##VIDEO ID:jB1IdUJyVDY## night was there gr little was there okay well hello good morning and and welcome to the Norful County Commissioner's meeting for November 27th 2024 we're having this at 11 o'clock today because we have Thanksgiving tomorrow we start a little bit early um pursu to the executive order on remote participation on Wednesday March 29 2023 Governor Healey signed into law chapter 2 of the acts of 2023 an act making Appropriations for fiscal year 2023 which includes a 2-year extension of the auction for public remote meetings by suspending certain provisions of the open meeting law General Law chapter 3A section 20 that action was effective immediately extending the current option for remote meetings through March 31st 2025 uh our chairman Joseph Shay is remote and uh he's still uh the acting chairman for this meeting but um I'll be running the meeting from U the office because I'm here it's a little bit harder to run when you're remote so um call to order and roll call uh Chairman's uh chairman Shay present pres okay and commissioner stady present yes presid yes okay and I am present so um we do have a quum and we're all present um we're going to do the pledge allegiance now Richard do you want to lead us sure you want I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America rep one nation indiv and justice for all thank you item three is from executive s and um is there a need for an executive session today no sir okay terrific okay we're going to go into the minutes oh uh uh Joe do we have your permission to use your signature stamp on your votes yes terrific okay uh minutes uh the first uh is the Open session meeting for November 20th 2024 for approval do I hear a motion sure MO approve I'll second okay motions made second all in favor say I I I opposed unanimous okay and so uh the next is minutes for the executive session meeting for November 20th 2024 for approval right he a motion I move approval uh Mr acting chairman we approve the minutes of the executive session but not to be released until such time as the chair declares they are uh can be released or the matter only litigated okay Joe do we have a second I'll second it okay all in favor say I I I I oppos unanimous okay so the next one was an executive session for November 6 2024 for approval and those weren't quite uh ready so we've been asked to table those okay I didn't see it okay good okay next is we need a motion to table uh yeah motion to table please I move I we table approval it's on the agenda of the meeting minutes of November 6 uh to a later date okay all in favor say I I oppos unanimous okay next is five appointments uh John do we have any appointments today no sir okay number six public comment has anyone asked you about public comment today no sir okay is anyone as Joe would say is anyone in Zoom land uh wish to make any public comment today okay all right hearing no um request for public comment we'll close that section moving on to seven old business do we have any old business today no sir terrific okay personal matters number eight um Richard do you want to read them sure okay I'm going to take them one I didn't look through all these but I'll just take them as they come they're all at the northw agricultural school all these motions are from mtis at the eggy school right first move approval and notice contingent deployment for randf Howard of Walpole as a substitute instructor at the rat State effective date 12224 so moved Joe second second second say I I I next move approval notice Contin deployment of Karen powers of stoen as a substitute instructor at the rate stated effective date 12224 some second um all in favor say I I I unanimous okay next mo may move approval notice appointment of Thomas lambadi of wole mass as a cap worker uh at the rate stated effective 12224 uh so moved it says replacing Betty duette I just like to say that there's no replacing Betty duet he can't replace okay motion M and second all in favor say I oppos unanimous okay great our next move approval a notice appointment of William deota of North Ador is a custodian and that is for the r stated replacing Chris Gil so moved seconded all in favor say I I I I opposed unanimous next move approval of the name change for Jessica kelle uh the list of Mansfield at the rat stated effective 1122 24 so move seconded all in favor say I I I uh opposed unanimous next move approval of notice resignation on Roberto Kali of walpool as a sub instructor at the rate stated effective 11222 so moved seconded say I I oppose unanimous move approval of notice the resignation of Alicia Harman of Mansfield as a sub instructor uh at the race stated effective date 11222 24 so moved second all in favor say I I I unanimous sorry move approval a no resignation of Kevin kulig of Foxboro as a sub instructor at the r stated effective 11222 24 so moved seconded all in favor say I I I and I can take unanimous I approval resignation of Ky sorry of Kate Lanza of ramass and Mary Alice Howard of hollon mass both the sub student instructors both for the right stated and both for 1122 24 so moved all in favor say I I I oppose unanimous and the next group he in the maintenance department I move approval and Noti appointment of Clifford love lace of M pan mass as a former plumber at the rate stated and its effective date would be 122 what's that next week yeah 12224 yeah and he your place in uh James rean so moved I'll second it uh all in favor say iOS joh M want to say anything about that is that uh is John on John you on I thought I saw him di Dance all right okay okay yes I'm on oh do you have any comments on that John CL no I believe he he'll be a a good asset to the Nar County seems like a nice nice guy B shoes to pH replac in jym though you think yeah it's kind kind of tough to replace him but yeah that's good give him we'll give him a shot okay thank Youk thank you J Happy Thanksgiving thanks same to you all you y so the next two items were with the registry of deeds and I know that there was um an issue with those uh those personal papers and John do you want to talk about that briefly there's a memo in your packets commissioner uh from the Human Resources Director about these two particular requests uh regarding the approach taken by the registry of deeds uh and almost all facets of the employee handbook relative to the hiring process it was not conformed we're requesting that the uh Commissioners