Thank you very much. Appreciate you raise your right hand. Sure. >> Did you hear you? >> All right. Thank you. >> I >> I state your name. >> William Joseph Buckley Jr. >> Do swear that I will bear true faith and
allegiance to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and will support the Constitution thereof. Do swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and will spoke constitution language. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. >> I state your name. >> I will Joseph Buckley Jr. >> Do solemnly swear and affirm that I will faithfully and impartially
>> Do solemnly swear and affirm that I will faithfully and impartial partially >> discharge and perform all the duties incumbent on me as county commissioner. >> Discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me as county commissioner. According to the best of my abilities and understanding >> according to the best of my abilities and understanding
>> agreeably >> agreeably >> to the rules and regulations of the constitution and the laws of this commonwealth >> to the rules and regulations of the constitution and laws of this commonwealth. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. >> I state your name. >> I will Joseph Buckley Jr. >> do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States.
>> do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you, Mr. Clark. Only for a day. >> Thank you very much. Thank you again. >> Thank you. See you. I'll see you soon. Okay.
>> All right. Like to call the meeting order at 10:05. Um uh we are going to be without chairman Shay today and also uh Commissioner Collins. So we have uh Mr. Buckley as
you probably saw maybe if you're watching was duly sworn in to be acting commissioner for this meeting and this meeting only under the provisions of chapter 34 section 12. It's happened before and it's a provision that allows someone to be appointed uh so that the commission can have a a meeting and
carry on. So we thank Mr. Buckley and we thank uh clerk Tim for his service today. Uh I'm going to read the executive order on remote participation. On March 28th, 2025, Governor Healey signed into law house sir 62 an act relative to extending certain co 19
measures adopted during a state of emergency which includes a 2-year extension of the option of all bodies to hold certain to hold remote meetings by suspending certain versions of the open meeting law. General law chapter 38 section 1825 that act was effective
immediately extending the current option for remote meetings through June 30 2027. Okay. I would like us to all rise and salute our flag. Yeah. I pledge allegiance 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. Wait, thank those commissioners. >> But Mike, you sit there if you want. Comfy chair.
>> Thank you. >> All right, I take the roll call. Uh, acting commissioner Buckley. >> Present. >> All right. Chair sty is present. We have a quorum. We can proceed. Uh, minutes. Mr. Mr. Make a motion to approve the
open session meeting minutes of February 18th, 2026. >> Right. Have been reviewed and they look in order. I'll second that motion. All in favor? >> I I vote. Motion carries two. Okay. And continuing our review of the budgets and
which we started last week. We reviewed three budgets. We're going to review today uh the registry of needs. We see register O'Donnell is here. Uh engineering and treasurer. And as we did before and what we have said before, we're just reviewing them. There'll be no action taken. We're just here to
listen and uh talk about the budget and have each person make their presentation. So I'll call upon Mr. O'Donnell if you would please to come up and register your deeds. >> Which is four. We have four. Great. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm here with
first assistant Margaret Lee. staff has developed this budget and put it before you uh with the amount we see. Um you know, the last couple of years I come over here, I've tried to be collaborative in the budget process. Uh
and uh hasn't worked out too well. Uh in in 2024 after an election, I know people aren't here, but uh two commissioners uh endorsed my opponent and that's how it was. But I I I wanted I I came over to uh try to be collaborative and not a few
days after that election, director Cronin, who there's no secret uh of his unlawful interference in the registry, Mr. >> Chairman. Yeah, we're going to talk about the budget. >> Well, I'm getting to it, >> but you're not really getting to it. You're making political statement about
past things, >> right? because the budget is the we're the second busiest registry in Massachusetts >> and this budget supports that and over the years >> uh especially with the county the county director makes decisions and you people rub a stamp in and they cut the budget.
So what I'm trying to say is my attack this meeting is not going to be collaborative because in 2024 I came over here a week after that election and you cut my bud the registry budget 70,000 based on statements by the director Cronin that we were going to
exceed our mandate which we weren't. Uh that was a incorrect statement then and it was an factually incorrect but you still cut the budget based on his factually incorrect statement back in 2024. >> So we're revisiting the 2024 budget >> because in fiscal
>> you don't want to talk about 25th. >> I am I'm leading up to two >> Can we get to that? >> We we will because I came over here last year trying to be collaborative and it didn't work out too well again for the second busiest registry out of 21 in Massachusetts. So there is not one but
that needs to be made in this budget and I'll tell you why. There is two um and you you worked up at the legislature. You should be well familiar to uh Commissioner Buckley on 64D. There are two funding sources for the registry
budget by statute. People in this county may not recognize it. The courts have recognized it. Uh the and the court cases have recognized it. So it's not me coming over here saying rest 64D is the courts have ruled and
>> which court has ruled >> which court this is left the courts >> superior court >> isn't that in appeal right now? >> Yes. >> Yes or no? Yeah. >> All right. So when that matter is litigated either way but it's litigated at the highest level we will abide by that decision. >> But when you made decisions leading up
to that court case you said oh we'll abide by whatever the superior court does. Then the superior court rules against the county rules that you violated 64D12B because you didn't vote the registry of mandate. Ruled that you un unlawfully took the registry
statutory share of deeds excise per 64D section 12A. Um also ruled that uh the registry appointment for a lawfully funded and approved position should have been approved. So when you made these decisions in 2023 taking the deeds
