City Council
City Council
lun, 8 de diciembre de 2025
Puntos de agenda
Registros de votación
Resumen del debate
Transcripción
RESUMEN DE REUNIÓNGenerado por IA
Concejo Municipal — 8 de diciembre de 2025
Esta fue una sesión ordinaria del Concejo Municipal precedida por una reunión del Comité de Ordenanzas. La sesión estuvo notablemente dominada por una audiencia pública sobre la clasificación del impuesto predial para el año fiscal 2026 (FY2026), con animados comentarios públicos sobre la controversia de la evaluación de pensiones y el alivio fiscal para los residentes. También se tomaron medidas sobre varias asignaciones del Distrito 4 y otras órdenes de trámite ordinario.
Comité de Ordenanzas: Audiencia sobre seguridad laboral de Riley Brothers / National Grid
El Comité de Ordenanzas se reunió a las 6:35 p.m. bajo la presidencia del Concejal Devine (nota: la transcripción utiliza nombres no estándar para los miembros del concejo — este parece ser un cuerpo deliberativo distinto al concejo actual de Quincy). El comité había votado previamente de manera unánime para citar a National Grid y a Riley Brothers a responder preguntas sobre una grave lesión laboral ocurrida el 22 de octubre, cuando un empleado de Riley Brothers sufrió daños físicos extensos mientras realizaba trabajos en el marco de un contrato municipal. Según se informó, este no fue el primer incidente de este tipo en el que Riley Brothers estuvo involucrado en Quincy.
Ninguna de las dos empresas compareció. Ambas enviaron cartas indicando que, dado que las investigaciones están en curso, no testificarían en ese momento, aunque cada una se comprometió a regresar una vez que concluyan las investigaciones. El Concejal DiBona señaló un paralelo con una situación anterior relacionada con un conflicto laboral de National Grid, en la que un funcionario citado también dejó de comparecer. Paul Goodrich, representante del Laborers Union, se encontraba presente en el público; la presidencia reconoció su colaboración para llevar el asunto a la atención del concejo, pero declinó permitirle hablar, alegando la ausencia de una audiencia pública formalmente notificada. El comité levantó la sesión a las 6:42 p.m. No se tomaron votos vinculantes; se espera que el asunto sea reintroducido en el nuevo período del concejo.
Clasificación del impuesto predial FY2026 (Asuntos 2025-128 y 2025-129)
El presidente de la Junta de Tasadores, John Roland, presentó la clasificación tributaria anual. Cifras clave: el valor total de la propiedad tasada de Quincy para el FY2026 es de $24,900 millones, un aumento del 4,9% respecto al FY2025. Las propiedades residenciales representan el 85,8% del valor total; las propiedades comerciales, industriales y personales representan el 14,2%. El valor tasado promedio de una vivienda unifamiliar es de $663,400, un aumento del 5,2%. El nuevo crecimiento añadió $6,7 millones en ingresos tributarios, ubicando a Quincy en el séptimo lugar del Commonwealth. Entre las incorporaciones notables al nuevo crecimiento se encuentran cuatro propiedades comerciales antes exentas de impuestos (incluido el antiguo edificio de Blue Cross Blue Shield en 1 Enterprise Drive) que ahora figuran en los registros tributarios, añadiendo casi $70 millones en valor tasado.
Se solicitó al concejo que adoptara un factor residencial de 0.876332, que refleja el traslado máximo de 1,75 de la carga tributaria de las propiedades residenciales hacia las propiedades comerciales, industriales y personales — una política que Quincy ha mantenido desde 2004.
La votación sobre el factor residencial y los porcentajes por categoría fue aplazada para la sesión del 15 de diciembre. Las cifras completas del gravamen fiscal y la certificación del efectivo disponible aún no estaban disponibles. El Concejal DiBona expresó su preocupación por la inusual división entre dos sesiones, señalando que esta no había sido la práctica habitual durante sus diez años de mandato. El Director de Finanzas Municipal, Walker, reconoció que esto se apartaba de la práctica habitual y lo atribuyó al trabajo en curso sobre el gravamen y a las conversaciones activas con el estado respecto a la evaluación de pensiones FY2026 de $16 millones que no fue incluida en el presupuesto municipal.
