Thank you, >> Jeff. CJ, these are drum drops. >> Nothing better than space drops. Please be advised that this meeting is being recorded and broadcast live on YouTube. The meeting file will be shared in various public access channels
throughout Plymouth County for further potential rebroadcasting. Okay, thank you. Okay, first on our agenda, we have Southshore Community Action Council Nikki Yellow. Yes, is it? wasn't sure I was going to get that right. Thank you so much for coming in
this evening and you know we really appreciate all the programs and everything that you do for both the uh children and uh adult and disability and food resource programs and uh you do a you know great job in within your communities. Thank you >> so much. I really appreciate the
opportunity to be here with you today and the support of the county commissioners of our organization and our very um impactful programs. As you were saying, we we do a a multi-ervice um a variety of things. Uh our mission is to eliminate poverty on the
Southshore. Um and so we really work with folks across lifespan. Um and oh, I should back up and introduce myself. I'm Nikki Gallo. I'm the new CEO at Community Action Council. Um I was previously the director of planning and
development for the organization and um and then was uh started as the CEO in March. Um so yes we we are a multi-ervice agency. Our mission is to eliminate poverty and um in particular we appreciate the support of the commission uh for many years with our
food resources program and also our transportation program this year. Um as you know uh food insecurity is uh really a a pressing need for low-income families. um cost of living right now is really um pinching a lot of household
budgets and for uh households that are already kind of on a a financial razor's edge. Um it's really really hard and we're we're currently in the process of doing our community needs assessment every three years. really um talk directly with the households in our community to hear directly from them
about what their needs are and um you know really difficult choices that folks are making um around food and prescriptions and rent and utilities. Um so supports for food assistance um in the community are um you know just so
needed. We've been convening uh groups of pantries that we work with um to provide a forum to support them and coordinate our resources and really make sure that we're um supporting a resilient resilient and strong emergency food system in the area. Um and what we
do end up ultimately doing is is collecting and and distributing about a half million pounds of food um throughout the county each year. Um we serve uh between our direct service, we have a mobile pantry and then also do some direct service through our programs. Um and then also the food that
we supply to about 60 different organizations to feed people. We end up um distributing food for about 11,000 uh food insecure people every year. So the need is great and the support is um is really needed and appreciated. Um our
transportation program is also one of those areas that um is a perennial need that we identify um within our own needs assessment um and participate in the hospital's community benefits advisory committee and their um health assessments as well. It's always
identified as a barrier to health access and a social determinant of health as well as um an impact to employment and poverty. So, um having support for transportation, our program specifically, um >> provides uh door-to-door transportation
for older adults and people with disabilities who don't have other means to get to doctor's appointments and non-emergency healthcare. So, um so it's really a a vital service that you're supporting. Um and we end up alternately
transporting within Twin County um about 300 um elderly and disabled people to their doctor's appointments whether they're locally um in their towns um sometimes they're regional. We even bring people as far north into Boston, Burlington and Providence to hospitals
there. So um so these are really vital services that um have direct impact on people's health and well-being and I hope you feel um you know really great about supporting them and we definitely appreciate the support. >> Well, we greatly appreciate your your
service and what you do for the communities the great outreach. >> Yeah. Well, we're we're trying, you know, and and you feel like the need is increasing and um so for anybody at home um and you all here, anybody audience here, um you know, we are a resource
that's available and we just want people to know that whether you're working in an organization and are looking for a partner to help with your constituents and your clients or you're somebody who needs help yourself um to always try to find us um and we'll do what we can to try to help. So, >> thank you so much. We do have uh anybody
else have any questions? >> Just a comment, Madam Chair. Nikki, always good to be with you. Congrats on the new role. um >> kind of I I love seeing, you know, I remember sitting across the table with you and Frank at the sheriff's office and really bringing together folks u
from different places that we probably ordinarily would not have thought folks would be coming from to to address the food resiliency and to see that continue to blossom and grow and to continue to be something I think our assistant administrator Theresa Vanazaro has also worked uh in in league with that
program. uh to see that continue for me uh is just personally uh satisfying and you guys are doing the real work. I you know we just sort of put some pieces together to make it work and to get it off the ground and to see that continuing to grow as well as all the other wonderful programs you folks do. I
think we're incredibly lucky to live in a in a county where a lot of uh folks uh do well, but there's there's safety nets that are needed. There are people that uh need these resources, need these supports. Yesterday I was on the continuum of care call with Father Bills of Mainspring and um there's real issues
and real needs and and there are things that are within the county that I think folks wouldn't think would be here but they are and what you're doing and your and Southshore Media Council does is truly laudable. So I'm glad that we're able to support that um again this year. But I just wanted to especially comment
on the food resiliency and just how um how happy I am to see that growing and thank you and your team for all the work you do for it. They appreciate it and again it takes, you know, takes the village, takes all of us working together. You know, it's all about building community capacity to take care of each other. So,
>> sure. >> Um, appreciate that. >> Great job. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mickey. >> We could maybe commissioners, we could get just get a photo if you would. >> Maybe go up behind.
You can come right in here. Oh, a check. Oh, the check. The star. >> Cover the account number. >> Hey, ready. >> Fantastic. Thank you. >> Awesome. Thank you. Thank you very much. >> Another zero to that check for you.
>> Thank you, Nikki. >> Really envelopes. >> Very well. Thank you so much. >> Happy 4th, everybody. Happy. Thank you for >> very good.
>> Okay, moving on. Do I have a motion for the minute acceptance for June uh 17, 2026? >> So move second. >> Okay. Motion by Commissioner Hanley, second by Commissioner Valenzola. All in favor? >> I.
>> Motion to vote and accept and approve vendor vouchers. >> So move second. >> Okay. Motion moved by uh Commissioner Hanley, second by Commissioner Valenzola. All in favor? I >> I. >> Motion to vote and accept and approve payroll vocals. >> Approval. >> Second.
