One notable issue discussed was the operational challenges within the Registry of Deeds, exacerbated by a county-wide hiring freeze. The shortage of staff has placed a strain on the department, particularly affecting customer service and operational efficiency. A commissioner raised concerns about the registry’s ability to function under such conditions, noting that “it’s very hard to run the registry the way we’re doing it.” Despite these challenges, the registry reported that its financial performance for the first four months of the fiscal year remained above projections, thanks to increased fees authorized by the state. However, these financial gains did not alleviate concerns about the ability to maintain service levels without sufficient staffing.

A motion to lift the hiring freeze specifically for the Registry of Deeds was proposed but was ultimately ruled out of order, as it was not on the meeting’s agenda. The chair noted that the hiring freeze applied uniformly across all county departments, complicating any immediate resolution for the registry. Discussions revealed that promotions within the department had not fully addressed the staffing gaps, as they left other vacancies unfilled. The debate underscored the need for management to step in during peak times, with some suggesting that management staff could be more flexible in addressing these shortages, although it was noted that they lacked the necessary training for specific technical roles.

The meeting also addressed the administration and distribution of ARPA funds, with several grant disbursements approved for local municipalities. The board voted in favor of allocations, including $40,000 to Duxbury, $557,500 to East Bridgewater, and multiple sums to Halifax. The treasurer highlighted Plymouth County’s low administrative costs for managing ARPA funds, projecting an end-program cost of 1.33%, lower than the state average.

In addition to these financial discussions, the commissioners formed a subcommittee for a new initiative, referred to as “mih,” which involved various representatives, including two fire chiefs and municipal organization members. The initiative reported conducting 1,821 mobile home visits in its first five months, surpassing initial expectations but raising concerns about resource availability for future expansion.

Health insurance trends were another topic of discussion, with reports of national increases between 15% and 20% for municipalities. However, the Mayflower Municipal Health Group anticipated remaining below these averages, with several communities expressing interest in joining. The treasurer discussed upcoming rate increases for retirees, stressing the importance of stability in health insurance offerings and cautioning against short-term savings that could lead to higher long-term costs.

Finally, the meeting addressed logistical aspects of delivering ARPA fund checks to towns, with a representative from Hanover prompting a discussion about whether to deliver checks personally or during a select board meeting. The chairman expressed a willingness to personally deliver checks, with a proposed meeting date set for December 2.