excise fund that um taking the amount in the deeds excise fund. Yes. There. That's right. There was another violation chapter 64D section 11 where over uh now I believe the treasurer says there's over 4.2. I I always admire your
zeal. I do. I do. And I know we have a history of going back a long way. But we're talking about a lawsuit which I think technically as a lawyer you should know we really shouldn't be discussing. We shouldn't be talking about that. >> I'm talking about the budget because >> but you're talking about 64D which is
the nexus of a lawsuit that's being litigated >> because you people do not give the registry. It's lawfully funded county mandate because county director says so and you don't allow us access to deeds excise money. That's statutoily the registries but the amount of money
>> that actually took place before Mr. I was at that advisory board meeting if you may recall. >> No, no, no. Uh the deeds excise was taken in July of 2023. Believe me, director Cronin actually put the motion together to take it to put it in the general fund. And actually was
treasurable a lot of you said, "I'm not going to put it in the general fund. Maybe it's best we should hold hold it in the middle somewhere." Um because and I I I want to be clear, this does relate to the budget, Mr. share respectfully that through January the registry statutory share of deeds excise is
1,23,6997 that's through fiscal 26. The county in the meantime has gotten 1 over 1.8 million. You get to spend your 1.8 million and you don't allow us access to the uh 1.2 and then say because we don't
have access to these we're going to cut the budget. Not one cent should be cut out of this budget because it is statutoily funded by those two positions uh those two uh statutes, the county mandate statute and the deeds excise
statute to get in. And I I hope you do have a copy of my February 3rd letter. Correct. >> Thank you. >> Good. Um because we we need things. Uh, for instance, last year you gave us $2,000
in our equipment budget for 37 people. People are sitting on chairs. I see these chairs are really nice. I see this painting getting done. I don't begrudge you people for fixing up this place like the Taj Mahal. But I think it's I think it's uh totally unfair to give a mere
$2,000 in equipment last year when people are sitting on chairs that are broken. So enough and again enough's enough. The last two years I came over here collaboratively and it didn't work. Um and quite frankly um you may say it's
it's uh future litigation but the voted mandate in fiscal 25 we weren't even allowed to spend the quote that mandate to the tune of $257,000. So So you you people say oh wait for the appeals court to come. the superior
court ruled against you. At least be fair about it. Instead, you say, "Oh, the registry won't be allowed to spend that 257,000. We're not even going to give them access to it." And then you perpetuate it. So, what I'm saying is the county mandate figure that you see
in our budget, that that actually is a county mandate figure that should be respected. Uh because a few years ago, the county mandate was 3.2 million. Now, you have it under under three million, you know,
significant cuts made by uh county director Cronin and and then they get they get rubber stamped. But if you look at it, if you allowed us to spend the fiscal 25 monies that we're entitled to, the mandate figure you see in the budget would be would be met. Actually, that
should have been our mandate for fiscal 26. We're in fiscal 27. So, I I point out that things like defective network printers, replacing chairs, we've put that off long enough. So that that was an increase in in group five. Um
here's the other line item. How >> much increase it? >> It went up to 13,000 for 2,000. >> And again, you know, second busiest registry with 37 employees. You know, you know, they're they're there every day sitting on these chairs processing
documents, processing the revenues. I I the last time I checked, most of the revenues for the county get get collected through the registry and it should at least be treated. And I I guess what I'm really saying, Mr. Chair, and you may not like me saying it, is look at I want to come over here. I'd
like to see the registry supported. And if this county isn't and you or like other commissioners uh who aren't here and Mr. Buckley has to listen to me instead of the other two, it should be the other two. But I'm glad he's in there listening. You know, um just just be fair about it. If you don't want to
support the registry, then let us go. There's there's legislation up there. Let us go to the state and you know, we go our separate ways. Um but you know, hopefully uh you have a choice and the choice now is to support um that budget. Um that budget has you know, and I don't
think it's a big increase. I I recall that uh the county commissioners, I think it was one of these times recently, you you were updating your kitchen to finish off your kitchen uh to the tune of $15,000. So, you get to the tune of $15,000 to
finish a kitchen over here. I mean, we're just asking to, you know, give us more than $2,000 for equipment and we're not asking for the world. Believe, like I said, it only went up to 13,000. And and you know if that makes you uncomfortable, let me bring you up another line item. I'm going to call you
on it. 5235. You've zeroed out our legal funds. So you keep talking about, oh, we got to wait for the court, Mr. Chair. Do you think it's fair that you have independent legal counsel and we don't? >> I can't comment on that.
>> Yeah. Because it's it it it's, you know, it's easy to hide behind not commenting on it. you know, it's not fair and it it's uh and and you know, again, we've been winning. We went up to I mean, one court, the superior court
ruled that county director Cronin and the commissioners uh unlawfully interfered in registry operations, and that was upheld by the Supreme Judicial Court. I It was an honor to go to the court, but I shouldn't be going to court litigating this. You people are paying a big Boston law firm to to represent the
interest. So, we've asked for a $50,000 request. And again, I want to be clear to everybody. I might be doing these cases prosay, which means on his own, but not by choice. It's been a a strategy quarterback by County Director
Cronin and others for us not to have uh budgeted uh legal monies sufficient to match yours. And and I I got to ask you, you know, uh, Commissioner Sty, because you said you were unaware. We had three registry employees get served at their
home um by a constable to testify and you indicated you weren't aware that that was done. I got to ask you if you're going to a deposition, are you going to have a lawyer with you, Mr. Chair? Matter of fact, that my item was
uh we spoke to council and uh we spoke about that in terms of the proper way of serving people as a followup to the >> I appreciate that, but my employees are still upset. And >> I say that I was upset by your action that costed me at an MMA conference.
