Good afternoon. I'm now going to call the Wednesday, November 12th, 2025 meeting of the North County Commissioners to order. I'm going to read the remote order, the executive order on remote participation. On March
28, 2025, Governor Healey signed into law House Bill 62, an act relative to extending certain CO 19 measures adopted during the state of emergency, which included a two-year extension of the option for public
bodies to hold remote meetings by suspending certain provisions of the open meeting law, Mass General Law, Chapter 3A, sections 18-2. That action was effective immediately extending the current option for remote
meetings through June 30th, 2027. Thank you. And ask everyone to rise and join me in saluting the flag. >> I pledge to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic
for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice. >> Thank you very much. We'll call a roll. Commissioner Collins present. Commissioner Shay is present. We have a cool room. Thank you,
>> John. Um, if you want, you could you could I know that you don't want to hang around for this, but when Richard joins us, I'll ask him his permission to to sign um your bills and ours all day. >> And we can just text you or email you or phone you or something like that.
>> Yeah, I'll I can leave it here with >> Yeah, that'd be Well, Phil, you could tell him if you if you would like to get permission. That would be great. >> Okay. Sorry. Yeah. They don't have to stick around. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Roll call. Okay. >> Morning. Make the uh the motion. >> Number three. Motion to go into
executive session. >> Yeah. >> Yes, please. Commissioner, >> I'll make a motion to go in executive session pursuant to master law chapter 3A section 21 subsection A subsection 3 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation. An open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating
position of the public body when the chair so declares. Thank you. Seconded motion to go to executive session. Roll call vote. Commissioner Collins, >> yes. >> Commissioner Shay votes yes. We're in executive session. We will be returning
for the remainder of the regular meeting. Hey, thank you very much. Welcome everyone. We're back on the record on our November 12th, 2025 regular meeting of the North County Commission. Um, we're back at item number four, but I'm
going to ask the commissioners if we have a motion to go to item number 12. Uh, because we're holding one of our attorneys here with us and uh we need his input on this item. So, >> sure. Let's let's go to that item 12. >> If there's no objection, we'll go to
item number 12, which is review of proposal changes to North County employee handbook. We have with us uh our labor council Peter Summers on this matter. I'm going to ask Director Cronin for a one minute synopsis of this item.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um good afternoon, commissioners. Joining me at the table is our human resources director, Gerard Foy. Mr. Summer, Attorney Summers is on Zoom. >> [clears throat] >> Several weeks ago, um the commissioners discussed um a modification to the employee handbook uh last updated in
August of 2024. Um the update that uh the commissioners were looking for uh guidance on was relative to section 3.3. Copy was provided in your packet. Um essentially the uh the gist of the
handbook was calling for vaca certain vacation allowances to be acred by individuals who um would then be paid out upon resignation, retirement, death and so on. Um we were working with um former interim HR director Mike McGovern
and Peter Sumers um to to to determine um a modification to this language that might meet your needs. of leveling up the expectation of how vacations and vacation payouts work upon separation of service. One of the items that we looked
at uh were other agreements including the Commonwealth's handbook. So I'll excuse me if you don't mind. I'll turn it over to Peter Sumers who has provided a very concise succinct um proposal for you to consider modifying section 3.3.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Cherry Summers. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, and I think, [clears throat] uh, Director Cronin has done a good job of summarizing what we're looking at. Um, the commissioners, I I believe what
we're looking at is, uh, an attempt to simplify, um, how vacation is paid out upon separation. Um, as you know, the county handbook applies to all employees except, um, to the extent that there is a collective bargaining agreement that,
um, governs a particular matter. Um so what we're looking at here is a potential change to the handbook um to clarify that upon um separation from employment vacation is paid out um as acred or or as acred but unused in an
employees account and that it's allotted on July 1. So if an employee leaves service after July 1, they're paid out for all acred but unused vacation time and it's not prrated based upon their period of service. Currently the handbook provides for a prorating based
upon the actual period of service in the year. Um your collective bargain agreements provide various other um types of payouts for employees who leave after the year. Um if the commissioners are looking to modify the handbook, um I think that we try to keep the language as simple as possible and just simply
state that employees are paid out upon retirement. If there's some other um way you'd like to approach it, you know, we can certainly craft language to address that. happy to answer any questions. >> So, this is more than a scrutinous
error, but it's not doesn't change the real intent, but it puts everyone in the same boat, so to speak. >> Uh, non-union specifically upon any >> modification. Um, [clears throat] Gerard and Peter and I will approach ask me and