table these requests until such time as the registry of these conforms with the employee handbook and the hiring process later details are within your packet well let's start it now okay I make a motion that we I'll make a motion that we table two items notice of promotion at the registry Deeds of udinus Sanchez of Norwood as principal clerk replacing Margaret Brennan and notice of promotion with Cheryl mcelman of Dorchester Mass as head clerk replacing Margaret coma until such time as all applicable processes are met and we go forward and and I might say that under normal conditions I we would we could normally go forward today got a second Mr for discussion wait let me get the motion out um second for the discussion purposes of chair shapes uh question through Peter which is this the information I'm supposed to looking at okay I you know I I say I looked at this very quickly this morning okay some motions are made and seconded um when it's appropriate Mr may I just address it yeah so motions and made and seconded um for discussion purposes right okay want keep going yeah if I could just know very quickly I'll just say quickly I don't think it's a reflection I'm I'm assuming these are the candidates I've never met you I didn't know who you were and I'm pleased to see you here this is not a reflection on you okay I want you to understand that so don't this is not something you s personal I'm action at this moment is because we have a new handbook and because of book that we voted there's certain procedures have to be followed and it seems unfortunately we still have a disagreement and I'm sure Billy uh register odono will be given a chance to speak but there's a certain procedure to follow now with the new handbook and uh we have to make sure that's being followed so apparently from Michelle yes who's our Michelle lambini is our HR Director she has advised us not to go forward uh because certain things weren't followed so so until those things are done we can't really go forward again it's our personal we want to go forward with it we want to work together we've got to get this kind of worked out and that's all I got to say at the moment other than you know I just I'm looking at this right now but I'll follow the cheers Le sorry okay all right it's a big list you want to say a few few words sure thank you thank you Mr chair hello all acting chair he's still the chair he's still in ch right got a lot of chairs here yeah me too listen a lot of this uh you know does repeat itself but I'm here on behalf of the employees um you know promotions have been cut out of the registry budget so when they cut come come up people deserve promotions it's it's busier um there's been budget cuts at the registry there's been staff Cuts so people are working and you got to understand the union people in the union and the union leadership say post these positions get the jobs filled follow the Collective bagy Agreement and and that's where we're at um November 6th I came over here specifically about these two promotions and requisition you know uh and hand delivered and spoke to you people about trying to have a Cooperative process and and try to move this thing forward I brought the postings I brought the job descriptions and you know again uh I don't know what was done by the human resource person with respect to those job descriptions and postings um is it possible to get a copy of this memo it's public record if we can get a copy sent should get it right no objection yeah okay now that's great so I mean it be okay to get one right right now can we just someone run out and get a copy right now than the chair I can get mine when I get a copy oh you'll take mine and it's basically a checklist sure get one right but I'm just see you know this morning here oh there you go thanks Michelle thank you very much Mich the ISS the so and again you know for the record on that this was sent on on November 6 I don't know what was done since November 6th I also came over here on November 20th right uh and uh director Cronin was in CC you all were that you know we have under the collective bargaining agreement it gets posted there's 8 calendar days to post applications come in people are expecting to get a job and we have to make a decision within five calendar days that's in the collective bony agreement and again uh director cromin and human resource director uh labadini were invited to come over to the interviews that were taking place uh on that you know on the day that you know the employees were coming in to be interviewed it what it really comes down to is I I keep you know the registry is being told we're not following processes and you know and I recognize these processes are different you just signed a bunch with the Yi School your handbook doesn't apply to the Yi School your handbook doesn't apply to a lot of the golf course so we to hold a lot of the golf course appointments but the handbook has been really used um you know as the reason to not give deserving people like the two people before us that do a great job promotions so it really goes back to um respectfully you know commissioner KS on May 22nd when we did the land Court promotions you made a statement I think it was a prepared text or a prepared statement it might have come from director cron I don't know that we didn't follow the process so I came over here on June 5th and said look it from my perspective the collective bargaining agreement is still in place the union leadership tells me just informed me just a few days ago that the collective bargaining agreement is in place and on June 5th and it was in the minutes um commissioner stadia I walked out thinking thinking I was going to get a copy of that opinion where director Cronin says that the handbook beats or trumps or is more powerful than the Collective bargany Agreement and again I know I'm supposed to be management but I'm also trying to follow the law that the collective bargaining agreement is there for a reason the union workers do a great job and again that was on June 5th it was in the minutes and in my letter on November 6 when I came over I I try to refresh people and say look at where's a copy of that and the reason I asked for it then and I didn't I I didn't get it on June 5th when the minutes say you know commissioner State he said to give give him the minutes and I did walk away to get that opinion that the collective bargaining