>> Okay. Commissioner Hanley, second by Commissioner Valenzola. Uh, all in favor? >> I. >> I. >> Okay. We have a plane ticket contract. We have the cities of Lel and uh Quinzy. Um, commissioner signatures we need. Do you want to add anything to this or
you're all set with it or >> always? >> Always. I know. >> Franklin requirements >> and I love to hear it. Good evening. So, uh for you tonight are contracts from the city of Quinley, city of WS the parking department. >> Okay. >> The thanks to the investment that
commissioners and the advisory board made from the technology that we have the parking department able to expand our offerings and expand our footprint uh well beyond Plymouth County and to uh you know reach upwards uh to some fairly large communities within the Commonwealth.
LOL by itself will double the ticket volumes and the revenue that comes into the department and Quinsey also is uh a large community that will add to us. Um so all told um with these folks uh coming on board that brings us to uh 48
full members. Um I will say um LOL we announced that probably earlier in the fiscal year but it took a little while to get that going as their um IT department wanted to develop all of our systems and our procedures and they were satisfied that we were a safe bet and then it got caught up in the law
department the contract until they determined that the contractor was doing a safe bet. So you know very glad to be moving on with this. Um you know I will temper the good news. Um it's very rare that they come up with bad news, but uh it does happen.
>> Any bad news? >> So the uh town of Welssley, which was one of our um larger communities, uh they had signed a three-year contract with us and they had chosen um to not extend that contract and uh leaving a little
bit early actually. They've exercised their right. Part of that has to do with consolidation and automation of some of their systems. Uh so it's just um it's a shame, but it's I've uh was saying to the treasurer, we've had plenty of communities that have left MMHG that
have knocked on the door to come back. Out of the 14 communities that have uh joined P County Parking in the last four years, uh three of those were communities that left and came back. So the door is always open to any community that wants to come back. It's always certainly always open to any community
that uh is new. So with that, I thank you for your signatures and uh your continued support. I'm just so proud of everything that you've done for the parking department and has come, you know, very strong strongly back and, you know, especially bringing back those that were out now
willing to come back. Uh, I give you so many, you know, accolades on doing what you've done and I appreciate every bit of it. >> Chair, if I may just echo your sentiment, >> Jeffrey, outstanding job. I got to witness firsthand your abilities in the
city of Quinsey when we met with the mayor and his team. And there wasn't a question that was asked that you didn't know the answer to. It wasn't um a philosophy advertised that you didn't have a counter to. And I want to say that on
behalf of the commissioners, thank you. because I think we have the right person in charge. I would just hope that more communities would recognize the value ad of working for a municipality with another municipality so that the the costs are low. It's obvious that you
know the bells and whistles of your competition are out there and we don't have the resources of those folks but that's all they are are bells and whistles. So at the end of the day you have someone that you pick up the phone and talk to at Plymouth County when you have an issue with a ticket and they get a voice. they don't get a
computerenerative AI response. So I want to thank you and you know if we have to add more folks for you to to be that much better I think you you eat what you kill, right? So thank you. >> Very good. Thank you.
>> Make a motion to execute parking contract with the cities of LOL and Quinzy. >> Second. >> Motion made by Commissioner Valenzo. Seconds by Commissioner Hanley. All in favor? >> I follow.
>> Okay. Next item is uh surplus inventory vote from MMHG office. >> At a regular meeting of the Plymouth County Commission is holding at Plymouth on the first day of July 2026 AD. Voted to declare the following items as surplus. The items are inoperable and no
longer usable to the main following municipal health group and will be disposed of. Brother Fasimali, model number FAX4100E. I won't read the serial number. Kanuka Manulta, copy or printer number model
number DF-704. >> Second. >> Okay. Motion made by Commissioner Valenzola, second by Commissioner Hanley. All in favor? >> Thank you. Hey, now we're going on to extension services horicultural education job description. Molly,
>> good afternoon, commissioners. Uh I hope you all have seen in your packets our uh update for the hiring or potential hiring process for the new employee in the extension office. So horiculture educator. Um we have not had a horiculturalist on staff since Deborah
Swanson left our program back in 2011. So this is very exciting. The team is looking forward to it. Um we have a job description for you, an advertising piece, and then a potential timeline. Um we sat down with the team and decided that since uh the summer is a very heavy
time for us with careers in agriculture several fairs and other out of office programs that we would like to advertise uh at the end of July through the month of August and then once we're back in the office from fair season um we would hopefully schedule some interviews.
>> Very happy to answer any questions. Um the salary is not listed on this. We will amend it to send out the actual salary amount that was voted on. It is a grade 22 and the salary I believe is about $65,000. It is in line with our other educator positions downstairs
>> and within our budget right now. >> Yes. >> Okay. Very good. Thank you. Uh let me see. Do we need uh a motion and extension uh for that? >> Motion. >> Okay. >> Second.
>> Okay. Motion made by Commissioner Venol. Second by Commissioner H. All in favor? >> I chair. Madam Chair, can I just clarify is the motion uh to approve the job description, approve the posting, and approve the process. Uh we just need to
know um I'll clarify the motion for all three of those. But my motion will be to post the job description as written to uh post as listed in the timeline and um
ask the administrator commissioner and the extension director be the screening committee. >> Second. >> That's an amended motion. Commissioner Valenzola amended his uh motion. Second by Commissioner Hanley. All in favor?
>> I. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Holly. Holly. Uh, okay. Discussion and vote on uh postme solar panel project uh proposal.
Teresa, new commissioners. Just wanted to follow up on our previous discussion on solar. Commissioner Hanley asked that I look into the costs of us purchasing the
solar outright. This is just a quick outline. >> Thank you. >> And the second graph page is um a breakdown of the costs of what it would cost for the us to purchase three um um excuse me solar on three facilities
which would be 32 Belmont excuse. Yep. 32 Belmont 44 ovary and 50 50 ovy. So, the estimated cost of us purchasing that would be $688,500. If we were to purchase solar on all five buildings that um shows on our print out
there, it would be upwards of $1.5 million. Um I did reach out to see if there were any grant opportunities that could cover this cost. Um, I reached out to the mass D clean energy results program and that they I was told that
they were currently in the GAP 4 process and that they don't expect another round of GAP energy grant funding for another two years uh perhaps not till the spring of 2028. Um, so then I did reach out to the DOER's green communities program and
they are limiting any type of funding right now to um residential homeowners and they have no um prospects in the future to provide any large solar funding. Um, so I I did want to get that information for you.