open up a dialogue to impact this uh separately for their contract. Okay. >> So, this is non-union job. Commissioner, is there any question? >> Yeah, if you want. Can I go or you want to wait? >> Go ahead. >> So,
in front of me, I think that's if uh in my other account, it's just they pay out over 333. Am I right? >> Yes. That's four bullets. >> That's what's in all that where we replacing with just one sentence. I
mean, you're getting rid of all that. How does one thing if you're placing resignation, retirement, death, and carryover? >> So, uh, commissioner, we can modify each bullet to reflect the intention of the proposed language. Today, we were
looking at the commissioner's intent to move in the direction of what Peter Summers has drafted under the bottom section called proposed language. Um, it's certainly reasonable. Yeah. To your point though, it's certainly reasonable to expect language under the proposed section to be embedded into resignation,
retirement, and death in such a way that makes it clear what the expectation of time um will be paid out on u as a result of either separ. But let's take the first probably the most obvious one. The current language says that after 12
months of service that means a year only five times the person titled to appropriate leave on the previous July one on a previous one. Now we're saying like it's like a retroactive language. It looks like it's going to go
forward. It's forward like Tell me if I'm wrong or right, please. I'm trying to get this wrapped around my head today. What am I John? Where am I going with this? You want to try people? You want me to do it? >> Retroactive illness is proactive. What do we What if gaining my
>> So resignation that language says that it is uh the number of full months worked from the previous July 1 to the date of his or her resignation. Um so after 12 months of service, let's say somebody's hired August 1. um if they've worked 12 months they have and they work
>> one year their previous July 1 they've only worked one month from that previous July 1 and so currently upon resignation they get one 12th of their vacation allotment paid out upon retirement. What this proposed change would say is that they are paid out all of their vacation
allotment that's acred but unused on August 1 if that's what if that is in fact when they leave. So, it is not I don't think that it's proactive. It's still only vacation that they have received, but we're clarifying that they receive it all on July 1 and if they
leave employment after July 1, they receive payment for all of the vacation time that they've acred. >> Unused. >> Okay. So, employ a personal work man or woman who have a personal work for the county and is it July one? Is it July one day or is it their date of hire?
When do they get their or it's July one. >> July one. >> July one. Okay. Thank you. So July one, let's just say I'm making this up. They get, you know, they got four weeks. That's that's what they've got. So they got that coming through. And now it's uh
let's say December 30th, right? Do they get the four weeks? They get a full rating of four weeks. What do they get? They'll get the four weeks less any time used against that period between July 1 and their retirement or separation date.
>> Okay. So, they're not losing anything. No one's losing anything. >> No. >> Right. No. >> So, okay. I'm not being cynical. I'm trying to understand it. Anybody do on this? What's the gain on this side? the I believe from our prior conversations
with the commissioners on the matter involving acrruel, there was some misunderstanding about the intent within the handbook uh payout of um time acred that individuals had an expectation that they would have as of July 1. uh the
acrruel language seemed to be incompatible or in congruent with the general understanding that people had time given to them on July one in their paychecks and that it wouldn't be acred throughout the year so that we had some incompatibility between practice
commissioner stating and understanding within the handbook this cleans it up it makes it more clear that on July 1st you get your time if you use it that's great if you don't and you separate you'll get paid paid out for the balance. There's
no more acruel piece except for individual except for new hires who have to work. >> What do you mean by the term the state? What do you mean technically by acral? What do you mean by that John? >> Acruable means that you get a uh if
you're entitled to four weeks vacation that you acrew certain amount of hours per month in a year towards that four weeks. So, for example, if you're under the acrruel uh standard on July 1st
through July through June 30th of that fiscal year, you're acrewing days per month that get you to that four weeks. If you don't take any time by the end of that period, that fiscal year, you get four weeks vacation. But if you separate
service under the acral method, you only get what was acred towards that four weeks. Basically, if I can >> go ahead, Peter. >> If I can just add, so I think another way of putting it is that um and I hope this doesn't confuse the matter, but it's the the vacation time if it if we're talking about four weeks, it's
allotted on July 1, but that four weeks is actually earned over the course of the year, such that once you work the full year, you've earned all four weeks. So, if you leave before the end of the year, you haven't earned all four weeks. If you leave halfway through, you've only earned half. You've only earned two weeks, and so you would only be paid out
for two weeks. Um the change here would be basically you earn it all at once on July one when it's allotted to you. >> You get four weeks. The person leaves in December. If they haven't taken any vacation time, correct? They will get a check for four weeks vacation.