agreement no longer WIS let me interrupt you politely um because that was a subject of some did he get a copy of what we said we could uh in terms of that discussion no sir and I and you know that I thought we had resolved that something no sir really correct I'll take a look that later something register is in possession of a letter from the chairman that indicates the necessary next steps before and if any at lease of privileged information is provided we have not received a response from the register relative to that letter sent by the chairman was that the September 11th letter or this most recent one that just came a couple of days ago it did not come a couple of days ago weeko it was in June I believe I apologize because I'm not in the office but it was in June it is Sir Mr chairman I did to different you sent him a letter in letter last week as well last correct but going back to my original letter we haven't heard anything but that's correct I haven't gotten a legal opinion because you know director Cronin I remember the June 5th meeting it got you know there was some uh discussion where he said the hand bought beats the collective bargain agreement that was back on June 5th I'd just like to see that agreement because this is repeating itself because as far as I'm concerned you know show me where the collective bargaining agreement uh loses to the handbook and the reason I mentioned that on September 11th uh I was copied a letter that chairman Shay wrote and again it said that the collective bargaining agreement in essence uh loses to the handbook rules that you come up and I'm just asking for that legal opinion and and again um in the September 11th letter they they finally did give those now you open it up if you do that we had limited we had there was a limited way oh you can't talk about it I know we can't talk about it if you're getting into the areas that we really can't discuss in public session but that it was an area that I say we reflected on I don't know how to say it get in trouble I can't invoke the I don't want to violate the privilege but maybe we have a little bit of misunderstanding but like we're not I'm not cognizant I mean I'm not let's say ignorant of your request it is a subject that it was is something we not clear but I think I think the bottom line was I understand what you're saying you're trying to say if the collected B agreement Trump's the book you got to follow the cook the B agreement correct correct and what where the book Trump said you got to follow the book sure and and and and and we've tried to follow the book I know the the the last letter chairman Shay sent a week ago said oh you know the entry level position well that entry-level position we brought everything we had interviewed we've done we did all the put it out on a d posted it did all that that information we came over here on September 11th and you tabled it and I'm speaking about Carol Graham an entry-level position and it didn't get those papers didn't get signed to October 30th so from my perspective from the Registries perspective from the workers perspective it has to be speed you know to wait almost 8 weeks for that appointment to take place and again I think these employees deserve the promotion the time if the director or the chair on the advice of council says that legal council has advise us that the book trumps the bargaining agreement shouldn't that be sufficient you really on on June 5th we had that discussion and again I don't know what goes on at your executive sessions but you you and I walked out of here thinking we're going to get a copy of the legal agreement but if you know I really would like to see that legal agreement I mean technically I mean I know the director Cronin at times thinks he runs the registry but we're management still and would like you know if there's a letter that affects the registry and the employees if we if we could get it and the other issue I just want to bring up I I just it it to me it's disappointing that every time we have this it's the the registry is not falling following the rules or the registry is failing to comply with human resources just tell us what to do so these people can get the jobs but it seems what Happ but what happened on November 6 we're telling you to follow the book follow the handbook and the handbook lies out if you take a look afterwards please take a look at the checklist it's the checklist tells you how to follow it and you're an intelligent man right you just follow that guidelines and then once you follow it and every complied people get appointed and I don't see what the big deal is unless you're really sincerely afraid of violating the Collective buing Agreement Ian know because my I can't there certain things we can say right and we can't say so we're kind of in a bind as always November 6 when I came over yes sir I I the the promotions were notified not only here County director Cronin the requisition forms you require went to the uh resource person well then how come it didn't get if if they want to if it comes down to we they want to post it as opposed to us we post it that's what the collective bargaining agreement says go over and post it if that's what's going to make it better but what happened since November 6 when I was over here did anyone post it did anyone draft the job descriptions that we gave over here for the promotions did anyone come over to interview these people when we were interviewing them so you know these are questions again thatal questions or something well I think they should be answered but more importantly I think they should be answered not on behalf of the registrat but the employees me yeah the employees you know deserve the promotions but again but that that could be the corruption of I think it's it's saying HR should be the driving force on that it almost sounds like I mean okay I'm just going to go back to my old days of Be A selectman and K I mean if we had an opening right the selectman would talk to the HR person and say hey we're looking for blah you and then they run with the ball they advertise it they do not selectman's office selectman May hire it right but they the HR post it puts it in the paper does all these kind of things like that to make sure it's consistent throughout the town a promotion we not you know we jump through hoops for that entry level thing I get it you know I mean I I wish it was