Good afternoon. I'm now going to call the Wednesday, March 11th, 2026 meeting of the North County Commissioners to order. Welcome all. I'm going to read the executive order on
an old participation. On March 28th, 2025, Governor Healey signed into law House Bill 62, an act relative to extending certain COVID 19 measures adopted during a state of emergency, which included a
2-year extension of the option for public bodies to hold remote meetings by suspending certain visions, certain provisions of the Mass Open Meeting Law. Mass General Law Chapter 30A sections 18- 25. That action was effective
immediately extending the current option for remote meetings through June 30th, 2027. Thank you and welcome. And I'll ask everyone to join me. 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. >> Thank you. Roll call vote. Commissioner Stady. >> I am here remote. I am here. >> Yes. And Commissioner Shay is here. We
have a forum. Uh we are also going to go we're also going to hold a public hearing on our budget. So uh I'm going to go right to the agenda items and we'll get right to the public hearing.
>> Sure. You if I could um >> Commissioner I mean director >> Commissioner Ste we have your permission to use your stamp for any votes that you take today. >> Yes we do. Commission is granted. Yes. Yep. Okay. Call to order a roll call is done.
No executive session today. Number four, minutes of the open session meeting of March 4th. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh ask you to hold the two March minutes. >> Okay. Move. I'll move table approval to
the next meeting. Uh Mr. Chairman, of those minutes, >> that's sufficient. Yes. >> Do you have a motion? Mr. Chairman, yeah, I move the table. >> Yes. March 4th, minutes of open session
and executive session. >> Um, >> motion made and seconded. All in favor? >> Yes. I >> Okay, thank you. We'll table the March 4th open session meeting of February 25th minutes.
Um, February 25th. Did Did we approve that already? I thought we did. Maybe not. They >> previously held because they weren't ready. >> Okay. I think I'll I'll I'll see to the chair. >> Chair. Fine. I'm fine.
>> The minutes are fine. So, I think we can go forward today. >> All right. I'll move approval. >> Seconded. All in favor? I. >> I. >> That's the approval of the March 25th open session meetings. Number five appointments fiscal year 2027 county
budget public hearing. >> I'm gonna open the public hearing. >> Let's read anything. >> I got the I got the section right here. I got it right. In accordance with chapter 35 section 28 of the Mass
General laws, the chairman declares that the public hearing on the North County fiscal year budget 2027 is open. I think you should take a motion to open it. >> I need a motion to open the public hearing. Commissioner,
>> I'll move that we open the uh public hearing on the commissioner's budget for fiscal 27. >> Thank you. This budget hearing is a motion. >> I have a motion on the motion. All in favor?
>> I motion pass. Number two, chairman asked for public comment. We are now going to open the session to anyone in the public who has any comment at all on the fiscal 2027 budget. Okay, that opens it up. I'm now going to ask
a county director to review and briefly discuss the fiscal year 27 budget. Um, Commissioner through you to Commissioner Sty. The FY27 uh public hearing on the um proposed budget
uh simply reveals what the requests have been uh as submitted by the departments to you to date. Um as you know the work is not completed on this budget. It will be completed on March 28th when a balanced budget will be delivered to you. Currently the public viewing budget which is on our website and available
here at our front desk is over $2 million out of balance. has not been fully balanced as you as you can imagine. This is pretty typical each year of the status of a public hearing. Um so at this point the only thing I can reveal to you is that the work is ongoing to uh take into consideration
all of the requests that have been made by the department heads against available revenue and uh on March 28th I'll deliver a balanced budget against that. >> Okay. Okay. We reviewed and briefly state correct.
>> Do you have any recommendations >> at this point? At this point, the only recommendation is to uh um complete this particular public hearing, accept any input and close the hearing. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> Okay, >> Mr. Chair. Mr. chairman. So, is this the time for us >> to um we I understand we open the public hearing as normal. We've done that for the last 5 years on the board. Is this where uh department heads or anybody else should be weighing in on things
they may have forgotten or left out or need explanation for the public? >> It's mainly for the public. >> Okay. Okay. >> Okay. I'm thinking of the maintenance budget. That's all. It's just it's a question,
but I can circle back to the director because I know when uh uh Mr. Chick presented his budget, we had a couple of questions for him and he was going to get back to us and I know he needs some more time, but that's something he can he can talk to John about and then we can resolve prior to the actual vote.