Totally un >> No, I asked if you were aware of it, >> but you did. There were other things you said really not too kind. We're getting personal here though. I was I was getting personal because I asked you a question and you know what I'm done coming over here listening to people pontificate when you've lost in court.
Bottom line you were the county commissioner and you weren't even aware that valued employees employees who have a pro person who's been there 50 years and got promoted has nothing to do with the nonsense of these lawsuits and you said you weren't aware that they got the
they got a summon delivered to them. what you know it's shameful this what's being done to them. So that wasn't a costic if you don't like what I have to say get used to it because there's going to be more coming because I'm trying to be collaborative in the past and it hasn't it hasn't really worked out too
well and a threat I ask >> are you threatening me? >> No I'm not. >> Are you threatening me? >> Well I'm not threatening to real you know sounds like a threat. >> I asked you a question you won't answer it. Would you have an attorney? >> I said to you that your issue that you raised improperly, I would may add at a
conference. >> Well, when should I have raised it? >> There were other ways to do it. It was a little little bit like very sudden. There were other people in the area including elected officials that were taken back by your actions. The tone was not as you know I'm I'm you mentioned.
Oh, that's right. Duck and I hockey player. I said I said I followed up on it and I did take it up and council is now aware of perhaps our concern about service. >> Well, but I don't question do you think it's fair for these employees? That's
why I'm asking the question uh respectfully, Mr. Chairman, >> if you were going to a deposition, would you have an attorney there? >> I would also. >> And these employees should have the same rights. That's all I'm saying. So I I
you know if we can get at least agreement then it's worth having this conversation. >> Is that justification for your legal fees? >> Well because I we need to get an attorney. Right now we have zero. >> I'm just asking trying to get back >> that that's back to the budget. >> Okay.
>> Because because in and I think there's justification. Um in December you went to the advisory board and personally I think you went to the advisory board. you got a $50,000 increase in the county commissioner's legal bills. Personally, when you got the budget approved for
fiscal uh 26, you you had said that the case that's now going on appeal was going to be settled. What happened is you lost the case and you needed more money. But that being said, in the supplemental details that uh Director Cronin and I'm sure Director Buckley put out for the advisory board, it says
$50,000 was needed because of this litigation where I wish you just would sign the blue papers for those two longtime employees. But you're getting $50,000 to litigate that case and we we need money so that our our employees are
protected. You know, you you just said it. I would expect you would, even though you're an attorney, too, Mr. Chairman. Correct. And you'd want an attorney there. Imagine these poor people. You know, as I said, one of them's worked at the registry 50 years. Come on. They're here to do a good job
for the county, not not not get litigated. If you want to depose them, that's fine, but at least provide um some monies in our budget so we can, you know, be on the same footing as you people. Because you hit it on the head, Mr. Chair. you would have an attorney at your deposition. Well, if you have an
attorney at your deposition, why can't these employees, you know, um, three of them, and I'm not speaking for myself, I'm talking about the three three just employees, why can't they have the same right that you have? Because I'm sure you'd have an attorney there. They
should. So yes, that 50 that you see, uh I respectfully um I've requested uh money and and again um you know, it's money that's needed because to me uh it's an access to justice and the registry is not getting
the same type of justice as the county commissions. We might be winning in these courts, but that's not the issue for me right now is this third lawsuit. And again, I I say why don't we just why don't you just sign the blue papers and be done with it? there two longtime employees who, you know, one worked 38
years at the registry and one worked 36 years. Again, separate from the 50-year employee that you, you know, sent a constable to our house to depose. Just sign the two blue papers for two longtime employees that have done a good uh job. So, as I said, um
you know, the the county has sought and secured 50,000 in legal funds in your budget this past December, ostensibly to litigate the promotions of these two longtime registry employees. In the interest of fairness and having access to the same justice you have access to,
I have uh put $50,000 into the uh registry legal funds uh line item 235. So I would um I I just ask you uh to respect that request and again um
you know if need be you know you tell me that I I I need to bring up issues then bring them up because usually you come over here with the budget you people just sit there you take it under advisement and
then you cut cut cut and the registry it's not fair to to keep defunding the registry since 2022. It the rub is hitting the road. We're here to provide services and to, you know, do do the good job that the registry employees have done. They they're well known for
being the best one of the best registries. And I just ask you to to support a budget that that gives them that uh they deserve a budget that uh recognizes the quality uh that they perform every day. The registry employees and staff
You have anything else? You have any questions? Well, does that highlight all you achieve as well? I saw an increase in printing and binding. >> Yeah. I mean, that should come as no secret. Uh and again, a lot of times, um
it's because, you know, you might compare it to the year before and and say, "Oh, but this has been a trend." Um, you know, for instance, uh, in in past years, uh, in group two, which includes printing, it includes others, we we've we've had
$450,000. And in fiscal 23, we spent $286,000, almost uh $300,000. There's a need, you know, uh, to to to print over there. We we still print books. We we still print indexes. Um,
that's why, you know, people value us. We we we as committed to doing that as we are to do uh you know online uh information for instance supplies and materials. Uh in fiscal 23 it was $111,000. So th this isn't happening in a vacuum.
You can look to the to the um year before um but you know uh and see a really low number in and for supplies and materials. Uh but then when you realize in fiscal 23 we spent 111,568
um you know you can keep cutting and cutting and cutting but it's unsustainable. We can grab on to we can we can work around it for a few years but the time is now. We're not it's you cannot keep um cutting the budget and it
and and it's just not sustainable for good registry operations and and the equipment was another example. In fiscal 23, we spent $7,250. In fiscal 24, we spent $6,424. Those aren't big numbers. I'm sure
looking at the equipment around here and the shares you got around here, I'm sure you spent more than that. But, you know, you know, so when you see $13,000 from 2,000, that's that looks like a big increase. But look at what we did other years.
