 I will get us started. Good to go. Great. Thanks, Dave. Now this is convening Massachusetts Game and Commission. We met earlier for our agenda setting and now we have a special meeting. We do have to do a roll call again. So good morning again, Commissioner O'Brien. Good morning. I'm here. Good morning, Commissioner Hill. Good morning. I'm here. Good morning again, Commissioner Skinner. Good morning. And good morning, Commissioner Maynard. Good morning, Madam Chair. Okay. We'll get started. It's still January 4th, 2024. And this is our public meeting, number 496. And we have a single item. I'm going to turn it right to, with respect to the IEB Director Screening Committee, and I'm going to turn to Commissioner Skinner and her capacity as Chairwoman of that committee. And of course, Commissioner Hill and Dave Muldrew were also the participants. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm very excited for this meeting today. I and my fellow committee members have the distinct honor to share with you the candidates who we feel should advance to the second round of interviews before the full commission. I won't keep you in suspense for too long, but I will share, I will do a little bit of by the numbers just as an FYI to you all. We had about, and these numbers are by no means official. These are numbers that I captured in my review, but I'll share them. And certainly Chief Muldrew can weigh in if I have anything, I've gotten anything wrong, but we received about 45 applications, 45 individuals who were interested in the IEB Director position. We invited 15 candidates to interview from that 15 to with Drew during the process. And that's before we even interviewed them. And there was one candidate that HR reached out to that was non responsive. So we didn't get the opportunity to meet with that candidate either. We have had for you today three names that we wanted to advance for further interview, unfortunately, just as HR was making the calls to notify those candidates, one of them with Drew from the process. And so rather than the three, we have two names that we'd like to present to you today. I have already had the pleasure of notifying this candidate by phone. So I will, I will hand it over to Commissioner Hill to make the announcement of our first candidate. If you don't mind, Commissioner Hill, I'll have you do that on her. So process wise, Madam Chair, is this what I should be doing at this point is announcing the first name to you. I want to make sure I'm not doing anything wrong. I'm going to answer that, Madam Chair, if you don't mind. Commissioner Hill, I did seek the advice of council. And so it is it is the expectation that we are revealing names today. And it is also the chair's expectation that we are revealing names today. So. So the first name that we're putting forth to you, his name is Robert Charette. Could you smell it please? I believe it's Robert and then C-H-A-R-R-E-T-T-E. Commissioner Hill, I thought you were going to go in the other direction. I was always excited to release the first the first. No, I would let I will let you do that for sure. Well, you missed my cue. I was teeing it up for you. So go right ahead, Commissioner Hill. Go right ahead. So Robert Charette will be our. Our first one and go ahead, Madam Chair, announce it. OK, our second name is Caitlin Monaghan, our very own. And so with that, rather than the three, we do have the two individuals. It's unfortunate for whatever reason, you know, personal and sure. And third candidate decided to withdraw. And again, that was after we had notified the candidate that they would would be advanced. And so Trudy has to heat up the resumes of those two individuals to forward to you during this meeting. Also want to, you know, take the opportunity before we start about start talking about process. If the process for commission interviews, I just I want to thank my my colleagues and fellow committee members. I think this was a. Oh, and let me back up. I'm sorry. The advancement of those three names was unanimous among the committee members. So there, you know, we all agreed to advance those three names and only those three names. So that, you know, was very much a welcome surprise that we were all on the same page. Seemingly right right from the beginning as we as we started these interviews. And I just want to thank the committee members for making themselves available to get this process done in relatively short order. We held our first meeting on November 15. And so here we are just a couple short months later. What we're advancing these two names. And so grateful to have that process complete. And I look forward to interviewing these these these two outstanding candidates for the director of Commissioner Hale. I don't know if you have anything to add to you. Well, Drew, you're certainly welcome to add anything. I do not, Madam Chair. I have nothing to add at this time, Madam Chair and Madam Chair. I think. I'm going to turn to commissioners. I'm chair woman Skinner in her capacity with the screen committee and then Commissioner Hill and Chief Mall drew on guidance for next steps. And we were lucky to have Mina with us so we can get guidance on how we mark this up for what I understand would be interviews and the selection theoretically on this on the same day. Commissioner Skinner, I think so. All those two candidates we can get through in one day, if that's the prerogative of this committee. So Trudy would need to look for time for all of us. And then, Mina, does that sound right for our process? This becomes a public process. OK, so I'm sorry, I mean to cut you. No, I was just going to give my thanks, but we can put off that until we get all the all the details figured out. Commissioner Brian. So I'm wondering, is this in in person? Is this final round in person that was what I thought. All right, go ahead. No, just looking for clarification on it. So I think that's what's up for discussion. That's one of the things I was going to try to do with what the committee committee. I'm sorry, I keep saying committee just, you know, by habit. But what the commission prefers, whether it be in person or. Virtual we, the committee conducted the interviews virtually. And so it would be my preference that for this round that we conduct them in person. That's just my