But um >> budget is open >> and it is for you. >> You can check and talk about the budget anytime till we bring it back the changes made whatever it takes today.
>> Anyone can comment today but uh now is the time for the comment for the public comment. >> Okay. We have haven't noticed anyone here in person, but there's several people on the Zoom land. If they have any comment, now is the time to bring it
up. >> Okay, last call for public comment on the 2027 budget. Do we need a motion to close the public hearing or is that >> Yes. Yes. Commission. Seeing none motion to close the public hearing.
>> Okay. We Is that sufficient time? We're ready to move. I'll move it. I'll move we close the public hearing on the 2027 County Commissioner budget. >> Motion is seconded. All in favor of closing the public hearing on the 2027 budget?
I >> I >> Okay, that's sufficient. >> Okay, so you just declare the hearing is now closed. >> I'm going to declare that the hearing on the 2027 budget public hearing is now
closed and continued to a future meeting the budget. Thank you. Back to the regular well back to the agenda. That was number five. Number six, another public comment
session that we use every week or we require put on our agenda. If there's anyone out in Zoom land or present that wants to make any comment at all in a public hearing, not necessarily the budget, now is the time.
direct your phone and you don't have anyone that's reached out to you? >> Okay, last call for public comment at our regularly scheduled meeting. >> Seeing none, we're going to go to number seven, old business. We have none.
Number eight, personnel matters for consideration. Commissioner Stady. >> Oh, yes. Um, I would appreciate a list or have a list read to me so I could move it. Mr. Chair, you have to read it.
>> Sure. >> We're gonna have director Cron read it since you don't have one. I have mine, but go ahead. >> That' be great. Okay. >> Either way, if there if you screenshot it, I could uh Well, it's hard to read it, but I've got Okay, I've got it now. I'm sorry, John. Mr. Chairman, I could
move the following since I have the information in front of me. If Billy will start moving around, it'd be great. I'll move approval to North County a coach High School the following motions. First number one, I'll move a motion to notice of rate change uh for Connor Thompson uh student labor flat rate
effective date 31226. So moved. >> Motion seconded. All in favor? >> I I'll take the next two together. I move motion for approval of contingent employment of Victoria Keller as a substitute instructor and also of David
Jacobs as a long-term substitute instructor uh for the rates stated and uh that both appointments are effective 3126 so moved >> chairman >> Mr. Mr. Commissioner
Sty, I have to the uh >> just a point of order. Commissioner Stady, uh early this uh this morning, we received word that the candidate David Jacobs has withdrawn. Um so we respectfully request that you uh not move forward with that appointment
today, but rather the one simply for Victoria Keller as your original motion indicated. Thank you. >> Okay. I'll I'll I'll amend my motion then to just move approval of contingent deployment for Victoria Keller as the substitute instructor at the rate stated
and it would be again 3126. So moved. >> I'll second it. >> Okay. >> All in favor? >> I. >> So that takes one and two. The next is recreation facility.
>> Okay. And now somehow I have lost the link. This is not good. I had it. Let's see what happened here. Uh I I have to defer to John Cronin not to delay the meeting. >> Next one. Uh for the commissioner's consideration, a notice of rehire for
Edward Curley as seasonal golf associate for the rate stated effective March 15, 2026. >> All right. So I'll make the motion to rehire Edward. I've got it back now. Edward Curley as stated by the director. uh effective date 31526. So moved.
>> Seconded. All in favor? >> I I'll move approval of the notice to contingent appointment for Jennifer Heron as a seasonal golf associate as well as Matthew Wooy as a seasonal golf
associate. Um Jennifer's is effective 31526. Matthews the next day 31626 altered the same rate as stated. So moved. >> I'll second it. All in favor?