>> If I may, Lisa, if I may, did you reach out to either Eversource or National Grid as well? Well, they're part of they actually do give us the energy information and then um ECI um does all the they're the actual energy audit company and they do all the um they
facilitates all the proposals. >> So were those folks uh asked to look at available funding for this type of acquisition for the county? >> Did you just do on your own like go to the agents which I'm not criticizing my >> state on my own? That is correct. um
their their um portion of this type of program is um giving us um rebates and whatnot. So they reduce the cost of this through rebates and through um information the rebates and uh energy
saving programs that they receive and that they pass it on into the form of these programs. >> Does that make sense? >> It does, if I might. Uh also, um they're the ones that are paying for the equipment. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, the utility companies pay for the equipment. >> Yeah.
>> And then you get the discounts. And Theresa did a phenomenal job looking at a couple different options >> uh there. But that's how the utility companies actually participate in the through Mass Save. >> Right. So, when it came down to talking
to those utilities, did you say that our consultant had done that or >> Oh, the consultant does that. I also initiated energy audits for all the buildings as well. Um most of the time before they'll even move forward with this kind of stuff is they they would want energy audits done of all the
buildings >> and you have we've performed that and that's how they sign this the assistance. >> Yep. >> And if there are any um things that we now have to correct in order to move forward, we actually have to correct
those and fund those ourselves before that they'll move forward and and do these programs. So in other words, um if they find out that maybe lights need to be replaced, become more energy efficient, they would require you to do that first. >> Okay.
>> I also did want to point out that the savings um of us um going through a PPA have actually decreased since the last time we talked. As we get closer to uh them eliminating this funding, uh their
incentives are not there anymore. And so now we are at a point where um it's still a good savings. Um however, it is a little bit less than what we first originally introduced to you. >> So the commitment by the consultant to
maintain the equipment, what is that? >> That would be the PPA. Um if we were to sign the PPA, so um did you want to know the savings? Do you mean? >> No, I just want to guarantee that you know this generation solar panels >> Yes. five years from now could be outdated.
>> Exactly. Well, the good thing about the PPA is they're actually stand behind that product and they have to answer to us. So, they have to they're not going to give us information that um they won't be able to back up. So that would all be part of the PPA agreement that we
would have certainly our attorney to look at first, make sure that the county is well protected um and special and you know most strategically to validate this information they're giving us as far as savings. >> So we we'll be waiting for a subsequent
agreement on that between the county and our >> that would be a PPA, right? >> Yes. So today, are you looking for a vote? >> Um, I'm looking to see um which way you want us to further pursue this. Do we want to uh
>> find other funding sources to actually purchase the solar? That would be up to um everyone you want me to go forward and try to find some more funding sources. So >> um or want to move [clears throat] forward with the PPA. I will note, however, about 15 minutes ago, um the
energy company did let me know that there is one other possible um program that they're going to have out there. They weren't able to give me the information right now. They're thinking that maybe there'd be a better savings than this current PPA program.
>> I'm all in favor of you going full steam ahead if you want to keep going if is that if that's what you're looking for. I mean, I want to digest this stuff and maybe even have a separate meeting with you to talk and we'll meet on it if that's okay.
>> Um, I will just know this isn't the first time we've been given this information. Um, and Trice, I appreciate you following up on the cost of us purchasing our own panels versus this. As I think we had discussed when I first asked, when Commissioner Hanley first asked it, it
seemed like going with a PPA would make more sense than buying the panels. And to Commissioner Hanley's point, the maintenance of it, they become obsolete. It's not our responsibility, fixing update. I'm I'm comfortable with given the authorization because I'm looking at the front here to move forward with
pursuing a PPA given that we don't have another meeting for six weeks. I would hate for us to miss an opportunity and watch some of these savings dwindle unrealized if um if we were to miss that opportunity. I think she just stated that there may be an opportunity to get
a better deal on a program that has been advertised but not yet released. So six weeks a great time go all six weeks and then come back is I'm I'm just saying I like what you're doing is my bottom line. >> Savings I mean we did drop down. We are
now at um the first year savings of $7,800. That's still a great savings. Um 20-year estimate is now $390,000. Before it was $460,000, I believe. So, it's starting to edge down. So, if this other program could bring it back up just a little, it's
certainly a savings to the county at no capital outlay for us as well. >> Yes. You're okay. Commissioner Valenol, you done? >> Yes. >> Okay. Very good. >> Thank you, Teresa. My question I guess is uh I have a lot of questions actually
uh especially working with solar is um you know what is the lifespan who's responsible uh changing it out taking care of it replacing it >> um is the hold on one second hold on
also um who would be bonding this uh would somebody be putting up a bond for it I know many companies come in and then they go belly up and so we need to have you know some sort of security and that but um I you know I do agree that
uh you know look into the lower cost that we might be available to get and certainly come back. This is you know the first time I've seen this here with the decrease in uh amount. So, I would like to further see, you know, what else they're offering us and also um who
would be bonding the uh project >> and um with your permission, I'd like to submit the PPA to um our legal um council and then I believe all that is actually um written out within that PPA and that way legal can um possibly give
us the true answer to that. >> Yeah, you know, I think there's a lot of different factors here. just finding out um you know what what our cost is going to be uh what their responsibility uh will be for many different reasons. Uh
so I think if we have that all written out and she can probably you know look through it and see and give her stamp on it then I would feel a lot better. >> Absolutely. >> Good. Thank you. >> Oh great. Thank you. >> Okay. Um discussion and vote on
southeastern uh England program community assistance program uh application. Uh what is that on me? >> Oh, there's you again. Okay. >> Busy tonight. >> You walked away. I thought it was someone else.
