It's a go, right? It's a go. >> Good afternoon. I'm now going to call the Wednesday, November 19th meeting of the North County Commission to order. I'm going to read the executive order on remote participation. On March 28th, 2025,
Governor Healey signed into law House Bill 62, an act relative to extending certain CO 19 measures adopted during the state of emergency, which included a 2-year extension of the option for public bodies to hold remote meetings by
suspending certain provisions of the mass open meeting law, Mass General Law, chapters 38, sections 18- 25. That action was effective immediately extending the current option for remote meetings through June 30th, 2027.
Thank you. I'm going to ask you rise and join me in saluting the flag to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
>> Thank you. Call the role. Commissioner St. >> I am present, sir. Commissioner Collins >> and Commissioner Shay is present. Full quarum. >> No executive session today. >> No. >> No executive session today. >> No.
>> Number four minutes of the open meeting of November 12th. The executive session of November 12th. >> Yes, the chairman. I reviewed the minutes. They seem in order. I'd be pleased to move approval of the open session meeting minutes of November 12th as presented. Second. Thank you.
All in favor? It is a vote. >> Number five, appointment. >> Second one. Second one. I'm sorry. >> Sorry, Mr. Chairman. I'll move also approval of the executive session meeting minutes of November 12th with the stipulation there not to relate until clearly. Second.
>> Motion made and seconded. All in favor? I. There's a vote. Thank you. Number four, appointment. We have an appointment today with Chuck Cushing, our acting maintenance supervisor. A little update. Chuck, why don't you come up and get in the big chair and good afternoon.
>> Thank you very much. >> Well, good afternoon, commissioners. Thank you for inviting me here today. >> Okay. >> Thanks for coming. Things have been going well and I'm excited to share what's been going on in maintenance. >> Sure. Go ahead. Um, first off, thank you for entrusting me
with the leadership of the maintenance department. We've got quite a group of uh great people that I work with and I'm happy to be here. Before I go into individual projects, I'd like to update you on the staff. Uh, of the 24 members of the department, we have one on
workers comp, one on FMLA who is having a baby today. Yeah. uh one on an accommodated workload and in addition of we have the one carpenter position that we've been interviewing for and we hope to bring you a great
candidate soon. Uh John Cronin has been very helpful in getting me up to speed on how to navigate the workload here. The other departments have also been very helpful. Sam and IP is helping me build the Excel spreadsheet to keep the
tracking of the projects under control and Patrick in engineering has been working with me for compliance and permitting uh dig safe etc. Uh and the maintenance department staff have all been great.
We've also been working with Peg to get out to each building a booklet like this with a list of all the maintenance tasks that need to be done uh on a monthly and weekly basis. This will help to remind the custodians of each of the areas that
they need to be evaluated but also to track our work. Included in each folder is the safety data sheets with the chemicals that we use, important standard procedures, and emergency contacts uh for in the building in case of an emergency.
Courts have their own uh emergency drills and procedures. And this is really just to supplement that with communication expectations for our employees back to us. Uh the monthly lists uh have gone out to a few of the buildings and they've been wellreceived.
I think the crew will appreciate seeing their hard work in a measurable way. Far as the buildings go, we have a trial going on at Superior Court where we worked with the DA's office to uh similarly we did with the Reed trial
where we put up two big uh TVs in the courtroom. This time we put a lot of little TVs in the big courtroom. Uh the trial set to start on December 1st and uh also in December there's another high profile civil case that we'll be
wrapping up in there too. >> Uh Quincy Court place, huh? >> Yeah, Quincy Court building continues to be an HVAC nightmare. Um with us having many issues with the switch over process from AC to heat. Uh
the trial court facilities department and I have been in regular contact with updates to the work requests. Uh over the last few weeks, we've sent a utility maintenance worker over there for coverage and is working directly with with the HVAC issues in the building. Um
I did pull work back to Dunham for now, but as needed, he'll be sent back over to Christy. Rtham District Court has the ARPA funded HVAC units. Those are in and done. Uh, also Rentham, we have a bathroom
project going on. The sheetrock is up on the walls and the FRP paneling is to be installed today and tomorrow. Once that's complete, the plumbing fixtures will go on the walls and the partitions should be delivered Friday and Monday for installation.
