PLYMOUTH — September 30, 2026 — Plymouth County commissioners on Wednesday voted to hire Pembroke law firm Clifford & Kenny to investigate a hostile work environment complaint from a former county employee, after an initial motion to hire the firm died without a second. County counsel told the board it must investigate the complaint whether or not it hires outside help.
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Chair Sandra Wright introduced the item as a continuation of discussions at previous meetings about hiring outside counsel for an employee complaint. Jared Valanzola moved to contract with Clifford & Kenny to investigate the complaint. Wright said she would like to look at other counsel, and after Greg Hanley raised a point of order, she declared the motion failed for lack of a second.
Hanley then asked County Counsel Shannon Resnick whether the county was required to investigate, saying the matter had come up under the former administrator and the process had been stopped, and said they would support an independent investigation if it was required.
You’re not obligated to hire a law firm for the investigation. But even after an employee departs from employment, you still have an obligation to investigate the claim.
— County Counsel Shannon Resnick 26:41
Resnick said the investigation could be done in-house or by an outside firm, and that an outside lawyer was sought because the county’s human resources staffer had not yet completed training. She said the firm’s agreement had gone to former County Administrator Frank Basler, who signed it, and that counsel recommended the hire come before the commissioners.
Hanley said their earlier questions had been about cost and the hours the firm would bill, that they had asked for a process to vet competent, affordable firms, and that he would prefer a law firm investigate if the staffer was not ready.
Resnick called the firm’s rate fair, said the estimated hours seemed somewhat high and said the board could still seek other quotes, but noted the employee left about a month and a half ago. She said the former administrator had looked at Boston firms before counsel found the local firm, hoping for a more affordable billable rate, and that the amount the county spends on outside legal counsel this fiscal year is a factor. The investigation should be done within a reasonable time, she said.
Told the staffer had just started the training, the board then revisited the original motion. The board approved hiring the firm unanimously on a voice vote, with the motion clarified at counsel’s request to authorize the county administrator to sign the firm’s agreement.