Se recibieron comentarios públicos significativos:
Mike Carter (5 Post Allen Road) habló en nombre propio y de su esposa, adultos mayores con ingresos fijos durante 54 años, instando a que se otorgue una consideración especial a los residentes de edad avanzada más allá de los programas de aplazamiento existentes.
Kathy Thran (234 Everett Street) cuestionó si la evaluación de pensiones estaba contemplada en la tasa tributaria propuesta y criticó la gestión fiscal de la ciudad, incluyendo una pérdida de inversiones de $90 millones en 2022.
Deborah Riley (9 Landrain Street), concejala recién elegida que asumirá funciones en enero, incorporó al expediente una carta de diciembre de 2024 de la Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission (PERAC) que confirma que la asignación de pensiones para el FY2026 aumentó de $11,6 millones a $18,1 millones — un incremento del 56% — debido a pérdidas en activos, aumentos salariales y ajustes por COLA.
Anne Mahoney (12 [calle no indicada], concejala en ejercicio recién elegida) afirmó enfáticamente que, conforme al MGL Capítulo 32, Sección 22, la evaluación de pensiones es un requisito legal, no una decisión de política pública, y que la Division of Local Services (DLS) emitió un boletín en 2025 que exige el financiamiento total en el FY2026. Advirtió que no financiarla ahora podría resultar en que tanto las evaluaciones del FY2026 como las del FY2027 recaigan sobre los contribuyentes el próximo año — potencialmente $30 millones o más.
Jocelyn Sedney (85 Monroe Road) abogó por una exención tributaria residencial para viviendas ocupadas por sus propietarios, señalando que 24 comunidades de Massachusetts ya la ofrecen, e instó a elevar el umbral de exención tributaria para adultos mayores por encima de su nivel actual de $35,274.
Nick Richardson (21 Ocean Street) planteó el tema de las propiedades de alquiler a corto plazo (Airbnbs) que tributan a tasas residenciales a pesar de operar como negocios comerciales, citando una propiedad vecina que se anuncia con capacidad para 35 personas a más de $10,000 al mes.
Stuart Shrier (69 Shelton Road) advirtió que seguir gravando en exceso las propiedades comerciales podría alejar a las empresas de Quincy, eliminando la futura base tributaria comercial, e instó a establecer una exención por ocupación propietaria.
Bills (46 Tilton Circle) estimó aumentos en el impuesto predial residencial en el rango del 10–12% según su propio análisis, y advirtió que sin la evaluación de pensiones en el resumen tributario, las facturas de marzo podrían registrar un incremento del 40–50%.
La audiencia pública permanecerá abierta y se reanudará el 15 de diciembre a las 6:00 p.m.
Asignaciones del Fondo de Mitigación del Distrito 4 (Asuntos 2025-130 al 2025-134)
El Concejal Divine presentó cinco asuntos para la reasignación de fondos de mitigación del Distrito 4:
$0 (Orden 2025-130): Redirigió la designación del fondo de mitigación del antiguo Centro Comunitario del Distrito 4 al QCAP Southwest Community Center, en respuesta al cierre del centro y al papel de QCAP en el servicio a la comunidad ante la escasez de fondos SNAP. Aprobado 9-0.
$6,000 (2025-131): Para Traffic, Parking, Alarm & Lighting (TPAL), destinados a mejoras de tráfico e iluminación cerca de Willard Street, Shea Park y el área de Rosecliffe. Aprobado 9-0.
$9,043.81 (2025-132): Para las asociaciones de padres y maestros (PTO) de Southwest Middle School y Lincoln Hancock Community School, para materiales de aula y actividades, incluyendo un viaje de fin de año de 8.° grado a New York y una excursión en Lincoln Hancock. Aprobado 9-0.
$956.19 (2025-133): Para la PTO de Southwest Middle School, para equipamiento deportivo (arco de fútbol y kit de Gaga ball). Aprobado 9-0.