Hoping to have the bathroom usable this week, but completed by Thanksgiving. Once that bathroom is complete, we could start another major plumbing project in Retham where we have a broken uh pipe under the concrete in the basement that
needs to be excavated. Uh this seems to be a ongoing thing with breaking pipes down there. Um, so Jim the plumber has been heading up the basement bathroom project and he'll also be doing the uh pipe repair
once we're finished with the other bathroom. And Patrick down there, he's been helping him out whenever he can. Um, as you know, the trees are down in the district parking lot. The dig safe Mark out has been completed. Engineering is finishing up their location and mark
out for the conduits. um that the lighting and drainage that we already own are there. They dig safe doesn't mark those out. Um Denim District Court has the BMS system wrapping up with all the remaining valves and equipment installed. Um been
in communication with the EOPM, the project management company, uh for training and commissioning. We have a smoke detector replacement going on at the Registry of Deeds on December 4th and 5th. Um, this would be
done during normal work hours, but they've been notified that they can't do the testing until before or after regular work hours. The Blue House uh maintenance building on Old River Place, the clean out of the second floor is done with that and some
plumbing issues there have been resolved. leaking sewer pipes and toilet valves. Um, I've got a quote to do a fire alarm system for the building. Um, if we decide we're going to do it, that'll have to go up the bid.
Um, Stoen has also had an ARPA HVAC upgrade that is now complete and Kevin and Jerry have been working hard in their work area to make it more organized and clean workload. Uh, Brookline has also completed another
ARPA HVAC project. John and Steve have been trying to get some signage in the ground before it freezes. They also plan on painting the holding cell floors over the winter. On winter note, we're gearing up for winters. All the snowblowers have been
serviced, are ready to go. Ice melt has been ordered and is in. Leaves are being raked and removed daily. and we have our plowing contractors all lined up. The ongoing projects are the superior
court installation of the air conditioning, trying to get that in before the cold weather sets in. Um the main courtroom uh schedule is a little tough to navigate to. Uh and then
the blue house on Old River Place. Uh we have the deck and the porch project that we need to get the architectural drawings done for. In this building here, we have um a project that'll be going on over during the winter also with painting and
carpets and some furniture. Um the BMS studies, we heard back today from the OPM about um Stoton and Brookline. they are going to be um contacting us within the next week or so what their
plan for that uh spring projects um power washing and repointing of the stairs and handicap ramps at the registry of deeds in Superior Court as well as improvements to the district court parking lot. And then in the future pipeline, we have sealing and painting at the rear of this
building, exterior painting at the Brookline facility, renovations in the main courtroom at Superior Court, and seal coating and restriping the parking lots in Brookline Stone and Denim to make report.
Any questions? >> Good questions. Thank you, Richard. >> Thank you. Uh, thank you for the report. very cons very uh very helpful. Um first question I had on the uh rent them
>> um quite a list here in rent. There was a long list here that you went at right. >> Yes. >> So you feel you're going to get those projects wrapped up by Thanksgiving or is that uh hopeful >> the first bathroom will be done by Thanksgiving? >> Thanksgiving. Okay. >> The second bathroom will >> wasn't there was also a piping problem.
