City Council
City Council
mar, 22 de septiembre de 2026
Puntos de agenda
Registros de votación
Resumen del debate
Transcripción
RESUMEN DE REUNIÓNGenerado por IA
Quincy City Council — 22 de septiembre de 2026
Esta fue una reunión ordinaria del Concejo Municipal que también incluyó una breve audiencia pública previa a la sesión y una sesión separada del Municipal Technology Committee celebrada al inicio de la velada. Los nueve miembros del concejo estuvieron presentes. La reunión abarcó comentarios públicos, una actualización electoral, la remisión de un contrato de arrendamiento de energía solar, aumentos salariales, legislación sobre arte público, política del código de construcción, transparencia gubernamental y varias órdenes rutinarias de tráfico y servicios públicos.
Sesión Previa: Audiencia Pública sobre Subsidio de Servicios Públicos (Order 2026-121)
A las 6:31 p.m. se celebró una breve audiencia pública sobre una concesión de ubicación de servicios públicos para GoNetSpeed en 29 Sergeant Street y Shed Street. Ningún miembro del público se presentó para hacer comentarios. La audiencia se cerró y el asunto recibió una recomendación favorable del Public Works Committee; el concejo en pleno lo aprobó posteriormente de forma unánime.
Votación: 9–0 a favor.
Municipal Technology Committee (Sesión Anterior)
El presidente pro tem del concejo, Hubley, presidió una sesión separada del Municipal Technology Committee para tratar la Resolution 2026-036, que él mismo había presentado en el invierno. La resolución solicitaba una revisión de cómo los residentes interactúan con los departamentos municipales y qué servicios pueden completarse en línea. La administración respondió con un informe escrito detallado.
Hallazgos clave presentados por el jefe de gabinete Chris Walker: la gran mayoría de las principales interacciones de los residentes con los departamentos municipales pueden completarse íntegramente en línea; las excepciones obedecen en gran medida a decisiones de diseño (trámites que requieren notarización, verificación de identidad en persona o consultas confidenciales de servicios para veteranos).
El administrador web Gordon Jones describió una exhaustiva labor de cumplimiento con el Título II de la ADA, que incluyó la eliminación página por página de caracteres especiales que interfieren con los lectores de pantalla, la conversión de archivos PDF a formatos accesibles mediante una herramienta de inteligencia artificial llamada DocAccess, la capacitación de aproximadamente 30 editores del sitio web y cambios de lenguaje en todo el sitio (por ejemplo, reemplazar "click" por "select" y eliminar indicaciones direccionales como "see below").
La tesorera-recaudadora Molly Smith informó sobre una nueva plataforma de pago en línea lanzada el 1 de julio de 2026. En menos de tres meses: más de 26,000 sesiones en el sitio web, 75 descargas de la aplicación, casi 2,000 residentes inscritos en pago automático y casi 700 inscritos en facturación electrónica. Las comisiones por tarjeta de crédito son del 2.99 %; el débito electrónico ACH cuesta $0.50 (más barato que un sello postal, señaló). La oficina también gestiona una bandeja de entrada compartida en collector@quincyma.gov, con más de 5,000 correos electrónicos atendidos desde febrero de 2025.
Los concejales plantearon preguntas sobre: la incorporación de un sistema centralizado de seguimiento de solicitudes de servicio de los residentes (Walker reconoció esta carencia y expresó interés en desarrollarlo); la mejora de la navegación del sitio web para reducir el número de clics necesarios para acceder a herramientas clave; los protocolos de comunicación en materia de ciberseguridad tras filtraciones de datos; y la posibilidad de enviar mensajes de texto a la línea no urgente de la policía. La concejala Ash sugirió incluir como punto futuro en la agenda la creación de una base de datos de búsqueda sobre el estado de las vías, a fin de que los residentes puedan conocer los plazos de pavimentación. El comité consideró esta sesión como el inicio de una conversación continua.
Reconocimiento a Renzy Daly
La concejala Ash reconoció a Renzy Daly, residente de 22 años del Ward 2 e instructora de natación en el South Shore YMCA, quien el 5 de julio de 2026 se adentró en aguas agitadas en Wollaston Beach y rescató a una mujer que se estaba ahogando. Ash leyó una mención de honor formal del City Council y se la entregó a la señorita Daly durante un breve receso para tomar fotografías.
Foro Abierto de Residentes y Comentarios Públicos
Seis residentes hicieron uso de la palabra durante el período de foro abierto de 20 minutos:
Maria Mulligan (21 Winthrop Ave.) planteó detalladas objeciones de diseño respecto al proyecto de estacionamiento Nickerson/Squaw Rock, argumentando que el plan no cumple con el código municipal de gestión de aguas pluviales, la ordenanza de árboles, el plan de espacios abiertos ni el plan de mitigación de riesgos múltiples, al no incorporar prácticas de desarrollo de bajo impacto (pavimento permeable, jardines de lluvia, árboles de sombra). Calificó el diseño de prematuro, instó al concejo a pausar el proyecto y solicitó un plan maestro completo antes de continuar.
Helen Shriner (23 Copley St.), una desarrolladora con experiencia reciente en construcción en Quincy, advirtió al concejo sobre el Specialized Stretch Code (punto 6 del orden del día). Citó los sistemas obligatorios de ventilación con recuperación de energía —que funcionan las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana con electricidad— como un ejemplo real de requisitos del stretch code que, a su juicio, encarecen los costos para constructores y usuarios finales, y argumentó que la red eléctrica actual no puede soportar los requisitos ampliados del código.
Gail Callahan (437 Quarry St.) expresó su apoyo a la ordenanza de la comisión de arte público, respaldó los aumentos salariales para el concejo y el alcalde, y elogió la presentación sobre las cámaras Flock del jefe de policía Kennedy en la reunión anterior, reconociendo también a los numerosos residentes que se han presentado en distintos asuntos.
Zachary Christopher (67 Montclair Ave.) se identificó como anarquista político y argumentó que la oficina del alcalde concentra un poder estructural excesivo en relación con el concejo y los residentes. También citó el estatuto municipal (Section 17A), afirmando que cualquier aumento salarial del concejo debe someterse a votación pública en una elección general.
Leonardo [apellido redactado] (28 Wall Ave.) expresó su preocupación por el hecho de que Quincy tenga la mayor cantidad de cámaras Flock en el Commonwealth, citando la falta de regulación de los datos en manos de una empresa con fines de lucro, la posible transferencia de información a agencias de otros estados y el principio de que las decisiones importantes en materia de vigilancia deben someterse al debate público antes de su implementación.
Bill Sams (46 Childrens Circle) planteó dos preocupaciones financieras: (1) la junta de pensiones de la ciudad administra por sí misma aproximadamente la mitad de la cartera del fondo de jubilación, mientras que la porción gestionada por el PRIT board del estado ha tenido históricamente un rendimiento superior de aproximadamente 200 puntos básicos anuales, lo que representa un costo estimado de $24 millones durante aproximadamente cinco años; y (2) un ciberataque en 2020 resultó en una transferencia fraudulenta de aproximadamente $3.5 millones del sistema de jubilación, suma que no ha sido recuperada, por lo que solicitó aclaraciones a la administración sobre el estado de los esfuerzos de recuperación.
Actualización sobre las Elecciones Primarias Estatales del 3 de septiembre de 2026 (Clerk Crispo)
La secretaria municipal Nicole Crispo presentó una carpeta con datos electorales y resumió el estado de la administración electoral de Quincy. Puntos clave:
La ciudad procesó 574 solicitudes de voto por correo para las primarias del 3 de septiembre; se esperan 8,758 solicitudes antes de que lleguen las boletas de noviembre.
La fecha de las primarias previa al Día del Trabajo la establece el Secretary of State, no el municipio; la ciudad no puede modificarla unilateralmente.
Una máquina de votación en Southwest Middle School se atascó, pero fue reparada en el lugar mediante una llamada telefónica con un proveedor; no se perdió ninguna boleta (se disponía de una bandeja auxiliar para el conteo manual).
Se envió un mailing de confirmación de 30,500 postales a los residentes que no respondieron al listado anual de calles; el incremento neto de votantes registrados es de aproximadamente 363.
Las 16 tabletas multilingües de la ciudad se utilizaron por primera vez en una elección de septiembre y fueron consideradas un éxito.
La concejala Riley señaló que los resultados electorales en el sitio web de la ciudad han estado etiquetados como "unofficial" desde 2023 y que en años anteriores se mostraban resultados oficiales; Crispo se comprometió a garantizar que los resultados se actualicen a "official" una vez certificados en adelante.
La concejala Riley también planteó preguntas sobre el Board of Registrars —sus tres miembros, el cumplimiento de los mandatos conforme al MGL Chapter 51 Section 15 y si los nombramientos han sido aprobados por el concejo según lo requerido. Crispo indicó que los miembros son nombrados en abril a través de la oficina del alcalde. Riley solicitó el compromiso de revisar y cumplir con los lineamientos estatutarios antes del próximo abril. El intercambio no derivó en una votación formal.
La concejala McKee señaló inquietudes planteadas por voluntarios de Quincy Votes sobre la señalización de acceso lingüístico en algunos centros de votación y sugirió una conversación informal antes de noviembre. Crispo indicó que el presupuesto de comunicaciones está ajustado y señaló que solicitaría fondos adicionales de ser necesario.
Order 2026-122 — Contrato de Arrendamiento de Energía Solar para los Estacionamientos de General McConville Way
El comisionado de edificios públicos Paul Hines presentó un acuerdo de ubicación y arrendamiento de energía solar para ambos nuevos estacionamientos en General McConville Way. A diferencia del sistema en el techo del Public Safety Building (donde la ciudad pagó por las cerchas de acero), el proveedor (Solect) asumirá todos los costos de infraestructura e instalación por adelantado. Hines señaló que el acuerdo es financieramente favorable, especialmente porque la generación de energía solar en el sitio evita los cargos de distribución de National Grid (~$0.15/kWh). Advirtió que los plazos de adquisición de acero hacen costosa cualquier demora.
La concejala Yuan propuso remitir el asunto a los comités Finance y Public Works, citando el paquete de más de 200 páginas. El concejo acordó remitirlo en lugar de actuar de inmediato.
Votación para remitir a los comités Finance y Public Works: 9–0.
Order 2026-123 — Debate sobre Aumentos Salariales Justos y Basados en Datos para Políticos
La concejala McKee señaló brevemente que el concejo había eliminado propuestas anteriores de aumento salarial en la primavera con la intención de retomarlo en el otoño. Esta orden formaliza dicha intención. Fue aprobada y remitida al Ordinance Committee, con una reunión del comité programada para el 5 de octubre a las 6:45 p.m.
Votación para aprobar y remitir al Ordinance Committee: 9–0.
Ordinance 2026-124 — Establecimiento de un Programa de Arte Público y Placemaking
La concejala Ash reintrodujo una ordenanza (idéntica a la que presentó en la sesión anterior y que no avanzó desde el comité) para crear una Public Art Commission en Quincy. La comisión revisaría y votaría sobre el arte público propuesto para edificios municipales, con nombramientos provenientes de la oficina del alcalde, el concejo municipal y el director de planificación. La motivación es crear un proceso estructurado para aprobar el arte público, respondiendo directamente a la controversia generada por estatuas religiosas adquiridas sin previo aviso para el nuevo Public Safety Building.
Durante el debate de procedimiento, la concejala Yuan cuestionó si el debate de fondo debería realizarse en la reunión del concejo en pleno en lugar de ser siempre diferido al comité. El presidente del concejo Mahoney y la concejala Ash explicaron que el trabajo de ordenanzas se realiza apropiadamente en comité y luego se presenta al concejo en pleno para su votación.
Votación para remitir al Ordinance Committee: 9–0.
Resolution 2026-125 — Revisión de la Posible Adopción del Specialized Stretch Code
La concejala Ash presentó una resolución solicitando a la administración —incluidos los Departamentos de Public Buildings, Planning e Inspectional Services— que revisara y expusiera los pros y los contras de adoptar el Specialized Stretch Code de Massachusetts, un código de construcción de eficiencia energética mejorada de carácter voluntario. La concejala Riley señaló que el asunto se ha introducido dos veces anteriormente (en 2023 y 2024) sin que nunca se haya programado ni debatido en comité, e instó a que esta vez sí se programe y se debata.
La resolución fue remitida al Oversight Committee.
Votación para remitir al Oversight Committee: 9–0.
Resolution 2026-126 — No Surprise Government (Introducida desde la Transcripción; No Incluida en el Orden del Día Publicado)
La concejala Yuan introdujo una resolución en la que exhortó a la administración a abandonar lo que describió como un enfoque de "no ask, no tell" en el gobierno y adoptar un estándar de "no surprise" —brindando al concejo y al público aviso previo antes de que se tomen decisiones significativas, en lugar de hacerlo después. La resolución citó ejemplos específicos: el programa de cámaras de vigilancia Flock (en funcionamiento desde 2020 sin divulgación pública), aproximadamente $850,000 gastados en estatuas religiosas para el Public Safety Building sin notificación al concejo, la deuda de aproximadamente $2 mil millones de la ciudad no divulgada de manera proactiva, y el proyecto de estacionamiento Nickerson/Squaw Rock licitado antes de que se celebrara ninguna reunión comunitaria.
La concejala Yuan también presentó nuevos datos provenientes de solicitudes de registros públicos que muestran que el sistema Flock de Quincy fue consultado entre 600,000 y 700,000 veces por mes por agencias externas entre enero y julio de 2026, con una caída drástica a aproximadamente 19 búsquedas en los primeros seis días de septiembre de 2026 —justo antes de la presentación del jefe de policía del 8 de septiembre, la cual, según señaló, no reveló que la política presentada había sido implementada apenas días antes.
Los concejales Riley y Jacobs expresaron su apoyo. Riley describió su frustración específicamente con el proyecto de estacionamiento Squaw Rock/Nickerson —$60,000 en fondos de Community Preservation asignados hace dos años para un plan maestro que nunca se ha elaborado, ningún marco legal establecido aún con la Massachusett Tribe, y un estacionamiento en construcción antes de que exista ningún plan. La concejala Jacobs describió una situación en Atherton School donde se pintaron espacios de estacionamiento sobre el área del patio de recreo días antes del inicio del año escolar, sin ninguna participación de la comunidad ni notificación previa al concejal del distrito.
La resolución fue remitida al Oversight Committee.
Votación para remitir al Oversight Committee: 9–0.
Asuntos de Consentimiento y Rutinarios
El concejo aprobó varios asuntos rutinarios de tráfico y servicios públicos sin debate sustantivo:
Utility Grant 2026-121 (GoNetSpeed, Sergeant/Shed Streets): aprobado 9–0 tras la audiencia pública.
Señales de alto (Ordinance 2026-114, 2026-115, 2026-116): Nuevas señales de alto total o parcial en Rock Island Road/Bird Street, State Street/Palmer Street y Rock Island Road/Sea Street — todas aprobadas.
Estacionamiento para personas con discapacidad (Ordinances 2026-117 al 2026-120): Nuevos espacios para personas con discapacidad en Taffil Road, Chabuck Street, Cornell Street y Pier Street — todos aprobados.
Las solicitudes de tráfico y servicios públicos de Ward 1, Ward 4 y otros fueron remitidas al comité para su publicación.
Las actas de la reunión anterior fueron aprobadas.
Memorial
La concejala McKee leyó un obituario de Leah Walsh de Quincy, quien falleció el 24 de agosto de 2026. Fue recordada como una cuidadora dedicada, jardinera, miembro del Wollaston Garden Club y asistente diaria a misa.
El concejal Hubley mencionó la ceremonia de conmemoración del 11 de septiembre celebrada en Quincy Fire Headquarters, a la que asistieron familias de dos residentes de Quincy fallecidos ese día —Susan A. Mall y Kevin Patrick Connor— y agradeció al jefe de bomberos y al alcalde por organizar el evento.
Próximas Reuniones
29 de septiembre, 6:30 p.m. — Comité combinado Finance y Oversight (presidido por la concejala Riley; varios puntos pendientes en el orden del día)
5 de octubre, 6:45 p.m. — Ordinance Committee sobre aumentos salariales del concejo y el alcalde
6 de octubre, 6:00 p.m. — Audiencia pública sobre las cámaras Flock (la concejala Yuan solicitó que los residentes envíen preguntas con anticipación para que el jefe de policía y otros invitados puedan prepararse)
Puntos clave
El contrato de arrendamiento de energía solar para los estacionamientos de McConville Way fue remitido a los comités Finance y Public Works para su revisión; el comisionado de edificios municipales señaló que los retrasos en la adquisición de acero hacen importante actuar oportunamente.
El proceso de aumento salarial se reinicia formalmente, con una audiencia del Ordinance Committee programada para el 5 de octubre — aunque al menos un residente argumentó que el estatuto municipal exige que cualquier aumento salarial del concejo sea sometido a votación pública.
Una resolución de "No Surprise Government" fue introducida y remitida al Oversight Committee, citando datos del sistema Flock de Quincy que muestran cientos de miles de búsquedas mensuales por parte de agencias externas —en su mayoría sin número de caso— y un cambio de política drástico realizado apenas días antes de la presentación pública de la administración.
