Regional collaboration took center stage as representatives from the Old Colony Planning Council, Beckie Keta and Mary Waldren, addressed the board. Keta expressed gratitude for the continuous communication and collaboration with Plymouth County, emphasizing her tenure as executive director since December 2019. She highlighted the importance of a recent regional water study and the announcement of funding from the Municipal Vulnerability Program (MVP). Keta shared that the Old Colony Planning Council’s OPEB Trust Committee recently voted to join Plymouth County, which could enhance their efforts and lead to further approval from the finance committee.

The conversation shifted towards collaborative efforts between the Council and local towns, particularly regarding technical assistance in transportation audits and economic development. Keta underscored the necessity of regional cooperation, stating that “things just don’t stop at borders,” and emphasized the potential for improved procurement processes through enhanced collaboration. Board members expressed appreciation for these efforts, noting the value of combining resources to address shared issues.

During discussions, there was a strong emphasis on overcoming barriers to collaboration within the community, exemplified by the MVP Grant. Concerns were raised about difficulties municipalities face in attracting young people to public service careers, especially in planning positions, given the shortage of qualified candidates. These challenges were discussed at a recent regional planning conference in Worcester, where the need for effective partnerships with state universities and community colleges was proposed to encourage young people to pursue public service careers.

Fiscal concerns emerged as a pressing topic, particularly with the impending depletion of ARPA funds. The necessity for municipalities to prepare for future budget challenges was stressed. Dialogue continued on how county-level support could facilitate collaborative projects benefiting various communities, positioning Plymouth County as a vehicle for regional initiatives. The potential for regional cooperation in securing federal funding was also discussed, with references to successful regional collaboration in New Orleans that attracted federal investment in local infrastructure.

A significant portion of the meeting focused on the Plymouth County OPEB (Other Post-Employment Benefits) Trust, which has grown substantially and now manages over $57 million in assets. Treasurer O’Brien highlighted the trust’s strong performance, citing a return of 26.3% over the past year, which has proven beneficial for communities that invested in the trust. There was an acknowledgment of the challenge in communicating the trust’s benefits to potential members, with many communities hesitant to switch from their current arrangements due to comfort with the status quo.

The meeting also tackled the challenge of raising awareness about the county’s services and programs, acknowledging the importance of word-of-mouth communication, particularly as many municipal officials are new to their roles. The board noted that most towns had submitted their plans for utilizing ARPA funding, except one, highlighting the urgency of these submissions and expressing gratitude for the team’s efforts in managing the workload.

Several ARPA fund distributions were approved, with detailed amounts allocated to various municipalities such as Rochester and Rockland. Despite varied allocation sizes, the board was unified in approving the funding. A motion regarding a Mutual Aid radio system communication project, seeking $500,000 from Plymouth County’s ARPA allocation to support the Fire Chiefs Association, was also unanimously approved.