quicker you know we had done everything work we had to wait eight weeks but these are promotions the only people eligible for these promotions are the are the union employees so I have Union employees tell me hey Do's vacancies post these positions I you know uh I have the union leadership you're you're your Your Leader saying oh no the collective Bing agreement is still in place so John okay that's maybe the light's going on mobble head does the book differentiate between internal candidates and external no does it say like for example if they're already in the system they're already here in Nora County does it then defer to the department at forget bill be any dep no it still has to be followed correct okay correct and you want to say something John do a couple things first of all chairman uh excuse me commissioner uh Collins through you and the register I just want to remind the register as an elected official you've sat at this table many times and I'm going to just warn you today please be mindful of your language towards me you mentioned something a moment ago that was blatantly blatantly wrong I am not trying to run the registry when you make remarks like that they're demeaning to my reputation they're wrong and they contribute to a negative dialogue so please watch your mouth I agree number two I agree he has been notified multiple times in writing how to follow this handbook never have I said that the handbook trumps the collective bargaining agreement it does not it does not the handbook plays very well with the hand with the collective bargaining agreement he has been notified about that mult multiple times in writing the union that is at the center of this has members some of them are behind you who are being held hostage by the register's inability to handle this collaboration between the handbook and the collective bargaining agreement and finally I just want to remind the Commissioners that the handbook has been adopted by the very Union that he's trying to say right now is telling him to proceed with his approach okay it's very simple it does not require a lot of extra work but it is a little bit more involved because we're trying to centralize and streamline the hiring process thank you for your time before I know you want to go back on this but I really so you said a lot contact goes too ways I mean director Cronin has retaliated against my St on theair let me few things right we've handled this a bunch of times and this has been an issue for you for some time right we get that and there's a process that will that that can be followed every time and um recently your office sent over um some positions to be filled and the process was followed for a while it wasn't followed then a few positions the process was followed that was all set and now we're back into not following the process again if we get us follow the process the appointments that you're requesting we're not going to hold those up but but you have to follow the process but I came over here November 6 and said here's what we're trying to do so what what more can we do than that you know we sent the requisitions over we did things and I just want to get the positions filled so did did director Cronin a human resource director labadini put any things in place whether it's job descriptions things that we had already done and we posted it we have to post it if they want to do it they could have done it okay let's let's let's I'm going to go down the thing there so you notified HR that there was a vacancy you said you came over with a bunch of stuff and and between coming over here came over here with a bunch of stuff I I hand I'm trying to solve this once and for all so you came over with material and said here we go hand delivered it to and you submitted did you complete a requisition form that was emailed okay all right so then you got now HR drafts the posting and HR PRS the job description did they I I don't know I'm asking now is that something like in the past pre the new book is that something you did did you actually do that right but that's why I brought it to you and give give to them cuz even even the other postings they'll come you know and you know ask what our descriptions are and things so that's what I brought over and if they wanted to retype it or add things but look but look what it says it go going back to what our director was tring to saying where we're trying to go as a county which is a good thing we're trying to work together and you said look number four says HR prepars the job in collaboration with the register it's not going to be us it's not going to be you we're working together and by doing that wish I could say more but I can't I really can't but I mean that's what we should be doing we should be looking at how can we do this better what's maybe we're doing things not the right way or maybe we're doing things 90% but maybe this Improvement I think our goal is trying to make Improvement and make the county better and that's why these people deserve their promotions the Union contract says so but you just points let's just go to number three and four HR drafts the job posting HR prepares the description I brought them over here November 6 okay what's been I that's why I brought them over here's the descriptions do what you got to do so these people can get promoted and again I I draw a distinction it's a promotion and they are Eternal candidates and my understanding of the collective bony agreement is only internal candidates uh can can be uh allowed to get these jobs but well let's let's let's let's back up right so you did a lot of the registry did a lot of these things and they did it on their own and they did it without input from HR so why don't we start now and the registry you can send over whoever you want from the registry they can work with HR and start at the beginning yeah and we'll start at the beginning I just want to get it done yeah why on November 6 when these report I'm not worried about November 6 I let's start at the beginning and get your people hired you made your point I made my point because I keep hearing the registry is not following the process and and we're trying and there Union rules well now it's like what's today the day before Thanksgiving is be thankful get that legal opinion the spirit of Thanksgiving i' thankful so so let's let's start again I think and have your person have have the person that is is