Se ha programado una audiencia pública sobre las cámaras Flock para el 6 de octubre a las 6:00 p.m.; el concejo está recibiendo preguntas de los residentes con anticipación.
La sesión del Municipal Tech Committee reveló que aproximadamente el 61 % de los principales motivos por los que los residentes contactan a la ciudad pueden completarse íntegramente en línea, pero la ciudad carece de un sistema centralizado de seguimiento de solicitudes de servicio — identificado como el siguiente paso prioritario.
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Qué ocurrió en esta reunión
Foro Abierto para Residentes y Comentarios Públicos Presidente Mahoney
During the Residents Open Forum, a speaker raised concerns about the Quincy Retirement System's management and pension fund issues. The speaker noted that the pension board has underperformed compared to alternative managers, leaving approximately $24 million on the table, and highlighted that local taxpayers are currently contributing $47 million annually to subsidize city employee pensions—over three times more than employee contributions themselves. The speaker also brought attention to a 2020 cyber attack on the Quincy Retirement System involving a fraudulent transfer of approximately $3.5 million, with no funds recovered to date, and called for clarification from the administration regarding reported progress on recovery efforts.
Actualización sobre las Elecciones Primarias Estatales del 3 de septiembre de 2026 Secretaria Crispo
# September 3, 2026 State Primary Election Update - Clerk Crispo
City Clerk Nicole Crispo presented a comprehensive update on the September 3, 2026 State Primary Election, including prepared election materials and resources for the council, 574 mail-in applications processed with a goal of 10,000 before ballots arrive, and voter registration data showing a net gain of approximately 363 active voters. Crispo emphasized the election department's commitment to best practices through staff training and addressed operational concerns, including a voting machine jam at Southwest Middle School that was resolved on-site with contingency procedures available. Councillor Deona raised concerns about primary election timing relative to Labor Day impacting voter turnout, though Crispo explained that the Secretary of State dictates state primary dates that municipalities cannot change, while municipal elections can be adjusted by City Council approval. Crispo also highlighted implementation of 16 language-capable iPads at polling locations and precinct-level ballot tracking systems to prevent shortages, while acknowledging concerns from Councillors Ryan and McKee about voter access to online results and the need for improved multilingual outreach for the November election. Additionally, councillors raised compliance concerns regarding the Board of Registrars' three-year terms and political party representation requirements under Massachusetts General Law, prompting Crispo to commit to reviewing guidelines for proper adherence.
City Clerk Nicole Crispo presented a comprehensive update on the September 3, 2026 State Primary Election, including prepared election materials and resources for the council, 574 mail-in applications processed with a goal of 10,000 before ballots arrive, and voter registration data showing a net gain of approximately 363 active voters. Crispo emphasized the election department's commitment to best practices through staff training and addressed operational concerns, including a voting machine jam at Southwest Middle School that was resolved on-site with contingency procedures available. Councillor Deona raised concerns about primary election timing relative to Labor Day impacting voter turnout, though Crispo explained that the Secretary of State dictates state primary dates that municipalities cannot change, while municipal elections can be adjusted by City Council approval. Crispo also highlighted implementation of 16 language-capable iPads at polling locations and precinct-level ballot tracking systems to prevent shortages, while acknowledging concerns from Councillors Ryan and McKee about voter access to online results and the need for improved multilingual outreach for the November election. Additionally, councillors raised compliance concerns regarding the Board of Registrars' three-year terms and political party representation requirements under Massachusetts General Law, prompting Crispo to commit to reviewing guidelines for proper adherence.
2026-122 – Orden - Aprobación de Ubicación y Arrendamiento para la Implementación de Energía Solar en los Estacionamientos de General McConville Way Alcalde Koch
Commissioner Paul Hines of the Department of Public Buildings presented the solar energy implementation proposal for two new parking garages on General McConville Way. He explained that unlike the Public Safety Headquarters solar project where the city paid for steel structures, these new agreements require the vendor to bear all structural and installation costs, resulting in tighter margins initially but still providing positive returns by reducing operating costs and avoiding National Grid delivery charges. A councilor expressed concern about the 200+ page material and requested more time to review it, prompting a motion by that councilor to refer the item to both the Public Works and Finance committees for further discussion, which passed 9-0.
2026-123 - Orden – Discusión sobre Aumentos Salariales Justos y Basados en Datos para Políticos Concejal McKee
# Summary: 2026-123 - Fair, Data-Driven Pay Raises for Politicians
Councillor McKee presented Order 2026-123 to formalize discussions on fair, data-driven pay raises for city politicians, explaining that previous raises were deleted in spring with plans to address them in the fall. Public commenter Gail Callahan expressed support for the initiative, emphasizing that council members work hard and deserve adequate compensation, specifically stating the mayor should receive at least $225,000. The council unanimously passed the motion (9-0 vote) to refer the order to the ordinance committee, with President Mahoney confirming that scheduling details would be determined later.
Councillor McKee presented Order 2026-123 to formalize discussions on fair, data-driven pay raises for city politicians, explaining that previous raises were deleted in spring with plans to address them in the fall. Public commenter Gail Callahan expressed support for the initiative, emphasizing that council members work hard and deserve adequate compensation, specifically stating the mayor should receive at least $225,000. The council unanimously passed the motion (9-0 vote) to refer the order to the ordinance committee, with President Mahoney confirming that scheduling details would be determined later.
2026-124 - Ordenanza - Enmienda al Capítulo 12 - Establecimiento de un Programa de Arte Público Concejal Ash
# Summary: 2026-124 - Ordinance - Amending Chapter 12 - Establishing a Public Art & Councillor Ash
Councillor Ash presented Order 2026-124, an ordinance to establish a public art and placemaking program under Chapter 12, which would create an appointed body with nominations from the mayor's office, city council, and planning director to oversee public building art—addressing prior controversy at the public safety headquarters and mirroring similar commissions in comparable municipalities. Gail Callahan provided public comment supporting the initiative, which was previously proposed by the mayor and brought forward by Councillor Riley, though she questioned why the public arts function would be removed from current oversight structures. Councillor Uh noted this was the same ordinance from last year that did not advance, and raised procedural questions about council debate; other council members clarified that substantive discussion would occur in the ordinance committee while tonight's vote would only refer it to that stage. Councillor Jacobs seconded the motion to refer the ordinance to committee.
Councillor Ash presented Order 2026-124, an ordinance to establish a public art and placemaking program under Chapter 12, which would create an appointed body with nominations from the mayor's office, city council, and planning director to oversee public building art—addressing prior controversy at the public safety headquarters and mirroring similar commissions in comparable municipalities. Gail Callahan provided public comment supporting the initiative, which was previously proposed by the mayor and brought forward by Councillor Riley, though she questioned why the public arts function would be removed from current oversight structures. Councillor Uh noted this was the same ordinance from last year that did not advance, and raised procedural questions about council debate; other council members clarified that substantive discussion would occur in the ordinance committee while tonight's vote would only refer it to that stage. Councillor Jacobs seconded the motion to refer the ordinance to committee.
Puntos de agenda (6)
Procedural (2)
1ProceduralForo Abierto para Residentes y Comentarios Públicos Presidente Mahoney
Los residentes tendrán la oportunidad de hablar durante el foro abierto y compartir comentarios con el concejo municipal.
Qué ocurrió
During the Residents Open Forum, a speaker raised concerns about the Quincy Retirement System's management and pension fund issues. The speaker noted that the pension board has underperformed compared to alternative managers, leaving approximately $24 million on the table, and highlighted that local taxpayers are currently contributing $47 million annually to subsidize city employee pensions—over three times more than employee contributions themselves. The speaker also brought attention to a 2020 cyber attack on the Quincy Retirement System involving a fraudulent transfer of approximately $3.5 million, with no funds recovered to date, and called for clarification from the administration regarding reported progress on recovery efforts.2ProceduralActualización sobre las Elecciones Primarias Estatales del 3 de septiembre de 2026 Secretaria Crispo
La Secretaria Municipal proporcionará una actualización sobre las elecciones primarias estatales programadas para el 3 de septiembre de 2026.
Qué ocurrió
# September 3, 2026 State Primary Election Update - Clerk CrispoCity Clerk Nicole Crispo presented a comprehensive update on the September 3, 2026 State Primary Election, including prepared election materials and resources for the council, 574 mail-in applications processed with a goal of 10,000 before ballots arrive, and voter registration data showing a net gain of approximately 363 active voters. Crispo emphasized the election department's commitment to best practices through staff training and addressed operational concerns, including a voting machine jam at Southwest Middle School that was resolved on-site with contingency procedures available. Councillor Deona raised concerns about primary election timing relative to Labor Day impacting voter turnout, though Crispo explained that the Secretary of State dictates state primary dates that municipalities cannot change, while municipal elections can be adjusted by City Council approval. Crispo also highlighted implementation of 16 language-capable iPads at polling locations and precinct-level ballot tracking systems to prevent shortages, while acknowledging concerns from Councillors Ryan and McKee about voter access to online results and the need for improved multilingual outreach for the November election. Additionally, councillors raised compliance concerns regarding the Board of Registrars' three-year terms and political party representation requirements under Massachusetts General Law, prompting Crispo to commit to reviewing guidelines for proper adherence.
Order
3Order2026-122 – Orden - Aprobación de Ubicación y Arrendamiento para la Implementación de Energía Solar en los Estacionamientos de General McConville Way Alcalde Koch
La ciudad busca aprobación para arrendar espacio en los estacionamientos de General McConville Way para la instalación de energía solar.
Qué ocurrió
Commissioner Paul Hines of the Department of Public Buildings presented the solar energy implementation proposal for two new parking garages on General McConville Way. He explained that unlike the Public Safety Headquarters solar project where the city paid for steel structures, these new agreements require the vendor to bear all structural and installation costs, resulting in tighter margins initially but still providing positive returns by reducing operating costs and avoiding National Grid delivery charges. A councilor expressed concern about the 200+ page material and requested more time to review it, prompting a motion by that councilor to refer the item to both the Public Works and Finance committees for further discussion, which passed 9-0.4Order2026-123 - Orden – Discusión sobre Aumentos Salariales Justos y Basados en Datos para Políticos Concejal McKee
El Concejal McKee propone una discusión sobre el establecimiento de aumentos salariales justos y basados en datos para funcionarios electos.
Qué ocurrió
# Summary: 2026-123 - Fair, Data-Driven Pay Raises for PoliticiansCouncillor McKee presented Order 2026-123 to formalize discussions on fair, data-driven pay raises for city politicians, explaining that previous raises were deleted in spring with plans to address them in the fall. Public commenter Gail Callahan expressed support for the initiative, emphasizing that council members work hard and deserve adequate compensation, specifically stating the mayor should receive at least $225,000. The council unanimously passed the motion (9-0 vote) to refer the order to the ordinance committee, with President Mahoney confirming that scheduling details would be determined later.
Ordinance
5Ordinance2026-124 - Ordenanza - Enmienda al Capítulo 12 - Establecimiento de un Programa de Arte Público Concejal Ash
Esta enmienda a la ley municipal establecería un programa de arte público para apoyar obras de arte y proyectos culturales en Quincy.
Qué ocurrió
# Summary: 2026-124 - Ordinance - Amending Chapter 12 - Establishing a Public Art & Councillor AshCouncillor Ash presented Order 2026-124, an ordinance to establish a public art and placemaking program under Chapter 12, which would create an appointed body with nominations from the mayor's office, city council, and planning director to oversee public building art—addressing prior controversy at the public safety headquarters and mirroring similar commissions in comparable municipalities. Gail Callahan provided public comment supporting the initiative, which was previously proposed by the mayor and brought forward by Councillor Riley, though she questioned why the public arts function would be removed from current oversight structures. Councillor Uh noted this was the same ordinance from last year that did not advance, and raised procedural questions about council debate; other council members clarified that substantive discussion would occur in the ordinance committee while tonight's vote would only refer it to that stage. Councillor Jacobs seconded the motion to refer the ordinance to committee.
Resolution
6Resolution2026-125 - Resolución - Revisión de la Posible Adopción del Specialized Stretch Code Concejal Ash
El Concejal Ash solicita una revisión sobre si Quincy debería adoptar el Specialized Stretch Code estatal, que establece estándares más elevados de eficiencia energética y medioambientales para nuevas construcciones.
Qué ocurrió
# Summary: 2026-125 - Review of Potential Adoption of Specialized Stretch CodeCouncilor Ash introduced a resolve requesting that multiple city departments and NGOs review and present on the benefits of adopting Massachusetts' specialized stretch code for municipal use. Helen Shiner, a resident with construction experience, provided public comment expressing concerns that the specialized stretch code—which goes beyond current Energy Recapture Ventilation (ERV) requirements—would increase both builder expenses and residents' electricity bills, and she questioned whether the electric grid has adequate capacity to handle the increased demand. Councilor McKee noted that this matter had been previously introduced in January 2024 and May 2023 without committee discussion, and expressed hope that the referral to the oversight committee would generate meaningful debate on the implications for new construction. Councilor Ash moved to refer the matter to the oversight committee for centralized discussion, and the motion passed 9-0.
Votos adicionales registrados en actas
Refer 2026-122 to Finance & Public Works Committee
aye 9
Anne Mahoneyaye
David Jacobsaye
Deborah Rileyaye
Maggie McKeeaye
Noel DiBonaaye
Richard Ashaye
Virginia Ryanaye
Walter Hubleyaye
Ziqiang Yuanaye
Approve and refer 2026-123 to Ordinance Committee
aye 9
Anne Mahoneyaye
David Jacobsaye
Deborah Rileyaye
Maggie McKeeaye
Noel DiBonaaye
Richard Ashaye
Virginia Ryanaye
Walter Hubleyaye
Ziqiang Yuanaye
Refer 2026-124 to Ordinance Committee and advertise
aye 9
Anne Mahoneyaye
David Jacobsaye
Deborah Rileyaye
Maggie McKeeaye
Noel DiBonaaye
Richard Ashaye
Virginia Ryanaye
Walter Hubleyaye
Ziqiang Yuanaye
Refer 2026-125 to Oversight Committee
aye 9
Anne Mahoneyaye
David Jacobsaye
Deborah Rileyaye
Maggie McKeeaye
Noel DiBonaaye
Richard Ashaye
Virginia Ryanaye
Walter Hubleyaye
Ziqiang Yuanaye
Refer 2026-126 to Oversight Committee
aye 9
Anne Mahoneyaye
David Jacobsaye
Deborah Rileyaye
Maggie McKeeaye
Noel DiBonaaye
Richard Ashaye
Virginia Ryanaye
Walter Hubleyaye
Ziqiang Yuanaye
Approve September 8, 2026 Minutes
aye 9
Anne Mahoneyaye
David Jacobsaye
Deborah Rileyaye
Maggie McKeeaye
Noel DiBonaaye
Richard Ashaye
Virginia Ryanaye
Walter Hubleyaye
Ziqiang Yuanaye
Approve 2026-121 - Grant of Location - GoNetspeed
aye 9
Anne Mahoneyaye
David Jacobsaye
Deborah Rileyaye
Maggie McKeeaye
Noel DiBonaaye
Richard Ashaye
Virginia Ryanaye
Walter Hubleyaye
Ziqiang Yuanaye
Take 2024-114 out of committee for a vote
aye 9
Anne Mahoneyaye
David Jacobsaye
Deborah Rileyaye
Maggie McKeeaye
Noel DiBonaaye
Richard Ashaye
Virginia Ryanaye
Walter Hubleyaye
Ziqiang Yuanaye
Approve 2026-114 - Add all-way stop signs on Rock Island Rd at Bird St
aye 9
Anne Mahoneyaye
David Jacobsaye
Deborah Rileyaye
Maggie McKeeaye
Noel DiBonaaye
Richard Ashaye
Virginia Ryanaye
Walter Hubleyaye
Ziqiang Yuanaye
Take 2024-115 out of committee for a vote
aye 9
Anne Mahoneyaye
David Jacobsaye
Deborah Rileyaye
Maggie McKeeaye
Noel DiBonaaye
Richard Ashaye
Virginia Ryanaye
Walter Hubleyaye
Ziqiang Yuanaye
Approve 2026-115 - Add 2-way stop on State Street at Palmer St
aye 9
Anne Mahoneyaye
David Jacobsaye
Deborah Rileyaye
Maggie McKeeaye
Noel DiBonaaye
Richard Ashaye
Virginia Ryanaye
Walter Hubleyaye
Ziqiang Yuanaye
Take 2024-116 out of committee for a vote
aye 9
Anne Mahoneyaye
David Jacobsaye
Deborah Rileyaye
Maggie McKeeaye
Noel DiBonaaye
Richard Ashaye
Virginia Ryanaye
Walter Hubleyaye
Ziqiang Yuanaye
Approve 2026-116 - Add stop sign on Rock Island Rd NB at Sea St
aye 9
Anne Mahoneyaye
David Jacobsaye
Deborah Rileyaye
Maggie McKeeaye
Noel DiBonaaye
Richard Ashaye
Virginia Ryanaye
Walter Hubleyaye
Ziqiang Yuanaye
Take 2024-117 out of committee for a vote
aye 9
Anne Mahoneyaye
David Jacobsaye
Deborah Rileyaye
Maggie McKeeaye
Noel DiBonaaye
Richard Ashaye
Virginia Ryanaye
Walter Hubleyaye
Ziqiang Yuanaye
Approve 2026-117 - Add Handicap Parking at 189 Taffrail Rd. #1
aye 9
Anne Mahoneyaye
David Jacobsaye
Deborah Rileyaye
Maggie McKeeaye
Noel DiBonaaye
Richard Ashaye
Virginia Ryanaye
Walter Hubleyaye
Ziqiang Yuanaye
Take 2024-118 out of committee for a vote
aye 9
Anne Mahoneyaye
David Jacobsaye
Deborah Rileyaye
Maggie McKeeaye
Noel DiBonaaye
Richard Ashaye
Virginia Ryanaye
Walter Hubleyaye
Ziqiang Yuanaye
Approve 2026-118 - Add Handicap Parking at 99 Chubbuck St
aye 9
Anne Mahoneyaye
David Jacobsaye
Deborah Rileyaye
Maggie McKeeaye
Noel DiBonaaye
Richard Ashaye
Virginia Ryanaye
Walter Hubleyaye
Ziqiang Yuanaye
Take 2024-119 out of committee for a vote
aye 9
Anne Mahoneyaye
David Jacobsaye
Deborah Rileyaye
Maggie McKeeaye
Noel DiBonaaye
Richard Ashaye
Virginia Ryanaye
Walter Hubleyaye
Ziqiang Yuanaye
Approve 2026-119 - Add Handicap Parking at 19 Connell St
aye 9
Anne Mahoneyaye
David Jacobsaye
Deborah Rileyaye
Maggie McKeeaye
Noel DiBonaaye
Richard Ashaye
Virginia Ryanaye
Walter Hubleyaye
Ziqiang Yuanaye
Take 2024-120 out of committee for a vote
aye 9
Anne Mahoneyaye
David Jacobsaye
Deborah Rileyaye
Maggie McKeeaye
Noel DiBonaaye
Richard Ashaye
Virginia Ryanaye
Walter Hubleyaye
Ziqiang Yuanaye
Approve 2026-120 - Add Handicap Parking at 6 Pierce St #2
aye 9
Anne Mahoneyaye
David Jacobsaye
Deborah Rileyaye
Maggie McKeeaye
Noel DiBonaaye
Richard Ashaye
Virginia Ryanaye
Walter Hubleyaye
Ziqiang Yuanaye
Transcripción literal disponible
489 segmentos de transcripción indexados
Good evening. I would like to call the Tuesday, September 22nd, 6:30 p.m. public hearing to order. This public hearing is for council order 2026-121. utility grant of location go net speed 29 Sergeant Street and shed Street.