>> I passed. Next. >> And last I just for the record I read a notice of an FMLA effective 4126 code 2604-01 uh presented. for the record.
>> I'll second it. All in favor? I >> I. >> Thank you. Number nine. That That concludes personnel. Number nine, payroll expense warrants for approval. >> Right. If you'd be kind enough to put that up, I'd be very happy to read it. >> I don't know if he has that
electronically. Do you, Bill? >> Okay. All right. >> Yes, there. >> I got it. Oh, I have it. How about that? >> Is that enough? >> Guess my my my my computer is jumping all over the place. I've got it though. So, Mr. Chairman, I can read for approval the warrant list.
>> I may approval the warrant list of 3426. Uh, Bill, shrink that down a little bit cuz it's going off my screen, please. It's perfect. That's perfect. All right. Number one, payroll of the county 26-36. Uh, the sum 147,84.90.
So moved. >> Motion seconded. All in favor? >> I. >> I. Second. I move approval of the expense of the county of 030226 the sum 814,43758 so moved
>> seconded all in favor >> I third I move approval of line 26-5 of US Bank general obligation bond uh the payment of $16,313 so moved
>> seconded all in favor I and last I believe it's 26-09 the expense of the school and the sum I move approval of $225,89418. So moved.
>> Seconded. All in favor? >> I I believe that's the warrant list of 3426. >> Thank you very much. >> All right. You're welcome. >> Number 10. Initial disaster assessments for MIMA for February 22-23,
2022 blizzard. I'm calling Director Cronin for this information. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, I would like Mr. Buckley to take the lead on describing this particular initiative. He deserves full credit. Um, as the commissioners may be aware, recent
weather events in late February um, placed a very heavy burden on local uh, snow removal budgets. Uh, as a result, MIMA, which is the Mass Massachusetts Emergency Management Association, has uh, reached out to communities,
including Nor County, um, to collect costs associated with that removal for potential relief. Um, Mr. Buckley went right on that Zoom and filed a application for relief shortly thereafter. So I want to ask him to briefly describe what the scope includes
and force given my prayer for his initiative on this one. Go ahead Bill. >> Thank you Mr. Chair. Um I uh I receive our MIMA updates as a county. We're on the list serve as well as through the Norfick County managers. Obviously, all
municipalities in southeastern Massachusetts have been affected by the blizzard we had a few weeks ago. Uh, and we're seeking relief. Uh, it's it obviously created a number of additional costs that were over and above perhaps expectation. I was able to hop on the
Mima Zoom and in a they explained that in a short time frame last week they needed to get initial estimates from all the municipalities and subdivisions of the Commonwealth within given counties. And the way the federal government uh evaluates funding is you need within a
county, not say our county government structure, but within a geographic area, uh each county within Mass Massachusetts was given a dollar amount of affected spending that they had to hit in order to be considered for the opportunity for
federal uh FEMA reimbursement for Norfolk County. all of our cities and towns as well as other governmental entities needed to hit $3.5 million. We blew right by that. Uh after doing initial determinations of need, uh each
community putting in their information. Um as we looked in to what was available, thank God we didn't have any property damage. We didn't need to um create warming centers for citizens as a county. So, the eligible expenses for
Norfick County were not particularly large, but I'll share the worksheet. So, within uh basically a two-day turnaround after hearing from MIMA uh and be being on the call, we were able to put together an application and I I'm
sharing it here. It's called an initial damage assessment IDA report which we kicked up to uh the disaster recovery folks at the state uh and they in turn are gathering information for uh FEMA Norfick County government our county courthouse complexes in uh at our five
sites and here in Denim we found uh $65,657 and the Norfick County Agricultural High School had $2,342 of possibly eligible um expenses. So, uh
chicken peg in short order grabbed all the contractor bills, the overtime bills for snow removal. There all there also is a calculation uh factor for the uh cost associated with using county equipment, specific equipment like