working with you have one person come over and meet the HR person and walk through these steps one at a time and the HR will will do it just as they do with every other department and I saying I say politely and I mean it as a commissioner okay I think I like the idea of working together because again it might be something we see or you see that you may want to just make it a little different in that CH actual job description you know your people I'm not going to tell you who to you know your people you run a good registry you do it's one of the best in the area okay I know Bucky has a good job of lith but we'll argue with that but I'm saying the point is just that we're we're trying to fall a guide a book here we're trying to follow a new procedure there's not we're making a mountain out of a mohill to some degree this can be done this can be done they can you know I'm sorry John you want to say I just want to point out for the commissioner's information in this case the register is telling you that all the information came over on November 6 for requisition and so forth the position was already posted at the registry at that point so we just have to start at the beginning I'll just go over and repost it I meanning we just want to get the people hired reg send one person over to talk to HR and they they start at the very beginning of the process you have to start at the beginning so have one person from the registry come over and talk to HR start at the beginning we'll do what we have to do to to fill the positions and we'll fill them what you want to and and they're going to go by what's in the Union contract as far as the the posting deadlines and all that it's the Union contract and the handbook together that's correct that right that's correct that's what it is that's correct is it going to be sooner than when we had everything over here May 11th it took 8 weeks for that entry level I think these people deserve it in two weeks is Michelle on the call hold on a second hold on as soon as send send a person from the registry to talk to HR and we'll start the process okay a motion to made in second and to uh hold these to hold these two Personnel papers all in favor yeah did Joe vote sorry hold Joe I'm sorry was it hold it to or to reject it hold the date okay all right um to be held to a further date a motion than made that's fine second yeah all in favor say I I correct than you too thank you thank you thank you much ladies good to see you okay all right well done Peter Milestones yes let's see what's going on P J col 10 years of service as ground supervisor foran at new for County Agricultural High School amazing oh we give our commendations is that another relative Y no not a relative no um kudos to Patrick we know he does a great job and it's always culminated uh when we go to graduation every year oh yes yes it's a down Peter's team Pete Pete Murphy's team does a great job and pet they really do yeah even today it look great for that little ceremony outside they do a great job they really do his certificate will be available for you to sign at the end of the meeting okay great awesome now he's a good too while I always speaking so highly of him thank you we motion on this or no we just recognizing right yeah it's just U okay yeah we're just recognizing do you mind if I sign right now yeah sure go ahead and sign as soon as you're done signing we'll go into the payroll and expense warrants for approval all right here you go all right so we're going to go to next item number nine correct yes all right I will move the following uh through the chair the warrant list for 11 2724 number 1 25-21 move approval of payroll of the county the amount of $1 149,150 so move Jo second all say I I I unanimous yes sir next 25-21 for 11 payroll of school you right yes I move sum of $439,900 46 cents so moved second oh sorry all favor say hi hi motion carries right motion carries unanimous next uh for November 425 the expense of the county I move the approval at the sum of $47,552 25-5a expense of the county I'm sorry expense of the school forgive me 134,000 $747 so moved second all in favor say I I oh sorry John yes if I could uh commissioner stady we had a late ad for the arpa warrant make list if you would mind could I add a friendly amendment to add the total of the opas that are about to be before you yeah sure uh the total amount is 638 777 yeah. 23 all right I'll move the approval on the warrant uh for Action by the Commissioners for U Opa funds in a total amount of $38,750 for Opa Jo moved seconded all in favor say I I oppose you through each one in just a second to when you sign this to yes you have to sign all this okay go ahead okay all right that's good so the next is number 10 report on American Rescue plan Act of 2021 Mr croner thank you uh Commissioners over the last week um we have sent out letters to five communities that uh still have funds remaining that have not been sufficiently obligated um the towns of Brookline uh Welsley Cohasset Medfield and planville all received letters um indicating that if we don't have sufficient evidence in the portal of applications that can be approved under eligibility uh the county will take steps to take any unspent or un obligated funds back um what those sounds again John I'm sorry can you tell me them again Wellsley Brookline yep Cohasset Medfield yep and planville okay thanks planville is getting their letter today okay thank um these communities all have some activity in the portal of different uh degrees of completeness we're trying to um expedite their efforts to comply and provide our auditor with uh requested information um we are we're hovering at around $5 million still unobligated um the number hasn't moved this afternoon excuse me this morning you approved just over $600,000 of that that's nice but there are some very large balances Within These departments um I should say communities that need immediate attention so we given them uh end dates of December 6 and um I expect to hear from the town administrators before that about how they're progressing towards achieving goals so we'll keep you informed but it's um you know nobody wants to take money back but we will not give money back to the federal government we're going to assign it somewhere where can be used so we'll keep you informed on how that Trends do we have sorry May uh do we have towns that maybe are looking for a little