>> Can you tell me the line item for that, please? That's equipment five. >> I have a group five, I'm sorry. Group five equipment. Yeah. >> And and you know, and and what I'm trying to do is even, you know, you mentioned printing. Is there miscellaneous equipment, Bill? >> Uh yeah, there's there's equipment. Um
you know, things like that, chairs and all that. Uh contractual services was the question you had on printing. Uh printing's part of contractual services, but there's there's other there's other parts of there's other parts of group two that certainly have increased and I
think we all know the inflation would you buy them those appropriations? >> I I mean enough I mean we don't even go around there's chairs that are are broken because you have 2,000.
>> How many chairs would you be if that money was >> chair? Uh Mr. Chair, if I can address this question. >> Sure. >> Last year, I think we bought one chair. >> The price of chairs, >> ergonomic chairs is enormous. We try we'll replace a couple, then other
employees get them >> again. >> So, you like a routine to try to break them in. >> We tried to We haven't bothered in a while, but we we're trying to make it these people are sitting in chairs 7 and 1 half hours a day. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> It's important. >> Okay. Thank you. You have an idea what
each what a chair may cost. Is it a thousand or? >> No, there's 300 to 500. >> 500. Okay. All right. Okay. That's all I'm asking. Yeah. Trying to learn. Okay. >> There's 37 employees. Not that everyone is share. I've had my chair since 2002, but uh I'd rather have the people that,
you know, they deserve share. >> But perhaps there might be a way to do it on a gradual phase, something like that. I'm just trying to look for ways we can work within our budget. >> That gets back to disagreement, I guess, is because of the
county mandate and because of the deeds excise that there's no need to to make bud budget cuts and there are other budgets that you approve that don't have the revenue sources we do. We do not cost the county money. We we actually bring a surplus in. And you know, and
again, I'm not diminishing, you know, what you do to other county budgets, but it seems like other county budgets get, you know, prospective looking, get get increases, whether they're in materials or or things for the employees and the registry, uh, over the last few years,
uh, actually, I would say since, uh, fiscal, you know, started, you know, really fiscal 22 really, you know, started going, um, it's going it's gone down. So yes, uh contractual services. Uh number two, I mean uh you know
there's there's a lot of costs that have gone up uh you know between printing costs, professional and tech, you know, technical office supplies. So um and again um I mean I I had to be upfront about the legal uh but I do think um
yeah $50,000 seems like a lot of money to me. I think it I think think there's a lot of wasting of legal monies here, but you have 50 in December, never mind what you're going to get next year in in the fiscal 27 budget. So your total budget request
the the total budget um >> 481 was uh >> uh was the total budget for 2027 was 3 million 326 67857 and again uh in my submitted budget you
could see the the mandate number um that mandate if we were allowed to spend our fiscal 25 mandate it's the mandate and the and I I hope we can agree. Even though the court ruled this way, I you might be appealing it, but I think you
agree that we're supposed to get 2 1/2%. Uh if you took 2 1/2% of the fiscal 25 mandate that's listed in that 3,82 64082 um and add 2 1/2%. That's that's the 31597684
figure. And that's what I was saying. We should have got that in fiscal 26. We haven't been allowed to spend two $257,000 of uh registry mandate mandate monies. Um, so you can look at our budget, but
the the statute gives the registry a mandate and the statute gives the registry access to deeds excise and I gave you that number um you know uh you know through January of this year fiscal 26 the registry share
is 1 million over 1.2 million and we don't get access to it yet you people have gotten 1.8 8 million and you get to spend it as the year goes on. So fair is fair and you know you may say well we got to wait to a court. I would I would hope fair is fair. I hope it you don't
need a court decision to be fair about it. That's reg you know you don't need to make cuts when you have these type of revenue sources that are statutoily guaranteed by the state legislature and the courts have said it. You're right. I
said it the last case. You have a right to appeal and you could win, but you didn't win the last one. You're gonna win this one. I don't know. But you would think after a judge, two judges in the superior court on this, two judges ruled against your position that maybe
at least during a budget we could kind of move forward and down the line see what the appeals court does. But, you know, it it seems like it's an all or nothing. And, you know, and no one's looking in the mirror saying, "You guys lost, so maybe we should rethink some of
our positions here." Because as the judge said, and you've been around a long time, Mr. Chair, the judge said, "I'm making decisions based on what the county has done." Not that that's dispositive. That's what she said. But the rulings I'm making is how the county
did things for 35 years. So, you know, I'm taken. All right. All right. Um, anything else? Did you have a budget? >> No, just uh
I would hope you would support it. And as I said, there's different thoughts and approaches. One approach hasn't been working. So, you know, the approach now is is okay, just come over here. If it makes people
uncomfortable and people feel they've been accosted, that's not the intent. It's here. It is >> Mr. Be Commission. >> Uh, so you Mr. Chair, >> speaking of past practice, I don't make the motion that we take the reg
budget under advisement. >> Yeah. No other questions. >> No. >> Okay. I was all set, but >> Okay. >> All right. Thank you. So, okay. The motion has been made. Let me second it. All in favor of taking under adisement. >> I >> I again it's two zero. So we'll
>> I'll let all the other budget take under adisement. >> But she gave us a lot of food for thought. >> As always, >> thank you. >> Well, I don't want any more food for thought. I want I want some cake delivered to the registry. >> You never know. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you, Margaret. Okay.