snowblowers, front end loaders, salters, sanders, things of that nature. uh and they tallied all the hours uh there and they were able to get me uh basically within a 24-hour uh time frame, some information that um helped support us
and at the Aggie as well. Uh Pete Murphy and his crew, all the work they did, we we can see the hours and overtime and the equipment um they use which we were able to charge an hourly rate back to. So, the Aggie will be able to put uh $2,300 of expenditure uh in for
reimbursement. We may not get the full amount. We may get a port portion of it. Uh I've been in contact with Martina Thornton who's the disaster recovery/county administrator for Dukes County. So, she she's in this world a little more and
she's been very helpful. We were also able to alert our colleagues in Bristol and Barnstable uh and Plymouth about it as well. Um so they also hopped on and hopefully we'll generate some funds. So as my dad always says uh you can't get
anything if you don't put your name in. So, we were able to put our name in and I hope to be able to report to you that some amount of money will be coming back in form of reimbursement to the Commonwealth to the county either from the Commonwealth or from FEMA for the
storm to help defay some of our costs. Happy to answer any questions. >> Okay. Any questions of Director Buckley? >> A couple if I could, Mr. Chairman. >> Certainly, Commissioner. >> If I could through you. So, great job, Bill. I'm just going to make sure I'm clear on this. In the beginning, I was I
was had a little trouble with the audio. Um, so did you say the threshold to apply or was it the limit as you can see 3.5 million? What was that number about? >> In order 3.5 million >> in order for any municipality or regional government within uh our
geographic area of Norfick County to even be considered by the feds, uh, collectively all the different towns had to surpass $3.5 million of eligible funding requests. So, uh, we blew by that. I think Norwood, uh, because in the manager list serve, we were talking
the town of Norwood had $500,000 of eligible expenses. So, we we hit the the bar as a region to be considered and and now every every uh expense that uh people have put in uh will be considered by the feds. So, now we're moving into a
>> Okay. on that point. So, was this application was this a county application on behalf of towns in a county or is this an application just for us ourselves to reinfor us ourselves that went in with all of the other cities and towns in the
region? Um, >> so you had to solicit, I'm guessing now, input from different towns in our county to see if we reach that threshold. >> No. Uh, no. MIMA >> solicited that we were just a piece of it. >> Oh, okay.
>> But if everyone didn't respond, we may not have been eligible. So, luckily, they were much more. >> Okay. So, Mima, we're qualified for that and therefore we applied as a county and I understand what Chick did and others did as well. So, we're seeking 65,000 more or less and we might get some of that back which is great. Yeah. Which is
great. Great job. That's excellent. That's excellent. Okay. I understand enough. That's fantastic. Great job. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Damn it. >> Any other further questions? >> Okay.
>> Thanks, Bill. Thank you. >> Do we need a >> uh No, not at this time. >> No motion required. Okay, we filed in uh Excellent. That's very timely. Thank you. Number 11,
update on new national opioid settlement. It's a new settlement. I'm going to draw your attention. There's an explanation in your packet. I'm going to ask Director Cronin to explain. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh the commissioners may uh recognize the
National Opioid Settlement Program over the last several years. Various vendors that have negotiated settlement against this claim have contributed funds through Massachusetts, ultimately down to cities and towns. Um, Northfor County has been the beneficiary of several of
these settlements um, in the past and as you know, you've passed those uh, awards law to Northfor County institutions that are dealing with the opioid uh, problems here in Northfor County. There is a new vendor entering the frey. It's known as
six remnant. um this defendant um has recently settled and as a result the national opioid settlement uh program will begin um working with the state to distribute funds according to a schedule that the settlement calls for. So I simply I don't know how much it is yet.