extra and with applications in so say say those towns don't use the money can we get going so that we don't lose that money we do previously I informed the Commissioners that I believe as of I think it was the middle of November uh Clifton Larson is started to review several of those excess application excess allotment applications uh they proceeded to review them for eligibility so if and when funds are you know determined to be moving into those eligible um Grant applications they can move quickly so yes and once um those applications by the way we've alerted the towns also of this um those applications that are excess capacity but have no funds they live within the portal Beyond December 31st as obligated or eligible grants so after January 1st um I I should say as of January 1 any funds that may come back um that for some reason were obligated but the job didn't get done or they they budgeted $10 and it came in at $8 and now it's a $2 Surplus things like that we can we can begin to move money to other eligible um obligated funds and these these grants uh these applications I should say will be in the bucket for uh eligible transfer so great um I believe we had somewhere in the vicinity of 18 applications last time I checked and they're actively looking at them right to get them ready for the end of the year that's all I have on arpa okay and we did the um 11 arpa warrants for approval so I wanted to go through those right now if you don't mind Peter there's five of them um the first was for the town of Brookline 21, 8469 this was a reimbursement under the economic impact for the town of Brook Lin's um rant Administration and support staff uh to handle the administration of the arpa funds okay and before we go to the next one Richard do you want to make a motion to support that no we already did you already approved the total amount to approve each one of them uh no okay all right okay all right fine this is inclusive of right yeah can we already voted the warrant yes you did the next one is Town of uh County of Norfork excuse me this is our last application that we were pending this is the $300,000 that we've um planned for use at the tennis courts to rehabilitate the won Recreational facility tennis courts oh that's what that is um town of Medfield is next $ 69372 this is also a reimbursement for Zoom licenses associated with the town use of that tool the fourth one is the town of do this completes dover's uh use of funds $ 32,9 42.98 um this is for the public safety dispatch radio tower replacement additional Project work ironically here we are three years later um was I believe one of our first applications either one or two Welly over right there and it was the radio tower Grant in the first place that was one the first to get out it will be one of the last uh this closes up that application and then finally the last one was for the town of kasset $47,000 kasset wastewater treatment plant me membrane replacement project um not big grants but um you can see they're small uh they're closing out their obligations um Cohasset still has one large application in the portal that will close out their obligation Brookline has a lot of work to do um we still have one more application from Welsley that the Town Administrator has executive director excuse me has told us she's working on I do have Fai that that'll happen um Medfield has in planville are bulk being handled by Jen Thompson who has the has the plan in place she just needs to move um those applications into the portal with complete um and thorough attachments for the Auditors to review so we're in good shape for planville and Medfield I'm concerned about Brook line and uh Cohasset so those are large numbers that still hang out there yes Richard all right through the here um would if be possible provide myself or the board a list of those towns that have access applications then just for again I and I'm wondering particularly can't that one in the portal I've been asking Charlie duty is that working its way through yes it reached um My Level first thing this morning um unfortunately I couldn't get into the portal this so I couldn't approve suppos to be approv you'll see it next week okay great but I'd love that list to see who's in Play there which is great always helpful as commission that uh that application from Kon is 96,9 I say okay good good that's good news I see I get I'll I'll email you the list of the ex I appreciate that great great job I had no questions item 12 report from the procurement Department bid openings and contract reports n we have a couple out on the street um that we're waiting for closure on next week and moren's preparing a new one for H back uh improvements at rentham Brooklyn and uh RAM Brooklyn and denam I believe uh no re bookline and Sten district courts so that is uh heading out onto the street we expect to have some bids back by December 11th I believe is that for the HVAC it is that's uh funded through arpa trying to line that up were you aware that the HVAC at the Aggie came in more than what they thought they had the money for yes Mr Wallace and I collaborated to close that seeing the trustees took action last week they're in good shape right but do you do you expect a similar problem with buildings I'm saying is HVAC getting out of control or you don't you know uh you don't know till the bids are in um so I will say you know s from the one I just mentioned the one that's closing I think it's December 4th is for the dham district court building management system um this controls hva systems we put it out the bid we didn't receive any responses the last time we modified the bid um and I believe we have a stronger interest this time so we're expecting to see some bids next week and according to our estimator associated with that project we we are we're in good shape to fund it so that's we're hanging our hat on anyways you never know good that's true as you know good so the next item is uh 13 the commissioner's Proclamation declaring small business Saturday within the county rich I don't know if you want to read it I'll read it sure okay terrific all right this is uh when's this going to be this Saturday this Saturday Saturday all right so the Commissioners would like to make the following Proclamation and be glad to present it whereas an AFA County Massachusetts celebrates our local businesses and contributions they make to our local economy