Is that what it was? because of the location of that pipe. I remember touring it years ago. It was awkward the way it was. >> Yes. See if Yeah. >> Okay. Second, uh, smoke detectors. >> Will that be done in conjunction with Denim Fire? Will they go around and inspect them with you
>> to certify them? They do that. >> The fire alarm company puts them in and they handle that permitting as they need. >> Good enough for me. Okay, great. Third, uh, upcoming projects. I didn't see it. Maybe it's an oversight, but we do want to tackle that parking lot over there
with all the potholes. Where does that come in in terms of scheme of things? >> So, it's >> in terms of paving or ceiling or something. >> So, it's in the works for the spring to be redone. The we had a company come out and give us a quote on patching >> y
>> to try and make a temporary fix for the winter, but it was pretty expensive temporary fix. So trying to come up with you know >> didn't you want to you didn't list it here though I didn't see it >> the well >> is it in there I saw so >> we're doing the survey work now >> survey work and going out to the
architects >> okay so I was not going to forget that look at that >> that's my question too excuse me we are going to get it done though >> yes right >> and and it's the includes the road right >> the access yeah um yes >> I don't want to patch it down it'll be
gone by February anyway the patches >> no it's a waste of If we're going to do it in the spring, let's do it. I know it's expensive, but >> yeah, >> I think it'll make a big difference. >> We're also going to try to improve the lighting. That's part of >> That's right. Good. >> All right. One more more of a general question. So, kudos and thanks to Sam
and the IT for helping you work with an Excel, which is good. And I did a conference last week and came across a bunch of like similar not identical to your job but similar where administrators are using different kinds of platforms now. >> Sure.
>> And they can punch in the information and it's like seems to be a little more better than just an Excel. Would that be something you'd like to look at or could look at? >> Something that we've been looking at and we are hoping to get that um initiative going. It'll be it'll be pretty involved
where the you know you buy the program but also the company comes out >> right >> and goes through all the buildings and identifies everything you have so that when you're doing work orders and time management like all right there >> yeah it would be >> look like the project the date of
completion what's needed really pretty the XL is good don't get me wrong but this is like a step beyond that give you other things too >> sure yeah >> so if I get information I can pass it on to you take a look at that be helpful Sh. Good. Good. Don't have sh Thank you.
>> Um I have a question about Quinsey. >> I mean we're making some progress. We don't own the building anymore. The money's in the bank, thank God, but we're still maintaining it. It's a losing proposition. But do you hear any
when they're allegedly moving down that we haven't heard? Right. They're crown colony. >> The last word is September of 26. >> September 26th. Are they Have they indicated whether they're going to ask
us to stay on or or any they haven't known? >> Uh no, they have not. >> Okay. One thing I'd be interested in, Chuck, is is it possible to um
get a feeling for years of service? How many people you think are going to retire in the next calendar year or the year after that or any way to get around it? >> And I'm bringing it up because when Quinsey goes, we're going to, you know, we're going to try not to lay anyone off
and work it all out, but Who knows the date and and uh you know uh >> I believe that uh well we definitely we have the um you know the list of seniority and we can >> right >> share that with you.
>> There is a list of seniority right? >> Yep. >> And I know some of the positions I think are already spoken for but not 100%. >> I don't know. >> Nope. But all right, we'll keep our fingers crossed. But that that's our intention
is, you know, to work with everyone and not a problem as long as they keep using us. But uh at some point I assume that uh the state won't want to take it over. Certainly when they build a code, but that's going to take
that's going to take five or six years after after another year. I mean, right? I've been here, actually, this is my I've been here 10 years this week and we're talking about the Quincy Cole when I got here 10 years ago. Of course, and I'm not making fun of it. I love the Quincy. >> Will the government move slow? Right. I
hear that, >> right? But >> what it is. Yeah. >> Mr. Chairman, if I may, just for you, I'm sure we all feel you're doing a bang up job over there. But is there anything >> else that you want from us? Let us know that we can help you out. You're It's
kind of tough for you. the knife person has retired and you're you're doing two roles here. So, anything you think you need or want or things of that nature, please, you know, cry out. >> Sure. You know, >> absolutely. Well, thank you very much. >> Okay. >> Okay. Last call for Chuck.
>> Yes. Okay. Thank you. >> All right. Take care. Keep a good one. >> That completes number four, >> maintenance department update. Thank you. >> Number six, public comment. Every meeting we have a
agenda item for public comment. If there's anyone out in Zoomland that has a public comment, now is the time to bring it up. Or if there's anyone here in person, which I don't see, um, now is the time. >> Dr. Corin, you don't have any requests
for public comment? >> No, sir. >> Okay. Last call for public comment. Seeing none, we'll move to all business. Two items of all business, I know we're going to move on one, I hope, and the second one is uh not quite ready.