$2,224.64 (2025-134): Para el programa PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) de Southwest Middle School, que premia a los estudiantes con pequeños incentivos y reconocimientos. Aprobado 9-0.
Ley de Cámaras en el Brazo de Parada de Autobuses Escolares (Asunto 2025-135)
El concejo adoptó el MGL Capítulo 90, Secciones 14 y 14C, una ley estatal recientemente promulgada que permite a las ciudades instalar cámaras en el brazo de parada de los autobuses escolares e imponer infracciones civiles a los conductores que ilegalmente adelanten autobuses detenidos. El Concejal Ash señaló que la miembro de la Junta Escolar, Katherine Huby, había impulsado esta legislación. El Concejal Divine citó incidentes recientes en el vecindario de Grove/Bates/Upton Street donde los autobuses tuvieron que ser reubicados debido al comportamiento peligroso de algunos conductores. Se plantearon interrogantes sobre si las cámaras se extenderían a proveedores de transporte contratados y fuera del distrito; la administración indicó que esto se abordaría en la fase de implementación.
Votación: 9-0.
Servidumbre de Servicios Públicos en Hancock Street (Asunto 2025-136)
El Procurador Municipal presentó una concesión de servidumbre al desarrollador de un proyecto en 61–71 Hancock Street, necesaria porque Hancock Street está bajo control estatal y el límite de propiedad con Newport Avenue, que está bajo control municipal, no está claro. La servidumbre permite al desarrollador instalar plataformas para servicios públicos y construir una acera. Cualquier obra deberá cumplir con los estándares municipales. El Concejal Leang solicitó un punto de contacto para los residentes con respecto a los plazos de construcción; la administración se comprometió a proporcionar supervisión del DPW e información de contacto.
Votación: 9-0.
Centro de Artes Escénicas — Construction Manager at Risk (Asunto 2025-137)
El concejo votó para autorizar el uso del método de entrega Construction Manager at Risk (CMR) bajo el MGL para un propuesto Centro de Artes Escénicas, que se complementará con un Adams Presidential Center. Walker confirmó que la ubicación probable es el Monroe Building, frente al Ayuntamiento. En esta etapa no se han asignado fondos; el proceso de selección del arquitecto está casi concluido. Walker describió esto como una fase temprana de participación pública y desarrollo del diseño. Los Concejales DiBona y Ash preguntaron sobre el historial del sitio (una propuesta anterior cerca de Adams Academy/Planet Fitness fue abandonada por la renuencia de los propietarios y preocupaciones sobre la expropiación forzosa). Los Concejales Ash y DiBona se abstuvieron.
Votación: 7-0-2 (Ash y DiBona absteniéndose).
Órdenes de Tráfico (Informes de Comité)
Tres asuntos de tráfico recibieron recomendaciones favorables y fueron aprobados:
2025-126: Zona de recogida y entrega de pasajeros frente a Broad Meadow School, 31 Calvin Road. Aprobado.
2025-122: Eliminar la restricción de no girar a la izquierda en Curtis/Washington Court. Aprobado.
2025-123: Agregar dos señales de alto en Arnold Street en 5th Street, creando un alto en cuatro vías. Aprobado.
Reconocimiento
El Concejal Campbell pronunció un homenaje en reconocimiento de Mary DePalo de Bartlett Street con motivo de su 100.° cumpleaños, honrándola como una querida figura materna y referente del vecindario en el Distrito 4.
Puntos clave
La votación sobre la tasa tributaria del FY2026 queda aplazada al 15 de diciembre. La ciudad aún no ha certificado su gravamen fiscal total, y la administración se encuentra en "conversaciones activas" con el estado sobre si la evaluación de pensiones de $16–18 millones debe figurar en el resumen tributario — un asunto legalmente controvertido que múltiples oradores argumentaron es innegociable bajo la ley estatal.