and community and whereas according to the United States small business administration there are 40 34.7 million small businesses in the US small businesses represent 99.7% of the firms paid employees small businesses are responsible for 61.1% the net new job created since 95 and small business employ 45.9% of the employees in the private sector and whereas 68 cents of every dollar spent at small business in the US stays in the local community and every dollar spent at a small business creates an additional 48 cents in local business activity as a result of employees and local business purchasing local goods and services and whereas 59% of the us consumers uh aware of small business Saturday shopped or ate at a small independently owned retailer or restaurant on small business Saturday 2023 that's pretty good and whereas norfor County Massachusetts supports our local business that creates jobs boost our local economy and preserve our communities and whereas advocacy groups as well as public and private organizations across the country country have endorsed the satday after Thanksgiving a small business Saturday now therefore we the commissioners of norfor County Mass to he PR Proclaim November 30th 2024 as small business Saturday and we urge the residents of our community and our community across the country to support small businesses and Merchants on small business Saturday celebrating its 15th year in 2024 and Shop small throughout the year so move second all in favor say hi hi hi it's unanimous nicely done you thank you sir okay next one fiscal year 14 F fiscal year 23 annual audit for acceptance we need a motion to accept um I report second it well wait who Okay move down we a motion to accept it yeah Joe I'll make a motion that we accept the fiscal year 23 annual audit as presented okay second um I haven't confess I haven't read the whole audit yet but uh it's a lot does it need to be um we were looking for prompt action because it's a little late but I understand if the commission wants more time it's it is what it is no I I'll vote to accept it okay but I would love to have a chance to re review it and talk about it there a need to in particular I was looking a few couple of things I was looking at we can talk about after we can certainly do that all right so motion that made and seconded uh to accept the uh audit F FY 23 this is by powers and right yes right3 yeah uh yeah I'm fine with it okay all in favor say I I I oppose you okay and Richard if you have any more questions we we'll just talk about that right next week okay great you want it as an agenda item commissioner um no no no no no just just um I wanted well we can cover it under old business you know what let's put on Old business uh any questions I may have on it just gives us a chance chance in case there's something that I flag or I see it I don't want to be called out of order that's all sure you know I appreciate that okay all right item 15 was the engineering department request for the N County Commissioners to vote to authorize the chairman to sign the Comon Massachusetts Department of Transportation Highway division ad adapation attestation she as they are received to confirm that the mass do written instrument and plans have been filed and the county commission's records as per Provisions within National Law chapter 79 and chapter 83 all right Patrick Patrick let's hear from Patrick on this but I think it's fine go ahead I'm sorry Hi Commissioners uh good afternoon I I just um since I was hired uh back in uh June of 21 I'd say we've done about 26 to 30 of these and and I have three more in that that are up and um I think I'm realizing that given how we've gone through these I I don't think the Commissioners have voted negatively against any of the ones um that that you voted on in the last three years and I think a easier process with less paperwork uh you know I'm happy to do whatever way you're you're happy but I think if we could take a generic vote either F in the fiscal year or calendar year and allow the chairman to sign these somewhere um to allow these coming sheets be signed by the chairman would uh move things along and and and I could send the response back to Mast doot um without burdening you at each meeting to vote on them so we could do in this one this is kind of different because they're asking for the chairman to sign it Patrick yep so if Richard were to make such a motion and I were to Second it um to have Joe sign his chairman we can have Joe stamp sign it we can do it that way well I can come in and sign it do you need an actual signature if you do I can sign it now as the acting whatever you want and um acting chairman Collins so this is a like a generic request for like yearly on on on as they come in case by case instead of presenting each one to you every time they come in it's uh I don't have a specific one I want I want him to sign right now just because they they come in in in in uh peace and famine they come in randomly two or three at a time and it's it seems kind of like uh it's housekeeping right yeah this will streamline it so they come in so so we have rich rich Richard could make the vote the motion if I were to Second the vote and Joe you could you could run that part of it and then as it comes forward in the future that way Joe can just sign it without having to go through it before the County Commissioners yes okay okay wait I got a question though just being back up for a second please respect hey by doing this Patrick and John as well um these things are under certain state cm and also State Statute like mgl chapter 81 Section 5 and I'll jump out at me are we violating the spirit of those statutes by doing the Streamline effect I'm not taking a negative view I'm just saying by doing this would would be would be would we be in violation of the process that's required for these kind of things so per Mass general laws chapter 79 in chapter 83 that mass is required to send us the legal action has already occurred at the state level the takings the alterations or the discontinuance have already occurred and they they are required to send us notification of that we the county is required to send is to required to file them in the county clerk's records which is what we do at the engineering office and then we are required to sign an attestation sheet and send it back so we are right in sync with what's required at the county