>> Thank you. >> I want some accounting. >> All right. Next item on our agenda is Mr. Patrick. >> Where are you here? Lost on agenda. B2 engineering. >> Yeah. All right. That's us the next
step. >> Next tab. Thank you, sir. >> All right. >> Hey, commissioner of stadium. >> Lot of questions. Why? >> We're all wearing blue. >> There you go. >> You got the memo, huh? >> Yeah, I got the memo. Strike. >> Close. >> That's close to that's like a teal, but
that's >> blue. It's off. >> All right. We're feeling blue. Blue Wednesday. >> All right, >> Patrick, the floor is yours. We're reviewing the budget as you know. What will we be taking today? >> Uh on behalf of the engineering department, I'm uh happy to present the proposed FY27 budget. Um of note,
basically uh of the easy part is the operating budget is a level funded net zero increase. I just moved moved items around where I anticipate using them. um when I I came
back in 2021 and inherited a budget and for the last couple years I just kind of status quo and and then this year um going into it I look at where different areas where I think I need to move the funds around I moved them uh in different line items but it's all comes
out to the same um amount as last year. So there's no increase in operating budget. As far as the um personnel, there's uh due to what was approved in the um the wave sheets that were approved during the negotiations last during FY 26 from FY26 to 27 for the um
cola uh is 3%. So across the border, the increase in personnel is uh 3%. So those are the standard uh that's the standard increase. Um >> that's reflected in the budget. >> That's yeah from the proposal. So the only other thing I I've done is the changes that I propose um is dependent
on availability of funds um was the addition per the Abraham's report of adding a crew chief. I have I submitted I've been advocating for the last uh four years to add a survey crew chief. um at one time it was funded and due to
fiscal constraints we it was um funding was cut uh three about 3 years ago and so I'm looking to try to add a new position in that's been you know um previously funded but but we weren't able to fill the position um and that's
a want you know I I would be an increase to firmly salaries um the operating budget zero the the only other thing that was a request um saying >> was to add a line item with $0 on the
5600 for professional consulting services that is to cover when I have to hire a consultant. >> Um and the contract would run from one particular year to the to the next. Um I working with the um the treasury department. we found out that I need to
have a line code uh and 5600 is the one they use that can span two different uh fiscal years in case the contract was between two years otherwise um if you use 5200s for professional services that that ends at that fiscal year. Um and
then for the capital budget my request I I hate to bring it back up but uh it's for chairs as well. So I I see that as a capital deal and all that. >> Yeah. So this is a capital purchase. I I know roughly >> I would say all but two of the chairs in the engineering office are from about
2005 2006. >> Um they're ergonomic office chairs for people who sit and do drafting and things like that. Um >> they want for office chairs, petitions and cabinets. I proposed about $7 to $9,000. So I put in nine. Um the chairs
do the the chairs that we purchased before I knew I know they run between one to two grand. So it's not like $800. It's could be a,000 to two but they're for people sell their draft thing at at a table. Um >> what's to the lab? I mean do you know roughly what they're good for 10 years
or they >> Well, we've had ours for 20. I think they're about done. >> Right. Um and then the other other capital request was for um a a Dell laptop computer that's uh compliant to uh be able to run AutoCAD on it. And um
it needs it's a RAM computer as compared to a normal laptop cuz it takes 64 GB of RAM to run AutoCAD. So it needs needs some uh needs some juice. >> And where where is where you tell me which tab is that in or what is it in here? I had it on in the memorandum for
some capital purchase request 5,500 for Dell laptop. I priced them out about a year ago with Paparata. >> Okay. >> And they're running uh at that time about5 to $6,000 top. So >> hopefully they came down in price since then. >> 14,000.
>> Yeah. 145 a capital >> then. Um >> obviously it's a little different than a Chromebook. >> Yeah. It's not the same. It's what what Dan recommended was actually more like a um >> something that's set up more like a gaming computer cuz it has that RAM to
run the uh software >> um >> video processor >> video processing and things like that. So it's it's a little different. All the uh tower stations we have are high-end stations that run AutoCAD. It's not like a normal takes a lot of gigabytes of
RAM. AutoCAD minimum is 32 GB but it runs slow. So we normally buy them with um 64 to 128 cuz you get the other to look along without delays and the guys are working on it. That's my my budget in a nutshell.