Letter of testimony for proposed legislation, House Bill 3971, an act directing a study of the feasibility of placing registry of deeds for county governments that have not been abolished under the oversight secretary of the commer. Did we sign
that letter last week or is it >> No, it's been um it has been amended. A draft is put in your packet >> and it's ready to go. >> It is ready for your signature if the parties agree. >> Any comments, commissioners, please? >> Uh I think the revised letter uh is more
effective and it does address the key things we wanted addressed. >> Yeah, I thought it was fine too. >> Yeah, a little change. I thought the first one was fine, but your your comments were good and Peter's Peter had some comments about it. So, uh, I think this one's better. I'd like to get it going. Uh, sure.
>> We're entitled to comment and we're going to comment. Of course. >> Absolutely. Dip. >> Number two. While we're doing that, review of proposed changes in North County employee handbook. Not quite ready. Correct. >> You want me to table that, >> please? >> Yes. I'd like a motion to table.
>> I'll make a motion to table uh that discussion. Uh, second. >> Motion table. Motion made and seconded to table the changes in the north county handbook employee handbook. All in favor? >> I.
>> That motion is tabled. Thank you. >> Could I ask for a vote on the letter of testimony? >> Sure. Uh do you want to make the motion, Richard? >> Yeah, you go ahead. >> Sure. I'll make I'll make a motion um that we sign and approve um the letter
from the county commissioners um which is a letter of testimony for proposed legislation house bill 3971. >> Okay. Y >> I'm going to sign it right now. Motion made and seconded. All in favor? >> I thank you. This is a three-page letter
going to the joint committee on state administration and regul regulatory oversight. Antonio Cabral chair and co-chair Senator Nick Collins. So John, if you'll put that send it on its way. Thank you.
Number eight, personal matters for consideration. Commission from Miss Davis. >> Yes, sir. Uh several just a few. First, at the North County Agricultural High School, I've moved notice of contingent employment for Lily Gallagher as student
labor. um flat rate effective date 112025 so moved >> second motion made and seconded all in favor I it is a vote next >> second I'll move approval a notice contingent employment for a lease Anderson for student labor the rate stated effective date 112025 so second
>> motion made and seconded all in favor it is a vote >> and third I move for approval notice return from leave of absence effective 112425 code number 090125 Five. So moved. >> Second. >> Motion made and seconded. All in favor?
>> I I >> number nine, payroll and expense warrants for approval. >> Mr. Chair, >> Commissioner Stady. >> Yes, sir. Uh those are warrant list for 111925. We have three items. First, I move approval of 2620 payroll of the county,
the sum $145,723.99. So moved. >> Second. >> Motion made in second. All in favor. It is a vote. Second I move 11-0326 expense of the county the sum 326,318.99 cents. So moved.
>> Second. >> Motion made and seconded. All in favor? >> I a vote. >> And third and final I move line 26-05A expense for the school the sum 268,163.15. So moved. >> Second.
>> Is made and seconded. All in favor? I thank you. >> That concludes the warrant list this week. Anyone question? >> Number 10. Reports from the procurement department bid openings and or current and or contract awards. We have none this week. >> No sir.
>> Okay. Let's number 11. Discussion possible time change for the November 26 commissioners meeting. Director Cron. >> Uh the commissioner said expressed an interest in modifying next week's meeting given the um expected long weekend. you're currently uh projected
to meet on at one o'clock next Wednesday um through the chair. I believe 12 o'clock is more meaningable due to some other personal scheduling uh issues. And if 12:00's okay, well, >> I can't make it at 11. I get diialysis, but 12 is >> Are you sure 12's okay then? >> Yeah, I I can't change it. Yeah, 12's
>> okay. >> I put it sometimes if you're lucky make make it 11, but it's a >> No problem. >> All right. >> So, I move that we unless Peter problem I move it. We change the time for our meeting next week. >> Do we need to make a motion on that? >> That's okay.
