Okay. Good afternoon. I'm now going to call the Wednesday, October 8th, 2025 meeting of the North County Commission to order. I'll now 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 CO 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 3A sections 18 through 25. That action was effective immediately extending the current option for remote meetings through June 30th, 2027.
I'm going to ask everyone to join me in saluting the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag >> to the flag of the United States and of America >> to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. >> Roll call vote. Commissioner Collins >> present. >> Commissioner Shay is present via Zoom. >> Um, hey Joe, do we have your permission to use your stamp today? >> Yes, absolutely.
Number three, we have an executive session. If you >> I'll make a motion go I'll make a motion we go in executive session pursuant to master law chapter 3A section 21 subsection A subsection 3 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining and litigation. If an open
meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares. >> I'll second that motion to go into executive session. Commissioner Collins, >> yes. >> And Commissioner Shay votes yes. Bill,
we do prepare us for executive session. We will be returning for the remainder of our regular agenda. Thank you. One minute, Re. Okay. Thank you. We're back on the record
on our October 8th, 2025 regular meeting of the North County Commission after our executive session. Thank you for your patience. Commissioners, we're on item number four, minutes of the open session meeting of October 1st, 2025.
Joe, I'd suggest that we um that we hold the the minutes so that uh Commissioner Staty, who's out of um out of state on county business right now, so he can vote on that next week. >> Motion to postpone the minutes of the October 1st
meeting till next week's meeting. All in favor? >> I. >> None. Appointments. We have none. Public comment. Each week in our meetings, we allow public comment both in person and on the Zoom. So, if anyone
has any public comment for today's meeting, bring it up at this point, please. John, are you aware of any public comment? >> No, sir. >> Okay, last call for public comment.
Being none, we're going to move to number seven. whole business. I have none. Number eight, personnel matters for consideration. >> Do you want me to read that, Joe? >> Yes. >> Hey. Hi, Chris. Um, we have uh only one personnel matter. It's uh in regional
services notice of retirement for Chris Goldmith as volunteer program coordinator for the RSVP program uh for the amount stated effective 101025. Chris, we're going to miss you. And uh I I was talking to the other the other
guys earlier today and uh I think Franny never got your name right. I think he called you Tim forever. Was that it? >> I think I think that was it. Um but we we're going to miss you. >> It's always it's always a pleasure to see you about that. >> Yeah.
Okay. Well, Chris, we wish you well. It's Is it 10 years or 11 years? 10 years and it's been a pleasure serving the county for all 10 of it. It's it's a great wonderful
program, wonderful wonderful uh I to be able to work with the commissioners and uh and John Cronin and Bill Buckley has been a treat. And um I think what the fact that the county
has supported the RSVP program and and what it stands for is remarkable particularly in the the light of shrinking social services. Um the county stands apart and it says a lot about the uh values and ethical standards that the
county uh commissioners and uh and directors have uh have provided. So, I will miss this place. Um, I know that you are in excellent hands with Lucille. No doubt about that. I really hope that
you continue to support the RSVP program because it it touches so many people and and I think you've all had an experience of seeing where we've affected or impacted veterans with rides and other
social services and elementary schools and uh food and address food insecurity. So, I hope that you're able to continue to support the program as you have in the past. Lucille, any comments?
>> Yes, thank you, Commissioner. I want to echo everyone's failings around Chris's departure in in that it's sad for us, but we're very happy for him to be able to pursue uh his retirement years and um
be able to do some of the things that he hasn't had time for. And I just want to thank you, Chris, for being such a great mentor to me uh since I came on last February. Really, uh showed me the ropes and uh helped me transition to this
role, I think, uh pretty well. And I wish you the very very best and and thank you for all your hard work in in setting up this program. And it's a it's a great legacy for you. Um and we're going to continue all the hard work that
you started. So, thank you so much uh for being here and and being so committed and dedicated. >> Thank you, Lucille. It's been a pleasure and I hope uh to be able to continue in a different capacity as an RSVP volunteer after I've had a
>> I would love that. >> So, I'm I'm not leaving. I'm just changing shape. >> Excellent. One thing, one thing I want to say, Chris, is um in all the many times Franny called you Tim, you never corrected him once. It was
>> You were very You're very kind about that. >> I'm not sure what the option was. >> Chris, I also want to join the course of I also want to join the course of people in wishing you well, Chris. Uh pleasure to work with you. Uh every time I see
you, I just smile. You're one of the funniest guys uh that I've worked with. You brought a lot of light and joy and and great spirit to the program. Not only will you be missed, but uh I hope to see you soon. Uh please stop by. We all need we all need people like Chris Goldmith in our life. So stay in touch.