preference as one. And I'm in agreement with that, Madam chair. That actually then also makes it. It clarifies a question I had, which is if it were virtual in our public meetings, could there be an advantage for the first person we'd have to do an, you know, an on your honor to make sure that they didn't watch the first applicant go forward. This is never an easy process to have to interview on the in a public forum. And so I want to just thank. Thank the two candidates who have come forward and with the understanding that this is the process. And I think Commissioner Maynard, do you have any objection, Commissioner Bryant, to it being in person? No, my preference is in person. We've been doing ours, the committee and we're doing pretty much all in person. So that would be my preference. And Commissioner Maynard. It's helpful for me to engage, engage a candidate in person. Perfect. So Trudy just need to find time. How much time do you think we'll need? Maybe probably an hour for each one. And so then I got three. Do we we deliberate in public, correct, Mina? So we'd want to have time for our, when I say deliberate, it's more like our selection, right, within our evaluation. So what do you want to add another hour to be safe, Commissioner Hill and Commissioner Skinner? Just a question on process. So the interviews would be in person. And so would our deliberations be virtual? I guess deliberations are wrong. We're at a selection process and it would be just part of the public meeting. OK, thank you for that clarification. I think we'd be sitting together because, you know, we wouldn't have to go back to our our little computer screens. It will be nice to sit together in public, conduct our. Yes, in that case, in that case, I would say three three hours should should cover it. Some good commissioners. So Trudy will look for that time and in person. And I'm going to turn to Tom. Do you have any questions technically, Tom, on that? Because I know, you know, we're we're just getting the bugs out of that system. No, no, thank you. I appreciate the question. You know, I think the communications division will be prepared to produce that meeting in the public meeting room. I think there'll be a few eyes dot and teached across ahead of that time. But I don't think it's anything that we need to discuss here. Commissioners, could I ask? I'll state my preference for that public room. You know, we do have the. The seats that are high up. But we also have the ability to put us all around the table at the same level. Would you all feel comfortable if we use the table approach rather than us sitting at a bench with the individual? Below, quote unquote, us. I have no preference, Madam Chair, whatever you would feel comfortable with, it's fine with me. I like the idea of being around a table. What do you think, commissioners? That's fine. Is that work for you, Mel? So do we need to be at the standard table? That works just fine for me. That's one of the keys to be crossed in my mind. OK, anything else? And the individual has to come in by themselves. But this is a public meeting that will be in person. So it is open to the public. Correct. The second candidate would be would not have access, however, to the first interview. So does that work, Nina? Madam Chair, what I would suggest is asking the applicant to decline their access. And if we got as a legal matter, they probably would have access with the rest of the public. That's right. It's not unusual to ask candidates in this situation just as as a courtesy to not be in the meeting until then. Maybe maybe we could pull their names out of the hat as to who goes first and who goes second and then the second one that we would request if they wouldn't mind. Can I share just quickly for the public, not for that second candidate, obviously, as we just discussed, but for the public as everyone who watches the Commission meetings knows we broadcast these live on our website through our YouTube channel and that will be the same process while the public is invited. They also can watch from the cover to their desk. Yeah, it will be streamed. Streamed all the things that the candidates love, it will be streamed live, very, very accessible. And again, that's why we so appreciate you've got a great pool of candidates, commissioners and Chief Van Laudru, I know that that doesn't happen just by a light switch. So I'm going to give some kudos to our our chief and his team for assisting on the posting and getting the word out for so that we would have a good pool. Like the commissioner is going to do and commissioner, how do you agree that that was part of it? You were pleased with the response. Yeah, I can share. I will pass that on very hard. Thank you. That's excellent, excellent outcome. All right. Anything else logistically, commissioners? Well, I have a question. How soon are we looking to schedule this, please? Soon. OK. Commissioner Skinner is like really excited. You know, and I love that, Commissioner Skinner, I have to tell you, it just very, very just really refreshing and wonderful. So great work. I want to thank my colleagues, Mckisha and Brad and Dave. Thank you. This is a big, a really big decision for all of us. And I just really appreciate the effort, the time that you you took to make sure it was a robust search. And it sounds like a very thoughtful selection would have allowed to have seen the third. But again, there's so many reasons why this is a big job and there's many reasons why somebody might have declined. But I suspect they were probably very pleased to be in your selection process. So thank you. Anything else, commissioners? Michelle Bryan, Commissioner Maynard. OK, Nina, we got all the details so far that we need. Is here. All right. And then what I'll probably do, commissioners, is because this is a little bit different. We'll work with A and K to make sure that the agenda is just right. OK, so thank you. OK, is there anything else, commissioners, for an update? That we have. Todd, are we all set, you think? I think we're ready to go. Wearing your general counsel hat in the IAV. OK, then I just need a motion to adjourn, correct? Move to adjourn. Thanks. Second. OK. Commissioner Bryan. I. Commissioner Hill. Hi. Commissioner Skinner. I. Commissioner Maynard. Hi. And I vote yes. Five, zero. Thanks, everyone.