>> I have too much. I'm just going to bring up the presentation and this is just a copy in case we have technical difficulties and you'll be able to follow along with this >> actually if you can go off the paper slides that's
>> yeah absolutely >> work better. >> Thank you. Okay. I just wanted to share with you um an idea that began in 2014 as a farm management program that has evolved into what I would be would consider Plymouth County signature
regional environmental initiative. Over the past few years, we've met with the municipalities, environmental organizations, and technical experts, and these conversations have shaped the program into something much larger than originally envisioned. Uh today I'd like
to walk you through that evolution, introduce a proposed pilot community water management initiative and explain how a SNAP, which is Southeast New England program community assistant application and award could help us build a foundation for a countywide program.
You just start on the next slide. How did we get here? Well, the original concept that we had for management was fairly straightforward. Municipalities were struggling with farm management issues, harmful algae blooms, water quality concerns, invasive vegetation,
and increasing testing costs. Many towns told us that they simply didn't have the staff or financial resources to manage those issues on their own. The original idea was to determine whether to Plymouth County could provide shared services with technical assistance. Uh
the next slide uh program evolution. As I continued speaking to a lot of the communities, it became apparent that the challenges were not limited to just ponds. Heavy conservation eventually led to heavy conversation eventually led to broader discussions about watersheds,
storm water runoff, groundwater protection, resilient planning, grant funding, and public education. What started as a pond management program naturally started evolving into a comprehensive water management program. Rather than discussing on rather than
Tom's focusing on individual water bodies, we're now thinking about protecting water resources across the region. The next slide, pond management versus water management. When we started, we were talking about
water management. Um, and now it's not simply a name change that we'll be doing. It's going to represent a shift in how we think about water resource management. The original farm management program address individual programs. The water management program now addresses
the systems that affect those farms. That includes watershed planning, regional collaboration, monitoring, education, and long-term resil resilience. Next slide. What we heard from the communities. Although every municipality
um was unique, we consistently heard however the same challenges. Um water quality degradation, harmful algae blooms, nutrient loading, storm water runoff, aging infrastructure, limited staff capacity, lack of baseline data,
and difficult securing funding. What I found was that many communities are trying to solve the same problem independently. Our thought is, can Plymouth County help coordinate all these efforts? Next slide. Regional water management
program. So this slide highlights the four components of the proposed regional water management program. Together, these services provide municipalities with the expertise, coordination, and the resources needed to better protect local resources. Um, under the program
components, um, dedicated water management director, which we discussed previously, would coordinate the program, work with participating communities and oversee regional projects. Uh the regional communication and outreach um would connect municipalities, agencies and
stakeholders to encourage collaboration and information sharing. Water quality monitoring testing would provide reliable data to track water quality, identify issues, and guide management decisions. Shared purchasing opportunities will
help communities reduce costs through cooperative purchasing and shared services. Specialized equipment access gives municipalities access to equipment that may otherwise be too costly to purchase. One of the things I've noticed as I was talking to all the communities, one
community could have a um fairly piece of expensive equipment that another community needs and we don't all know what each other has. So, it would be good opportunity to share in those equipments. uh public education and resources, which would support community
awareness and promote stewardship of local water resources, grant assistant, and certainly water shed protection and planning to encourage regional planning since wersheds extends beyond municipal boundaries. Um by working together
through a regional program, communities can access professional expertise, shared resources, reduce cost, and achieve better long-term water management. Uh and most importantly, communities can choose the services that best meet their needs.
Slide satellite. The opportunities one opportunity we discussed extingensively is creating efficiencies through the regional collaboration such as shared testing contracts, bulk purchasing, shared equipment, shared expertise, and shared reporting. By working together,
communities may be able to reduce costs while improving the quality of information available for decision making. My thought, a pilot community water management initiative rather than launching a countrywide program immediately. I believe that the better
approach is to begin with one community, one pond within that municipality, follow it for one year, learn what works, learn what didn't work, create a plan doing it that way, um and expand
by um showcasing this pond throughout the year, uh create an educational resource and share that with all the other communities within the town. Um, this would allow us to um test this concept um before actually going out to all the
communities with the with this pond management program. Slide nine pilot project deliverables. Um so this pilot that I'm thinking one pond one community is primarily a planning initiative um would help
develop monitoring framework watershed planning recommendations stakeholder engagement funding strategies and best practices um perhaps most valuable deliverable is a model that other communities can adopt. So by us creating this one pond
one community throughout the year um create a plan that other communities can then adopt to slide N why we are looking to um submit an application to the SNAP program. Um
it's important to note that this SNAP assistance opportunity is not a funding opportunity. It's an uh it's an educational opportunity. Uh they're providing the expertise, the planning model. They're going to help us develop this model. Uh most importantly, they're going to give us the technical
expertise. Um they're planning organizations. So, they're going to help us um with our planning needs as well as help to position us future funding. Um and most importantly help us create a fee structure that we can use for other
towns to um be part of this of this um program. Think of the word slide 11. Um what's the long-term vision? Uh the long-term vision is a sustainable regional water management
program operating as a feedbait service for f for the municipalities in southeast Massachusetts. Communities will be able to access technical expertise in watershed planning, storm water management, regulatory compliance and product
project implementation as needed. SNEP community assistance project will help establish the structure and the capacity of the service. As the program matures, service fees will be supporting ongoing staffing and operations. And the goal is a regional utility like support system
for water management that is both reliable and financially self- sustaining. And our last steps um today I'm not actually asking for the commissioners to approve the the program. And what I'm
asking is um approving me submiss submitting the application to step for their technical um assistance. Um I believe that Plymouth County has an opportunity to become a regional leader in water resource management by starting with a
thoughtful pilot project. We can build a program that is practical, collaborative, and responsive to the needs of our communities. That's my program. Uh if actually if I can just with one final comment um we didn't set out to create a water
management program. Um we set out to solve the problem. Along the way we realized that municipalities across Ponouth County share many of the same water resource challenges which is what's initiated the pond management program. The opportunity before us is to
develop a regional solution that communities can choose to participate in rather than asking each town to solve these challenges alone. If I may, Madam Chair. Sure. Go ahead. >> Um, thank you, Mr. Renazaro. This is
thorough. um really well put together, thought out, and I think it really uh encapsulates not only for this program specifically, but I think a model for us going forward in terms of
other future programs where we start out small with a pilot program, prove our medal and worth in it, which we know we will, and then we expand it from there. So, I I really appreciate the thoroughess of this, the effort and the work put in. Um water of course knows no
boundaries political or otherwise. Runoff doesn't care if it's in Rockland or Abington or Plymouth or Carver. Um so the fact that we have had a lot of siloed um water districts doing this work amongst the county candidly has
been somewhat you know cumbersome for for many years and I think this is a an area where we can um where we can really make an impact. So with SNAP, um, is there a a cost associated with them
where they come in? Okay. >> That seems too good to be true. >> It it does seem to be uh we don't receive any funding as well, but we're receiving their expertise in creating this pilot program. >> Right. >> Right. >> Okay. And I guess my last question or
thought and it might be to ahead of uh ahead of the timeline here, but is there a community or a pond that um >> so I did reach out actually to Rochester to see if because we were trying to find a community that's part of the SNAP
>> um >> location and still within Plymouth County. Um, I've not heard back yet from Rochester. So, naturally, it would be nice to submit the application with a community in mind. Um, but we do still need to find that community. >> Sure.
