Good afternoon. I'm now going to call the Wednesday, January 21st, 2026 meeting of the North County Commissioners to order. Before we start, I'm going to read the executive order on remote participation.
On March 28th, 2025, Governor Healey signed into law House Bill 62, an act relative to extending certain COVID 19 measures adopted during the state of emergency, which includes 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 38, sections 18 through 25. That action was effective immediately extending the current option for remote
meetings through June 30th, 2027. Welcome. We are live and on remote and I ask everyone if they'll join me in saluting the flag. >> 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 for all. Thank you very much. Roll call vote. Commissioner Sty, >> are you present, sir? >> Commissioner Collins present. >> Commissioner Shay is present. We have a quorum full.
>> Thank you. >> No executive session today. >> No, sir. >> Next item, a minutes from the regular meeting of January 7th and the regular session of January 14th. Uh, Mr. Chair,
I'd move uh approval of the meeting minutes of January 7th as presented. >> Second. >> Thank you. All in favor? >> I. It is a vote. Thank you, >> Mr. Chairman. I move approval of the immediate minutes of January 14th as
presented. >> Second. >> Motion made and seconded. All in favor? >> I number five, appointments. We have none. Number six is public comment. Each week the commissioners have a section on their agenda. Public comment
for anyone that has any comment on pretty much any subject that's on the agenda or county business. We'd be happy to hear from you. Whether you're live or remote, we have the public session. Now is the time if anyone has anything at all for the commissioners.
>> Director Con, are you aware of any? Not this. No. >> Last call for open session. Public comment. Seeing none, we'll move to the next one is old business. We have no old business today. Number
eight, personnel matters for consideration. >> Yes, Mr. Chairman. >> Yes. >> Commissioner, I move the following uh motions that deal with the Wall Center recreational facility bur. I believe that you indicated at the last
meeting. This concludes the seasonal golf associates. All individuals here, the motion is referencing their jobs as seasonal golf associates and the range of dates is from March 30 all the way through to September 30. I move the
following approval resignation. Sabrina Thai Laura Melli Nicholas Anne which >> John Kelly Gaffin Hoffman these are all seasonal golf associates as stated with
the effective dates of resignations from last 30 inclusive all the way through September 30th. So moved. >> Second. >> Motion made and seconded. All in favor? It is a vote. Next, >> the Northark County Agricultural High School. I move for the following
motions. First, a notice of resignation for Haley Goule as animal science four person at the rate stated and that would be effective date 12126. So move >> second. Motion made and seconded. All in favor?
>> I. It is a vote. Next. >> Next. I move approval of the notice of retirement for John Wallace as business manager at the rate stated uh effective date is 123125. So move
>> second. Motion made and seconded. All in favor? >> I. >> All right. You wish Mr. Wallace well. >> We wish Sean well. We worked with John the past three or four years. >> I know I inquired last week at our regular meeting. I believe you all heard
the director say that we're they interviewed four people and they're down to two and he's going to bring forward a name as quickly as possible. >> Mhm. >> He is aware of the uh the calendar we're on. He's aware of the budget calendar. >> Right. >> And uh
I believe he said this week he would be interviewing violence. >> Yeah. The blue papers came up too for this week which is a concern John had. Right. >> Yep. >> Warrant list. Mr. Jam. >> Okay. >> I'm sorry. Payroll expense warrants for approval.
>> All right. This there's three items. I'll move approval of each one. Uh the warrant list for January 21 and number one approval of 26-29 payroll of the county. The sum $143,754.86. So moved.
