headquartered in
Greensburg, Pa., will supply power to meet Thurmont’s
electrical load when the current contract between the town
and Glen Allen, Va.-based Dominion Energy Marketing expires
at the end of June 2006.
Before
voting on the contract, the commissioners held a closed-door
executive session to discuss the proposed agreement with Allegheny.
Following those discussions, the board reconvened the public
meeting to vote on the proposal.
Commissioners
Wayne A. Hooper, William H. Blakeslee and Ronald A. Terpko
voted in favor of the contract. Muth said he abstained, apparently
startling his co-commissioners and “Mayor” Martin
A. Burns with his decision. Then he changed his vote to “present.”
Burns
said, “I take offense at that,” responding to
Muth’s vote. Burns later said he thought all the members’
questions had been answered, and that they were satisfied
in the prior executive session.
Muth
explained to The Dispatch, “I didn’t
abstain. I voted ‘present.’ I didn’t know
anything about that closed session … did not have time
to prepare. I’m just guessing but I think this is probably
the biggest contract the town has ever let. I just cannot
vote on something like that without some background.”
Town
Clerk-Treasurer Richard K. May issued a prepared press release
after the meeting. He wrote, “In today’s world
of volatile energy prices, this contract is the best solution
for the town and we have done our best to plan for our future
needs in a reliable manner.
‘Our
goal is to help build a strong community in the area we serve
by providing reliable electricity to support local business,
commerce, and residents. Unfortunately, volatile market conditions
left us little choice,” May stated.
Thurmont
owns and maintains a distribution system that provides electrical
service to more than 2,600 residential, commercial and industrial
customers with a peak load in excess of 25 megawatts.
Editor’s
Note: Thurmont has a five-member board of commissioners, but
the board president (an elected position) votes only to break
a tie. Thurmont does not have a mayor, although the board
president is frequently referred to as such.