La controversia sobre la evaluación de pensiones es el problema fiscal central. Las concejales recién elegidas Mahoney y Riley advirtieron públicamente que no financiar la evaluación de pensiones del FY2026 podría obligar a imponer una evaluación combinada masiva sobre los contribuyentes en 2027, y que la ley estatal no deja margen de discrecionalidad.
Múltiples oradores solicitaron un alivio tributario estructural para los propietarios que ocupan sus viviendas, incluyendo una exención residencial (como la que aplican Boston y otras 23 comunidades) y mayores exenciones para adultos mayores — asuntos que el concejo entrante deberá considerar.
Riley Brothers y National Grid declinaron comparecer ante el Comité de Ordenanzas para responder preguntas sobre una grave lesión laboral ocurrida en obra, alegando investigaciones en curso; el concejo tiene la intención de citarlos nuevamente cuando concluyan las investigaciones.
El proyecto del Centro de Artes Escénicas / Adams Presidential Center está avanzando hacia las primeras fases de diseño, con el Monroe Building como sitio probable — el proyecto cívico nuevo más significativo en cartera.
Resumen generado por IA a partir de una transcripción de voz a texto. No es el registro oficial. Verifique los detalles importantes con los documentos fuente vinculados arriba.
Puntos de agenda (7)
Procedural (2)
1Procedural2025-128 – Adopción – Factor Residencial de 87.6332 para el FY26 Mayor Koch
2Procedural2025-129 – Adopción – Porcentajes del Impuesto Local por Cada Clase de Bienes Inmuebles y Mayor Koch Bienes Personales para el FY26
Order
3Order2025-130 – Orden – Reasignación de los Fondos de Mitigación del Ward IV al Centro Comunitario Suroeste del Quincy Mayor Koch Community Action Program Councillor Devine
Appropriation
4Appropriation2025-131 – Apropiación - $6,000.00 de los Fondos de Mitigación del Ward IV a Traffic, Mayor Koch Parking, Alarm, Lighting (TPAL) para Mejoras de Tráfico Councillor Devine
5Appropriation2025-132 – Apropiación - $9,043.81 de los Fondos de Mitigación del Ward IV para South-West Mayor Koch Middle School y Lincoln Hancock Community School para Actividades de la PTO Councillor Devine
6Appropriation2025-133 – Apropiación - $956.19 de los Fondos de Mitigación del Ward IV para la PTO de South-West Mayor Koch Middle School para Equipamiento Councillor Devine
7Appropriation2025-134 – Apropiación - $2,224.64 de los Fondos de Mitigación del Ward IV para apoyar el Programa PBIS de South-West Mayor Koch Middle School Councillor Devine
Votos adicionales registrados en actas
Approve repurposing Ward 4 mitigation funds to QCAP Southwest Community Center (2025-130)
aye 9
Council Campbellaye
Council Divineaye
Council Harrisaye
Council Leangaye
Council McCarthyaye
Council Mintonaye
Noel DiBonaaye
President Kaneaye
Richard Ashaye
Approve appropriation of $6,000 from Ward 4 mitigation funds to traffic department for traffic improvements (2025-131)
aye 6 · absent 3
Council Campbellaye
Council Divineaye
Council Harrisaye
Council Leangaye
Council McCarthyabsent
Council Mintonaye
Noel DiBonaabsent
President Kaneaye
Richard Ashabsent
Approve appropriation of $9,043.81 from Ward 4 mitigation funds to Southwest Middle School and Lincoln Hancock Community School for PTO activities (2025-132)
aye 9
Council Campbellaye
Council Divineaye
Council Harrisaye
Council Leangaye
Council McCarthyaye
Council Mintonaye
Noel DiBonaaye
President Kaneaye
Richard Ashaye
Approve appropriation of $956.19 from Ward 4 mitigation funds to Southwest Middle School PTO for equipment (2025-133)
aye 8 · absent 1
Council Campbellaye
Council Divineaye
Council Harrisaye
Council Leangaye
Council McCarthyabsent
Council Mintonaye
Noel DiBonaaye
President Kaneaye
Richard Ashaye
Approve appropriation of $2,224.64 from Ward 4 mitigation funds to Southwest Middle School PBIS program (2025-134)
aye 7 · absent 2
Council Campbellaye
Council Divineaye
Council Harrisaye
Council Leangaye
Council McCarthyabsent