Thank you, >> Don. I'm honored and flattered. Thank you, and it's been a treat getting to work with you. Um you've been fun to work with and you've provided direction and and and support when I've needed it and when the program is needed. And for
that, I'm forever grateful. >> And yes, I look forward to seeing you. I will come back into the office to see what my new o old office looks like and to say hello to everybody. >> Okay. Well, we're going to miss you, Chris, and I personally will miss you
because I would consult with Chris at least weekly, if not more than that. and we would sometimes talk about a myriad of things public and not public. And uh he
had a >> Chris has a great grasp of what's going on in this crazy world we live in. And he he uh he doesn't seem to let it get him down. And that's that's that's terrific. So uh
I want to thank you very much, Chris, for everything. Well, I'll miss the fiction side chats that we've had. >> Yeah. Right. >> And Bill, I will just say thank you, Bill, for your support and help as well. I really appreciate it. And
>> thank you, Chris. We didn't take over your whole office. We promise I did expand that way. But I just, if I may, Mr. Chair, for a minute, it's >> important. I mean, all the you are definitely all of our volunteers favorite staff right here in the office and in the time you've been gone uh
covering the phones. Everyone calls for Chris and wants to talk to you and not only to to volunteer but to catch up. And I think uh in your role as someone who's bringing people into the program and and supporting them and and getting people excited to be part of something
and to donate their time, you were so incredibly most importantly effective at that. And um I remember when Lucille went on vacation, she said, you know, Chris was really the best at convincing people to do three rides instead of one. And I think we we've felt that since
it's it's been a little a lot harder to kind of twist the arm and and make people do more without with without feeling like they are. So I think that's just it speaks to how um how effective a staff member you were for this really important program. We'll miss you. >> Well, I thank you for those kind words
and good luck on the uh ride for us. >> Yeah, >> Chris. Chris, I'm wondering if we'll ever be able to solve the mystery as to why the uh Halloween candy shipment every year was a little lighter after each night. >> I wonder if anybody will ever fess up to that. >> I don't think anyone want to know, John.
I don't think >> No, I don't think so, Bill. I think that's one of those things that'll have to go away. >> Yeah, >> I'm afraid so. >> Yes, >> my lips are sealed. >> Yes, sir. >> Thank you again. >> All right.
Okay, good luck. >> Good motion. >> Number eight. >> So, you have the motion on number uh >> eight personnel matters for Christopher Goldmith, Mr. Chair.
>> Correct. Do we have to take a vote on Chris's retirement? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> I hope I hope I pass. >> You have to stay. Sorry, Chris. >> Oh my god, I can read the fine print.
>> All right, Peter. Motion. >> Yes. >> Okay. On Chris's retirement motion made and seconded. Good luck, Chris. All in favor? I. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Chris. Thank you. >> Thank you all. >> Okay. Number nine, payroll and expense
warrants for approval. Do you have that, Peter, in front of you? >> I do. I have a warrant list. >> Go ahead. So the first the first item is uh 26-14 payroll of the county uh move uh 225,5594. >> Motion made and seconded. All in favor?