>> No, again, this is this is excellent and I think will help serve as a model for this program, but also other things uh that we might want to do going forward. Yes, >> if I could, Madam Chair, I I just like to praise uh the assistant uh county
administrator. Um there's been meetings with Rochester, with SERed, with SNEP, which is a division of the US uh EPA. Uh and they actually are, this is a grant program that the commissioners tasked
our team with getting grants and uh Teresa has been meeting with these uh groups to try to figure out. We have another meeting with uh Serped tomorrow. So this is also working similar to what we did with the food resiliency with OCPC but now this time working with
SERed uh in in that area and especially some of our smaller uh uh towns within the county need this kind of assistance. Um, but I taking a step back uh from where we were to be able to build this
foundational idea and then uh flush it out through meetings and working with many different federal regional planning agencies and towns is just a lotable and uh uh it's this is a really exciting
program taking wishes and dreams and putting it together uh with um experience indust uh uh expertise in the area and then funding from the federal government to solve problems regionally.
>> So if I may madam chair >> first of all thank you for undertaking all of that. This is the work product that comes out of it. Now this grant is a technical grant that is going to give you a blueprint correct. >> Exactly. >> Okay. So with respect to what role do we
see as lowhanging fruit that we can get involved it immediately? Now, I know the town of Pembroke had an issue with freshwater oysters, okay? And you couldn't do the silver nitrate to deal with the the growth of the um I forget
what they call it, but it was blue algae basically. And we because of the freshwater oysters couldn't eradicate that. So, we had to use another means and method. And I remember calling the best way to get rid of those freshwater oysters was to have the Pemrook Oyster
Festival every year. That was meant to be a joke. So, [laughter] but that didn't go over as I I just said, but I I I can see some economies of scale right off the bat, especially in purchasing um that type of uh chemical. Uh if we could do a bulk
purchasing contract like salt and oil and all that, I think that's something we already have the expertise on. I think when you look at specialty, I look to what 4 is doing with Blake. He is the subject matter expert and he I think is
someone that would bring a lot of credibility to the county providing a service to the not only this county but multiple counties and so I'm wondering is there a guru that may come out of this blueprint that is going to be a
Blake like quality that can then help communities because I look at this as a DPW function in terms of mechanical harvesting uh and pond management. I look at boards of health for water quality. Is there something that we can uh start our own program with someone
that just goes down? It's like filling the uh the chemicals for your water in your pool and you send it to a lab and we get the results and then there's a course of treatment that relates to bulk purchasing in in what we would be doing. Um and then you have to get orders of
condition from conservation. So you can't just walk in and start the program without them as a stakeholder. So each one of those communities would have to issue permits, you know, and we're starting very small and this is perfect and it's exactly what we're looking for.
It's money that we don't have to put up that you're going to have a a a blueprint on that is probably going to take maybe two to three years to implement to get it up and running about five years. It's like the ticket program. How long is it, Jeff, that we had a ticket program before it
metriculated to where it's outstanding? >> 20 years. Well, how long since you took over that did it take, you know, but what I'm saying is with Teresa at the helm, much like yourself at the helm and she's doing the due diligence, you know, this is something that I think would be
worthy of your time because you have a funding source. You know, ultimately it'll be revenue generation, but more importantly to our member communities, it's about the savings and the economy of scale gained because these are you've sat in the meetings, right? And you've listened, Frank, you've sat in the
meetings. I mean, there's a lot to water and there's going to be more to be talking about in the >> amazing. I've learned so much just talking to the towns and the conservation. I never thought twice to be honest. I mean, other than the quality of water, but you don't realize
um surrounding commu um homes that are surrounding uh some of these ponds and septic issues and and our storm water runoff. like I never really understood it all as a you know a planning process until we've sat down with uh all these communities. I'm like wow there's so
much involved. That's why I feel like this program if we got that assistance and be able to actually follow this one bond and and how everything just relates to this water management. Um just think that that's money right there just
getting that type of technical assistance money in the bank. I agree with Council Valenzola. Thank you for for putting the effort into it and good luck with it. You hope it yields some some fruit. >> That's great. Thank you, >> Teresa. Thank you. I also agree what both uh Commissioner Hanley and
Commissioner Valinsa have said. Uh this is a great uh presenter that you got off of the website. I'm sure. Uh what I would really like to see is that is that there's a lot of questions here that uh beginning 2024, we're in it two years
now, municipalities facing increased water quality control. I would rather have had you elaborate on like how many and who you've had a lot of knowledge and who you've gone out and spoken to. uh if you had elaborate a little bit on that on you know what your findings
were, who was involved, what what uh regional uh input you had, who were they uh that you met with um as far as um even grant funding uh by who and what grants would be eligible. So if you
already familiar with what grants would be eligible and that's the beauty of the SNEP program that that they will introduce that information to us. And then public education outreach, what type and who is doing the education? So with all your knowledge and you know what I'm just saying, there's a lot of
things, everything here, >> I would have liked to have seen you elaborate more on and you know, >> a lot of the answers I don't have yet. I really don't. Um I would not know the best way to go about presenting this. Um but it's just the beauty of the SE um
community assistance program is what it's called. They give us those tools. they tell us the best way to approach this because they're the experts. >> So, I guess I I would like to see, you know, what you brought back um with each probably each item you could actually