Council Mintonaye
Noel DiBonaaye
President Kaneaye
Richard Ashabsent
Adopt Mass General Law Chapter 90 Section 14 and 14C concerning safety of school children embarking and disembarking school buses (2025-135)
aye 9
Council Campbellaye
Council Divineaye
Council Harrisaye
Council Leangaye
Council McCarthyaye
Council Mintonaye
Noel DiBonaaye
President Kaneaye
Richard Ashaye
Approve 61-69 and 71 Hancock Street easement (2025-136)
aye 7 · absent 2
Council Campbellaye
Council Danaabsent
Council Divineaye
Council Harrisaye
Council Leangaye
Council McCarthyaye
Council Mintonaye
President Kaneaye
Richard Ashabsent
Approve performing arts center project use of Chapter 149A construction manager at risk delivery method (2025-137)
aye 7 · abstain 2
Council Campbellaye
Council Divineaye
Council Harrisaye
Council Leangaye
Council McCarthyaye
Council Mintonaye
Noel DiBonaabstain
President Kaneaye
Richard Ashabstain
Approve meeting minutes from Monday, November 10, 2025
aye 1
voice voteaye
Approve meeting minutes from Monday, November 17, 2025
aye 1
voice voteaye
Add passenger pickup and drop off zone in front of Broad Meadow School crossing at 31 Calvin Road (2025-126)
aye 7 · absent 2
Council Campbellaye
Council Divineaye
Council Harrisabsent
Council Leangaye
Council McCarthyaye
Council Mintonaye
Noel DiBonaabsent
President Kaneaye
Richard Ashaye
Remove no left turn on Curtis at Washington Court (2025-122)
aye 7 · absent 2
Council Campbellaye
Council Divineaye
Council Harrisaye
Council Leangaye
Council McCarthyabsent
Council Mintonaye
Noel DiBonaabsent
President Kaneaye
Richard Ashaye
Add two stop signs on Arnold Street at 5th Street creating a four-way stop (2025-123)
aye 8 · absent 1
Council Campbellaye
Council Divineaye
Council Harrisaye
Council Leangaye
Council McCarthyaye
Council Mintonaye
Noel DiBonaabsent
President Kaneaye
Richard Ashaye
Motion to adjourn
aye 1
voice voteaye
Transcripción literal disponible
343 segmentos de transcripción indexados
Good evening everybody. Um, this is the public hearing 6:30 p.m. Utility Mass Electric Verizon 58 Taylor Street. We are actually going to put this off and wave it uh and move it over to next week. um because of maybe some logistic uh issues as far as notifications and stuff.
Do we have to do a vote or anything on that? Time not enough time for advertising, so we can't push it to next week. So, we have to do it tonight. Yeah. Okay. Next year. Um Yes. So, I I'd like to push this to the next session.
Yes. Thank you. So, we'll be back in about um 3 minutes for the ordinance committee meeting at 6:35. And thank you very much. Good evening. I'd like to call to order the Monday, December 8th meeting of the ordinance committee.
Madam, can you call the role, please? Council Ash. Council Kaine, present. Council Campbell, present. Council Divine, present. Council Deona, present. Council Harris, Council McCarthy, Council Mitten, present.
Jillian present. Nine members have the floor. Thank you. 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. So, just to recap for folks, the ordinance committee tonight um was well, it was my hope that this would be an opportunity to have a scheduled formal hearing where we would call National Guard and Riley Brothers to come and essentially testify um and answer questions from from all of us.
Um there was an extremely um I I'd still say it's it's a tragic incident that happened about a month and a half ago on October 22nd where there was uh an employee of Riley Brothers who was doing work on a city contract and unfortunately um received extensive extensive bodily injury uh due to the lack of uh frankly just care by his supervisors that were on site.
It was extremely um disappointing to find out after the fact that it's not Riley Brother's first incident on a site in Quinsey where somebody um had sustained extreme bodily injuries again due to a lack of structure and oversight from Riley Brothers management who were were on site.