um we'll know as soon as the uh state notifies us what North for County's uh trunch will be as a result of that award. But we're grateful that this will be in addition to the other vendors who um are on I believe a 20-year payment program. So, uh, once I receive notice,
um, I will inform the commissioners as to how this is, uh, or or or the particular award is playing with the other awards that were received and begin hopefully putting together, uh, our next annual award system to, uh, North County entities. This afternoon,
Mr. chair, through you, I would request a a motion to allow the director to apply uh for this particular settlement um known as the six remnant defendant settlement from the National Opioid
Settlement Program. Thank you. >> Any other questions before we do a motion? Just a comment, only a comment and it's uh it's on me, but I think I'm long overdue to follow back on a program. I think it was called Gilly's House. They
were seeking some uh perhaps interaction with the board andor some assistance and I think it had been thought we could maybe maybe consider them for a grant. I'm not saying we take it up now, but I think that might be something we could look at, you know, in the upcoming months. So, um, with that, I would move
that we direct or authorize Director Cronin to proceed with that application as requested. >> Seconded. All in favor? >> I. >> Good. The motion passes. We'll put in as
available at when it becomes available. We've had some >> Thank you, John. passed with the lower line settlement and one other and we worked with the town of Randolph on NAN was it? >> Well, that was one of many. We've sent out dozens and dozens of awards across
right but that was one of them. Yep. >> Okay. And then we used the >> the Gilly's house was also given award during the last round commissioner. >> Oh, they were Oh, okay. Was I aware? Okay, good. Thank you. Thank you. >> Okay, moving right along here.
Number 12, report from the procurement department for bid openings and contract awards. This will be from Marin Mu. >> This should be from Moren Mu. >> Moren Mchune. Maren, >> come on in.
>> Have a seat. Moren, >> how are you? >> Okay. >> Hi, Moren. How you doing? >> Hello. Okay. What do we have today? >> Today we have we went out and just gathered bids for project having to do
with the renovation of this area at 614 High Street and we found the best price for cubicles primarily from a vendor called Strategic Spaces out of Austin. >> Okay. This is an award for cubicles their design, manufacturing,
installation, including the removal and disposal of the old current cubicles strategic spaces LLC. This work is being done on the second floor in this building at 614 High Street. I might add
even painting of this room and the pickup in this room really has made a big difference. >> Any any other comments, Mr. director about >> yeah the value of the contract I think is up to 49,500 it will likely come in less than that um as we finalize the uh
uh the needs um that include not just cubicles but associated chairs and so forth. >> This is a contract not to exceed 495. That's >> a motion to pass accept this contract and award it. >> I'd move I move approval
>> and I second it. All in favor? I >> commissioners briefly while Commissioner Sheay signs, I wanted to alert folks that the advisory board approved uh funding for 614 High Street renovations um I believe is $150,000. We are doing
very well with the vendor quotes to date. We are likely to come in well below budget um against that $150,000. Um I do anticipate asking the advisory board uh through the commissioner's office obviously uh for a revisitation
and an expansion of the motion uh what is remaining from this 150,000 to look at possible uh additional furniture needs for um North County departments uh through the end of the fiscal year. So we'll talk more about that in April when we do the sub but I want to let you know
we're coming in below budget on this project. Thank you. >> Good. I'll leave that there because I'll cut that for stamp. >> Okay. Well, that's all good news. Marin, do we have anything else? >> That is all for this week, sir. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Number 13, report on website revamp with vendor revise for increased ADA conformity. I think Bill Buckley's going to answer this one. >> Yeah. Through you, Mr. Chair. The um um the Americans with Disabilities Act has
a a new directive that is coming uh due soon to all public websites to update them for um accessibility reasons. Um these updates are obviously needed for people with limited vision and other um shortcomings through their disabilities.