level because the legal actions already occurred at the state level so this just allows the chairman to sign each sheet as it comes in and then I can send it back to the state as required okay so this isn't like the case where for example recently we helped out the town of stoen no we did a layout or reverse layout or terminated a layout or whatever it was that this is where they've done a taking it's already happened they saying here it is and you're saying you're signing off yes we're not signing off we're we're signing we're signing that we filed it in the county clerk's records and sending it back certifying that it's been filed we we we we're not signing off on anything to do with it taken because it's done at the state level and it has nothing to do with a county layout so it's not under um what we've done in in local towns okay that sounds good okay yeah that's good thank you all right you make a motion I'll second it and Joe um you can let me read Joe okay want to read it per a request from Patrick Higgins of the NAA County engineering department the Board of Commissioners votes to authorize the chairman to sign the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Transportation Highway division attestation sheets as they are receiv received to confirm that the mass do written instrument and plans have been filed in the county commissioner's records as per Provisions under Mass General Law chapter 39 section 83 chapter 79 chapter 83 yes okay motions made I'm sorry chapter 79 and chapters 83 okay right motion made yeah I'll second that that's fine okay all in favor in favor y i i z okay report of the county director that's great thank thank you thank you Commissioners Happy Thanksgiving you too Patrick all the best thank you Patrick that's good okay y uh a few items just a reminder to those listening department heads and so forth uh either the December 5th deadline to submit any transfer supplemental request needs to Phil and TSA for consideration at the upcoming Advisory board on December 18th right um I wanted to alert anyone listening as well as the Commissioners that letters to all employees volunteers and retire iies have been sent out to home addresses to our insurance company relative to the recent uh cyber security incident um this particular letter signed by myself electronically directs a benefit to alerts individuals of potential possible uh personal uh information uh release and it gives individuals access to I believe it's 24 months of uh free services as described in the letter if anyone has any questions associated with the letter please call me directly uh we'll be happy to address any concerns you might have Mr cron joh I accidentally shredded that with a whole bunch of this time of year I get a lot of mail and a lot of it's j Ma you need a letter yeah I need a copy that I saw P oh my God I didn't want to get rid I need a copy of that one no problem at all thank you um we've already done the arpa pieces I wanted to thank Moren mchu who um is beginning our second week with us um Moren went down to the schools yesterday just reporting to the Commissioners also trustees she had a very productive meeting with uh senior staff including the superintendent business manager principal and others regarding her view on procurement introducing herself uh John Martin character it is a great meeting and he's very much looking forward to working with Marin um going forward um see you today you approv the blue papers of uh Mr lovess who you will hopefully see soon if not next week he's starting uh on December 5th um I'm sure you're looking forward to meeting him and then finally just a reminder on December mber 11th you'll have a meeting with Paul Connor from the Retirement Board Paul's going to come in and talk a little bit about uh the progress they're making on uh the Actuarial tables that um caused some consternation a few weeks ago and what the Retirement Board folks had do looking ahead Paul stop by this morning provide me some documentation uh that I asked him uh for that um hopefully will give me some insight to help us uh for a productive dialogue in a couple weeks so I just want to let you know you be seeing Paul then that's all I have thank you Mr Collins I would say on that note there'll be a pretty good discussion with Paul because it's certainly now um on the radar of a lot of communities that belong to the retirement system because of the in the action that we collectively took to push it to 2032 so a lot of um you know well there's some numbers in there though commissioner stady that are quite troubling um at least the ones that were drafted by the current actuary and um they just they just scream for more detail more more answers so Paul's committed to helping us get there okay yeah sounds good okay item 17 emergency items topics that the chair did not reasonably anticipate would be discussed nothing if I if I could before we close I just wanted to say a couple of quick things on behalf of all of us um you know a lot of times we we we all are honored to serve in this role and we all get a chance to do a variety of different good things sometimes sometimes it's upsetting sometimes it isn't you know it has challenges like any job but today was a really good day uh to be a commissioner or a trustee uh to attend on behalf of the board uh the ceremony for uh Betty duat was a wonderful ceremony it was well attended it was a great crowd there uh alumni showed up former teacher showed up uh to show the love for this person and such a wonderful gentle person to have the dedication and it came out great too when you see it you'll be impressed the lettering on it it stands out it's good quality I just want to say it was a great thing uh to a commissioner trustee and represent you guys uh it was a wonderful ceremony the chairman yorkis uh read the proclamation from the Commissioners she she was so grateful for that so grateful and so moved and she wanted to convey through me to you her deep appreciation uh by both of you guys and again for your support you've given her and the honor you bestowed so thank you okay well done wonderful day you anything you want to add no I'm all set Happy Thanksgiving yes siry thanksgiv everyone thank you um do I hear a motion to adjourn I'll move it at uh off the 12 122 second second all in favor say I I all right opposing we are ajour thank you everyone Happy Thanksgiving thank you very much