And so I want to first and foremost thank my colleagues um because all of you unanimously without any hesitation um you know voted this through to call them in front of us right to be held accountable to the fact that we hold certain standards for everything across the city particularly when it comes to the work that's being done particularly in these dangerous conditions and we have the expectation right that the contractors we work with follow the standards that we set and and I just appreciate that all of you um you know again just without any hesitation find it completely unacceptable that folks are not following those standards that we put out.
So, um, unfortunately, this will be a short meeting. As folks can see, National Grid and Riley Brothers are not here. Um, we have letters that I printed out for your packets that you'll be able to see.
They both had um separately sent us letters saying that because it's an ongoing investigation, they will not be here to answer questions, but they did say that once the investigation concludes that they would be willing to come back in front of the city council and answer any and all questions.
And I think that no matter how much time passes, whether that investigation takes a day, a week, a year, a decade, I hope whatever body is up here, by the time that investigation concludes, we'll take them up on that offer and have them come back in front of the council and answer to these questions because again, this isn't the first time that it's happened.
I hope to God it's the last. I I think we all do. Um it's really unfortunate though again that it's not the first time. So again, I just I'm I'm deeply disappointed that they're not in front of they could have come in front of us and just, you know, taken our questions and been honest about, well, I can answer this one, but not this one.
Or I can give some details here, but not this one. Um, but I am grateful that that they at least didn't say flat out no, they just said not right now. Um, but again, I'm just deeply grateful to all of you, my colleagues, for not even hesitating, not skipping a beat to uh pass this unanimously and and call them to task.
So, um, with that, I can open up to questions and colleagues, I mean questions and comments from my colleagues. I don't have any answers on the incident myself. Um, but certainly welcome all my colleagues to put questions out there so that they know what's to come.
Hopefully, um, when this comes back in front of the body at future meetings. So, any again questions or comments from my colleagues? Councelor Deona. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um just wanted to elaborate a little bit about um you know some years ago we had a a lockout with National Grid with the steel workers um and the gas company.
We subpoenaed Marcy Reid to come in front of us and she did not appear. It's sounding very similar that maybe hopefully they'll come in due time. I just also wanted to uh recognize and possibly through you um madam chair if we we have uh Paul Goodrich from the laborers union that's here tonight um overseeing this as well.
Um he's been an organizer for the for the laborers for quite a while and um he has an oversight amongst these type of issues that have gone across the the Commonwealth. So, uh through you if you could if you could maybe if he wants to appear in front of us just to uh elaborate a little bit about um our particular situation and andor other situations across the Commonwealth.
Yeah. Um I appreciate that councelor Deona and I I know PG very well. He's one that actually um brought this to my attention and when I knew nothing about again the incident and and what was going on um you've been a very helpful guide in in this process.
Uh with all due respect, councelor Deabona, you know, I as a chairperson of the committee, um and kind of stringent when it comes to following Robert's rules and always an ordinance committee when there isn't a public hearing formally scheduled, you know, I I have to, you know, just again just making sure I'm following the rules here, right?
That I abide by that. And so again, in future meetings, certainly, you know, the will of the body can always schedule a public hearing and that way not only PG but other folks who see our public agendas can see that there's a public hearing and come to speak.
I do encourage folks to reach out to BG. He's amazing. Again, a phenomenal resource. Um, this isn't the last time I hope, again, like I said, that this comes before the council body. Um, certainly in the new term.
I think that, you know, this should be reintroduced as well. So, um, it's not a knock against PG. I'm just a stickler when it comes to following Robert's rule as counselor. Um, just to elaborate a little bit about the situation.
Is there anybody that's here that can and the mayor's representative or anyone can elaborate on anything for ongoing um anything that we have for no new information? No. No. Okay. So, it's just it's just we're waiting.
We're waiting for them to make a decision on the uh investigation. Yeah. Unfortunately, and you know, again um specifically the Riley Brothers letter at the end and this will be made public record as well.