Any questions? >> I have one but I'll defer to you looked at I know we we discussed this a lot. I think it might have been in the contractual service area of the you know in the past we've had engineers on staff who do traffic studies and things like that. is have you as you move through
your professional circles have you sort of kept your antenna out to see if there's any people who might be at the end of their career looking for something a little extra maybe addition to on short money kind of build our regional service
>> the money that's in the line item budget that I traditionally spend in the line item um is barely not enough to cover even to do like one contract for an intersection at a Um, so I I did have somebody in mind um and unfortunately
they they actually passed away about a year ago. So I had somebody that used to work for the town of Brooklyn um Kirk Frasier that I had we had worked with years ago out of Brooklyn and he passed away suddenly about a year ago. Um, >> so no, we're on the we had our um
dealers out for that, but the consultants today the the fees that we once paid >> much higher >> are much higher. So like an intersection for us to do an intersection for a town. I I would need to move funds around to cover the cost of that. So maybe, you
know, as we think about it, the profile might be a 960 type of person or the like, but it might be interesting to obviously this year's a level funded budget, but as we get beyond pension obligations and things like that, that might be an area where we could go back into. >> We could work with procurement to put an
on call services contract out and then actually see what the real prices would be for people to look at intersections and things like that. and we could do the base mapping in the field, create the base map and they could do the counts and do the design um which is how we used to do in the in the past but the the pricing has changed quite a bit in
the last 20 years. >> Let me tie you into that as a followup then would that maybe justify or give more rationale for the crew chief if you're taking on extra responsibility would that help you a little bit? >> The the crew chief job would just expand our our we have currently we have uh
three three vans. from the 2008, 2017, and the 2023 vans. And I have two crew chiefs. So, ideally, I would like to have the three vans out. When possible, I have two people in one van or whatever. And the office guys can use the third when they go out. But I I
would with the amount of requests we get from the towns, I have to turn people away because we can't handle all the the volume. So, >> is there a way then I'm just saying for defending this? Uh, but could you document those things? How many I'd love to know I'd love to know personally as
commissioner how many requests you got like say in 24 25 and then you could say it's growing or leveling off and that that way if we want to say to our advisory board or others we may want to have an increase in staff we may justify it. So when the towns do call, I I'm
very honest with them on when we can actually deliver and if we can deliver the the services and the time frame. Sometimes they have tight time frames that we can't meet >> and depending on the size and the scale or the scope of the project. I I may have to say we can, you know, we can do part of this or we can do it break it
into a couple of different years. Uh I think Bellingham, one of the approvals that we did for project last year was to break it into like three or four parts over the next couple years as they do a paving project on the road. Now there's some communities that you get more calls from too thinking. >> Yeah. Do recently has been, you know,
they they're aware of the resources and and the success that we've had in the last couple years with them, right? >> Frequent uh flying. >> No, it was a little bit engineers or just DPW. >> Some people know more of you than others
because some towns have their own engineering, some don't. So, it's good it's good to know that. I mean I again I I'd like to see not tomorrow but a breakout in terms of what towns are asking for help what towns you've been able to help and then may help but maybe we can look at this chief
>> Bell Bellingham has a recent request that you guys that was approved uh last this past year >> plane just reached out to me you know and and I'm tempering DOA has another request in I said I have to wait and see how plainville project moves forward if they're going to submit it and if we can
do it some for the GPWR Okay. So, aside from the crew chief, the budget is level funded to what you're asking >> and mention the contractual cola uh increase increases. >> Okay. >> So, I have to, Mr. Chair, make a motion
to the engineering survey department's budget under >> I'll second it. All in favor? I All right. Thank you. All right. We'll talk to you soon. All right. Thank you. Good seeing you, Mr. Bardi. You're up.
Yes, I am. With us today and Joe Dory, good to see you. >> Yes, very good to see you. >> He's never going to give you the same work so many capacities. >> Yeah, I I'll give you a quick overview.
We've been working very closely uh with these two folks uh and through them you with uh Bill and John. Um about some transition you're going through. I I know I guess for the record, Joe, after 40 years.
>> Wow. Almost >> 40 years. >> Yeah. Amazing. >> Uh it's 40. Okay. What are you 39 and 9 >> and 49 and 3/4? uh is unfortunately leaving us and we've talked about this because we've gone through a process a rigorous process uh
in terms of finding his successor and the letter has been uh sent to the discussive contingent upon you folks approving it officially you know with the blue papers of the meeting. Uh so where that leaves and where that leaves us is
depending how you look at it is $37,000 uh salary deficit if includes your payout which may or may not be considered under that term. Joe >> a couple ways looking at it uh and a twoe transition. would like to bring this Bobby Fontana
who has in essence accepted the job but for you guys approving it uh to come in two weeks earlier which would be March 16th on a Monday Monday or Tuesday and that way cuz that's 40 years experience walking out the door and I'd like to use some of the uh existing budget money I
have for contracts which I think is about 7,000 has really gone unused. we're going to use it uh for other reasons, but it's sitting there so that Joe can be available after those two weeks. And what is not in this budget, and that's it's kind of my oversight is >> maybe beyond the two weeks, he'll be
available for public be available. >> Well, I don't know because this, you know, this this this young man has a a masters in taxation, a masters in accounting. He's got experience in accounting. He's got experience managing. uh he's experiencing doing
accounting in terms of certain kind of bookkeeping >> but but the county is such a >> uh you know different animal and there really wasn't any folks who applied with public sector experience >> I guess we're finding that uh you know
different areas of the county so I don't know and I I think that Joe understands all the nuances like regardless of what the learning curve is getting to a 10 may never happen for him relative to what Joe has. So just to have Joe
available on contract. Uh I I mean I I again it doesn't reflect in his budget. I'd like to you folks to consider you going to discuss between you was allotting another 6 7 8 10 grand uh to keep him available if we really need him
and if we don't then that money will sit there. Uh so we we did have conversations with the advisory board uh you know the fiscal committee there and Eric and Rick Fitzpatrick about uh this
is what's going on and that we may be talking to the uh advisory board uh if we're a few dollar over this deficit. Okay. And uh what else? So the expenses uh only $600 increase we're asking for
this year. Uh there isn't we're asking for 6,000 attempt salary. That's usually in intern. Okay. Uh last three years I haven't asked for it in light of the uh the strain you folks are under. And you know I'll leave that completely up to you if you think that's something we
should do. But I need to request it. Uh but more importantly is the first file I talked about. And uh overall we've you know as you know since I came in here several years ago we've kept the budget virtually level funded you know but for the salary increases I've tried to be
very careful with equipment with supplies and materials. >> Be a chair. Huh. See chairs are a hot thing today. >> We put that in here but there's so many surplus programs >> between even like Quincy College where I have hotels but legally we could at one
point they were looking to get rid of nice furniture. I don't think they would the sheriff's office sometimes. So, uh, if you have to prioritize some of this out, that would be, uh, the least of my priorities because I feel we can figure this out through surplus real estate.