Anyone wishing to speak in favor or opposition, please come to the podium, state your name and address. If you do not wish to speak, but would like your support or opposition recorded, please sign in on the sheet.
Um, I'm sorry, sign in on the sheet on the table at the back of the chamber. Is anybody here on council order 2026-121 utility grant of location GO net speed 29 Sergeant Street Shed Street? Seeing no uh public comment, I will close this public hearing at 6:31.
All right. I'd like to call to order I I'd like to call to order the Tuesday, September 22nd meeting of the Quinsey City Municipal Technology Committee. Uh Madame Clerk, can you call the role? Council Ash.
Councilor Deon. Council Ryan present. Council Riley, present. Shannon, present. Also, council Jacobs in attendance and council. All right. Um, first up is the open meeting law. Do I have a copy of that somewhere?
Yeah. Okay. Excellent. Pursuant to the open meeting law, any person may make audio, video record audio or video recording of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium. Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or transmissions are being made whether perceived or unpersceived by those present and are deemed acknowledged and permissible.
Okay. All right. The first and only item we have on the agenda this evening is council order number 2026 036. Now, this order was submitted by me uh very early in the spring in winter session and we're not covering it now because we had determined at the time well we're not we didn't cover it in the front end of the year because we determined early on that we were doing a major upgrade on our online services.
So, it made more sense to review it after that work has been done, which is why we're viewing it reviewing it here tonight. I do view this as not so much a single instance, but an ongoing conversations that I'll have some subsequent resolutions relating to them.
Uh, I'm not going to read it all verbatim because it's quite long, but I will read the title. Resolution ordering a preview of resident interactions with city hall and opportunities to expand accessible online municipal services.
It's a fancy way of saying why do people call or come into our offices and of those things which can be done online and which cannot be. And so the idea behind this when uh I first ran for office my primary focus was to make sure that residents were getting the constituent services that they are paying for in their taxes and that they deserve which is what I've been focusing on for my entire time on the council.
Um this is an I this is an effort to do a discovery of why do residents what are the top five or so reasons that each department receives either a call or a visit from a resident and how many of those things can be done online.
The intention of this order is not to replace in-person service by no means at all. It's actually uh the intent of it is to make services more available to people who might work off hours, may not have the time to come in, may prefer to do business online.
I actually kind of prefer to do a lot of business online. Uh and that makes in-person resources more available to the people who they are most important to. And so that's the goal of this resolution. And uh in response, the mayor's team uh have provided a document which is available online.
Uh all of my colleagues received this last week and my hope is that we are prepared to have uh some great questions and also get uh some good information from the administration and their team and the work that has been done to take what uh constituents need for services and make those available 247 online.
Um, and so with that, I will uh accept any question, anyone from uh the team who Oh, sorry. Uh, I'd like to let uh Mr. Walker uh introduce the the the uh work product that was produced through you, Mr.
Chairman. Uh appreciate the work that you've done uh on this resolution and the work uh that our team has put forward on this report. the body has in front of them a report uh that is responsive uh to your request in large degree.
Um essentially demarking department by department what services are available uh online uh and which which may not be. Um through this exercise uh it was instructive uh in a couple different ways. one being that there isn't much that can be done online now thanks to a number of recent upgrades and upgrades over the course of the last several years uh that cannot be done online.
Um there are certain parameters to that um largely requiring things that need to be notorized uh things that need formal human contact inperson signature those sorts of things. um where it does require uh in-person visits.
Um and there's also the social service aspect of some of the work we do uh as part of the administration, particularly as you may note in this report from the veteran services department. Um those are in large degree confidential matters between the veteran and the veteran services office.
um there isn't really an application process for those services that they provide when it comes to providing housing assistance, providing other assistance that the department needs. Um and those sorts of interactions are uh always one-on-one.
Um, of course, you know, the notable exception being email correspondence is is is electronic, but uh the department does prefer in person and uh via phone call to go through some of the items that the department could avail itself uh in veteran services.
um with us tonight. Uh I'll note in the report that there is a fairly lengthy uh outline of the ADA compliance uh that IT department through director Brian Glavin and especially web administrator Gordon Jones went through over the last number of years um to really upgrade the accessibility of the website and um we outline a good deal of that work product in this report.
Uh Gordon and and Brian are both here uh this evening to answer your questions. As is uh treasur collector Molly Smith. Uh as this body knows uh the one office that virtually everyone in the city, every constituent has some contact with in some way, shape or form, uh is the treasur collector's office.
And through Molly's leadership over the last year, uh they've recently implemented a new online uh payment system which is exponentially uh better than the options that we had uh previously. Uh as as you noted, Mr.
Chairman, um there's always room for improvement and uh appreciate the opportunity to provide this information. team, the mayor's team that is here is appreciative for the opportunity to answer any questions you might have.
And as you mentioned, we uh happy to consider this a work in progress and continue the discussion going forward. All right. Um do any of my colleagues have want to start off any questions? No. Okay. Council McCain.
Um I just was noticing the um the note about uh tracking mechanisms and how it might be it might be helpful in the future to have some way of tracking um what comes in and you know how they've been handled.
Um is there any plan to do so through you Mr. Chairman? Uh that it that's a great question counselor. I appreciate that. I did note that in the report that as part of this exercise, you know, one of the things that we've certainly discussed in the past, but not not necessarily acted on it are um a tracking mechanism for like for example there's there's a lot of ways to skin a cat.
So if you have a request for services um you may come in, you may call via phone, you may call our office, you may call the specific office where the the issue may reside. Um you may email, you may use the constituent services portal.
Um, and generally speaking, if someone comes in or calls, uh, or even emails to some degree, that issue is addressed and it's followed up upon with the person that took the phone call or wherever whenever it got to the right place and the person that was handling the phone call, they handle it via phone call.
There's not necessarily a centralized tracking system where um the mayor's office or the departments can look up and say this is we've gotten x amount of calls on this one particular issue um dating back a certain amount of time.
You know, maybe there's resources that can be allocated to that way. Usually, generally speaking, um the issue is is is handled. Um and that's and that's the end of it. Um, so when going through this exercise, it was something that did stick out to me and I sort of assumed it may be a question that the the council would ask and it's certainly something uh we'd be happy to work on uh collaboratively uh in the near future.
Great. Okay. Any other colleagues have any questions they want to ask? Okay. Council Ryan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, what are the date ranges for this report? Through you, Mr. uh Chairman, this is largely uh based off of the general feeling anecdotally from the departments, what they know.
um not number by number, case by case exactly how many calls, how many emails, how many they they they get. I think some of the stuff is some of the material in here. Um it should not surprise uh folks as to what the number one requests are in the park natural resources department for example or department of public works.
Um again this sort of goes back to my answer in the previous question as to tracking and can we track do we know if out of all the things people request in the city what is the number one thing and our system at the at the current moment doesn't have we don't have the capability to to do that we can certainly dig and find uh certain requests and do that but it's something that we would be happy to take a look at in the future but specifically to your question this is based off of the knowledge and the background research conducted by department heads figuring out ex exactly which ones were their their most um the most number of interactions that they generally have with constituents.
Okay. So there's no data that's in the system that would go by dates at all. Not in a centralized fashion. I think some departments uh certainly keep their own data. Okay. All right. Thank you. All right.
Any of my other colleagues have any questions? Miss Riley, that requires me seeing it. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I would like to just, you know, I use the website a lot and have even before I got on the city council.
Um, I realize the ADA compliance piece of it, which is fairly new, right, in the last couple of months. Um, but I would like to see if there if we can maybe just take a look at navigation. I think sometimes and this is my my prior life was QA engineer.
Um, too just too many clicks to get to a certain page. Um, and challenges trying to find I I think we could make better use of the homepage. Um, maybe look at some other municipalities. I know the uh MMA conference we attended was that in January?
That seems like a lifetime ago, doesn't it? um they give a large and small community uh award for the for their websites. And I know these are all packages, right? These are packaged websites. Um but I do I do think that we could be a little bit more efficient for users to be able to especially because some of them are links over to um you know third outside like I know the assessor's office, you know, it's a link over to their sort of own little portal.
Um, so I do think I do think there's a lot that we can do online, but I do think the navigation of it could maybe be improved to make it a little bit more um just straightforward, fewer clicks, way more on the homepage so that people when they land there can hopefully get to closer to where they want to be.
Um, but you know, I know it's a challenge to deliver functionality and and um, you know, an an attractive website that is now compliant um, and also to be, you know, efficient. So, um, that's just my only two cents and I' I'd be happy to provide some some input on that.
Thanks for all you do, though. All right. Okay. Any of my other colleagues would like to Councelor Ash. Thank you uh through you, Mr. Chair. Um I I do note um for those that don't have this packet in front of them that the actually uh probably a a quarter of or a fifth of the report in response to your resolution is updates on ADA compliance.
So I don't know if uh either Mr. Walker or um Chair Huby would like to maybe highlight some of those updates um or certainly I can um cherrypick some that some as well that were um surprising and welcomed I guess to me through you Mr.
Chairman. We are fortunate enough this evening uh councelor to have the author and architect and chief engineer of the work that went on this Gordon Jones our web administrator here. Um, and I'd ask him if with the body's permission, uh, if he'd be open to coming to the podium and talking a little bit about the work, uh, that went into this.
Thank you, Miss Jones. Um, the Sorry, the um, my question was just to to highlight maybe some of the updates with respect to the ADA uh, compliance that were made to the website. Um I note that a good portion of the report that we received um in response to councelor Hub's resolution was with respect to what's how what's changed on the website for compliance.
So maybe if you would like to speak to some of that for uh the folks at home that'd be great. Yeah, absolutely. Um so the title 2 ADA compliance um it was originally set for April 24th, 2026. we were good to go.
Um and then about a week prior to the roll out, they decided to push it back a year because a lot of towns uh and cities were having a tough time being compliant with it. Um essentially the big overall um that we had to do is all of the navigation which is handled by revised not in-house.
Um and the contrast and everything needs to be screen reader capable. Um all of the text also needs to be screen reader capable. In doing so, you got to get rid of all of the special characters. So, I had to go page by page, look for any amperand, any at symbols, pound signs, stuff like that.
That all has to be removed because it kind of interferes with the um screen reader capabilities. We have to check what's called an alt tag. So, every time there's a there's a picture on the website, um you would make sure that there's a screen reader capable all tag that'll give you a general, you know, it can't be six sentences, but it's a general like description of what's going on in the picture.
Um, and you got to make sure you can't have any words in the in the pictures, um, any signs or anything like that. So, those were all removed. Um, the other big thing that we had to do is PDFs. So, we had to go through all of the PDFs, um, older ones that are there for historical purposes, uh, you know, old meeting minutes, old election results, those all got moved to an archive.
So, the archive is its own separate spot. It's very easily to see that you're in the archive so people don't get confused. Um, and those aren't necessarily compliant. So, those don't have to be compliant because they were made prior to the compliance date.
Uh however um the clerk decided that we were going to do everything from 2025 forward for most departments. Um massive task. Um so I sat with um a couple of people from the state on some training and to do one page of a PDF it took her about 40 minutes.
Wow. And she knew how to do it. And granted she was showing you step by step but it's still very timeconuming. Some documents can be 3,000 pages. So it would have been you know a year of my life doing like you know one document really.
Um so we ended up partnering with a company called Doc Access. Um they use an AI transcription software um that totally you know within 20 minutes of you guys posting the any of your documents online pulls it down transcribes the whole thing makes it totally screen reader capable.
Uh makes it translatable phonetically into multiple languages. Uh there's what's called an area assist which is um you can use your phone or you can chat with them and they will actually if you're having trouble understanding a specific spot in a PDF they'll explain it to you as well.
Um and then the last thing that I did really is any PDFs that didn't need to be there like a PDF of uh some leaves that says hey get these out of your catch basin. We would turn that into an actual page.
Um, and that was a big challenge getting people away from, oh, I got, you know, one little line of text that I saved as a PDF right on the website. Can't do that anymore because it's not compliant. So, a lot of stuff has had to come down, be totally redone, posted back up, and now it's screen reader capable.
So, it was uh I'm not going to say that things don't evolve every day um because it's still an ongoing thing. You will, you know, nobody's perfect. you will catch an amperand here and there and you I'll have to go in and fix it.
Um, and then there's been a huge um retraining as well of all of the people. We have about 30 editors. Um, so they've gone through and had training what to do, what not to do. Um, and it's a learning curve.
I mean, people will put amperand still. People will still put at symbols instead of, you know, at 3:00. Um, but we're getting there. We're doing pretty good. And we were good to go for the first line.
we'll be good to go for the second one. Wow. Um when when that's um a great overview. When you say screen reader capable, is that why um I noticed now say a a what used to be a PDF that would open up in Adobe opens up in a separate correct network.
You can still view the original one if you want to do that, but it will now open up uh anything that's been transcribed will open up in Doc Access's viewer. Um, and then there's a little toggle that you could either, you know, if you're using a mouse, you can click the toggle or you can tab to it and toggle that way.
Um, and that will bring up, you know, a plethora of options for screen readers in multiple languages. Great. Thank you. No problem. Okay. Anybody else? Oops. No, thank you, Council McKe. So, um I councelor Yuan and I um last week had had spoken with someone from a company I think out of Hangingham Hall um that does the Cay app for the MBTA which got me thinking how much how much are we using like texting for example with the police department if someone sees something there is a way to text the non-emergency number.
Is that correct? Or do we have texting capability? I'm sorry, council. I don't know. Okay. Okay. Um I guess the other issue is something that I mentioned we talked a little bit about, Brian. um and maybe better suited to a separate MUN tech meeting, but um just for when the city systems if if someone gets hacked or if there's like a fishing uh scam or something, I think in the past there hasn't been an email out to people who've been affected.
And I I think it sounded like that would be probably the direction that we'd be going in. I think that would be really helpful just as you know as as these things tend to you know sometimes a bunch of friends have recently been hacked myself so it's on my mind um but I think that would be helpful because I know I received um an email from the city solicitor a couple years ago that that was a fake email and um it was just confusing.
So I think if we had a policy of what could hap like the the communication after that that would be helpful. Anyone else? Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um just want to say um kudos to chairman uh Hubley for bringing this forward.
Um this resolution seeking the review of resident interactions with city hall and opportunity to expand accessible online municipal services has been fantastic. Um just over the years seeing um kudos to the city departments because they've they've done a great job over the years with the interaction not only with the residents but with the counselors and the residents as a collaborative CC's.
you know, um, looking back on time, um, especially Jay Dooka, uh, that was inspectual services now, uh, Rob Conlin. Um, we've dealt with a lot of blight properties throughout the years, and I know a lot of the ward counselors deal with that, but you're working with residents, you're working with the department, you're working with the counselor, and you're trying to all be on the same page.
whether it be through email or whether it be through text. Um it's a good way of doing a CC with allowing the counselor to be involved with the resident as well. Um just looking back on these all code enforcement complaints can be processed through the same system which is this the inspectional service department.