[clears throat] Am I hearing you right? >> That's correct. Plus any carryover. By the way, you're allowed to carry over up to 15 days. That's different, but Yep. reset retirement more or less. It seems like it's pretty straightforward.
It seems like a good employ. >> No, I I don't think you're I don't think you're missing anything. >> Okay. M So, with the commissioner's approval today, um, we'll be happy to modify section 3.3 presented to you as early as next week
for a vote consistent with this dialogue if that's okay with you. >> I'll make that motion. >> Can I just clarify that it's section 3.3.5? >> Go ahead. >> Okay. >> All right. I'll make that motion that we
uh we have council come back to us with on proposed language um as directed. Do >> I have a second? >> Motion to instruct council to come back to us with that language previously
discussed relative to this policy. All in favor? >> I. >> Okay, >> we can go to the next level here, Peter. All right, that's takes care of item number 12 for today. >> You're all set with Peter. >> Peter, we're all set. Unless you have something for Well, no, it's not on the agenda. All right.
>> Thank you, gentlemen. >> Thank you, >> Peter. Thank you, >> Dad. Okay. That was good. >> Okay. Thank you. Back on the We're on the record. We're on item number four at our regularly scheduled meeting.
Minutes of two pre one previous meeting. Item number four, commissions. >> Richard, do you want me to read it? >> Motion to approve the minutes of the open session meeting of November 5th, 2020 2025.
>> Motion made second. All in favor? I. It is a vote. Next, >> a motion to approve the executive session meeting minutes of 115 2025 uh but to be held until such time as the chair so directs. Motion made and seconded on the second
session minutes of October of November 5th, 2025. Motion made and seconded. All in favor? >> I. Thank you. >> Number four is complete. Number five, appointments. We have none. Number six, public comment.
>> Oh, um, pardon me. Uh, Richard, do we have permission to use your stamp um to sign the different documents that we have today? >> Yes. Uh, permission granted. Yes, sir. >> And I know that the um high school had a few warrants and they they wanted to know if they had your permission to sign
that also. >> We've already we've already signed them. >> Yep. That's fine. >> Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. Thank you. >> Item number eight. Number six, >> public comment. Each week we have public comment
um for our people. Either they come in and speak to us or they're out in Zoom land. Now is the time. If anyone has got any public comment, now is the time. Please, any public comment? Director Cronin, have you had anyone
come in and speak to you about public comment? >> No, sir. >> Last call for public comment. Thank you. Seeing none, we'll move to number seven, old business. I have none. Number eight, personnel matters for
consideration. Commissioner Stady, do you have those matters? >> I do not, sir. I'm sorry, I do not. >> All right, I'll uh I'll read them. >> Yep. >> Okay. Um see, the first is uh from from
the Aggie School. Um, I make a motion um to approve the resignation for uh Elise Anderson Anderson um as a student camp uh employee at the rate stated effective 11325. So move
>> motion made and seconded. All in favor? >> I it is a vote next >> the next um one second. I'm just going through the not the next are for um um motion for a contingent employment for three
different individuals. The first uh Colleen Collins as girls varsity coach at the rate stated effective of 111325. So moved second on Colleen Collins varsity girls coach. All in favor? I >> I >> uh the next is continuing employment for
Devin London as girls JV soccer coach at the rate stated effective 11325. A motion. >> Motion made and seconded on the contingent employment of Devin London as girls JV soccer coach. All in favor? >> I. >> There's a vote.
>> The next is a motion uh for contingent employment for Maya Aosta as girls JV volleyball coach at the rate stated effective 11325. [clears throat] So moved. Motion made and seconded for contingent employment for Maya Costa
as girls JV volleyball coach. All in favor I. Thank you. There's a vote next. >> And the last is a motion for regrade for Carile M40 as special ed instructional assistant at the rate stated effective 11325. So moved.
>> Motion made and seconded. Notice of regrade for Colleen Horty as special education instructor. All in favor? >> I. >> It is a vote. >> Okay. The next two are um FMLA leave of absences absences. So we don't um state
these individual's names. So the first is um effective 111025 and the code number is 112501. Uh so move to approve the uh FMLA leave of absence. >> Second that.
Motion made and seconded on the first leave of absence under the FMLA. All in favor? I >> I. >> And the second uh motion for FMLA leave of absence effective 111925 uh is code 112502. So moved.
>> Second. LLA leave of absence effective 111025. All in favor? >> That was 111925. Yes. All in favor? All right. >> All right. Second one was 11. Didn't you do the second? >> The first one was 1110 and the second one was 1119. >> Okay. Yeah, they're on the Okay.