>> Second. Motion made second. All in favor? I. It is a vote. Next. >> Next. of approval for the payroll to school 26-29 partheses 15 the sum $410,45.78 cents so move >> second motion made and seconded all in
favor >> and finally the third item I move 01-03-26 the expense for the county the sum 161, $30.79 so moved second >> and she made the second all in favor I
vote That concludes that. >> Thank you. >> Report from the procedural procurement and department bid openings and contract awards. >> None this week. >> None this week. Thank you. Number 11. Report of the county director. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. For the
commissioners. I'll first start off by saying uh it being January and winter being the winter, we may be encountering upcoming storms or um matters involving um the weather. So, I just want to alert folks that several years ago, the county adopted a storm policy that uh
essentially states that we should monitor conditions uh relative to their commute and working conditions and when the governor of the Commonwealth declares a uh an emergency um county government will follow suit. So that would dictate how and when um
individuals should report to work. Um if the governor declares a state of emergency and only non-essentials, excuse me, essential workers report to work. That means everybody stays home and folks and our maintenance department especially are considered essential during those times. They will report to
work safely to help with any um storm impact, whether it's snow removal, icing, deicing, and things of that nature. So we encourage people to stay alert, stay notified, uh monitor the airwaves. Our storm policy is relatively straightforward. We mimic the state. Um and most of all, we want people to be
safe. So um please exercise that caution. Speak to your supervisors if you have any concerns or questions about your commute during uh days when storm and weather impact uh your commute to work. Um, so moving on, I just want to also alert folks that uh the state
ethics commission has alerted us that the portal is now open for filing your calendar year 2025 SFI filing, which is due May 1st, 2026. Um, upcoming dates for the commissioners, uh, relatively light
agenda today, but that is about to change. Your busy season opens next week. You're going to be hearing from our IT director, Sam Evans, who's going to provide the commissioners with a summary update of the projects and milestones that he's working on, his team's working on over the next several months. You're going to hear some very
uh good progress they're making on a number of different funds. Um so I'm sure you'll enjoy that presentation. Following that, um, February 3rd be your first um, excuse me, February 3rd is the date the budgets were are due to the county as we begin the process uh, that
was laid out in the guidelines that were released a couple weeks ago. Uh, after the 3rd on the 10th, the commissioners will be holding a meeting at the disaster recovery space at the agricultural high school. Uh, this will be a public meeting held in that space. So, we're looking forward to using that for the very first time.
>> February 10th. >> Okay. Thank you. Um following that the 18th to 25th of February and then finally March 4th you'll be uh meeting each week with the department heads as outline uh to receive their budget request for FY27. So the season is upon us. You're about to enjoy some very
active agendas over the next month or two. I just wanted to alert folks they'll kick off next week with a presentation from Sam. And then finally, just want to alert the uh commissioners. Um um I held my second follow-up meeting with uh golf superintendent Carl Miner and his staff earlier this week with
Broadart interim facility director Chick Cushing and our painter Rich Chineria. Um believe we're going to be able to help the golf course um improve the appearance of the lower level, the basement level where they they store all their food, their rice machines, their coal foods as well as dry goods and
other materials. Uh the area has had a fair amount of uh impact from um water infiltrating the foundation. Uh we're going to look into solving that issue in the spring when snow melts. Um but our electrician chick interim facility manager um is looking to help facilitate
some improved lighting fixtures and basically making the safe the space more safe. uh while Rick will uh pivot into an area where he can help paint the walls in the floor in a safe and um uh more more impressive looking environment. So good um offseason work.
Uh we'll be working with Bill Frasier, the the person that runs the view restaurant and Carl uh and his staff to make sure that area gets a good facelift on the offse. Overall, excellent meeting with some uh really good folks. That is all I have right now for you, Mr. Chair.
any questions go commissions >> just a couple >> for you of course Mr. Chairman um made me think of uh the great work he is doing but where are we at in terms of filling the vacancies especially at the
in maintenance we make John Vignori retire there's an opening there and of course you know so where where are we in terms of that process >> so um Mr. Vnon's vacancy is being held by Mr. um Cushing right now Mr. Mr. McGawan's vacancy um as you know the
tradition of the county is to uh wait out the period of time with a buyout extense and I believe that takes us to sometime in early February anticipating a posting um in the next uh first or second week in February. Okay. I've asked our HR director Gerard Ford to get
the position uh posting ready uh updated. He's working on that right now. So I'm anticipating that to be posted um as I said in the beginning of February. >> Okay. Thank you. Second question and I'll make sure I apologize if I may. >> Did you say that the February 10 meeting
of the commissions will be held at the Aggie school at the tour? Yes. Tour the facility, >> but that's a regular time, right? The we're going to look at the uh the new >> We're going to have it there. >> We're going to have it there. >> Yes. >> So, regular time February 10th.
>> Uh that's the anticipated. >> I think we have an Aggie board meeting later on that same day. >> No, that's okay. I mean any thought? >> I agree with you. I thought we, >> you know what I'm saying? >> With an idea. >> Well, maybe we'll knock it back an hour. >> Push our meeting back. We can do
whatever you like on the timing. >> If it's an Aggie board meeting, >> the >> school board. >> Yeah, >> any board meeting. >> Just saying to kind of maybe >> push it back an hour, but I think it's the same. Maybe we can get some >> folks down that end of the county to come and look around. You never know.