Um, just to highlight, I know there are other departments, but blight, overgrowth, parking on lawn, unregistered vehicle on street and property and trash and cleanouts obstructing sidewalks. Um, over the years I've had a lot of calls um with the residents going through the portal, whether they go through these departments, but also bringing in the counselor to also overview a lot of this stuff.
So I think it's a collaborative effort with not only the departments but the counselors with the department and the residents. So um I think this takes it another step further with more data driven information.
Um I see the packet in here. There's a lot of photos in some of the emails um to the department which is fantastic. I always say when someone's having a complaint about a tree or whatever, take a photo.
I don't email the photo as well as the email stating exactly where this particular property needs to be taken care of. And the photo says a lot with exactly where it needs to be repaired or fixed or altered.
Um and and it just helps everybody on the same page. Um how on this on this data driven how long is this going to be like set into the system? Do you do you have a set like okay this will be in the system for set um 5 years 10 years is this something that we can always look back on open gov or is this which service is it that you're any of it.
Okay. Um I can't speak on that because those all I I just kind of do the website portion of it. that third party service is totally handled by inspectional services. Um, and they use I believe they use open gov or inspect I don't know what the name of it is to be off uh it's changed it name several times.
Um so I don't I can't speak to that because that's really all run by inspectional services. Um for the constituent services thing um that goes back it goes back a few years. Um I think it goes back to 2024 if I'm not mistaken.
Okay. Um might go back a little earlier than that. Um but the actual revise built constit uh portal is only used by maybe two or three departments. A lot of them opted to have instead of using the portal to go through and um direct email.
Yeah. So we would put what's called a simple form and you would just fill out a very small form. you can attach a picture to it and that would go to the department and the department would kind of handle it from there.
So, we really I just kind of facilitate the links to the right spots and the the departments kind of ran with them. I do appreciate you doing this because um it's been helpful. It's been really helpful over the years where we've come from years ago to where we're at today.
um just working together here. Um and I know some of the newer counselors that have come on are realizing that you know it's it's a really big handy thing to be working you have to work with the city and the administration as well as this type of data working together here.
Absolutely. A lot of these departments don't realize it. They work they work for the council, you know. So yeah, thank you. No problem. Okay. Anyone else? Councelor Ash. Thank you. through you, Mr. Chair.
Um Gordon, I don't have any direct questions for you, but thank you for your time. Just um and I'm sure if I'm sure if my colleagues do um after this um you're you're here. Um so it is it's good to have all of this down in in one PDF and in one word document, I will say.
Um I know until you need or you're looking for a city service online, you don't realize what's there and what's not. Um, you know, the we have a great portal with inspectional services with all the property records that people don't realize is there um until I send it around sometimes.
You can search by address. You could search permits that are pulled and um contracts and any complaints um if there's work going on. I think um that's a incredible database, but it is to your point, Council Riley, kind of a few clicks away from the homepage.
Um, I think it'd be great to have that more pronounced since it's such a great tool. Um, just last week when I checked on the the traffic parking alarm and lighting, uh, the road closure map that actually gives you the roads that are closed, the reasons that they're closed, the timeline for the work to be done there.
Um, there was an a great amount of information on there that I had never realized that before. So, I know um you know, kudos to the the traffic department for having that up there. Um you know, it doesn't really surprise me that the elder uh the services the elder services department and or the council on aging, the majority of their um transactions are going to be in person because our seniors um you know may not have access to a computer or they just may enjoy dealing and having interactions with with the people at at the center.
So, that um of course uh wasn't much of a surprise. Um the other item that I did want to bring up, which is something that I'm going to look forward to discussing with our new um DPW Commissioner, Ed Grenan, would be uh potentially some kind of a a database of all the roads.
Um, you know, our number the one of the biggest uh questions I get as a ward counselor was with respect to a road that could potentially be paved and when does it when will it be paved? Is it on the list?
Um, and they they're uh it'd be great to have some kind of a database that collects the age of each road, the infrastructure, when the utilities were done, when National Grid did the water manes. I think that'd be huge and I think it would go in in line with kind of the other departments and the the access the accessibility that um they put forward.
So I'm excited to kind of have that conversation. Um, and then I did note um that our collector here, our our collector uh here is here, Molly Sors, and I'm sure Molly uh would like to talk about maybe the e the e pay um database that was just rolled out with respect to collecting taxes and fees and um with excise taxes, property taxes.
If you if you care to oblige us and give an update, that'd be awesome. My favorite topic, so I'm happy to. Um, so we to uh Mr. Walker's point earlier, so yeah, I do imagine that we're one of the departments that touches most households in the city of Quinsey.
During fiscal year 2026, we processed a little over 246,000 payments on behalf of our residents. So, our new online platform gives the residents um the ability to not just pay their bill online, but now view your account holistically.
So you can look at delinquencies, receipts, payment history, access electronic copies of bills that we've sent you. We've also added ebilling. So that was our number one request from constituents in years past.
Um so now residents have the option to receive an email with your real estate and water bill. You can also sign up for autopay and text reminders. Um so since the launch of our website a little less than 3 months ago, we've seen over 26,000 website sessions.
We've had 75 app store downloads. So, download our app. We've had um almost 2,000 residents enroll in autopay. Almost 700 residents enroll in ebilling. So, we've really seen a lot of success over the last it's it's just been July um since July 1st, so just for fiscal year 2027.
But, we've had a ton of positive feedback. Um it's been it's been overwhelmingly successful for us. So, we've been really excited. Um, we also, and I alluded to this in the packet, we launched um a new, well, it's not new.
So, February of 2025, we have a shared inbox, which has also been really helpful for constituents. So, we have the collector at quinseymma.gov email address. It's a centralized inbox that allows residents to reach out um with questions and comments often at night or on weekends, maybe when it's more convenient for them.
So, this inbox is managed by our team during business hours. All emails are answered within 1 to two business days. So, this inbox since this inception in 2025 has sent and received over 5,000 emails.
So, we certainly are busy with constituent requests. um something I it's kind of again it's been my pet project but on the back end so that's really the the constituentf facing piece of our new online payment website but on the back end we are utilizing an API and I hope you're not going to ask me what that stands for so I'm sure Gordon can help me um so now the payments that a resident is making online are posting back to us real time and so the old way of the world is someone on my team would upload a lockbox file every day and and so now we're cutting that manual intervention.
So payments are posting back to us real time. Um the website is ADA compliant. It's mobile phone and tablet compatible. It's offered in multiple languages. So we've been excited on the the constituent facing piece of all of these things that we're doing.
But that also I think hopefully my team's excited too that maybe we're we're alleviating some of the the daily work and and leaning a little bit more heavily on technology. So happy to answer other questions on that piece too.
Okay, one second. Here tonight I just had a question on the centralized inbox. Could you go explain the process a little bit more in detail so that um we have a better idea of where we can go to access that inbox because honestly I wasn't aware of it.
Yeah. So, if you went to our collector page on our city website, you could send us an email through the revise page that I think everyone is is used to that, but it's a form and a constituent can put in their name, their email address, and their question.
It comes to us in the form of an email and we can email them back. The other piece and and it's the email address is on our tax bills um and and we kind of sometimes people will call and it's hard to relay numbers back and forth over the phone and so we over the phone will encourage people why don't you send us an email and we can get back to you with what you're looking for.
So um there's a few different ways but it's just an email address. So to a constituent it just looks like an email address. To us on my team it's an inbox that everyone has access to and as a team we all triage different questions.
Some of them are a little bit more in-depth, some of them are kind of easier to answer. So the um depending on who's fielding that question on my team, um it could be a supervisor that maybe would need to get involved.
Okay. Thank you. Yeah. Okay. Anyone else? Council McKe. So this is actually just a comment back a quick comment to Richard U. Councelor Ash because um I heard from the previous DPW commissioner um that they do have such a spreadsheet.
It's they have access to it of all the roads and when things are done. So they have a they go through and they make a grade of every single street in Quinsey. And so they handle the worst ones first and they try to um they try to do, you know, whatever underlying um utility work at the same time so they don't have to dig it up twice.
Um so I think they're I think um Commissioner Grenan said that they're working on the next version of that uh that you know updating it as well. Okay. Uh, anybody else? Oh, I'm sorry. Are you all done, Richard?
Or Okay, sorry. Oh, you didn't. Okay, never mind. Okay. Anybody else? All right. Um, so since I get to go last, I'll just kind of wrap it up and give folks my thoughts on this. So, as I said from the top, I I feel like this is the start of a conversation and um some of my colleagues alluded to what I think the next chapter in the conversation um would be.
Oh, sorry. I have one more thing, Gordon. One more thing if you don't mind. Yeah. Sorry, I get so distracted on all the other things. Um, so in addition to the tools you mentioned for managing PDFs, um, I have two questions.
Is there something that the council can do to make our process of feeding information into the website easier from the council office to individual councils or has that has that gone smoothly? To be honest with you, I'm sorry, didn't mean to cut you off.
You guys have a rockstar handling your uh, all your documents. So Jen's great getting those up there. they go straight to where they're supposed to go. Um, and our transcribing software really kind of handles it.
Um, I will say if there were things that are really important, maybe we could work together to get a page made or something similar to kind of get rid of the need for that transcription software to be even be used.
Um, I would be more than happy to, you know, if anybody has an idea, I have a big project coming up. I want to make a single page. You guys all have your own little special landing pages. Um, I can always make another icon, throw that in there, and we can work on getting something built up for you.
Um, but as of right now, all of the software that we have will grab all the documents that you guys upload and it will transcribe them. So, we are good there. Okay, great. And was was there some changes you also had to do with different nomenclature that had been used in the past to adapt?
Yes. Yes. Give us a little bit about that. The big thing about that is nowadays, number one is you don't know what device people are using. You know, you could be using a toaster at this point to or a refrigerator to be on the internet.
Um, so we got rid of see below or look to the left because depending on your device, the left might be on the right, you know, the top might be down. See this list might be above where the actual document is.
Um, and also when you transcribe the software, uh, excuse me, transcribe the documents, it will move the wording around, um, because the screen reader will grab it still in the correct order, but you and I looking at it will go, "Wow, this is almost unreadable." Um, but the screen reader does a great job of picking all that up.
Um, so we got rid of that. We also got rid of visual cues. So, I understand there's going to be things that are, you know, uh, an outlook or an overview or stuff like that, but we try to get rid of vision words.
So, we try to get rid of see uh we try to get rid of uh look here, stuff like that. That all got wiped out. So, we had to get a little creative. You can't use the word view um for was recommended we don't use the word view by the state, but review is okay.
So, a lot of times I just hadn't put re in front of it and that fixed it. Um, but a lot of it had to be cleverly rewarded. Um, and then um I'm just trying to think of the other one. Wasn't one of them switching from click to select.
Oh, yes. Yes. As well. Um, again, you don't know what people are using. We're 51% desktop to 48 and some change um mobile. So saying click here, I got nothing to click with. So select because that'll cover mobile, that'll cover desktop, you know, anything else that you're using.
Um, so that that was the other big one. Yeah. So Okay, great. Thank you very much for that. And I just wanted to say like you've done some amazing work. It's it's definitely been recognized by people who use the website a lot and by myself and my colleagues.
I really appreciate the work that you've done. And also Molly, the upgrade. Um, I'm a now an online payment person for my taxes and water bill and so forth. Although I'm arguing with my wife about whether to pay the water bill online.
I don't quite know where that's coming from yet, but working on it. Um, so I really appreciate the work that you guys did. I'm glad we pushed this off to the back end of the year so that we had that kind of behind us and were able to talk with a clean slate.
Um, so okay, back to my sort of wrap-up because I think we're coming up with just a couple of minutes left. Oh, sorry. Council Deona. Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. You just reminded me a little bit. Um, the credit card fees, it seems to be something that comes up from a lot of the residents out there.
Um, Molly, if you could elaborate a little bit because talking about water bills, talking about paying bills. Um, some of the folks, um, the residents were asking a few of them about this. Um, what are the fees for the credit cards?
Yes. So, the fees are always a hot topic. So, 50 cents for an a check. Oh, sorry. So, it's 50 cents for an a and an a is also called an ech check. You might also see that um where you're putting your account number and your routing number in.
That is going to be a 50 cent charge. If you're using a credit card, that's 2.99% of the bill. Um and so I always like to remind people the AC is still cheaper than a stamp. So, um hopefully AC is the way of the future for people.
So, those are the two credit card fees that we have. And if they still send in a check, it's still this the same price. Yeah, of course. So, well, so if you if you send in a check, you would have to put your own stamp on it.
Um, but there would be no additional fees for that. Or they can come into city hall. You can always come into city hall. We have lollipops on the counter. So, yes, we we of course will will take walk-ins at city hall.
Um, I think councelor Huby said it in the beginning, this is by no means to replace any jobs or replace any services. So, we have um two of my clerks speak multiple languages. So some people prefer to transact in in maybe a different language and that is something we will still continue to offer.
You can still come in and pay with cash if you would like. So there's this is really another tool in the toolbox. This is not taking any tools out of our toolbox. And for the month of October, you also have Halloween candy.
Hopefully staying out of my office, but yeah. Thank you. I appreciate it. No, thank you guys. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Good. All right. Thank you, Council Deon. All right. So, now I'll continue my wrap-up.
So, as I said before, um I view this as a continuation continuous conversation. some of my colleagues have actually um teased out a little bit of what I think I want to put forth next and I'd love to partner with uh councelor Riley uh because so the first step is you know are you hitting all the right services that people would like to do online and um based upon a assessment by each department they identified the top transactions of why people call or come in and we are actually doing the better part of those transactions most of the ones that we're not doing right now are ones that we can't do.
You have to present ID. You have to sign something. Um, also with veteran services where that's very much an in-person thing uh where we have to interact with federal resources. That's more of a referral.
So, you go to the website, provide your information that gets you in touch with veteran services and then they take the ball from there. So um I was very happy to see that there are about 60 different transactions across all the different departments that are are uh front of house let's say um in in the majority of them you can complete so I would say 37 of them online 13 of them partially and then nine you could not but mo many of those are intentional or by by design uh because it's designed to be an inerson thing but as councel Riley alluded to earlier the next step once you kind of understand if you're hitting all the right marks is to find out how quickly can people get to those resources and um how fast they can get how how fewer selects I guess is the right word now um that it takes the end user to get there so now if we're providing the right services how easy are they to find will the website surface those quickly based upon a search there's a whole bunch of things where we can take this and I look forward to exploring all those with the end goal not for not to implement technology for technologies sake, but rather to make it make sure that it's serving us in an efficient manner to serve the residents um of the city.
And so that's the the primary goal here. Um I will say that the city has done a really good job at presenting. So there's there's our website and then there's our subservient websites that um they interact with and the experience of going between them is is has been done pretty well.
So I really appreciate the effort put into that. Um let's see how are we doing for time. All right. Um let's see. Yeah. So for percentage- wise you know 61% of the top reasons why people contact us they can complete completely fully online.
Uh 22% partial. Those are like sort of the referrals. 15% can't be done online but um those are mainly intentional. Um, and yeah, so that's and then there's a 2% not applicable, which still got to figure out where that came from.
Um, so yeah, and then the other thing that I wanted to highlight is, and this um is something that Mr. Walker and I uh talked about when I received the information and had a question about it is that um the prior the list of top reasons why people why residents contact us was done more sort of a gut feel and experience and as opposed to being quantitative and so I think that revealed uh I know things are tracked but the reporting aspect of that isn't exactly robust at this point.
So I think that would be a good next step because then as you do improvements to the online experience, you can run reports and find out are more people using the online option versus in person. So you can kind of quantify things.
So um I really appreciate my colleagues input, my colleagues questions. Uh would love to partner with uh my colleagues on any future uh resolutions in this area. And uh I also look forward to the next municipal tech meeting where we'll be talking a little bit about our broadband initiative.
So hopefully we get that on the calendar. Uh thank you very much to the city employees who came out to support this conversation. Really appreciate it. Again, doing great work and it's for an important reason.
So really appreciate that. And um what's my process for calling this over? Okay. Uh I'd like to call to see we have to motion to adjurnn or All right, we're done. Thank you. Good evening. We're going to call the city council meeting um Tuesday, September 22nd to um order tonight.
Um could you call the role please real quick? Council Rush present. Council Hubley present. Council Jacobs present. Council McKe present. Council Riley Council Ryan Council UN. President Money present.
Nine members If we could stand for a moment of silence. And if we could turn pledge of allegiance to the flag. Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands.
One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay. Um, we're just going to move on to the reading of the open meeting law by the city clerk. Pursuant to the open meeting law, any person may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium.
Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or transmissions are being made whether perceived or unpersceived by those present and are deemed acknowledged and permissible. Thank you. So we have first on on first on is uh um recognition of Renzy Daly, but we're going to hold off on that because she's not here and we're going to move on to open forum.
Um just to remind everybody at open forum, each speaker will have three minutes under the council rules. There'll be a 20-minute period. If additional time is needing, a me a member of the council will have to take a vote to extend it.
Open form may be extended by a vote of the council. We'll recognize Quinsey residents first. If it remains after residents wish to speak, um we can have them up to the um up after. Um we also ask that speakers keep to the same point, if you're staying the same point, we just if we could just make it more concise so they're not repeating things, that would be great.