nutritional loading. What is that? I mean, what that is uh maybe you could elaborate a little bit more on that harmful algae like what kind of algae? What is you know what's harmful about it? So this is, you know, because of who you've been out talking to and and discussing all these different matters
with, I would have liked to have learned what you know uh about it. So these are all good bullet points, all good things, but I think I'd rather just have a little bit more aging infrastructure. Well, we know what that is. Uh limited staff capacity. I don't know what that
is. >> Enough staffing to cover all this um um to um maintain water quality. um their budgets are being cut. They're actually in line items for actual testing is being cut. I had spoken to actually the
town of Plymouth and um they've expressed um just that that um they've their line has been cut is even less today than it was 20 years ago and they'll probably cut it again. So um that's what that meant. >> Difficulty securing funding. uh who have
you checked with you? I mean the town can still hold on. Um hold on a minute. These are all things that I would like to know out of what you've heard and learned from the different communities uh of what you know what difficulties and and funding are they having that we we're having. So and I'm not you know I
I give you a lot of credit. This is this is great but I just would like to pick your brain and find out what you've learned and and report to us. you know, where all these different difficulties and funding and education and all that. So, that's what I'd like to see. But I
appreciate everything that you do. It's a lot of work. Uh I know you're out talking to everybody in the community. I know you're getting a lot more education than probably any of us, but I'd like to know what uh education you have absorbed from. Absolutely. >> Madam Chair, if I may, I just want to um
clarify an assertion you just made that I found to be a little inappropriate. you inferred that the assistant administrator pulled this quote off of a website. So, um I am of the belief based on recognizing presentations like this
that you yourself put together this PowerPoint presentation for us. >> The only thing I didn't do is PowerPoint will recommend coloring. >> Sure. And cute little uh you know, labels. So, yeah. >> So, I wanted to clarify that because this looked like your work product. It didn't appear to be artificial. Yeah. It
didn't appear to be artificial intelligence involved. It looked like your work product. I thank you for it. I personally understand that these things start small and that this serves as an overview and that by procuring SNAP and partnering with them on this uh several
answers that are not available to you or candidly anybody in this room tonight will be answered as we continue to go down the road. So, um I certainly appreciate your work and your effort in putting together this presentation and if it's appropriate um it says
discussion and vote, I'll I'll vote to or motion, I'm sorry, um to uh apply uh to the Southeast New England Program Community Assistance Project as it relates to the Plymouth County Water Management Program. >> Second.
>> Okay. Um motion made by Commissioner Valenzola, second by Commissioner Hanley. Um all in favor? >> I >> Okay, very good. Thank you. >> Okay. County administration administrative discussion and votes to
award position and set salary level. Um >> Madam Chair, if I may. >> Yes, Commissioner Hanick. As the uh chairman of the uh committee uh that brought the applicants uh to our interview process the other night, I
want to thank my committee for I think we had the best three that you could interview. Each interview got better than the one prior to it and I was very excited with our opportunity uh to get a qualified um pool of
applicants. With that, Madam Chair, I would move that the Plymouth County Commissioners extend a conditional offer of employment for the position of Plymouth County Administrator to Troy Clarkson contingent upon the successful negotiation of a comprehensive
employment agreement to be finalized by county council. Get a motion to uh >> motion to have county council enter into a conversation with Troy Clarkson as the
recipient of mine. >> Okay. >> Motion. >> Do I have a second? >> Seeing none. Uh I will second that. All in favor on the motion. Madam chair. >> Roll call. Commissioner Valenzola. >> On the motion I would just like to make
a comment. Um, so I just want the record to reflect uh my thoughts on this process as I've seen it unfold before my eyes. Unfortunately, my colleagues in their newfound uni party alliance have cloaked these proceedings in darkness
maneuvering very obviously behind the scenes to construct their desired outcome. >> Violated the open meeting law and mal matters relative to the entire process. >> You are out of order. >> Questions were asked differently of each candidate. The chair remarked that one resume had challenges. Commissioner
Hanley pressed one applicant on what you municipality participates in but did not ask the same question of his desired applicant. It was clear the fix was in. So to the other I'd ask you to the county council to
your time >> enforce your ruling of him being out of order. Whatever is decided here does not reflect upon you only as an attempt. Why are you consistently even when I'm making just a brief statement madam chair I don't run
you did not object to anything you didn't take any vote on that it went >> Robbins rules of order there was a motion in a second on the motion I asked for discussion discussion was not denied I am now offering discussion what again is intriguing to me is in all of these proceedings the both of you continuously
and consistently very careful how you talk >> conversation relative to this discussion and debate. >> Are you reading that from AI? >> No, I wrote this commission because I know how to I know how to go all fact. What is disturbing about this motion
recess? Madam chair, >> have shown in this >> motion in recess >> motion on the table did allow for discussion. She as chair can limit the scope of the discussion, >> right? >> Of which she did not. She did >> by calling you out of order. I think she said then I think people will realize
why. I think the two of you you voted three nothing for a succession plan. >> Three nothing >> in November. You you you you you teased an individual into this role and now the callousness the the cruelty that you both have displayed and just saber
rattling at individual >> I'll call for a roll call madam chair >> absolutely disturbing you should both be ashamed >> call uh commissioner Valenzola >> no >> commissioner Hanley >> yes >> commissioner right yes >> thank you madam chair >> and I think that whatever he said should
be stripped out of the >> you are not allowed to edit a public document or Madam Chair, I know you would wish you could, but unfortunately you can't. >> Will you proceed? I will take my contract negotiations, but I think it needs a scope.