>> Yes or no? It's administrative, but >> we want to give everyone notice until the employees can make >> Let me ask you something. Is the day after Thanksgiving a holiday? >> It's a county holiday. >> Yeah. So, >> well, we do that. Okay. Okay. That's fine. >> Okay. So, we'll meet at 12:00 noon next
week, but we are going to Sure. Go ahead. >> Okay. I'll move that we change the time for our meeting next week for the county commissioners to change the time starting time 12:00. >> Seconded. All in favor? >> Thank you. Next item. Little bit of a
housekeeping to fiscal year 26 budget transfer request and maintenance department. Director Bron. >> Thank you commissioners. Uh as you just pointed out, Commissioner, this is housekeeping by our facilities department. They're looking to um move $4,192 from miscellaneous building repair um to
hardware plumbing. Um moments ago, interim facility supervisor Chushing was explaining to you some of the activities, the robust activities that our staff are undertaking. This is because the plumbing department's uh budget has been under stress as a result of all the work being done at Rythm. So,
it's a simple operational standard. Okay. And Chuck needs that to complete Renith. >> Yep. We've taken it elevator repair and looking for that >> miscellaneous building repair. >> Miscellaneous building repair. Okay. All right. >> Do we need to make a motion? Yes. I move
that we uh approve the request uh as submitted by our acting maintenance director Charles Kushing regarding the transfer of money uh to take care of things upcoming. So moved. >> Second. Motion made and seconded. All in
favor? to sell 4,192. >> Thank you. >> 192.13 cents included in the motion. Sorry. >> Thank you. >> Number 13, report of the county director. >> Thank you, Commissioner Shay. Just a few items. Um, first I wanted to thank uh
Michael McGovern. Michael left us last week after about five to six weeks of interim human resources work. He came to us through capital strategies. As you know, he performed exceptionally well uh allowing the county to have seamless human resources management and oversight
and this additional week plus working with Gerard was wellreceived. Um again, proper handoff. So, thank you to Michael for great work. Um just a great professional to work with by the way. Um also, uh wanted to let the commissioners know we received a visit from
representative of the Alzheimer's Association yesterday. She want to come in and express our thanks to the county and the commissioners for their uh ARP award. Um they have wrapped up their fundraiser walk at uh Gillette. I think it was back in October. Uh she was
pleased to inform me that they are meeting their goal and they are at this point um slightly above their uh giving um benchmarks that were in place before COVID. So the whole point of the ARPA grant was to elevate their their uh
advertising message to try to you know recoup that lost revenue during the co years. Uh they've achieved that and they're immensely grateful for you. So the card and a small gift was given to us yesterday um and on your behalf. Thank you. Um just a quick note um back
I think it was in the summer maybe late spring the commissioners approved um an application through a firm to the state for electric charging stations um the point of contact you may remember Mr. Nick Valari came in. He was spearheading
this grant application on our behalf. It was sent in. I just pinged him again yesterday. I CC Commissioner Staty who we've been working with on this project. >> I haven't heard much. Um there's been an extended amount of time where I think we should have heard something. So we'll wait to hear what Mr. Valor has to say
when he does uh respond. I'll keep the commissioners informed on that. >> I've had a couple of conversations on that. almost every other month I'm checking in to say where are we and I keep getting the same answer that basically he's waiting to hear from the agency that gives the grants out. So, I
don't know if there's a disconnect or something's going on. But, as he said today, he was planning to go into Boston and meet with the company that issues. It's not it's not really Eversur. It's a nonprofit evite I guess it's called. I might be wrong. They are the ones in
charge of distributing the money. And I don't know what the roadblock is, but disappointing. You know, >> again, when when and if something comes up, we'll we'll let everybody know. >> Um, >> okay. check a a little bit to the carpenter vacancies. We've made our way through at least one full round of interviews. We have a second interview
with a candidate tomorrow. Um Gerard Foy, our HR director, informs me we have additional resumes. I'll look at those this afternoon to keep the uh uh the process going until we find uh the right match. Um and finally, I just want to let the commissioners know that meeting
with our CIO Sam Evans yesterday. Uh we're going to begin the process now that Gerard's on board. wanted to wait until the transition of human resources directly was complete to begin planning the new electronic time and attendance system. Um, this is one of our top priorities in FY26.