And if we've reached the allotted end of time and um you're still speaking, we we'll ask you to stop. And if you don't stop, we'll shut your mic off. If you don't shut your mic off, then you might be asked to leave.
So just want to make sure everybody's on the same page. The first person we have this evening is Maria Mulligan. Thanks. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. Uh my name is Maria Mulligan. I um at 21 Winthr Avenue.
I um speak independently, not part of any group. Um, bear with me while I share uh some of my design review comments on the Nickerson [ __ ] Rock uh parking lot project. I reviewed the bid set um for compliance with Quinsey uh city code and Quinsey design standards.
My findings reveal that the design of the parking lot fails to comply with several of these codes and standards, including the storm water management and land disturbance code, the Quinsey Tree Alliance Code, I'm sorry, Quinsey Tree Ordinance Code, um Quinsey Storm Water Management Plan, the Quinsey Open Space Recreation Plan, and the Quinsey Multihazard Mitigation Plan.
These codes and standards all have a similar theme. They talk about um requiring low impact development. Uh now what that means is it's a variety of practices that mimics or preserves natural drainage processes to manage storm water.
typically retaining rainwater and encouraging it to soak into the ground rather than allowing it to run off the surface uh to drains where it would like where it would otherwise contribute to flooding and pollution.
Um storm water that is filtered through permeable materials drastically reduces the volume and improves the quality of the runoff. Um, by contrast, the current plan does not consider these practices despite being required to do so by our codes and standards.
Um, had they been considered, the plan would look very different. Uh, it would have been designed with more permeable area, um, more natural pavement um, in lie of asphalt, uh, native vegetation, rain gardens to filter the storm water.
It would have included shade trees that would uh cover the car aisles 50% in 15 years, which is required by our code. Um had the city um embarked on a master plan effort that included both the parking lot and the parking improvements together, these design concepts could have been considered.
Um but let's take a very big step back. The parking lot design is premature. Uh the master a master plan should have started with the stories of the indigenous stories and the environmental stories of the place and then use those lessons to improve the site.
Um of course I have a lot more here but I'll just go down to the bottom. Um the plan must be redesigned. Uh salvaging the current plan with tweaks is not possible. A complete redesign is necessary. I respectfully ask the members of this council to recommend that the city pause the parking lot project and start over the master plan.
Thank you. Thank you. Helen Shriner. Good evening. My name is Helen Shiner. I live at 23 CPPley Street. For those of you that may know, I've been involved in the new construction of about four buildings in the city within the last couple years.
So, I'm here to give my opinion on what you're going to move over to ordinance, which is the acceptance of the special specialty stretch code. Um, I can tell you firsthand my experience with the existing stretch code and the impact that it's had.
In one of the most recent buildings that we did, we were required to install something called an ERV. I don't know if you're familiar with what those are. It's called a energy recapture ventilation. So, in each of the new units, they had to install a fan system that what it does is whether it's cool air or warm air that's inside, it's a it exchanges the air.
So, it'll pull out your hot air, expel it into the outside, pull in cold air, heat it, and return it to your home, and then the reverse in the summer. That is something that's required by the existing stretch code and will be enhanced in the specialty stretch code.
So that is required to um have continuous ventilation. So we're talking about saving energy and finding these different ways to save energy and and be more efficient and hit some of the net zero goals.
We've created something that's removing conditioned air, expelling it, bringing in fresh air, heating or cooling that and returning it back to your living space. And it's run by electricity 24/7. and it's required to be continuous ventilation exchange.
So I I'm asking you that that's just one example of the many things and the specialty stretch code goes even further. So I'm asking each of you as you consider this and you move it into ordinance and start your discussions.
I'm asking you to consider a couple of things. First of all, that the uh widespread opinion of our inspectional services department about the impact to not only um and it's my opinion as well, the impact to the people that are building the buildings from an expense perspective, but also the end user, the consumer.
We're all feeling the pinch with higher electricity bills. That's going to have a tremendous impact on the end user, the homeowner, whoever lives in that condo or home or anything else. It's going to be tremendous.
The most important thing you need to consider, our current electric grid cannot handle this. That's a well-known fact. It's been documented and they're talking about hundreds of millions of dollars to increase the electrical grid to support this specialty stretch code.
I respectfully ask you to put your personal opinions aside um and listen to the facts and listen to the experts that are going to testify before you when you bring them in. Thank you. Thank you. Next up is Gail Callahan.
Good evening. Gail Callahan, 437 Quarry Street, obviously in Quinsey. First and foremost, I had to miss last meeting. And I did send out an email to everyone. And I really thank Councelor Ash, Council Hobbio, Councelor Dana, I I thank um councelor Riley for all responding to me very very quickly.
I had a great conversation with council Mahoney and I had a in person with um councelor Riley Ryan as well. So I appreciate that I did not hear back um from council un council and I'm blocked from councelor Jacobs so I wasn't able to hear from him anyways.
Anyways I am totally in favor of doing the public arts space committee. I think that's great that um councelor Riley is bringing forth tonight. I know the mayor had brought that forward before, so I think that's a good thing.
My only question is why are we going to remove it from the current oversight? That's that's the only question on that. As far as raises as they go, people don't like to give politicians raises. I approve your raises.
I think you should have your raises. I think you work very hard. I think you put up with people like me that don't always agree with things that you have to say, and that's trying. But I appreciate it when you do give me the time to at least explain my position and that type of thing.
And as far as the mayor, I mean, this man works. I know he's supposed to have vacation, but he is always on duty. And I think anything less than the 225 is really a joke. So, I really support him getting his two at least 225.
And I support all of you counselors getting your raises as well. And my final thing was last session you had the flock meeting or a number of people here. They were great. I mean whether you were for it, whether you were against it, um whether you found a common middle ground, I thought Chief Kennedy was terrific.
I thought he explained a lot. I really appreciate it hearing all sides of of the thing. And I'm glad that you're having a special meeting for this. And I do want to say this. you praised the people that came out because there were a lot of people that came out.
So, I appreciated that. And I also appreciated council man saying let's keep letting them talk. But I also have to say you had hundreds of people that came out for the fire. You had hundreds of people that came out for ENC.
So, I'm going to praise them for all making it here as well because I know that was an oversight on your part. I'm sure you were happy to see them all here. Must be hard sometimes having people that have such different opinions than yours, but I do appreciate you taking the time to listen to us.
Thank you, Zachary Christopher. Oh, is it my turn already? How many people show up today, did they? Hi, friends. Zachary Christopher 67 Montlair A. Uh that's in Ward 3. Hubley, love you. you're doing a great job and I appreciate your uh uh participation with my inquiry about the trash cans by that by my favorite spot in the city, those lovely benches near that bog.
Uh anyway, my main point today is uh sort of a background on myself relating to commentary going forward about these heavy topics like raises and uh transparency with the administration. Things that are I'm sure are going to continue to come up as the legislative session continues.
For anyone that doesn't know me, I'm Bucket. Bucket the clown. I And get ready to clutch your pearls for this one. Scary word here. I'm an anarchist. And what that means simply is that I have an opposition to hierarchal power structures which is the root of my concern with most of the issues surrounding uh the city's government.
Uh the mayor, not the man himself, but the very seat of the mayor has too much power. As the mayor himself puts it, we have a strong mayor, weak council government. And if even our own elected counselors who are meant to represent us are supposed to be weak in our system, what does that mean for the power of the people?
It looks like an issue for the mayor happens. An issue for the council happens in months. and an issue for the residents takes years of campaigning, of getting petitions signed, of bringing it before the council, and then years of uh uh uh court battles after to attempt to get what we want.
And going forward, particularly with the raise, whatever happens, any legislation passed by the council regarding raises by our own city charter, it says in section 17A that anything regarding city council raises is to be put to a general election of the people.
I demand from the government our right to vote on our uh salaries. Thank you. Thank you. Leonardo [ __ ] Hello. Uh, my name is Leonardo [ __ ] 28 Wall Avenue, and I just kind of wanted to speak tonight because I missed um the last flock and data privacy meeting.
And I just wanted to speak out um just because I was dismayed to hear that Quinsey has the distinction of having the most flot cameras in the Commonwealth. Um, mostly because we don't know how that data is secured.
You know, like there's already enough fear with our data being in the hands of the government, but now this is in the hands of a for-profit company that it's not regulated. It's not regulated like a lot of other technologies that are deeply important and affect us every day.
And so we've seen a lot of other communities in Massachusetts um and their contracts with flock sometimes even putting plastic bags over the cameras. And I understand the law enforcement concern about how it helps them.
But they were doing good police work before we had this technology. So, I don't understand why he's saying like, "Oh, we need this to uh stop the bad guys when they were doing plenty of work before." You know, it may not be as easy, but work is work.
And I just feel like if we have the ability to end that contract, if only because we don't know, it's not secure how this data is going to be shared. It's not even in the the Quinsey community. It could be shared with other communities in other states, other localities.
So, I'm saying until we have a more secure way to have that data, honestly, um is this technology really uh critical to us? Is is something that that we need? And I think transparency is another point of that.
Um, instead of having these things just show up and be told, hey, here here it is now. Deal with it, could we have in the future if things are going to affect us greatly, you know, it should be up for public discourse.
We should be able to say, "Hey, no, I don't want it." or at least vote on it because as as a democracy you know like I I feel like you know it's a little like desparing but like I lately it feels like we've been trending towards authoritarianism and it's a scary thought you know it's something that we saw when we were younger as something so far off but we see it every day and us allowing this to happen or not fighting back not speaking up and just saying this is the powers that be because money talks and you know that that corporation has money.
Let's let you know let's have a public discourse about something. It's very important to me. Thank you. Thank you. Bill Zamzo. Good evening, Bill Sams 46 Children Circle. Thank you for making available the time available for me to pose a couple more significant financial problems facing the city and which the council should thus explore as soon as practicable.
First up are concerns about the rates of return on the retirement fund for city employees other than teachers whose retirement benefits are covered via state pension plan. Specifically, why does the pension board continue to directly oversee the management of just short of half of the fund portfolio when just over half of the fund portfolio managed by the Massachusetts Pension Retirement Investment Board, better known as PrIT, typically sees a 200 basis point better annual rate of return in up markets and does basically the same in down markets.
Trust me, such is a considerable differential. Granted, past performance is no guarantee of for future performance. However, the record is clear. It includes that the pension bun pension board running over just over half under half of the pension fund has left 24 million on the table by not turning those funds over to PR to also manage since the half billion pension obligation bond was issued for just just short of five years ago through the end of calendar year 25.
Granted, the city holds no council holds no sway over the Quinsey retirement system. At the same time, city employees pensions are supposed to be self-funded via employee paycheck def deductions, but local taxpayers are currently contributing $47 million to subsidize city employee pension benefits.
The city's second largest annual spending outlay and just short of the 10% of the annual city spending as well as over three times more than employee contributions. Accordingly, local taxpayers deserve a comprehensive explanation why the retirement board does not opt to replace the funds that currently manages with permit print and so reduce the cost to taxpayers who are currently kicking in significantly more money annual annually than the city employees to subsidize pensions which are again supposed to be self-funded by pay paycheck deductions.
Next up is the pension fund cyber heist per Ramirez and company's official statement dated 1026 Quinsey Retirement System was the subject of a cyber attack in 2020 involving the compound the use of compromised email credentials to affect a fraudulent transfer of approximately 3.5 million of the systems assets.
None of the transferred funds have been recovered to date either through insurance claims or legal action. Concurrently, conversely, the Quincy Sun cited words from the administration in the past year that progress was being made to affect recovery at least some of those funds.
Obviously, clarification from the administration is needed and in order. Have a little more to say, but it got a few few too many seconds, too few seconds to do it. Any event, thank you for your time and consideration.
Thank you. Thank you. So, that ends open forum for this evening. Um, for the gentleman who came up for Flock, we'll be having a public forum on 10:6 at 6 p.m. So, I hope you come back that night, but that's going to end open forum.
Um, Councelor Ash is are you? We're going to turn this over to Councelor Ash for the recognition of Renzy Daily. Don't be shy. Good evening, uh, fellow counselors. Thank you, uh, for allowing me to take some time tonight to highlight and recognize a remarkable young woman, uh, Renzy Daly.
Renzie is 22. She's a W 2 resident. I've had the pleasure of getting to know her family over the last few years. Um, she's a nursing student uh from Quinsey and she's a swim instructor at the YMCA. On July 5th of 2026, she was the right person and the right place at the right time.
And that is because when she was enjoying an ice cream on Wallist Beach, she noticed a woman drowning um offshore. Uh the water was very turbulent. She saw a woman's head bobbing up and down and she ran into the water and ultimately was able to save this woman's life given her training, her expertise, and just being, you know, a a caring young woman.
Um on July 5th, 2026, um she noted choppy waves, turbulent waters, and seeing a woman's head bobbing up and down. She ran into the water, was able to place the woman's body on her own, travel to shore, and call 911.
Um all in in uh of course a time span that saved this woman's life. Even more impressive though was a quote that she gave to um one of the newspapers where she said that was someone's daughter. If that was me, I wouldn't want someone to think as to whether I needed help or not.
So um this uh story um rightfully so garnered coverage from CBS. um she received accommodation from the mayor's office um an article in the ledger and I certainly wanted to give her um the opportunity and the the kudos uh for the council to extend their gratitude as well.
Um I do have a commendation that I would like to read and that I will present to Renzie Daly. So this says Quinnsey City Council presented to Renie Daly. The city council recognizes Renzy Daly for her bravery and quick thinking in rescuing a woman from the water at Wallis Beach on July 5th, 2026.
A strong swimmer and Southshore YMCA swim instructor, the 22-year-old Miss Daly swam out to the woman despite challenging conditions, brought her safely to shore, and called 911. Her actions helped save the woman's life, demonstrating courage, skill, and a strong commitment to helping others.
So, the city, the Quinsey City Council takes pleasure in honoring you today and salute you for your bravery. So, congratulations and um thank you all for allowing a few moments to certainly salute uh Miss Daly and her and her efforts.
So, I'm going to give you this and we're going to take um the the council would like to take a photo. If if we could do a brief recess for a photo, that would be uh great. Thank you. We're going to call the meeting back in order.
And Madame Clerk, I think we're on item number two. Number two, September 3rd, 2026 state primary election update. And if I could, um, I just wanted to let you all know that I put together a binder, um, of some, um, information available to us, um, throughout the year that we depend on, um, as we move forward with our elections and some, um, election department data that's found in um, the side pocket, as well as the state primary um, um data that I supplied to you all the other day.
Um these advisories and trainings are, you know, very important to us. We we read all our guidelines. We have a training um every election with our pole workers and um we hope that we're set an example um of the best elections in the state of Massachusetts.
and um we put forth um our pole workers and take into consideration everybody's ability to vote and we know how important it is and there are so many mechanisms available. Um we certainly have all the information available um to our residents on our website.
Um we are in the office 8:30 to 4:30 Monday through Friday for phone calls. Um, we field dozens and dozens um of emails daily. Um, and we're here for anyone's questions, concerns. And, um, we work closely with, um, city departments, um, public buildings and TPAL and the school department and the mayor's office and, um, hope that we're putting the best, um, elections forward.
And if you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them. Council Deona. Sorry. Thanks. Thank you, ma'am. U Madam President, um just looking back on the years, um Kirk Lispo, um especially during COVID when we had elections and we had to deal with the mass and we had to deal with all that stuff that happened in 2020 up till today.
Um I know we talked a lot about elections. Um, you talked a lot about the clerks, the town clerks and the city clerks having meetings together um and and exchanging information at those meetings. Can you talk a little bit about how you meet with them and what you talk about and and what they do in different towns, what they do in different cities, and what we do here in Quinsey?
Yes, of course. Um, so we have state boundaries that we have to follow. Um we all get together um a few times a year and um we learn a lot from each other and our own you know things actions things that happen.
We move um information forward to each other. We share um what we have and it's made a big um difference and an improvement um if we know you know what other cities and towns are doing. We take some things from them and they take some things from us.
We have an open line of communication with the Secretary of State's office and um you know again we try to put our best product forward. Um just a little bit about the election day. Unfortunately, uh, here in Massachusetts, it's that the primaries have been happening before Labor Day, and it's put people in a position to be on vacation and, um, before Labor Day, they're not in tune with things.
Um, and then you see in some municipalities, they're having special elections where they're having them after Labor Day where they might even have it the second or third week in in in in September. I know when we had a a a election here in Quinsey in 2015 that was pushed out all the way till September 24th.
Um and that was a mayoral race of a primary and it was pushed way out 3 weeks four weeks out of September and the increase in volume of of people voting was higher. Um but that that particular Labor Day um it just people are in such transition from going back to school, their vacations from their the summer vacations.
Um unfortunately we've had some late Labor Days in the last few years um where we've had them September 7th. Um I think last year's um election was actually the day after which is September 8th. Um who who dictates that primary?
Is that is that Secretary Galvin from the state? It is. And there's no bearing upon a municipality that can make any changes to that. They've been talking about that for years and I know you have too, counselor.
Um and um they are trying to come to an agreement with the legislators um on a set date, but that hasn't come yet. It's a it's a issue of holidays and uh Yam Kapoor and things like that that always seem to, you know, um dictate where the election's going to be in September.