Um our website was in need of some updates. Bill and Sam Evans have both collaborated with our vendor revise to bring about some changes. So, I'll let Bill explain. Go ahead, Bill. >> Bill Buckley. >> Bill, you might be muted. >> Sorry about that. Uh, too many windows
open. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, you obviously recognize this as our county website. Um, as has been previously described, there is a more stringent ADA accessibility requirement that came down from the feds. Uh, and we've been working diligently with our vendor who's
been very helpful uh, through Sam Evans to make sure we work quickly to make sure we are in compliance of that. The commissioners may remember at the LA last quad county meeting with your commissioner colleagues. This was a
topic of discussion and Norfolk County was I would argue quite out in front on this as compared to some of our colleagues and we were able to give them some advice and talk about best practices that we're doing the through the contract we have with
revise. We are also entitled to a bit of a website freshen up concurrently with the ADA compliance piece. So we are having a kickoff meeting with them tomorrow morning. Uh and what will happen is they will begin to scrub the
website to ensure that um all of the pictures and and the documents meet the higher level of accessibility uh as well as giving us an opportunity to revamp some spot pieces on the website which I
will uh highlight for you. Now, what we're looking at is, if you can see this bar here that has agendas, minutes, notary services, quit bid openings. We found that there's about twice as many links like that that are really um oftus by the public. So, we're probably going
to make this a double bar uh and a little more pleasing to the eye to allow people to just scroll right down, click with one click, which is the which is the goal, so you don't have to hunt and peck for what you're looking for. um on the website to allow people to access
our most um oftus programs. When I go into agendas and minutes, as you as you notice here on the agenda, for the last four or five years, we've used a a highresolution PDF that is easily readable. um we're
switching to an even more uh high resolution uh PDF platform uh to again ensure conformity and we'll be working on that over the next month or so. Another addition which may be of interest to you is this map here with
all the cities and towns that take you to our our neighbors uh websites is a little dated and doesn't it was migrated from our previous website. that we use I believe revise for and so we asked uh
that we used get fused for. We asked Reise to see if they could examine it and give us something a little better. So they gave us uh this model which is pretty cool. This is the Memphis Housing Authority and they have this interactive map that you click on and um so this
type of thing we'll be able to create on our front board and then those clicks will take you to the cities and towns in a faster way. We're also going to use the same model for um a regional service explanation section of the website hopefully which will be up and running
in the next six or so weeks that will allow you to take the county website in a fashion like this, click on your hometown and have um all the things the benefits that your community gets from the county. be they rounds of golf at
the golf course, students at the agricultural high school, way to measure services, what type of ARPA grants the community received, what type of opioid grants the community has received, other things um that we have done, conservation land of the counties that
exist within the community's bounds. So, an individual will be able to kind of click on it and see um how their community interacts with county government. So, it'll be similar to this. Obviously, this isn't a a rent affordability calculator, but it will work in the same fashion. Let you click
on your town and some data will populate below it. All again, um quite accessible. So, those are the pieces. Uh we are not unless you feel strongly, we're not going to change sort of the
color schemes or other general outlook of the website. But we're again just using this opportunity to kind of tinker uh with the website as well to um make a little fresher as we do from time to time. I'm happy to answer any questions.
>> Bill, could you just let the commissioners know when the um executive order on this directs that public institutions have these updates recorded by? I think we're coming up. >> I believe it is next month. I >> That's right. >> Yeah. So,
>> and this has been going on for the last 6 to 12 months. It's been a lot of work by >> Yep, for sure. >> Any questions, Commissioner? Any questions? >> That was my question. The timetable. That's great. That's great. Great job.
Sounds good. Look forward to it. >> Okay. One thing uh one final thing, Mr. Chairman, we are trying to um add more pictures in general to the uh the website. I know we've had the maintenance department, the engineering department, the um weights and measures
department uh asking them to kind of stop whilst going about their day and uh giving us more sort of photographic evidence of what they're doing. We are currently coloring a lot of those um pictures now and we'll be adding those um as time goes on as well to their
relevant pages. >> Bill, is there a I'm sorry, Mr. Shammy, may I ask a question? >> Is there is there a tab, you know, again, I'm working here? >> Um, is there a tab on this proposed website that would even break out the opera for each town andor other services
provided as we may have discussed? >> That's yeah, that's what we're going to use that second interactive map for. So, you basically you click on K, you see everything you get. Right now, there is a whole ARPA page and at the bottom of that page, you can click on it and it it creates this massive spreadsheet. brings
you to this massive spreadsheet where you can kind of hunt and look for your town in order. The goal is to make that a little more streamlined so you look right to >> uh you know I'm from Walpole. Click on Walpole. What do we have in Walpole? What did we get in our what did Avon get? >> Awesome. That's great.
