The IT dispute of not having a direct report Information Technology (IT staff) began back on June 30, 2021, when Norfolk County Commissioners Peter Collins and Joe Shea voted not to sign a Registry personnel paper. The understaffing issue in Information Technology (IT) that began with this unsound decision continues today, There was an Attorney General’s Office finding that the County Commissioners violated the open meeting law in the meeting involving a “hiring freeze” that was used as a pretext to prevent the Registry from filling an approved and budgeted position in the Registry of Deeds budget.

This is an update to the Notice sent out after the May 11, 2022, vote to eliminate all direct report to the Register Information Technology (IT) staff at the Norfolk Registry of Deeds. (See May 27 Notice attached).

The Norfolk Registry of Deeds should have an onsite direct report IT staff to the Register and Registry workers. This has worked exceptionally well dating back to the 1980’s. Many of you who voiced your disagreement with Commissioners Collins and Shea did not get a response or answer to the letters, petitions, and emails you sent. I hope you get answers from the incumbent Commissioner Peter Collins who has been part of the County for 28 years dating back to 1994 who is up for election this year. The other Commissioner Joe Shea in the 2 to 1 vote has been around for 7 years.

We all get there are appropriate times to make changes; look at all the modernization changes made over the years at the Registry of Deeds because there was an on-site direct report IT staff. Well, not having an on-site direct report IT staff is not a smart change.

The lack of transparency and getting answers from Norfolk County as this “Consolidated County IT Department” transition takes place continues. Promises that there will be a permanent County CIO hired by mid-July have not been kept.

This is not government working like it should. This is not government running like a business. The actions and inactions at Norfolk County only increase the chances for negative operational outcomes at the Registry of Deeds. The considered approach to this County IT transition that Registry users, Registry stakeholders and the residents and property owners of Norfolk County deserve is not taking place.

Some change is fine and needed. Some change is bad. The Registry of Deeds will keep working through these challenges and changes.