>> I'm sorry. >> On the salary. >> Yeah. And so since you're >> Yeah, we can. >> I have it in my motion. I addressed it to leave it up. So from funds that were available. So, um, if you want to talk
about establishing the, uh, competitive salary, we have a range of 100,000 to 125,000. So, the applicant is has to be contacted to see if they're going to accept. >> I agree. Okay. So, let me just explain to you what the process is because you're going to offer an employment
contract. >> I'm not offering. No, it's not an employment contract. >> Okay. My my words were specifically that we enter into let me see where we have a comprehensive employment agreement which states >> do you mean
>> salary benefits okay I I can't tell you what Frank uh does beyond salary okay >> okay so you need to lay out what is the full package okay the we're living within the scope of the salary okay subject to the negotiation of all those
other benefits so >> okay agreement to me, >> right? But I put said it specifically, so you didn't listen. Okay, >> I understand. >> Not a contract. >> No, I understand. I will report back. I don't think you need to do anything further. >> Thank you.
>> Okay. Just for the record, I don't like being accused of such things that you say. In fact, I had uh spoke with somebody earlier about my decision and I changed it last minute because of what came out
on Facebook. So, um that had nothing to do with Commissioner Hanley or myself >> governing by >> county uh administrator. All right. American Re uh recovery plan act update and distribution votes.
[clears throat] Commissioners, as you will recall, we uh have funds that continue to come back. ARPA is still alive and well. And at this point, I will be looking for a motion to authorize me to distribute up
to 945, $93,1.32 to the communities that had submitted additional applications and those communities include Brockton, Situate, Bridgewater, Metapo, Rockman, Ingam, Norwell, Adam.
Tom, this is from all the monies, the people who applied that weren't able to use it back into the pool previously approved by a prior vote of those shovel ready communities. Correct. >> Is correct. And the motion should say for previously approved and obligated
>> in and will that balance out in terms of what's being turned in and what's being sent out. Is there any more money that potentially could be re returned before the deadline? >> So the short answer is yes. there's more money that could be returned. Money that's been out there since 2022 or
2023. Remember the deadline for the program was December 31st, 2026. So, we have a number of communities that are still working on their initial allocation. They tell us they're going to spend the money. We're monitoring the expenditure of that money. It has not all been spent. >> Do we have a backlog of eligible
projects that are still in the queue? >> Um, after this uh authorization, uh, we have a few. Yes, we're winnowing those down. In fact, with this vote today, it will be uh completing the request of
Rochester advocate Norwell. So, you'll still have a few communities that will not have received their full request of an additional allocation, if that makes any sense. >> So, we had 10 communities that had an additional allocation above and beyond money's got returned. >> We funded half of those requests. They
used that money. More money came in. Now, you're funding a little bit more of those requests. There are still a few out there. Yes. Um I I will tell you there are two or three communities that we worry about and are monitoring closely. Um one of the things just to begin to think about
is that if those monies aren't spent by a date certainly and we'll be monitoring them very closely, we may just have to ask those communities to return them anyway. Uh if we're not confident they're going to be spent so we can reallocate them and get them spent by December 31st, 2026. >> True you, Madam Chair. Um Tom, with the
escalation of tariffs, I've noticed in public projects that I work with that there are cost escalations to projects that had no rhyme or reason other than getting the materials necessary into those projects are costing more. And there's I've spoken to the IG about it.
How do you compensate a community who went and bonded a project? Okay. and they put their whole program out to bid and now all of these cost escalations on materials specifically are not recoverable. So my question to you would
be through the US Treasury, can you get some sort of definition on a project that has been awarded by us that is returning money because they had to cancel the project for cost escalations?
Is there a way for us to qualify that shovel ready project for additional monies not applied for because they were unforeseen due to the tariffs? >> It's a real situation. >> Answered that question and said no. >> Oh, they did. So, you already anticipated? Yes. Okay. Thank you.
>> Well, they answered that. So, again, they've updated their rules and guidelines. The last update was in April. They provided that. >> Yeah. A lot of cities in town are are struggling and more so the contractor because the contractor now has to come up with the delta
>> and some contractors are looking to abandon projects already. >> I will say however and all of that is correct. I have been surprised at some of these projects coming in under anticipated cost and that's how we're getting some of this money back. Um so while that's true uh there have been
projects that have been out there that anticipated to cost more and for whatever reason didn't. Well, on the labor end, there's not enough work out there. So, you're seeing prices come down on labor, but escalation on materials. >> Again, many of these projects were started years ago. Um, but we're we're
watching it very closely. The good news is, as I reported, 14 communities have used all their money. They have no capacity. So, we're down to a handful. Uh, actually two handfuls plus a few more. Um, and we'll make sure that they use it because again, the the goal is not a penny returned. Um it's it's
fascinating and the amount of time this takes to monitor it is significant and I worry about others but I can't because this is the one we have to focus in on but I I cannot imagine any governmental entity not returning money because they
don't have this level of focus but you feel confident and should because we have this level of focus. >> Okay. >> Sorry. What was that amount for? 9 million. Nope. 945,000. >> Oh, right.