>> It's all about Sounds good. >> Uh it's all about that one to two clicks. >> Yeah. To get to >> it be ready next month. It be ready by next month. you're saying or >> the the >> maybe >> um >> the new requirements come into play next
month. Uh and I think uh generally from listening to discussions both with our county partners and North County managers, a lot of people are on the road to being compliant, but the hope is that the uh the feds don't come down hard immediately, but everyone's sort of
working together. Luckily, we don't have that large of a website or an intricate of a website. So, I think we're going to be making pretty good progress. Um, especially because we're not using this opportunity to completely tear apart the website. We're taking most We're leaving most of the things in place.
>> So, >> that's great. Okay. >> We'll give you a call next month about how it's going. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. Thank you. Number 14, congressionally directed
spending application through Senator Maky's office for the North County Agricultural High School. Director Cronis. So again, thank you, Commissioner uh Commissioner Sty. I'd like to bring Mr. Buckley. We um we've been made aware by Senator Marky's
office that the senator was soliciting congressionally directed uh spending requests across his uh district. the state I should say. Um we uh participated in this um at least for the last year or two on behalf of the Aggie school and others to uh put forth this
request. Bill worked with the school superintendent to bring forth some ideas. So I'll turn it over to him. Um the request has been sent in and we await uh the outcome through the federal budget process. Go ahead, Bill. >> Uh thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh we've done this, I believe, twice already. This
will be our third time. This kind of also falls under the heading of you can't get anything if you don't put your name in. So, uh, congressional directed spending requests are due to Senator Marky's office by April the 3rd, uh, of next month. We have already put in the
same application we did last year, which was for $50,000 for a building feasibility study for the campus and $50,000 for um a uh expanded curriculum relative to
solar energy. Obviously, we are all watching the news and we understand the volatility of the federal budget right now, but we're hopeful that if we continue to plug away, our ask is not particularly large. So, there are now after filling
in and putting in the initial information and the spreadsheet, which I did earlier this week, there are a couple of other pieces which are getting what are called stakeholder support letters. So, we will get um I'll bring up for you if you are amendable. Uh I
can just re redo the letter you did last year because it's for the same um project to show your support. We've also reached out to a couple of our colleagues in your colleagues in government at the Massachusetts um state legislature. Uh last year,
Representative Phillips and Rogers were kind enough to write letters of support as well. We need two. So, um we'll take uh one from you if you like and hopefully get a couple from them back by tomorrow or Friday. Uh and we'll have a
completed application in uh well before the deadline and then as as in any ear marking process, it'll go through the federal process. Uh and we'll see how we do. Uh, I know Senator Marky's staff has been has deep ties to Northfor County,
many of them, uh, and are very responsive and we're very grateful that each year they think of us and invite us individually to solicit um, applications. So, >> sounds great.
>> A motion or something like that? a motion or >> I I would I would ask for a a motion to uh resubmit a letter of support for this application again for the fiscal year 27 through the uh Senator Marky's congressionally directed spending process.
>> Would it help make the motion with a quick question would it help to get more legislators involved or is it quick I mean I know Senator Mike Rush when I run into him has always expressed an interest in the Aggie school. He might be another name to add but I don't want to overburden you either. What's the how
how do you do this? >> It's my understanding that I I don't know if it is it is a federal requirement or a marquee office requirement, but you basically need you need to upload two letters to have a quote unquote completed application. So having 10
un I think might be more beneficial if we were talking about a stadium mark we were seeking. Obviously the more the marrier in that budget process, but this is more just your ticket to ride. Um, so I I know we will have one from at least the House of Representatives, which we all know is the better uh of the two
branches out there. Uh, but I was uh like you uh I think we had a couple of great conversations with Senator Rush and Senator Feny and some other really strong county supporters. So I don't think we need to really push this. It's it's mostly just making sure we check the box. >> That's what I was asking. That's all.
Yeah. Whatever help you need, let us know. So I'll move I'll move we uh uh you know go forward to resubmit of the application. uh to Senator Maki uh on behalf of the uh NA County Agricultural High School.