>> Yep. >> They're both done. Thank you. >> I've been done. Yeah. >> That concludes general personnel matters. Next is payroll and expense warrants for approval. Commissioner calls. >> Richard, do you want to read the warrants? >> If you would. Thank you, Peter. Thank you. >> Okay. Us.
The first item on the warrant list is 26-9 payroll of the county in the amount of $151,642.90. So move second. >> Motion made and seconded. All in favor? I. It is a vote. Next. >> The second is uh warrant 11-02-26
expense of the county in the amount of $568,8658. So moved. >> Second. Motion made and seconded. All in favor? >> I. >> It is a vote. Next. >> And the last is uh warrant 26-9
subsection 10 payroll of the school in the amount of $42,261.89. So moved. >> Motion made and seconded on the last expense one. All in favor? >> I. It is that concludes paying expense warrants.
>> Thank you. Number 10. report from the procurement department. Bid openings and contract awards. Moren, >> good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. What do we have this week, Marin? >> Wall rack will be purchasing a piece of grounds keeping equipment. Another lease
that will be a 5-year lease for Grounds Master 3500D. >> I dare ask what a grounds master is. >> I'm assuming it's a lawn mower of some sort. >> That's fine. And you're recommending this? >> I recommend it. I research it. We have
great luck with PNC Bank. We process our leases for us. >> All right. I'll make a motion that we approve the proposed lease agreement for the ground master 3500D. >> Can I have motion? Motion made seconded for the Wall and Recreational Facility
to lease sign a lease agreement the ground master 3500D. All in favor I >> it is a vote we'll send we'll sign that today. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Nothing else. >> That is all for now. >> Good work. >> Thank you Marin. >> Thanks.
>> No we're not going to do all number 11. >> Yes you are. All right. Number 11. Letters of testimony for prospective proposed legislation. House Bill 3211, an act relative to deeds excise receipts. Oh yes,
we have uh a matter before the great general court uh relative to uh deeds excise receipts. Um commissioner stay asked you to testify because you went in and testified last week. This is uh not new
but every year we have been f filing this bill uh along with our other colleagues in the five other counties that exist. So why don't you say a few words and we'll go forward. It's pretty straightforward and members of the board uh
represent last week joint price committee committee of reven testimony. I felt overall we were able to present our points in terms of what we're doing. We focus in on our capital needs which is the number one right now the AI sphere
what we want to do with the AD schools because of the lack long-term budget the increase in the revenue Please forgive me my question with that means
being that we we enjoy it, you know, great time. go down to them to have time to do it month. >> Thank you. Well, I'm going to sign today
and get it out to my colleagues orally. I did not submit written testimony. I didn't and I made it, you know, obviously I had to cut it down get in the three minute time frame. So I think a good letter would certainly help, you know, written letter that expands a little bit of what I was going to do
would be would be heard at all. I did mention that it's there when we submit written testimony. So we aren't able to do that. So, if it's okay with you, I I've been asked to um make it as a motion a motion to submit a letter of testimony in support of House Bill 3211,
an act relative uh to deeds excise receipts. So, move >> that great. Yeah, that'd be great. Y >> you second that, Commissioner? >> Richard, do you second my motion? >> I did. I did second. Yes. Motion made and seconded to to send a letter of testimony to the great and general court
relative to House Bill 3211, an act relative to deeds excise receipts. All in favor? >> I. >> We'll get the letter right out for your signature, commissioners. >> Yes. Great. >> Thank you. >> Moving right along. Um 11 12
>> 11B >> 11B an act directing a study on the feasibility of placing registry of deeds for county government that have been abolished under the oversight of the secretary of the comwalth. This is House
Bill 3972. >> 3971. >> I'm sorry. 3971. So, Richard, I I I've been asked to propose um a motion to direct council to draft a letter of opposition to House Bill 3971, an act directing a study on the
feasibility of placing registries of deeds for county governments that have not been abolished under the oversight of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. >> Uh yeah, it's um I will second I would second that. Yeah.