>> We put it in just because my chair is all like shredded and >> Yeah. Well, they're all >> No, this one's starting to get too my replacement's going to want to sit in the second >> just I didn't mean to interrupt you. I'm sorry. No, but so in terms of priorities, I hope you express that.
Joe, why don't you talk about some of the uh >> sure >> some of the other as treasur said our not including salary see what the 3% increase across the board for everybody. Our expenses we move money around somewhat. Um there's
the contractual services that we had in the budget we took out because that was for the um the operational overview consultant. So we took that out but Mike probably wants to put some money in back in you know for me if they need me. Um
we decreased association societies by 500. Um we don't really spend a lot out of that. And then we increase postage just because postage rates keep going up. Uh we increase stationary by $100 because things go up. Newspaper and
periodicals which are code 5422 by 200 and then post post office box rental which is code 5464 by 100. And then we increased miscellaneous office furniture, the 5559
code by 5,000 in case they wanted to chair and my desk who was 60 plus years old and it's broken and worn. And then we increased office equipment just in case new staff needed any new equipment for whatever reason. Um, and then
you know, so all of that netted only to like a $600 increase >> and then salaries longevity is going down because I won't be here in July to get my, you know, so it goes down by more than half. So um, and then uh this was $600,000
$6,000 increase >> and this just for the everywhere for the public consumption and transparency. uh we don't really have any travel expenses that I I don't use I don't use any expenses for my travel you know on the
uh retirement side where I'm the chairman of the pension board that's a different case but when it comes to this office there's no uh uh char uh expenses associated with that >> okay so did you zero it out or just saying leave it >> right I don't know why I just
>> No I'm not asking you to do that but yeah if somebody the office has to go somewhere >> right a seminar Uh yeah. >> Or do business have to park a car. >> Sure. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Quick question. This is uh maybe I'm missing. Chief executive assistant is
vacant, but that's going to be filled by the new person. >> Right. Right. >> So, okay. But the salary is built in there, right? >> Yes. >> Oh, the salary the salary that is in is my current salary. So, I I privy. So, I don't know. Okay. What if you put it in higher? >> We need an adjustment on that. We can't
>> a little bit lower. Yeah. >> Okay. All right. Yeah, that's all I wonder about that. >> Yeah, >> this went down. >> Yes. >> Right. >> Okay. >> Pretty straightforward. Yeah. Thanks. Seems like a great job. Solid plan of transition. >> Well, we try to work again. I know what
you guys are going through in terms of uh the fiscal stresses here throughout the country, the state and accounting. So, we've been trying to be, you know, I guess we're leaning mean because we haven't asked for much in four or five years. And anytime that we do come to you, >> you give us a serious explanation of
times you can't do it >> and we get it. That's why it's important that by inference I hope I was explicit in that you understand my priorities here. >> Right. Well done. >> Yeah. Great job. >> Thank you guys for your leadership. I want to thank Joe for I only know about the last 5 years actually but when I was
sheriff when I was sheriff we've got a lot of deals. Don't we work on just give it to him to you guys. the indirect ground it up. >> When's your last day? Okay. >> Uh March 31st. >> March 31st. Okay. She'll be around. Um
motion to motion or under. >> I think uh the treasur under adisement. Thank >> second. All in favor? >> I I thank you. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Great job. Great job. Thank you. >> I can do this all day. You're on the back treasure. Let me know. I know.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Yep. Thank you. See you down there. All right. That concludes our budget review for today. Yep. We're closed up. The bulldog.
>> Yep. One second. >> All right. Back into our uh regular agenda. Next item is public comment. Each year, I mean each week, sorry. we have time put aside for public comment
uh where anyone may uh talk about u uh anything on their concerns and we have obviously a lot of a certain time for that uh director Cronin anybody write to you that might want to make public comment >> no sir >> anybody out there that might want to have a public comment
>> you have to say zoom >> okay >> you have to say zoom in zoom >> it's not zoom but all right any is there anybody watching in zoomland in that might want to say anything a public comment. Seeing none, we'll move on to the next item. Old business. Do we have any old business?
>> No. >> I saw a letter from Cal miner. Is that >> is that >> okay? Sorry. All right. There's no old business. Personnel matters for consideration. We have none. Payroll and expense warrants. Mr. Good luck. We wish you two.
>> Mr. Chair, I make a motion to approve payroll of the county 26-34 in the amount of $144,162 and 38. I'll second it. All in favor of that motion? >> I >> I motion carries. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I make a motion to
approve the expense of the county dated 020426 in the amount of 243,692,000 and also 38 cents. All right, I'll second that motion as presented. All in favor? >> I >> I oppose. That motion carries. Any other
warrant business to do? That concludes that. All right. Uh proposed president's golf course fee increase. See a letter from Calvin Miner. John, do you want to talk about that? >> Yes. Uh good afternoon, commissioners. The um golf course superintendent last
week introduced a proposed uh fee increase at President's Golf Course for the coming golf season. Um this afternoon, it is before you for consideration of approval. This particular golf fee increase um would
increase revenue by $85,350 and uh $46,255 for seasonal subscriptions. So for a total increase projected at $131,600. Um this fee increase I believe is the first in several years. Um I believe
Carl included in the packet page three the comparison of where the um the golf course fee proposal would fall in comparison to um neighboring and nearby golf courses. You find that the um
president's golf rate is highly competitive uh as it is uh middle to the lower middle of all the area golf courses. recommend to the commissioners an approval today of the proposed fee increases
uh as proposed. Yeah, those rates look very competitive indeed. Looking at it's quite a list here, Joe. Quite a list. Um so Carlton, who's our director, has submitted a request. We need a motion to approve the
uh the raising of the daily golf rate $5 and also to uh raise the season rate subscription to 250. I'll take that as a motion. >> You must move. >> All right. It's been moved. Seconded. All in favor? >> I >> I oppose. That motion carries. And those
rates will be in effect for the upcoming uh year >> if the snow ever melts. >> What's that? >> The snow ever melts. >> Yes. That's could be a while, but that's all. Those have been effective today. They're effective today. All right. What's the next thing on our agenda?