>> Motion made and seconded. All in favor? >> I. >> Thank you. Number 15, report of the county director. Director Cronin, please. >> Thank you. Uh Commissioner Sha items. Uh for the commissioners, um the
development of the FY27 balance budget process is underway. Um we've been analyzing um all the department submissions. We've been conducting uh fiscal team meetings within the office to review past spending um projected spending. We were
looking at revenue models. Um the process is uh pretty typical of the cycle that is needed to produce the county's budget. It will continue over the next two weeks. Um, as I mentioned earlier, I I anticipate delivering the balanced budget proposal to you on the
28th. It'll be reflective of what we uh through my recommendations, what we can afford against uh revenue model, which um as you know has various forms of revenue that feed uh the county's bottom line, always shifting, always changing. So, we'll have those updates for you two
weeks from today. I also wanted to alert folks, departments that may be listening, uh, to be mindful that Phil sent out an email, um, requesting all supplemental needs be delivered to his attention by March 25th. We're trying to
position ourselves to have a firm grasp of what those supplemental transfer needs are and plenty of time for the commissioners and then thus the advisory board to consider them at the April 15th meeting um in just about a month. Um I
also want to let the commissioners know that uh this winter there's been a fair amount of activity at the Wall Recreational Facility. We'll call it the basement level. Back in January, um staff from this office u met Carl in the
Golf Pro Sabro to go over um some facility improvement needs. Um primarily in the basement level where storage, food services, and some offices are that area has had some recurring water intrusion issues um as well as some
issues that associated with structural issues. So Carl brought the uh those shortcomings in the to our attention and I'm happy to report that uh various traits have been down there over the last several weeks including your carpenter who's doing a lot of work to
repair broken walls, cracked ceilings. We are hiring electrician to clean out and clear out all of the excessive unneeded electrical services, some of which have been abandoned. and uh your painter uh will begin painting the areas
um in these two large storage areas over the next several weeks. Um so this is typical offseason prep work. Uh we understand that the golf course was hoping for a soft opening yesterday. So the season is upon them. They'll be turning their attention outside. So over
the next several weeks, Carl's lower level hopefully will receive um quite an improvement over conditions. Um and I welcome the commissioners to visit to inspect that. Finally, uh two more items. Um the denim district court building management system um which was
begun about a year ago has largely been completed over the last month or so. We've been working with a vendor on some punch list items. Um they are wrapping up as we speak. It really had to do with uh putting in removing not excuse me not putting in but removing old thermostats
that were decommissioned and then uh sealing the walls and painting them. So it's a lot of punch list items. We expect that to be done shortly and that project will be um officially completed and commissioned. It'll be the first building management system in the county. Um the commissioners may know
that we have funded a study to look at bringing that software to our other courouses over the next several years. Uh it's a significant expense and technology that we believe will have a long-term benefit for improved efficient um management of all maintenance uh
excuse me um mechanical HVAC and other diagnostic needs of our buildings. And then lastly, next week you'll be seeing uh Lucille Cassiss, your RSVP coordinator. Um the commissioners may be aware, but just uh to update you, the
Federal Americanore grant program has announced um the opening grants uh cycle for the upcoming 3-year grant period um is upon us. Lucille and her team have put together an application which she will go through with you. there's a
little bit of a shift in some of the metrics that the um the feds have put upon her, but I think you'll see she's done a nice job pulling together the elements of what she hopes will be a successful three-year grant. Uh so you'll see her next week. Thank you, sir. >> Okay,
last call. Any other questions or comments for Director Cron? >> Thank you. >> Nice job, John. Thank you. 16 emergency items or topics that the chair would reasonably anticipate would be
discussed. I don't have any. Just another shout out to uh the chick in the maintenance department for the great job on the snow removal. Uh we t discussed it earlier in the
program. We know it is uh blood money, so to speak, and blood work, but uh it appears we're over that session and hopefully we can get some a state or federal assessment in paying the bill. I have nothing else. I'll take a motion to adjourn.
>> All right. Uh Mr. Chairman, I'll move that we adjourn at 153. >> 153. Thank you. Motion to journ. I'll second it. All in favor? I meeting next week. Thank you very much.
>> Sure. Take care.