Municipal elections, especially these here in Quinsey, um it almost comes through the city council. The city council has to approve or not approve or and it has the ability to change that date. Is is that correct?
Yes. Okay. because I I know that that that has been a big dictation of why I think in my opinion where the vote total has been lower is because of that Labor Day holiday. People are still on vacation.
People are trying to enjoy the summer. I mean, look look at look how things are changing in the fall today. Um it's getting darker earlier. Um the the leaves are changing. It's it's just a transitional time.
The the one thing I will say on that is that when you put your election further out in September, the only thing is the vote by mail, um you know, we try to get that out as soon as possible um for November and and that does hinder us getting there.
um because then the the whole calendar pushes back, you know, and so um but you know, we we'll do our very best and and we'll work with the council in any way we can to make sure that um you know, the municipal election calendar is set and and you all, you know, get a say.
I appreciate it and I appreciate over the years we've talked about this with COVID and um you having an election in 2020 with all this going on. um that was a presidential one and then there was uh in March and then they were right into all these different primaries and then and then elections and that's I think the start of that whole mail-in election mailin ballot had started from that 2020 star point.
Um one last question um we we talk offline quite a bit about elections and and voter turnout and all that. Um, do you think um, in your opinion or or maybe you have the data that that backs it up that the mail-in balloting is the same?
So, if someone's going to vote, they're going to if they make it more convenient for themselves, they're going to vote by mail just to make it more convenient if they're out and they don't have to do the absentee anymore.
Do you think the numbers change with the with the mail in balloting? Now, unfortunately, I haven't seen it change. I've seen more people take advantage of it. More people are taking advantage of the mail and voting.
If you can see um here 912026 um we processed um 700 uh four um excuse me 574 um mail-in applications. And now um for for the ready, we're waiting for the ballots now. We have 8,758. we should have 10,000 applications um ready before we get our ballots.
I I mean, we talked about this as well is um you know, there's only so much in a municipality or or an elections department can do to to drive turnout. I've truly had this conversation with you offline is I also think it's it's based on the candidate.
If the candidate really gets out there and works it really really hard, I think that the vote total will go up. it's based almost not only on what the city or town does for for that particular race, it's the candidate that's out there doing the work.
So, um I I think it goes both ways. I I've I've had this conversation with you quite a bit about well, it's a city's it's a city's responsibility at the end of the day. It's the candidate's responsibility.
it's the candidates's responsibility to go out and market themselves that there's an election going on and and and on top of it, you get the support from the city or town. But I've I've had this conversation with quite a bit of people that um maybe the city hasn't done the city, you do a fantastic job.
I want to thank you for all your hard work putting the signs out there, trying to get the voter um the the early the early voting in in person um here at city hall. He made it as convenient as possible.
Um I know that um um um Rep. Rep. Bruce Ays, he does the rides, so he'll pick you up. I mean, try to make it as convenient as possible even on on um you know, on election day, but as well as early voting.
So, um thank you for this packet, this booklet of um great data on what you do and what you accomplish for the city. Thank you. Thank you, Councelor Ryan. Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, first I want to thank uh, city clerk Nicole Krispo for putting this presentation together.
It's greatly appreciated. I just love the fact that you've got so much data there that we can really hopefully analyze and increase the voter turnout. Um, we did talk about the um this sum on the voting results last council um meeting and we had talked about it being online.
The one thing that we need to remember is that not everybody has access to um online data. They don't have a computer. They don't have the internet. So, I think it's important that we remember that because I get it.
I go online all the time. I very rarely do anything manual, sometimes to my um detriment. But having said that, it's important that remember that elderly um residents who don't have access to a computer or to the internet for whatever reason cost uh or they just don't want it.
Uh we need to remember that. So, I don't know if there's any way to do we publish the re We publish the results in the Quinsey Sun. Correct. We do. We do. Okay. Now, I understand that there was an issue with regards to a voting machine that broke down in uh Southwest Middle School.
If I may, counselor. Um, it didn't break down. It jammed. Oh, it jammed. Okay. They fixed it on site. Okay. Okay. So with regards to that, if a voting machine does malfunction for whatever reason, then they can't fix it.
Is there a process in place at the polling location to Yes, there is. Okay, there is. Okay, there is um any ballot can go into the auxiliary bin and be handc counted at the end of the night. Um but and of course call us because we have technicians in our office.
We have a team of people in our office. If you see anything out of line on election day, we encourage you to call our office. I can have somebody out there in 10 minutes from here anywhere in this city or on a phone call.
I have every pole worker's telephone number and they all have their cell phones with them. We have um the police officers telephone numbers with us. If there is something wrong at a polling location, we can't be everywhere, but we can be there and we can fix it on site.
That's my most important thing to say tonight is that, you know, we can't be everywhere at once. We give the data, we give the materials, but if you see something, you can say something and we're happy to accommodate the wrong.
We're happy to fix it. um you know, there's a lot to be done before 7 a.m. and and we're getting into these um locations early 6:30, but there's a lot to be done and we want to make sure that everyone has the same experience.
So, you know, please don't hesitate to call our office. There's a team standing by to help. Now, with the jamming of the uh voting machine, were you a you were able to fix that? And were you able to read and count the um We were the voting we were able to fix that on the telephone with the warden and our um our vendor from LHS just walking her through it.
Okay. Okay. All right. Well, thank you very much for this presentation. I do u appreciate it. Thank you. It's going to be council riv. Thank you, Madam President. Um, couple of questions. Um, the first one is the election results posted on the city website are listed as unofficial results since 2023.
Is is there a reason why we don't have official results whereas prior to 2023 they are labeled as official results? If I may, um, yes, counselor. Um, we do want to get them out as quickly as possible on election night.
So they are unofficial at that time. And then there's a process that we go through um provisional ballots, UOCAVA ballots, things like that. Um most of the um election results are then updated um and put there, but those unofficial ones don't come down.
Um we have them too in our office and we report them to Secretary Galvin. So they're on on the website there as well. So, are we not going to update the like 2023 2024 to say official results? Those are now archived.
Um, but but we will do it going forward. Um, if they haven't been already, um, we will make sure that when they're certified officially that they get on that website. Okay. Thank you. And then the other questions that I had is about the um the the role and the makeup of the board of registars which uh you chair correct?
Yes. Okay. And the current members according to the city website of that committee there are three members John P. Dumas, Bonnie C. Marcel and John Carl Swanson. Is that correct? Yes. Okay. And according to Mass General law 51 section 15 and further detailed in the secretary of the commonwealth policy document board of registars and election commissions there are specific instructions on the appointment and makeup of the board.
Are you familiar with those? Yes. Okay. So specifically each member shall serve a three-year term with one member up for appointment or reappointment in April of each year. Yes. and that at least one member be from each of the leading political parties and recommended from a list provided by the party committees.
Yes. And that those appointments be approved by the city council. So I guess my question is has that process been followed in recent years? What I can say to that is um they have the the committees have gotten the names and some have been reappointed.
Yes. Um, as far as um the council goes, um, I'm I'm sure that when we, um, approve the calendar, approve the polling locations, um, we could add that if it's not already. Um, but they're appointed in in April.
And so, um, the letter comes from the mayor and they go they come sign the book and and they're on the on the board. Okay. So, how long have the current three board members served in their roles? Do you know?
No, I don't. Not off the top of my head. Um, what what purpose does the board of registars serve and when when do they meet? It doesn't seem like there have been any meetings of the board of registars except for one.
Um the board of registars oversee the election. So um they're there on election day. Um they're there um for audit of the election. They're there for um posttabulation. They're there for um any of that tabulation that's done ahead of time.
So, they don't meet like in an open meeting type like a noticed meeting like like we would like this. Not unless it was called for. Okay. Um I guess I would just ask if you'd commit to to reviewing these guidelines and complying with them um if we're not fully in compliance.
I do think that if the council is supposed to be affirming those positions every April, um I have not seen where that has happened um either directly or indirectly. So, um I think that it's an area that we might want to revisit um certainly before next April.
Thank you. Julie noted. Thank you. Anybody else? Council Mcoun, thank you so much. Um it's a tremendous amount of work to to oversee and plan these elections. So um I appreciate all the work that goes into that.
So many different early voting dates and times and so many locations on the day. Um, I did, as you're aware, get an email um from Quinsey Votes with um they had sent some volunteers out to different polling locations to kind of check things on the most recent election day and they raised some concerns um about language signage um in different languages and um various other issues.
So, um I think it I think I'll I'll talk to you off offline or maybe we can schedule something. Um just because I can imagine with so many things it's easy to maybe you know miss something. So maybe we can so that for November we can try to always be improving.
Um and again I I'll just put a plug in for more signage. I mean, I think um I think voter turnout is just so important and um 22% is just is not good enough. Like it's, you know, for for most people to be sitting at home.
Um we just need to do better. And I know this is not because of you. It's sort of across the board. people are not voting in uh municipal elections very much or state elections. Um but so I just feel like we have to put extra effort into getting doing everything we can to try to boost that number.
So, um, maybe if we can talk again, I know you said that the there are some issues with signs blowing away or something, but if we can think about ways to to just have it out there so that it's really harder for people to miss, um, I think that would be a good thing.
Thank you, Jacobs. Good evening, Clerk Chris. I just want to thank you for running such great elections. I know I had sent you an email earlier. For many years, I see feel like we talk every day on election day and you're very generous with your time.
I know you've got a thousand things going on, but I feel like you've always dedicated at least five or 10 minutes to talk to me um just about what's going on on election day, what the numbers are like and where they where they stand now.
you seem to always know where we stand now compared to years past. I fondly remember a conversation we had when uh I think early voting first started at North Quinsey High School. I think that was the first time we're there and I was it was on Saturday.
I think we talked like every Saturday when you were setting up. So um I do appreciate all the hard work that you put in. um you know there's a lot of talk going on about elections uh you know the how secure they are and you know I always just tell people when the conversation goes to that that you know here in Quinsey you know our our city clerk I know does a great job she's always around you always see her on election day and you know when you think about election integrity you know it's people in your town that are are running your elections you know it's hundreds of thousands of elections across the whole country going on and you know we put people in positions that we trust like yourself to run these elections and I'm so glad that you know we have great elections here in Quinsey.
I just had one question that I wanted to ask kind of based off the information that you had emailed out to us. Um uh the documents that you had sent out um I think it said that we had 4,495 new registered voters identified.
Um, and and I think that was a number that was kind of thrown out when we last talked about the election a couple of well kind of last uh session before the summer. Uh, but then there's also documents that the same document appears to show that 4,2775 voters were removed from the voter roles.
So, I guess I'm just wondering, you know, the last time we talked about this, we were talking about, oh, we've had, you know, x amount of new voters, and it seems like our voter list was was getting really high.
Councelor Dabona mentioned something about it in that meeting and I'm just wondering if if I have read the numbers right. I mean if we've only had 4,495 new registered voters and we lost 4,275 for a multitude of different reasons.
Is it clear is it clear to say that we actually only have a net gain of 220 registered voters in the last election? So thank you and that's a great question. And um in June I informed the council that there were 70,000 voters um registered.
2,42 were new. In June we also did a confirmation mailing of registered voters that did not respond to the annual street list. This year we mailed out over 30,500 confirmation postcards. This confirmation uh postcard has three options.
Still living at the address provided. still living in Quinsey but have moved to a new address or no longer live in Quinsey. Yeah. So with all that data that we got back, it does essentially end up almost like working out to be um the same number.
We essentially have 363 new voters as of today. Okay. However, um the confirmation mailing moves a lot of people off the rolls as well as keeping a really good voter list. And you'll see that here in the data that I provided.
Um we what we mailed and what was returned and then what we mailed and what was returned in um from January to September. And those numbers are make for the best list that we can have going forward to November.
Okay. And so, you know, I know we had spoken by email that I was one of the people that got like dropped off because they didn't turn in the not dropped off, made inactive. Made inactive. Yeah. Sorry.
Made inactive. You're right. And so, um, you know, but when I, my wife and I, we went online and we voted by mail. So, if you if you choose to vote by mail, um then that puts you back on the active list even though you you didn't return the the the city census or whatever.
Yeah. You're you're inactive. We know you're there, right? So, we send you your um ballot. Thank you. So, yeah. What's that? Yep. Anybody else? counc. Thank you, Madam Chair. So, Nicole, with regards to signage, is there any way possible?
I mean, wour kind of is, you know, it covers a large area and most of the signage is in the main arteries down in Furnacebrook and Adams and then Willard and common in that area. Is there any way possible or anywhere that we could put some signage up around Independence Avenue?
Yep. I sent you an email last week um with regards to um getting some more um wind safe um A-frames um windless they're called. Um, and to get those, um, I'll be happy to. Okay. You know, however many you think, you know, we need, we'll get them.
It is, um, a job of TPAL, and I appreciate people asking if they can help put out signs. However, these are main arteries and we want to keep people safe and it calls for safety first. Um, these are union positions and we will make sure that we have it covered.
Um, if we need another person on that day, I can talk to the director and see if we can get another person on that day to get those signs out so early in the morning and then get them picked up late at night.
Um, but we're willing to do it. Okay. We just want to know, you know, where are you if if you have concerns, we're happy to do it. Okay. All right. Let me do a drive-thru on Independence Avenue and see if there's anywhere that we could put maybe at least even one, you know.
So, thank you for that. And I'll take a look at my email again to make sure I don't miss it. Okay. Thank you. Yes. Is everybody else all set now? So, I just want to thank you for putting it all together and um and providing the information for the counselors because I think it I think elections every time whether you're on the ballot or you're voting, it's it's our responsibility to do it.
And you know, we have and you and you have a different responsibility where you're sending out all of those census and asking people to send it back and it can be really discouraging when people just don't have the time.
It's not that they don't want to. I think sometimes people just get a lot of mail and they're it doesn't make it through. So, but the other side I wanted to mention too is that I was impressed that you're able to kind of break it down by um Democrat, Republican, which I would imagine helps too when you're even ordering the ballots.
Yes, it does. and and we've come such a long way um especially with these pole pads. Um we're seeing real data. We're we're putting things together right now that um no one else um in the Commonwealth really uses, which is the language, iPads.
We have 16 of them. Um they were a big success um at this election. This was our first election in September with those. and then seeing um every board and precinct live by number so we can see how many Democratic ballots and how many Republican ballots so that hopefully nothing like what happened in Boston where they ran out of ballots at a precinct ever happens here.
And that's our goal is to stay out of the paper. That's when we know it's a good election. And so that's having that in place is really important. And you know, I thank all of you for for the money that we're getting.
I will tell you that it's getting a little tight in our communications budget with um doing over a lot of our signage um for this election and last election and but we're going to keep going. We feel as if the way you guys feel that it's important and so we're going to keep moving forward and and if I have to come back after and ask for some more money to cover it, I will.
I just want to thank you again because I the information you provided was very it was it was more than what you would find typically on the the web and it's it's it's important information. So, we're ready to move on to item number three.
2026 122 order approval of location and lease for solar energy implementation on general mcconville way parking garages. Good evening. Welcome. As you know, Paul Hines, commissioner of the Department of Public Buildings.
Um the two new garages will be two more buildings added to our inventory uh co-managed with TEL. Um, but the document you have before you spell out the procurement process and the business deal of these two uh solar arrays, one on each of the two new garages, point out a difference of this one or these two with the one that's on the public safety headquarters garage in that public safety quarters garage, the city of Quinsey paid and erected the steel trusses that hold up the system.
these agreements have select uh bearing the cost of those uh steel structures uh in all installation costs. So business-wise, they'll be right up front. It's not as lucrative on first glance as some of our others.
Uh it's still a good deal. Uh it's a good deal in that we are reducing the operating cost of the buildings. It's a good deal in that everything uh generated is 100% clean energy. Um we are still on the good side of national grid rates and even our uh procured rates whether be the uh community aggregation rates or our bid municipal consumption contracts.
Um it's tight the first couple of years, but we are in the positive. When you factor in that our solar generations on our rooftop systems where we use them at those buildings, we do not pay uh a demand charge or excuse me a uh delivery charge to national grid.
It doesn't carry over their network. So we do not owe them any money. uh the BP rates that we pay on the municipal use, the rates that uh the consumer gets using the community aggregation contract options, uh and anyone using the national grid supply service all pay about 15 cents per kilowatt just in delivery charge.
So, um you know, these deals are still good deals. Um then I would ask you to please endorse them and authorize them. So just so I can make it I can understand because I have it to either motion to pass or a motion to go into committee.
Is it the will of the body that we want to have the discussion tonight and have a vote or I guess we'll look for Mr. Walker to give us that as well because this came in we took it off and we're back again.
So I just don't know if there's a time sensitive issue with this through you madam president. The commissioner is here. Uh the the body has the material has had the material. Um the administration would by all means support action on this item tonight, but uh defer to the body if they want to send it to committee for a uh hearing.
So what I want to avoid is having a question go back and forth and then put it into committee. So I guess I'm looking to the body to see if we want to ask questions and vote on it tonight or if we want to put this into committee.
You put into committee. What committee does have to go into? Works. Public works. Okay, councono. Thank you, Madam President. Um, this particular item was on the agenda before and it was pushed out to this agenda.