>> Or give us time to get a break, too. I Whatever you want to do. >> Good idea. Right. We have the >> good call. >> Thanks to look at we got time. We can talk about that. And that was it. Oh, and the county multi-county meeting is January 30. >> Yes. >> Correct. >> Yes. >> And that is in Plymouth.
>> It is. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Mr. Chair, I just happened to report. >> What day of the week is that? >> Friday. >> Okay. >> Friday. Okay. >> Uh I attended the North County managers meeting today held in
>> How are the managers? And the ones were there seemed pretty pleased and uh it was a good meeting. Charlie Judy can't let it uh we had director Cronin there and our assistant director Bill Buffy was there. We talked about wrapping up opera talking about the the seals and
weights and measures. But what I found interesting is that the willingness just to dive into other regional opportunities. not saying or committing we could do it but two of the ones that jumped at me was uh visiting nurses the
idea do we have that would be interested in doing that is there any appetite for that and I know fossil does that you said that fible county has a visiting nurse program and I know we had a presentation a while back from somebody about visiting nurses but just it was a
question about that just throwing out the information not taking a position the other one though I thought was interested is that there seem to be a lot of smaller towns that can't afford um like say a full-time carpenter or a full-time you know house plumber and
they wanted to know if there'd be any appetite for collaborative setup between say the county and them or maybe between two towns in the county share person. So again it is always an upside and downside look at it carefully but um
>> just something to you know think about as we explore ways to again maybe improve regionalization just a thought >> just wanted to share that that's all but I thought it was a good meeting it went well it was a great meeting so >> uh they appreciate the cooperation and
the leadership we have by John Bill >> in terms of getting out of things successfully and Bill go in and getting it done so it was a good meeting my phone was blown up after I spoke spoke earlier earlier. The date for the disaster recovery room um meeting will be February 18th.
>> Oh, okay. Okay. So, that's not an Eggy board. >> I'm not aware. I think you're right. >> The 18th is the school vacation week. So, >> so we'll just do it the 18th. Okay. Thank you for telling me. But that's fine. That's 1:00. Okay. That's all.
Now, the Aggie goes the board of trustees meet the second Wednesday. So, that would be the week before that. >> All right. But that I think the um the thing I wanted to share with you our new superintendent Jeremy who I think we're all in agreement is doing a wonderful
job. Uh he has talked about increasing opportunities for students to get involved in the trades. And at one of the conferences I went to the MASC MASC it was in November. There was a a union there that might just been the labors
the laborers with you and they were all really interested in terms of how can we partner up with your school in other schools to improve the workforce cuz we just don't have enough people going through the trades to keep demand of all the things we have going you know so
thinking a little bit about Jeremy's open to talking about that and some thoughts maybe there's some way we can you know not take two bites out of the apple but the That's all I had. Have a good day. Good meeting.
>> Thank you very much. Welcome. >> Number 12, emergency items or topics that the chair did not reasonably would did not reasonably anticipate. Um, I only have one and I I just went in
through my desk and retrieved something that was addressed to me from the landport. Guess relative. It gives you a case number and everything. This is a chestnut. It's a case. Oh boy. They give you the they give you
the um the town. It's a voluntary withdrawal and we're a party to it. Let me read the term just to be sure. Accepting land taken in fee for relocation of Ever Skinner Roadly George
Street, North County Registry Deans, North County Land Court, I'm sorry. And this particular I'm having trouble finding where the town is. What town? So, John, if I could send this over to
Patrick, you can send this over >> and and double chest it. Either way, uh, this is a voluntary withdrawal. I don't know if we withdrew or the the applicant. This is a case of playing bill. Okay. >> I'm sure Patrick is Patrick on there.
Patrick >> see no Patrick today. Okay, that's fine. That's the only other thing I had. >> Yes, Commissioner. >> Oh, there we go. >> Are you familiar with this case on George Street in the town of Norolk? >> No, I'm not sure, but
>> it's an oldie and it's a withdrawal. I I just opened it up today. I I just wanted to get it on the record and get in your hands. So he's tripping it over for your >> typically if if we if the uh the if there's a county layout that abuts uh land court parcel we'll get a notice
anytime there there's a title change like that they're probably doing some type of redevelopment and they're withdrawing from the land court um registration so that they can much easier move ahead with redevelopment >> and as an giving us notice of that. >> Great.
>> Yep. Thank you. >> Thank you. I have nothing else. Last call. >> Mr. Chair, there see no other business. I move that we adjourn at 122. Second. Motion made and second to adjurnn. All in favor? I. Thank you very
much.