>> $931.32. >> Right. I don't know where I came up with that. >> The motion will be to authorize me to distribute that up to that amount to pre-obligated applications. >> I hear that motion. >> So move. >> Second. >> Okay. Motion moved by Commissioner Hanley, second by Commissioner
Valenzola. All in favor? I. I. Great. >> Thank you. Any other questions about >> extension service? >> Uh I want to let you know that last week the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference was held in Providence, Rhode Island. And due to the fact that it was so close, um we had uh
many of our staff participate. Um, May Riley hosted a field trip that was part of the group outing during the conference. Um, it was, you know, great to have her be a leader in that role and hear some of the local agriculture with folks who were here from across the country. Uh, Kathy Akenora also
presented on some of her dog safety and dog adaptation programs she's been in schools with this past year. It was highly received and then she also got to attend the the rest of the conference all supported through UMass Ammerst. Um, I additionally, as of yesterday,
submitted a grant request um for $25,000 through UMass to again support and continue um our collaboration with them on our Plymouth County Center for Agriculture. Uh, and fingers crossed that that all goes through and we get a quick response on it. Um, we'll be very
helpful with our oncoming horiculturalist and also with the work that Meg continually does over there. Um, and then last but not least, since this is the last meeting on the agenda for a bit, I wanted to make sure you all have the dates for Marshfield Fair, which is August 24th, excuse me, 21st
through the 30th. Um, I will send you more details as we get a little bit closer, but um, just so you folks have that date. We are having the entire theme of the fair in the forage and livestock area reflect the 250th celebration of the United States. So,
we'll be red, white, and blue from now all the way through the fair. Giving up the green just a little bit for this year. >> Do you need any help of volunteers or >> I think we're in a good place for right now. We are expecting um a significant amount uh more animals than we've had in
many years. So, we've made some plans to have some additional tent spaces. I think we're completely overgrown the barns. Um >> I think you did that years ago. >> So far so good. >> Yeah. Okay. Well, certainly reach out if you do need some help. I'm sure I can get my commissioners in a pair of shots and get down there and help you with the
goats. >> Thank you. >> Not that crazy. I think we pull former commissioner Pada out of retirement. He's >> goat milking. >> Absolutely. Well, thank you. Thank you for all your work that you do and I know it's a lot of work and hard work and organization and everything. So, thank
you. >> Okay. Okay. Register uh is not here. Uh treasures report again or Right. >> Being passed out just one >> what's being passed down is a report
that we get on the retirement boards. I don't love the meeting. of this report that we got at our last meeting and I bring it out and highlight it because uh this is a comparison of our performance against the prit fund. Uh we all know the prit fund is the state fund uh
hundreds of billions of dollars and uh we have our portfolio and we are there 104 picture systems of Massachusetts. We are one of only a few and maybe the only one that does not have a single part of our investment in the cryp
portfolio. So under mass law, we would be allowed to invest some of our portfolio alongside of print. But one of my thought processes as the chairman of the retirement board and spend the support of the board that has agreed with this is why would we invest with somebody that we're constantly being
compared to? Uh why wouldn't we try and do better? And what I pointed out to you is indicative of our performance and how we've outperformed the state. And what's interesting about the sheet you'll see is that and this is on net of fees basis that we have outperformed the state this
calendar year by a total of 217 basis points. We've outperformed the state fund on a one-year based uh by 373 basis points and on a three-year basis by 23 basis points and on a fiveyear basis by
40 basis points. So we are consistently outperforming the state fund here in Plymouth County. Something that we're pretty proud of. I will agree that we're not quite there on the 10-year. They're outperforming us by only 13 basis points. Uh but given our recent performance, we hope to surpass them
pretty quickly. Uh so this is just a a quick note that uh no matter how you measure it uh we're doing what we've expected to do which is provide excellent financial returns even when compared against the behemoth of the state fund.
Any questions about that? >> Fairly straightforward. And then lastly, I just wanted to give a quick update on you. I know you had one from the special assistant trigger and got that report, but we're now across 82 million in assets under management under trust. So
that continues to grow. >> Very good. Any questions? Commissioner? >> No, I appreciate the update on the retirement board treasurer. Um I'm sure we're well represented as commissioners there.
>> Thank you. So very good, Commissioner Hanley. >> I always appreciate what the uh treasurer does on behalf of the county and I think he does things in a leadership way that other treasurers across the Commonwealth call him constantly for advice on how to engineer
the the same outcome similar to our time with our county partners with OPA. It's that kind of collaboration, best practices that are shared amongst professionals, people who have a common bond and want to serve their constituents. So, Mr. Treasurer, thank
you for the update and thank you for the progress. >> Thank you. I see him firsthand how he his integrity and and his work that he does. Uh I greatly appreciate it and he works very hard and um I look forward to
serving with you again. Thank you. All you do. Okay. Um maintenance. We'll go over to administrator Basler. >> No report. >> No report. Um administrative report. No report.
>> Report. >> Okay. >> Madam Chair, before we adjourn, I'd like to uh adjourn in the memory of a an unbelievable human being. Uh Chris Matthews, who's a personal friend to many of us in the room. He was someone that lived a meteoric but short life.
His contributions to Congressman Keading and anyone who was in elected office, he made himself available as a state committeeman. He championed a lot of causes. He could agree to disagree. He knew how to debate, but he knew how to keep it respectful. And that is
something that I hope folks take away from his life and how he lived it. It was just a sad conclusion to something that was so bright, he was just getting his life together with his family. He was enjoying it. I know at the last
minute this past year when um Congressman Keading had an earmark that didn't meet the criteria, Chris called us. We got an emergency meeting to adopt it and out of it came the Skindava program with Bridgewater State. that is
from the direct involvement of someone that cared about his community. And I would just say that we honor him by adjourning in his memory. Second, >> I just have one thing before we do that.
I just uh brought was brought aware that Bobby Clark passed away. Did we all know that? I did not know that. So in her remembrance also uh greatly missed. She was a great reporter and uh sadly missed. Um so thank you very much and on
that we will adjourn. All in favor we're going to be going into executive session. Uh >> roll comment. >> Y uh Commissioner Valenzola. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Hanley. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Wright. Yes. This is to dis discuss the reputation, character,
physical condition or mental health rather than professional competence of an individual or to discuss the discipline or dismissal of or complaints or charges brought against a public officer, employee, staff member or individual. Review discussion and
possible votes and um concerning ethics violations. So we are now into executive session. executive session. I would like uh our >> there was no vote called. >> Sorry. >> And then just make sure that you announce you will not be receiving open
session at the end of the executive session. >> Right. That's a good point. We will not