Um, we needed to have a few things in place, personnel check, but we now need to uh implement the employee uh portal that um we own through Tyler and needs to be tested for a time and attendance application. So, we're going to start working with some non-union uh units to
see how this particular technology works for us. Our hope is that it eliminates the paper uh use of paper for time sheets and implements uh a better more controlled way of uh handling weekly time and attendance needs and also give
the employees uh more active um access into their employee um status that you see on your pay advice. Um so that process will start over the next month and uh Sam and his team will begin to work with Gerard and other team members associated with this initiative. Very
very high priority. I think it's time we move in this direction especially try to achieve all non-UN compliance by the end of the fiscal year. That's all I have at this time. Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Any questions of Director Cruz? >> Uh yeah, really quick chair of course. Uh I know that we had some testimony on
another bill and I know we've been very busy focused on this but just a gentle reminder we want to submit written testimony on that as well when we can just to kind of that's ticker on there was we have some thoughts on that but >> it's our deeds excit >> I believe we did that last week
>> we did it last week >> on supporting that bill. >> Yeah you were um by Zoom and I think we used your stamp. >> Oh okay. >> Would you like a copy of the >> Yeah, that'd be great. >> That went out last week. >> Okay, great. needs exercise. >> Oh, perfect. Okay, good. >> Beautiful. I didn't realize that. That's great. That's great news. >> It'll be all of that.
>> And then general comment and it's good news was that last night I had occasion to visit the uh Canton Select Board and uh explain again about our grant. They were very very gracious and very happy and they want to express their thanks to the commissioners and you were mentioned
by Chief Rob as well. They wanted to make sure that the credit was given to all of us of course. So that was a good night last night. >> That was all I had. Okay. >> Oh, I had one more thing. I'm sorry. Go ahead, if you don't mind. On behalf of the RSVP program, just trying to pitch
the annual holiday drive. I mentioned it last week, but again, I just want to let folks know >> the RSVP program is hosting a donation drive for veterans in partnership with West Roxbury VA, the Brockton, and Jamaica Plane VA hospitals as well. They're seeking donation of new items
including the following toothbrushes, toothpaste, trial size, sweatuits, undergarments, soap, body wash, shampoo, three in one, deodorant that is alcohol-free, handheld mirrors, shaving cream, back scratchers, personal fan, reading glasses. Uh the VA is requesting
only new items and and would be be appreciated if the sizes were medium, large, extra large, or d XL. The donation bins will be available in the following locations. Here at 614 High Street, the commissioner's office, the Northfor Senior Center on 28 Medway branch in Northfor. And finally, the
Walpole Council on Aging, 60 South Street, Wallpole. >> Are we going to have a pin here then? >> There are there's a bin right out here. >> There is. Okay, great. >> So, I'll try to keep the uh the notice of this coming so employees and others would like to contribute to that worthy cause. Um, great. If you have any
questions, see Lucille Cassis. >> Thank you for that, Mr. Moving right along. Number four, number 14, emergency items and chair did not originally anticipate. I don't have any items, but I do have a couple of the aforementioned thank you from
Alzheimer's Association says, "A small thank you for your support of the walk to end Alzheimer's, the Ponet Valley. Your partnership has been incredible. Sincerely, thank you, Diana Griffin. She
was in to see John. I have the flyer here from Superior Court. Mary Hickey about the 29th annual holiday party will be held Thursday, December 11th.
>> I'll put this up on the board for anyone that wants to go. And I have nothing else. A reminder that we're meeting next week at 12. Is there anybody else? >> 12:00. >> Okay. Motion to adjurnn. Uh, Mr. Chairman, I move we adjourn at 134.
>> Second. >> Motion made and seconded. All in favor? >> We are ajourned.