I. It is the vote. >> The second is 10226 expense of the county and the amount of 377,67927. So moved. >> Motion made and seconded. All in favor I
vote. And lastly is 10625 CCE credit card payment in the amount of $47,498. So moved. Motion made and seconded. All in favor? I vote. >> Thank you. That concludes the payroll
and expense warrants. Number 10 report from the procurement department on bid openings and contract awards. Is Marin there? >> She's right here. >> Hello. >> Hello Marin. >> Hello. Oh, good afternoon.
>> We're ready to award two contracts. >> Yes. Contracts today. The first one is a contract for a temporary employee to work with RSVP. Um and that is
set. >> Okay. Is that until we >> Yeah. So >> the mo the motion is to put forward a contract to hire uh Andrew Leurge as a contractor for RSVP to perform a variety of duties up to 37.5 hours per week at
the rate of $20 per hour work to commence 10425 total compensation not to exceed $6,000 for the entirety of the project. So moved. >> Motion made and seconded. All in favor? I. >> Any other one?
>> Okay. And the second contract is for electricity supply. And as we've been doing, this will be a three-year contract um at a rate of uh 0.13 870 per kilowatt hour commencing 111 and
going through to October 31st, 2028 locked in fixed rate. >> And I believe you explained to us last week that this is a great deal. >> Yes. Okay. >> Yeah. Especially 3 years from now, we'll be Okay. A motion uh to enter into a contract with Mantis Energy as a broker
as per the email quote submitted 10825 the amount of uh 0.13870 per kilowatt hour commencing 11125 and ending 103128. So moved. >> Motion made seconded. All in favor I >> I.
>> It is a vote. Thank you Mari. >> You're welcome and thank you. >> Number 11 report of the county director. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, a few items. Number one, as the commissioners know, in September, you approved a smoking policy for the DATM complex.
I've received um a complaint regarding um smoking in an undesated area at the registry of deeds. I'm working with the department head to try to uh direct the employees to the proper location for the designated smoking. Um, we'll keep an
eye on this and uh take additional actions if necessary. But again, we encourage all people in the denim complex to familiarize themselves with the smoking policy. Smoke in the designated area and be considerate of your fellow employees. Uh, I want to announce the treasures
office um review, financial review that treasurer Botti has approved has been awarded to a vendor and the vendor will start their review of the treasur's office October 22nd. His name is Robert Fontana. He'll be visiting probably a fair amount of people not just in the
treasur's office but the commissioner's office as well. Commissioners should know that the Alzheimer's Association to whom you granted a upper grant a couple of years ago wish to come in and give you an update on how their program their uh upcoming Alzheimer's walk is um
fairing with your help. Um I expect that they will be in next week October 15th. >> Okay. We happy to announce we have moved to round two of the HR director interviews. Uh we're hoping to finish
those this week, this afternoon. Uh our team will make a decision on whether or not we have a viable candidate to bring forward to the commissioners. If we do, you'll hopefully see something um on your agenda for next week. And just an FYI, commissioners, the
Northfor County Retirement Board has sec sent out its second round of projected costs for the uh long-term liability uh payment schedule. Um Northfor County's numbers still require additional information and justification. I've
reached out to my contact there to get that from the actuary. I'll keep the commissioners informed. It's a similar track and a similar issue that we dealt with a year ago, but um hopefully we'll get where we're going on that. That is all I have at this time. And just a reminder, we have a holiday on Monday,
so we'll be posting your agenda on Friday. >> Okay. Any more issues for the county director? >> I'm all set. >> Okay. Number
12, emergency item with topics the chair did not raise me anticipate. I have none other than I want to dedicate this uh meeting to Chris Goldmith who is retiring after 10 years of service in the RSVP program.
And uh we just talked and greeted and chatted and bid Chris do. But I I want everyone to uh know that we're thinking of Chris. I have nothing else. Commissioner Collins, do you have anything? >> No, I'm all set. We'll make a motion,
Joe. >> Sure. >> Hey, I make a motion we adjourn. >> Motion made and seconded. All in favor? 204. Thank you very much. This meeting is adjourned. We have a school board meeting tonight. Thank you very much. Let's see the school board, Jeff.
>> Okay. Thank you.