>> Okay. Terrific. Okay. Motion made and seconded. on House Bill 3971, an act directing a study on the feasibility of placing a registry of deeds for county governments that have not been abolished
under the oversight of the Secretary of Commonwealth. We're going to be sending a letter in opposition to this bill being drawn as we speak. All in favor? >> I. >> I. Thank you. >> Number 12, we took care of employee handbook. Number 13, report of the
county director. >> Thank you, Commissioner Sh. Just a few items. Um, last week I notified you that we had um an oral um acceptance of an offer for carpenter vacancies uh vacancy here. We were informed yesterday that he is withdrawn from the process. So, we
will get back to interviewing for this particular position. Um we'll be discussing it with our HR director over the next couple of days. Uh pleased to let the commissioners know that uh work done at Retham District Court which had taken much longer than expected due to
the need for uh building permit uh to be signed was signed today. We will move quickly to close up the wall, complete the work uh upgrading bathroom the first floor and then proceeding to another uh Retham district court uh sewage issue that is looming uh right behind this
one. So a lot of work done in Rentham. want to thank our plumber and Chuck Cushing, our interim facility supervisor, who's doing a great job uh managing all these things. >> Chuck [clears throat] Commissioners, in your packet, um a flyer was placed sponsored by the RSVP
program. Lucille Cassiss has alerted um staff that um a drive is underway uh to promote uh gift giving for an upcoming Let me just pull up the flyer. uh support our veterans event between November 27th and January uh 2nd. Um the
Northro County Retired Senior Volunteer Program in Americaore on behalf of Northro County. Greatly needed items will be distributed to the Veterans Administration Hospital in West Roxbury. uh toothbrushes, toothpaste, new sweatuits, uh undergarments, soap, body
wash, shampoo, handheld mirrors, shaving cream, back scratchers, personal fans, reading glasses are some of the chosen items that our friends at the Veterans Administration Hospital in West Roxbury uh desire. The drop off locations are shown on the flyer. So, in the past, you
folks may remember that the RSVP program did a similar drive for veterans and the products were taken down to the Cape. Um, Lucille's kind of pivoting this to a different drive, more local, uh, directly to, uh, the VA hospital right up the street. So, uh, if you have any,
um, items that befit this particular item, uh, the collection boxes are here in the commissioner's office right outside Moren McCun's office. uh please feel feel free to deposit them and it'll be taken to the VA hospital in early
January 2026. Uh this afternoon, this morning rather, uh assistant director Buckley and I received a thank you from advisory board member Dr. Beth Charles for presenting um on behalf of the county uh to the Brooklyn Town Meeting Members
Association a view of what uh Northfor County does uh in general and specifically for Brookline Town of well received. Dr. Child said that members of the um town meeting members association have already spread the word uh especially on the Aggie school to try to
get um local interest in some of our assets. Um it was a great meeting that night. She was very grateful and uh just wanted to pass along her thanks uh to each of you for allowing us to head out there a few weeks ago. And then finally, um Bill Buckley will be sending out a save the date to advisory board members,
but just as the commissioners should know, the um the date for the next advisory board meeting is coming up on 5 weeks from today, December 17th. Uh for to that point, I believe Phil and Tosska sent out a fiscal notice. I think it was last Friday for department heads to uh
queue up their uh necessary transfer and supplemental interest needs before then. So um that is your update for the day. Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Any other items for the director Cronin? Um wanted to commend director Cronin and
u uh Billy on their recent visits to uh Brooklyn and that went well there and if there's any politely suggest you pretend that if you want any kind of
discussion on the school relation as well may be helpful. >> We did that. Yeah, we've been in touch with Jeremy about that. Yep. >> Great. [clears throat] Uh, Mr. Chairman, I'm heading down to the board now to the MASC conference couple of days. It was a good conference
last year. Hopefully that brings back some other ideas and network and so on. And uh, look forward to seeing you around next week. >> Thank you, sir. >> Okay. We're going to meet regularly the day before Thanksgiving. Correct. >> Uh, sharers choice. That's would you
like to do that? Yes. >> Um, I'm looking at our calendar here. uh that carries us through to the December 1st with the Thanksgiving holiday a week after next uh and if I see no objection by next week. We're going to have a
regular meeting of course next week and then the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. So take a look at that and let me know if you'd like any changes, but I need to know by next week. >> We are going to meet or we're not going to meet. >> We're going to meet the day before Thanksgiving. I don't think it'll be a
bond burner. I'll try not to overdo it, but we're going to have to meet the side. >> Okay. >> If there's any uh ability only because of the uh that you know that day when school gets out early and traffic gets impacted, would you consider an earlier
start if possible? >> Okay, >> we'll talk about it. I'll be prepared to talk about it next week. I'll talk to director Crona and then we have time. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. >> Last call. Emergency item topics. The chair did not reasonably anticipate. I
have none. I'd like a motion to adjurnn, please. >> Sure. Motion to adjurnn. >> I second. And the time is up. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Motion made and seconded. All in favor?
I >> I >> I. >> This meeting is adjourned. Thank you very much.