So, I mean, if if it's the will of the body, we could have a deliberation. Commissioner Hines is here. Um, we could we could have this discussion right now and see if we want to vote on it. It's up to the It's up to the body if people are ready.
Okay. Council, before I go, council, um, the reason why I'm bringing that up is because it came into the committee. It came into the last agenda. It was pulled by the administration. It wasn't, it was pulled at that point.
It came in again. And what I'm trying to avoid is having a Q&A and then saying we're going to put into committee. So I it's not that I'm not saying that we shouldn't have this discussion, but it has also been the directive of many of these counselors that we want to put things into committee and have a discussion and take it out because it gives you a little bit more time to be able to potentially follow up with Mr.
Hines and ask the questions they may not have asked for this evening thinking it was going to committee. So with that, I'm going to pass it on to council and it's going to be we're going to take a vote on this before we open it up to questions.
So council, thank you madame president. And so this material totally have more than 200 pages. Honestly I haven't like completely go through it and I would like to understand better about this material.
So I I would recommend this send to the committee so we have more time to read it and to discuss. So I make a motion to refer this to the committee. Which works? Public works. This should be a finance committee or um public works.
Public works. Yeah, we can put it in finance too if you want to. The public works is not a body of the whole, right? Right. So we can put it in finance and public works. So refer it to finance committee.
Okay. So we have a motion to put it into public works and finance. Do we have a second? Second by councelor McKe. Can we have a roll call vote? Councelor Ash, yes. Councelor Dewana, Councelor Hubley, yes.
Council Jacobs, yes. Council McKe, yes. Council Riley, yes. Council Ryan, yes. Council Yuen, yes. President Mahoney, yes. Nine members. If I could ask Mr. Hines, because this is I'm imagining it was on the agenda the last time, it's on now.
Is there a time sensitivity to this? There is in that there's a lag time to get steel. Okay. Um, and so from we were hoping to get here in June and we we couldn't get the deal done. Okay. So, we are going to be having to do traffic detours and stuff on the open garages to get this constructed.
So, the sooner we do it, the better. Okay. That being said, I'm going to be in Iceland next week. So, don't schedule for next week. What? I'm going to be in Iceland. So, don't schedule next week. So, so what I'm trying to say is that we should schedule this fairly soon because it is it has it has been delayed.
Not because of anything happening here at the council, but we'll try to get this on the agenda. Okay, next up. Thank you very much for this. Thank you all. Enjoy your evening. Next up, um number four, 2026 123 in order discussion of fair data-driven pay raises for politicians.
Council McGee. Yes. So, we had um deleted the previous raises uh in the spring and said that we were going to discuss new raises setting new raises in the fall. So, this is just a formal order to say that we intend to do this and um yeah.
So, your motion is put motion is to put it into ordinance committee. Motion to pass and put into ordinance committee. Motion to pass and put it into ordinance committee. Do I have a second? Second by council on the motion.
Do you have a question? Okay. So, roll call vote. Council Ash, yes. Council Debona, yes. Council Hubley, yes. Council Jacobs, yes. Council McKe, yes. Council Riley, yes. Council Ryan, yes. Council UN, President Mahoney, yes.
Nine members. And you'll be scheduling something later, correct? Yes. Just want to make sure. Okay. Moving on to the next item. Number five, 2026 124 ordinance amending chapter 12 establishing a public art and placemaking program.
Council Ash through you uh madam president. Thank you. Um thank you. Um councilors um you may note that a similar um ordinance was brought in uh by myself last year. Um, and essentially, uh, I I would assume after reading it and getting into the details, you all know, um, it's kind of an answer to, um, you know, the the public safety headquarters and the art at the public safety headquarters.
Of course, um, we're in the news with respect to, um, the the proposed art for that building. And what this uh particular ordinance and program attempts to do is take that controversy off the table. Um similar cities and municipalities of our size have public art commissions.
Essentially for those at home um that may not have this language in front of them, essentially like the conservation commission or like the zoning board. When a public building is constructed, there is um an appointed body and this um ordinance as drafted goes through um different nominations by different bodies from the mayor's office, from the city council, from the planning director.
So there's this kind of there there's a body that would discuss and vote on the proposed art for those buildings. So, um, as I mentioned, other municipalities, um, in with similar, um, sizes, um, have kind of, uh, an iteration of this board.
And so, um, I'm looking forward to discussing, um, this ordinance. And I would just, um, ask that we refer it to the ordinance committee for, uh, further discussion. Okay. So, we have a motion to approve and move it to the ordinance committee.
Oh, just refer, sorry, rever. Council, you we're just it's going to go into committee. So when it goes into committee, we would prefer to have the committee discussion in committee. So yes, it's my understanding that this was going to go to ordinance committee for um further discussion at a later date.
Yeah. So just I'll just say on the motion because be do I have a second before I go? Second by council Jacobs. Um I think there was some confusion. This is actually I should ask for a red line because supposedly things changed.
This is actually the exact same ordinance that we did last year. Is that correct? So nothing really changed from last year and that's fine. It's just no the conversation in the public outlet is that something was happening here and I it's the exact same thing that came in last year.
It's common it didn't make it through it didn't make it out of committee last year. So this is just reintroduc reintroducing something. We have a um second from councelor Jacobs. Does anybody else have anything on councelor Ryan?
No, I'm good. I'm good. She good. Okay. How you end? I still have a question about the procedure. Yeah. So, does that mean at a city council meeting we are not supposed to discuss the debate? We only do this at a committee meeting.
But I remember before when we have a city council meeting about firefighters turn out the gear, we did ask questions and discuss at the city council meeting. So, I'm just wondering, so it depends on what the body's what the body's feeling is.
If this is going to go into a committee, then it's best to have that committee run the questions rather than have questions here and and and do it twice. We want to put it in the committee and have those questions then.
So, typically typically the work goes into a committee and then it comes out of the committee and we we talk about the same thing will happen. It's just we're not having it's you can ask a question tonight, but it's not it's not open for debate.
It's tonight. There's no voting happening on this just to go into committee. I I I guess I just feel if at the city council meeting generally no discussion, no debate, just refer this to that committee, refer that to that committee.
It's kind of not efficiently using the time and you know we have tried to schedule uh public hearing and committee meetings and it's very difficult to to get everybody's availability like uh well certainly what can happen in any committee.
So if if councelor Ash wanted to he could say um councelor Mahoney I would like to have this be at the next agend the next agenda and we'll take it out of that committee. We can have that discussion at that committee, but referring it to the committee is what's happening tonight.
It will go into committee. It can and we can have committee meetings at that come out in a in a regular agenda. We've done that, too. So, it's this is this is the process. This is how we actually do this work.
Um, this is a I know I haven't had time to really look at other than to say that there was no changes last year. I do have questions, but I'm going to save that for the committee. That's where we should do the work is in the committee.
Okay, I just a suggestion how to like um most efficiently use the city council meeting times because at this time that's that's that's most people come to hear the city council discuss so we really should use this time most efficient to discuss if you defer to other committee that's have to schedule different times I don't know if people really can follow those committees meeting those committee meetings are also of the fold and they're they're televised.
So when we do do that they're also televised. It is the most efficient way that's going to go into ordinance. It's the ordinance that would have to be created. We wouldn't create that in a regular meeting.
So we're going to Mr. Council Ash has a comment. Thank you. And I think just to your point, President Mahoney, with all due respect, um, Councelor Yuan, I I I I think that the public at this point think knows the process to be that we're referring these to different committees because I would have, should that have not been the case, I would have expected some people to be here tonight maybe to speak to this.
Um, so I would just say I think that the the public's perception as well is that we're bringing in um the the items, referring them to committee, having the robust discussion there, and then uh voting on them because I I know it's of public interest, of course.
So I I feel like if if um you know, the the public is watching the meetings and they know that these the items come in, they're referred and then debated. All right. I don't know where we left off. Roll call.
Councelor Ash, yes. Council Dana, yes. Council Hubley, Council Jacobs, yes. Council McKe, Council Riley, yes. Council Ryan, yes. Council Yuen, President Mahoney, yes. Nine members. Moving on to item number six.
2026 125, a resolve review of potential adoption of specialized stretch code. Council Rush. Thank you. Um, Madame President, yes, this is a uh review a a resolve asking for review of the potential adoption of the specialized stretch code.
Um essentially this is the the council asking um the administration um including but not limited to the public buildings department, the planning department, inspectional services department and non-governmental people throughout the city to review and present on the benefits of adopting the new specialized code which is available to Massachusetts municipalities.
Um so similarly looking for this to be referred to subcommittee uh for a presentation from those departments and so that we can discuss um an item that I know all uh most of my colleagues have been having discussions with for a while with uh different interested organizations and groups um and have one centralized discussion from those parties and um a good um debate on the specialized stretch code.
Thank you. What committee do you want to refer to? Um, I believe it could go into oversight. Um, so I would make a motion to move this into oversight. Madam President. All right. Do I have a second? Okay.
Second by councelor Riley on the motion. Can I just make councelor? Thank you. Thank you, President Mahoney. Um, and thank you councelor Ash for reintroducing this matter into the current council session.
Um, this is something that was reintroduced in the previous council in January of 2024 by council Leang and co-sponsored by councilors Dabona and Divine. It was referred to the ordinance committee um, which council Leang was the chair.
However, it was never brought forward in an ordinance committee meeting. It was also introduced in the prior council in May of 2023 by council Yang and co-sponsored by councilors Mahoney, Deona, Divine and Failen.
And this was referred to the environmental, public health, and community engagement committees, but again never brought brought forward for discussion. So, it is my hope that especially um you know with some of the points that councel Yuan made um is that if we're going to bring this to committee that we we do bring it forward for meaningful discussion once referred.
Um personally, I'm not sure I necessarily support what the some of the implications are for new construction. Um Helen China spoke spoke to that when she had public comment. Um, but it's in the best interest of the residents to bring it forward and I hope that we can have a thorough and proper debate on this during our legislative session.
That council, that's it. Thank you. We have a we have a motion and a second. Can we have a roll call vote to put it in? Council Ash, yes. Council Dona, Council Hubley, Council Jacobs, Council McKe, yes.
Council Riley, yes. Council Ryan, yes. Council Yuen, President Mahoney, yes. Nine members. Okay, moving on to item number seven. 2026 126 a resolve no surprise government. Thank you madame president and I would like to read this resolutions resolution for no surprise government whereas at its recent meeting the city council discussed the concerns regarding actions taken by the administration without a prior notice to the city council and the public including the city's use of flock surveillance technology and significant spending on city projects.
And whereas the city of Quincy has used the Flock surveillance cameras since 2020, yet residents were not informed of the city's use of this mass surveillance technology and lend of its use only by discovering it themselves years later.
And whereas after approximately six years of using Flock, the Quincy Police Department recently presented a summary of the city's FL policy to the city council and the public. But the presentation did not disclose when the current policy was adopted, leaving the public without important information necessary to understand how the city's flock practice have inolved over time.
N where records obtained through public records requests covering January through April 2026 show that each month's Queen Quincy's local flock data was searched 600,000 to 700,000 times by outside agencies from across the country with the vast majority of those search conducted without a case number.
And whereas records from the same period indicate that a majority of searchs conducted by the Quincy public department itself also did not include a case number. And whereas the extent of these searchs and the absence of case numbers in the majority of searchs are important information for residents to understand how the city's flag system is being used.
And such information should not be omitted from the summary of the city's flag policy presented to the city council and the public. In the whereas the administration spend approximately $850,000 of public funds on two religious statues for the new public safety building without a prior notice to the public or the city council.
And whereas the administration has not proactively disclosed the city's approximately $2 billion dollar in debt, leaving residents and the city councilors to uncover and investigate the city's overall debt burden on their own.
And whereas the administration put out a bid of appro approximately 700,000 to pave over existing green space for the expansion of a parking lot and to fix roadways for a future Native American culture center without a prior notice to the city council.
And when a community meeting regarding this project was held, the bidding process had already closed. And whereas these examples raise a broader concern that a significant government decisions involving public surveillance, public funds, public property, public debt, and the character of the city's public spaces may be undertaken before the city council and the residents have been adequately informed.
And whereas the city council believes that residents have a right to know about the significant government actions that affect their privacy, their community, their tax dollars, and that informing the public only after decisions are made does not provide a meaningful opportunity for public input or oversight.
And whereas the city council believes that a good government requires transparency, accountability, and a meaningful public participation, and that major decisions should not be made first and explained later when advanced notice is reasonably possible.
Now therefore, be it resolved that the Quincy City Council calls upon the administration to end a no ask no tell approach to government and adopt a no surprise approach in which the city council and the residents are informed whenever reasonably possible before not after significant governmental actions are taken, particularly those involving mass surveillance, substantial public expenditures, major projects, public public property or public debt.
Be it further resolved that the administration should provide a meaningful advanced notice and an opportunity for the city council and the public to ask questions, raise concerns and provide input before significant decisions are finalized or implemented.
We did it first and told you later should not be the standard of government in the city of Quincy. be it a further resolved that this resolution shall be provided to the mayor and made available to the residents of Quincy.
So um even this morning the when QAV interview mayor the the mayor compared the two religious controversial religious statues to the to the firearm training uh firearm training section training area in inside of the public safety building.
So he he said for firearm training uh track is also not discussed before and can you say we shouldn't have that but that's not true because and the the firearm training section inside of the public safety building was discussed and was reported in the newspaper.
So he kind of just randomly made up something to justify the religious statue not not inform the public but still can have it. So I think even even if that fire firearm training ground in inside the public safety building was not informed to public that's that's that's wrong too and another thing about about the flock.
So when I get this data that's a resident did the public records request from January to April. Actually yesterday they got a new records from January all the way to September 6. And the data is quite interesting.
From January to the end of July, the our Queeny local flock data was searched 600,000 time to 700,000 times. Then in August, it's going down to 120,000 times. And then in September from September 1st to September 6 days only go to the like 19 times.
So means dramatic change is start from September 1st but when the chief of uh police chief give the presentation that's on September 8th and he didn't tell the public that that policy is just a brand new only only implemented a week ago.
So I think that's that's kind of misleading. The public the city has used the flag since 2020. So already six years the policy is completely different from what he presented and you can't just ignore not disclose this part and only tell the the new the brand new policy you only implanted for six days for eight days.
So I think this is also an example is no ask no tell if resident didn't do this public records request then who know it they they hear the presentation they think that policy has always been like that but it's the difference is day and night so so I want to This no ask no tell is a pattern.
It's not some isolated case. That's why I put uh I introduce this resolution to remind the administration the government is by people with people for people. So if people even not informed the big big decisions you made it's directly contradict to this saying I learned this even when I was in China so I also want to use this res resolution to bring aware awareness to the public this city is your city taxpayers is the real owner of this city.
Can you stand like a big decisions about your privacy, about your community, about your tax donor, not informed to you and only been discovered by you later or explained much later. So I think if you found this kind of things happen, you should speak up.
You can you can speak at the public comment area period. You can call or email counelors or administration. Democracy doesn't work if people don't participate. So I do think the public should pay more attention to the local affairs and uh really take the ownership of the city.
This is your city, your tax dollar, your your public space. That's it. Thank you. Are you referring this to a committee or you looking for a passage? For passage, it would go right to the mayor. I would like to move this to the oversight committee.
Okay. Further discussion. Do we have a second to move it to oversight? Second by councelor Riley. Um, follow. Well, we have to do a roll call. Roll call vote. Council Rash, yes. Council Deborah, Council Hubley, Council Jacobs, Council McKe, yes.
Council Riley, yes. Council Ryan, yes. Council, yes. President Mahoney, yes. Nine members. All right. Have one comment on this. I'm so sorry. Councelor Riley. Yep. Thank you. Um I do agree with Council Yuan's intent on this resolve, which is why I was willing to um second it.
Many of us ran for elected office because we became increasingly frustrated with how decisions are made affecting all residents in the city of Quinsey. We attended public meetings, requested public records, poured over meeting agendas and meeting minutes, and yet still found ourselves hearing about important matters only after decisions were made and funds committed.
I personally have been following the plans for Squar Squar Rock for well over two years and the message was always we need to vacate the building first. With $60,000 of community preservation money allocated for a master plan two years ago, no plan has been produced and strangely no money has been spent from that grant.
You don't announce a phase one of a plan without being able to articulate, at least in broad terms, the full scope of the plans. Ultimately, we are being told it's for the benefit of the Massachusetts tribe, but there's been absolutely no timeline, no dependencies, no specifics on how and when that'll occur.
The legal agreement that will govern the arrangement between the city and the tribe doesn't even seem to be drafted. Surely, the tribe is looking for a long-term commitment before they will invest in improvements to the building.
But instead of creating a master plan with input from all the stakeholders and a list of dependencies, constraints, risks, and unknowns, instead of establishing a budget for the entire project and its related milestones and phases, we are starting with a parking lot that offers no immediate benefit.
It is not urgent or critical to the objectives of the plan and literally boxes in the site with hardcape and electrical work that may or may not prove to be the most efficient use of resources. It reminds me of a ornate and much promoted bridge to nowhere that is now closed, enveloped by two large buildings, has been disassembled and damaged during the construction and it will be hardly visible when the work is complete.
This is what happens when there is no master plan. I'd also like to note that there are likely artifacts at the Squar site and that is a dependent dependency that must be worked through before the excavation begins.