Okay. Give me one second. >> Uh report of the county director. >> Um just to be clear, we have no uh procurement bid openings this >> Oh, sorry. I'm sorry. >> So, I'll move to as you're as you're directed, Mr. Kushner. Um the FY24 audit
is complete. um our auditors um called last week to inform us the condition of the audit. They're preparing the um uh related products and hope to have it before you very shortly. Um this particular audit has taken over a year to complete. Um the auditors understand
that uh we need to improve various areas of our audit preparedness to increase efficiency especially starting the FY 25 audit which I believe they intend to begin shortly after the delivery of the FY 24. So my hope is to have it before
you in the next week or two. Um the >> what's your what year? >> FY 24 >> 24th. Thank you. >> The facility director interviews uh will get underway today. They were scheduled earlier in the week, but due to the storm um circumstances, they've been delayed. Our first one will be held
today. Um as previously noted by a speaker, this office is undergoing a renovation for the first time in over 30 years. Um this particular phase is the painting phase. You can note in this room the paneling's been removed. Our um
maintenance staff did an incredible job um preparing this space uh for your occupancy today. More work is needed to be done. We'll be putting in a suspended ceiling, new lighting, uh finished painting, and then rug of course. So, we hope that um when it's completed, it'll
reflect a brighter, cleaner, uh work environment. Um I also want to let you know Sam Evans, our CIO, has just provided me an update. Uh the Commonwealth has recognized Northwork County as being a high achiever for FY
for excuse me, for 2025. the the state every year um as you probably know sends out this notice to public utility excuse me public government uh institutions, school districts and so forth um on their adherence to cyber security
awareness program. Uh Northfor County has been involved in this for several years under the stewardship of of CM Evans and her staff. Uh we're again noted as high achievers and um this is the tip of the spear in combating cyber um cyber security or not combating but
uh ensuring cyber security and and awareness. So thank you to Sam and his team and for all the employees that participated in the program last year. >> Uh training is critical to that uh task. Um I wanted to also note commissioners that um you'll note uh a lot of storm
work um or after work has been completed in and around this area. Um last evening I get a call that Denim District Court the complex was ready. Uh there's still a lot of snow out there. We expect the town of Denim to begin removing snow from the public ways which will improve
uh pedestrian crossings and parking on High Street uh to make the area more safe. Um but there's a tremendous amount of snow. They did a great job. Uh just a note, I did receive prior to this storm, uh I noticed that the facility snow removal budget was in distress. Um prior
to this particular storm, they had just under $18,000 remaining. This storm probably wiped that out. So, we'll be talking about uh rescuing the snow removal budget during the April advisory board meeting as we look to uh close out the FY26 obligations.
Um there's an area also like the local level where you can overspend. Correct. >> Yeah. Well, we do have sufficient funds to move and cover any obligations that exceed it. Uh we won't be deficient to pay bills, but we will need to make the accounts full on April.
>> That's all I have. Thank you, sir. >> All right. Thank you. Good job. Uh so definitely kudos to our maintenance staff for Yman's work in terms of the storm and in terms of what they did here. and saying congratulations to you and your staff also for winning that
award. It's very important. >> Well, the users >> well it's >> employees got that award. It's >> always good to have um uh recognition in a positive way and could all use it. Um I had one item. It's actually ironic M. O'Donnell is not with us, but he had
mentioned in a uh some kind of a trans letter he sent out about um he does this in different newspapers, but it had to do with the AED devices and a bill that um is pending is pending before the the
House. I believe it is um House Bill 2349 Commissioner and Senate Bill 1473. It was a offered by Senator Rush who we know. I I can't catch the name of the ref, but anyway, a big believer in safety. I don't even know. We may have
those already uh on um on premises. I'm sure we have in the courts, but I was going to ask if we could direct Director Cronin to ask Chick uh if we could find out in each building, do we have an AED? Because that's the thrust of this
legislation, which I would support. um no sense writing a letter if we're already doing it. But it's a good listen life you may save. Very important to have. So um would be something we could check on and if we don't have that take appropriate steps to maybe put that in
our budget in some way looking forward cuz I think it's money well spent. That's my own opinion. But uh I know we have them in some buildings but I'm not sure if they're in every single building. So Baggie School has one. I'm sure of that. Uh I know this building has one. Right. But just to make sure
that's all. And um other than that, we'll welcome back our colleagues soon. We hope them well. You did a great job, Mr. Buckley. Don't get too used to it, but you never know. >> I took Peter a little. I know. Thank you. I know my chair is not too worn out, though. Looking good. The other ones I that means anything. But anyway,
uh thank you all for your attention today. Uh please travel safe out there. Some of the roads are good. Some of them are still not so good. It's no one's fault. People are doing the best they can. Uh but uh just be safe out there. There's more snow coming. I'll take a motion to adjurnn at uh 205.
>> So moved. >> All right. Motion made and seconded. All in favor? I I we will stand adjourned at 205. Thank you all for your attention today. Packing.