Thank you. Thank you, Council Jacobs. I apologize because I missed the on the motion. I just want to uh say, you know, I I um co-sponsored this. I agree with the spirit of what's written in here. Uh just separate from the uh examples given in this uh resolution recently in Ward One.
Uh back after the snowstorms at Atherau School, uh we had a lot of parking going on in the play area of the school. because we have a lot of special programs that are down there and it's attracting more staff to a building that has very limited space around it already.
And I had had conversations with parents regarding teachers parking in the um in the what is designated the play area. There was was a demarcation line and I brought that forward, you know, to the administration.
And I believe we talked about it here um in this chamber at one point during an oversight meeting. And that was back in March, I think. And nothing really happened with it. It just ended there. And then when I was at the playground at a few weeks ago with my daughter and my son, I saw that there was a machine there like ripping up the painted line in the ground.
There was a demarcation line between the parking lot and what was the play area. And then I saw someone come in and paint seven parking spaces in what was once the play area. So I contacted Mr. Walker, contacted TPAL and I contacted the school and they were like, "Yes, we're aware of this." There was all this discussion and there was a plan and there were all these emails and which is great.
That's what we wanted. We wanted a plan, but it's again, you know, if you don't ask, they don't tell. So even though community brought that to me, I brought that to the administration, there was really no community input, I don't think, you know, we obviously wanted to increase the parking for the teachers.
I don't think we wanted to necessarily do it at the expense of the play area for the students. Um, I think I had mentioned the vacant lot that was across the street, which for some reason is not acceptable.
And that's, you know, that's the administration's purview, but you know, here we were the day before school started, two two or three days before school started, I'm going to be, you know, dropping my kids off at school and there's going to be jersey barriers.
I, you know, now have the plan. There's going to be jersey barriers and nobody knows anything about what's going on. and I'm dropping my, you know, dropping my kids off at school. And I just think that the residents of Quinsey deserve to know when there's going to be a big change to an area that has historically been used for certain uh certain activities.
Uh in this instance, the schoolyard's used for parking on Sundays at the House Congregational Church. Um and there was some concern as to whether or not how is that going to work if we now have sectioned off a big, you know, half of the parking lot.
After talking with Commissioner Hines, um we, you know, pretty much agreed that we could create a space in the wall uh and put cones between it, which is great. But again, there was a kind of a 48 hour period where we're all running around, you know, how is this happening?
How did we get here? Again, if you don't ask, they won't tell. So, I'm just hoping that we can end this this behavior. Thank you. Thanks. Going to go into our oversight. All right. All set. Yes. Okay.
So, moving on to approval of previous minutes. Motion to approve. Motion to approve. Second by councelor Ryan. All those in favor? I. Any opposed? You guys have it. Okay. Communications reports and from the mayor are the city officers, city boards.
Clerk has traffic and utilities. Yes. Um, I do have a few traffic requests to refer to ordinance committee for advertising ward one councelor Jacob add handicap parking in the front of five bitten road at handicap parking in the front of 29 spare street and add handicap parking opposite 72 taffil road.
Ward four, council Ryan Adno pockin on the west side of Malanav from Conell AB an accepted portion of Molanav. Utility request to refer to public works committee for schedule and advertising utility grant to location Mass Electric Company Chestnut Street utility grant to location National Grid Baby Web and Homestead.
Thank you. Thank you. Um unfinished business and proceeding minutes seeing none. Moving on to work um reports of committees public works councelor Ash. Thank you madam president with public hearings with a public hearing being held prior to this evening city council meeting on the following council order 2026-121 utility grant a location goet speed at 29 Sergeant Street and shed street.
Um this um meeting occurred this evening at 6:30 p.m. and there was a positive recommendation from the public works committee. So motion uh to approve. Motion to approve. Second by councelor Riley. All those in favor.
Any opposed? Oh, sorry. Roll call. Council Ash. Yes. Council Debona. Council Hubley. Yes. Council Jacobs. Yes. Council McKe. Yes. Council Riley. Yes. Council Ryan. Yes. Council UN. President Mahoney. Yes.
Nine members. Moving on to ordinance um traffics. Council McKe. Yes. So um I would like to uh move to take 2026114 out of uh ordinance committee. Is that a motion? Yes. Motion made by councelor McKe to take it out of committee.
Second by councelor Riley. All those in favor? Hi. What's the ordinance? What's the ordinance? Uh 2026114. We're just going to take it out of ordinance to discuss it here and vote on it in the full committee.
Um add two stop signs on Rock Island Road. Uh a northbound and southbound intersecting with Bird Street creating an all-way stop. Motion to take it out of committee. Yep. You had a second. Did it? Yep.
Okay. Um second. We had all those in favor. You're all Oh, sorry. Okay. And so I would like to move to um move to approve it. Okay. So we're moving to approve. Do I have a motion to approve? Second by councelor Jacobs.
On the motion. Any questions? All those in favor? I. Any opposed? The eyes have it. Okay. Okay. So motion to take 2026115 add two stop signs stops on State Street EB and eastbound and westbound intersecting with Palmer Street creating a two-way stop out of ordinance committee.
Okay. Motion to take 2026115 out of ordinance. Seconded by council Jacobs. All those in favor? I. All right. Uh so motion to approve 2026115. Motion to approve 2026115. Second by council Jacobs. All those in favor?
I. Any oppose? You guys have it. Motion to take 2026116 add stop sign to Rock Island Road northbound intersecting with Sea Street out of ordinance. So taken 2026116 out of ordinance. Motion to take out of order and seconded by councelor Jacobs.
All that in favor? I. And motion to approve 2026116. Motion to approve 2026116. Seconded by councelor Jacobs. On that do you want to speak on that? Councelor Jacobs. You all set? I think I'll just second.
Second. Okay. All those in favor? I. Any opposed? Motion to take 2026117 and add handicap parking at 189 at Taffil Road number one. Uh out of ordinance. 2026117 out of ordinance. Seconded by councelor Jacobs.
All that in favor? I. And motion to approve 2026117. Motion to approve. Second by councelor Jacobs. All those in favor? I. Any oppose? This is u motion. This is W two. Uh motion to take 2026118 uh at handicap parking at 99 Chabuk Street out of ordinance.
So motion to take 2026118 out of ordinance. Seconded by councelor Ash. All those in favor? I. Motion to approve 2026118. Motion to approve 2026118. Seconded by councelor Ash. All those in favor? I. U.
Motion. This is Ward 4. A motion to take 2026119 add handicap parking at 19 Conell Street out of ordinance. Motion to take 2026119 out of ordinance. Second by councelor Ry Ryan. All those in favor? I.
Motion to approve 2026119. Motion to approve traffic at hand Handicut parking at 19 Canel Street. Second by councelor Ryan. All those in favor? I. Motion to take uh 2026120 to add handicap parking at 6 Pier Street number two in ward 6 out of ordinance committee.
Okay. So motion to take 202612 out of ordinance committee. Second by councelor Riley. I all those in favor? I uh motion to approve 2026120 at handicap parking at 6 pier street. Motion to approve 2026120.
Second by councelor Riley. All those in favor? I. Okay. Does that conclude? Yes. Okay. So, moving on to presentations of petitions, memorials, and remmonstances. Councelor McKe. So, I want to read um the obituary for um Leah Sha um who um who was lost um on August 24th.
Um uh um Leah originally uh Walsh of Quinsey passed away on August 24th surrounded by her loving family. She was born in South Boston and spent summers in Rocky Nook Point in Kingston where she met her husband Larry.
She was a devout Catholic and attended daily mass. Leah and Larry walked the 500 miles for the way of St. James Camino in Spain. She worked at Boston Scientific in customer service for many years, but was a born caregiver.
She took care of her parents, sister, and many friends in their time of need. Her family was very important to her, and she was a devoted granny to her grandchildren. Leah was an avid gardener and a member of the Wallist Garden Club and enjoyed traveling and painting.
She was a caring, compassionate, and sweet woman with a beautiful smile and had many great friends. She will be deeply missed. Thank you. Is anybody else councelor Huby, did you have your hand up? Councelor Hubé.
Yeah. Thank you, Councelor McKe. Thank you, President Mahoney. I I believe this is the right time to mention this. So, between our last meeting and today's meeting, we had a remembrance of uh September 11th.
Um it was a ser uh service held at the Quinsey Fire Headquarters. um wanted to thank the fire chief for um you know running it and the mayor as well. Joined by several colleagues at different levels of government along with um first responders and that we had the privilege and the honor of being in the company of uh two families of two people lost in on that day.
Uh so the families of Susan A. Mall. I apologize if I'm not pronouncing that correctly. And Kevin Patrick Connor's. Uh it was a moving ceremony where we heard from family members. And I just wanted to say I appreciate um uh the remembrance.
And I'm al also very proud of the Woodward School for Girls who um also did a remembrance. I just kind of wish they weren't at the same exact time at the same exact day. I would have loved to attend uh that one as well as I have for many years uh from when I was head of school there and beyond.
So, just wanted to mention that. Thank you. Thank you. Does anybody else have anything? Oh, councelor Hold off. Thank you, Madam President. Um, this has been on my mind for some time and I didn't know when I was going to approach and talk about it and when we came back from the break over the summer.
Um, President Mahoney made some amendments to the uh open forum public comment which which she streamlined it pretty well. Um I I had uh did some research in 2025 in my previous council uh my previous term on the particular open form because it was a big debate.
A lot a lot of you counselors that are sitting here tonight were debating about it. Um and tonight what I saw was is is almost every person that came up talked about an actual agenda item. They came up, they kind of said their name, they stated their uh address and they went into an agenda item.
Uh I did some research and I did it amongst uh Jen Manning, city clerk Chriso as well as um Somerville, Cambridge, these other towns and cities that did the open forum, the public input, public comment about time frame, how long it would be.
Um but one of the one of the a couple of the cities, they would say, okay, you go up to the mic, you also state your name, you state your address, but you also state what agenda item you're going to talk about.
So you go right into the agenda item that's on the agenda tonight. So um you know there's seven agenda items. Um you know tonight was very similar to what I had foreseen from the past that people came up and they spoke.
They didn't speak about the sky being blue or gray today. They spoke about an agenda item that's on the agenda. Um I saw that tonight. I saw people talking about different raises, different um stretch codes, different um um the flock that was on last last time around, but they went into an agenda item.
So, it wasn't just talking about just anything. So, um I think it's streamlined a lot differently as we started from the very beginning when I objected because we didn't have any rules in place. But as we've come along and we've evolved into month, what's this?
Nine. um with you know some some um recommendations and some amendments from the council president that it's starting to get to back to that. So it's just a recommendation for this council that you know the Somervilles and the Camidages and these other cities and towns it's name address what agenda item you're going to talk about and you go into that agenda item for that 3 minutes of time.
So it's just a recommendation. If I spoke about this back in January gez it would have been a front front headline in the Patriot Ledger. he just wants to talk about the agenda items which should be spoken about.
But here we are in maybe month nine, we can start to talk about some things about that. But I was something that's been on my mind for some months and it's all about timing up here with this, you know.
So I I I appreciate you making amendments this time around into September and it's it's just something for the body to consider for the future is name, address, what agenda item do you want to speak about?
Then you have your three minutes. Thank you. Thank you. Anybody else that would like to speak? All right. If you would like to indulge me. Oh, sorry. Council, sorry. I was trying to talk. Thank you, madame and president through you.
So, I'm thinking about councelor Dola's suggestion. So if resident only talk about agenda items sometimes is too narrow because if they have other concerns then what's their opportunity to express those concerns.
Um but I also consider you like your your opinion like if there are many many resident want to talk and the topic is everywhere maybe we should focus. So I'm thinking if we can say like if people talk about agenda items they can talk first and if you have a concerns like it's not on agenda then you you talk later like that's just a a suggestion.
Thank you. I'd like to make a motion to approve. We'd have to put into rules and I'm not ready for that tonight. Okay. You all set? So, if I could, I I didn't speak when Council UN brought her ordinance forward and I was a co-spon co-sponsor as well.
Um, but what I did want to mention is, you know, it is it can be extremely discouraging both in the public and being an elected official when you find things out on Joe Catalano show or the Quinsey Sun or in the Patriot Ledger or online.
But, um, like with regards to the statues, we all were kind of taken off guard from how the statues came about. and I was on the council and we did talk about the gun range. So that was something that was discussed.
So to suggest today on Joe Catalano show that somehow that that wasn't done and that's these things have to happen. It's very disingenuous and I get really discouraged by that type of stuff too. And then when I look at the the parking lot at Nickerson Post that's being done and people were asking that question.
I see people in the audience that emailed me and I emailed I always email people back. But what I would say again is that those bids went out and there was no discussion. The council didn't know and it was being money was being used which is even more inappropriate because the money that was being used was being used out of an account from granite links that was passed by a home room petition to have oversight on that we haven't had oversight on since it actually started in 2004.
But furthermore, we had asked for an audit back when I was on the council of Granite Links and it's four years later and we don't have that audit. And you know, we made a we made a motion that night saying that we don't want that money used.
And then to come and find out like, yeah, well, the parking lot's going to move forward because we have other monies that aren't controlled by the council called chapter 90, but chapter 90 is our streets and road streets and sidewalks, and you can't just use it for a parking lot.
So, these are all very misinformation that gets out in the public and the way things that have to be used and how we're supposed to have a protocol for that. And I appreciate the gentleman that came up and said strong mayor, weak counsel.
I always say we're only as weak as the questions we ask. So, there's no such thing as a weak person if you have questions to ask and you make sure you have your answers ready. And when it comes to flock, you know, we're not the only city that has this problem.
It's throughout the whole country. And it's not necessarily the police that we're questioning. We're we're questioning the company. And we should be questioning those things because, you know, when it gets used against you, and hopefully it never will, it will be a time that you'll be questioning why did we stand up for it?
But we do have to question those things because that data isn't staying here in Quinsey. It's on a server with somebody else. I haven't come to a conclusion on that other than the fact that the more I research it, the more I think it's frightening and it's a hard thing to control.
So, I just wanted to say those things because I do think we try to do a fair job up here and I know that the mayor has my number and I have his and I'm not shy to call him. So, if you don't have this number, please, anybody who wants it, give me a call.
I'll be happy to share it with you because I think he said the phone works both ways. I have to say I think I've called him more than he's called me, but maybe we'll be talking more. I do talk to Chris Walker more than him, but but at the same time, I do also encourage people and the council when you're doing your work, and I hope Chris Walker doesn't mind this, but I do direct them to you, Chris, because I think it's the best way to navigate all of the departments in the most efficient way.
So, this isn't a call of arms of saying I don't want to work with people, but I certainly don't appreciate hearing that it's one side and it's we're not we're the ones that don't want to work or in the school committee saying, you know, um I have a council that's not going to approve things.
That's not true. I think if you bring the things to us, we will approve them if they're the right things to approve. And that's the end of that what I'd like to say. And I do think we have to start working better.
And I will go back. Yes, I know who I am and I know I ran against the mayor. I offered to sit down to explain the other 48% of the city. There's a lot of people who aren't in agreement. We're in a 50-50 city.
Whether you win or lose, there's things you can learn about it, and we have to represent everybody. And maybe sometimes you don't think I'm representing everybody, but I certainly do try. So, I thank everybody for coming tonight.
And I'd like to take a motion to adjourn. I know we had to do meetings. I'm sorry. I want to get out of here. So, upcoming meetings before we do that. Thanks for indulging me, Council McGee. I'd like to schedule I'd like to schedule an ordinance committee meeting to discuss the the raises on October 5th.
On October 5th 6:45 6:45. Okay. Is that the only one you're you're doing? Okay. Yeah. For October 5th, it looks like we have a utility public hearings to Yeah. So that's why we start at 6:45. Okay. 6:45.
Okay. And then councelor Riley. Yes. Um, in checking everyone's schedule, I am planning to have a combined finance and oversight committee meeting on September 29th at 6:30. Still working through the agenda items with um, Mr.
Walker and I'll work with um our our council clerk on that, but we're hoping to address three, if not maybe four of the things that are currently sitting in committee. That's a lot, Debbie. I know. I'm not I'm going to evoke that we're not going past 11 o'clock then.
No, I know. I know. We're meeting We're meeting on the 6th. Um and then on October 5th, we're meeting So 6:30 on October 5th will be utility and public hearing. 6:45 ordinance committee with regards to salaries and 7:30 council.
Tuesday, September 29th at 6 PM is the joint finance and oversight for our Corey Hills Public Works Enhancement Fund. October 6. Yes. October 6th is the public hearing. I'm sorry. It was the 5th. 6th.
So, we're going to move on to um Can you go off those dates again? I can summarize it and send it out in the morning if you like. October 5th is ordinance at 6:45. October 6th is an oversight public hearing for the flock cameras.
And September 29th at 6:30 is my combined finance oversight. So, council Jacobs, do you want to talk about it? It's his oversight meeting, but yeah. So, there is all of those meetings were pre pre um we checked with everybody for their date, so they should be able to be here.
Any questions? Council, thank you, Madame President. So, public hearing for Flock is on October 6 at 6 p.m. Correct. and the advertisement to the newspaper already sent out. Oh, okay. All right. Resident 10 days notice and also we would like to resident to submit their questions to the city council and then we can send the questions to the police chief and two guests at the hearing.