Um the under their letter said, "We'll be prepared to provide information following the conclusion of the ongoing inquiries." And from National Grid, um their offer is at the end of the letter again, "We'll be prepared to provide information once the relevant investigations are complete." At this time, I don't have any further questions because we we can't really get any answers.
So, yeah. Thank you. Thank you. No, no. Thank you, counselor. Any other questions or comments from my colleagues? Okay, with that again just thank you really um I can't say it enough that you all just really unanimously supported this and I think it's important to to recognize that even if they're not going to be here this evening, all of you are here and um are willing to to hold these folks accountable and make sure that people who are operating in the city are safe.
So, thank you to each of you. All right. And with that, at 6:42 p.m., I'll adjourn the ordinance committee meeting. Uh, good evening. Welcome to the Monday, December 8th, city council meeting. Uh, we now call this meeting to order.
Madam clerk, please call the role. Councelor Ash. Councelor Campbell, president. Council Divine, Council Deon, present. Council Harris. Council Leang present. Council McCarthy. Council Mitten. President Kane present.
Thank you very much. Madam clerk, uh, would everyone please stand to observe a moment of silence? Please use this moment as you will. Please turn to the flag for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge 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.
So, it's not that right now. Okay. Um, madam. Okay. So, first we have a um a public hearing on the fiscal year 2026 property tax classification. Tonight with us we have chair of the board of assessors John Roland who's going to give us a presentation and uh ready to go.
Y okay. Good evening members of the city council. Tonight's meeting is held for the purpose of voting on a residential factor which determines if the city will have a split or single tax rate. This body must decide whether to tax all classes of property at their full and fair cash valuation share of the tax levy, which will result in a single tax rate, or reduce the share of the tax levy paid by the residential property owners and shift those taxes to the commercial, industrial, and personal property taxpayers, which result in a split tax rate.
Since 1984, Quinsey has adopted the split tax rate. Before the city can determine the shift, all the city's assessed values must be certified by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. I would like to take this time to thank my staff in the assessor department for their hard work throughout the year to bring us to this night.
The property tax cycle starts with the issuance of the assessments in January. That is when our staff begins on working on next year's values. This is done through the data collection and data analysis phases.
Property inspections are underway, whether it be through cyclical or building permit inspections and requests for information are sent out to our incomeroucing properties such as our commercial, industrial, and apartments.
From there, we analyze and gather the data to make our valuation decisions. Once we determine the value, we submit them to the state for approval. Once approved, we come before this body and we must decide how the city will distribute the tax levy amongst the four classes of property.
Before that decision is made, I would like to provide the council with a review of the city's assessments. For fiscal year 2026, the total value of all property across the city is $24.9 billion. This is a 4.9% increase in valuation from FY25.
The residential class accounts for 85.8% of the total assessed value in the city with the remaining 14.2% and the CPI classes, commercial, industrial, and personal property. In review of the past five years, Quinsey's property class allocation has remained consistent with the residential classes making up approximately 86% of the total value and the commercial taxpaying base making up the remaining 14%.
Although it can be seen the past two years a slight shift towards the commercial class slightly. There we go. Yep. Going from 86 to 859 8584. It might be minor, but we count that as a win. Over the past year, residential classes saw an increase of 4.8%.
Commercial commercial property values saw an increase of 5.3, industrial 7.34, and personal property 4.32. While these might appear as moderate increases, we would like to be hard we you would be hardressed to find other communities that are seeing consistent increases in their CIP classes.
Again, something I am very proud of that my office is able to do. Here is a more detailed look at the property tax property types breakdown increase with each class code from FY25 to 26. The single family class increase of 5.32 this year.
There are over 27,000 taxable parcels in the city of Quinsey. This table here has a parcel has the parcel count broken up by class. As we saw in the previous slide, the single family class is by far our largest, followed by the condo units.
These two classes make up 74% of our parcel count. Every year, assessors must report the community's new growth to the state. This year, we'll be adding over $400 million in assessed tax base. Sorry. 220 million comes from the residential class with over 100 million from apartments.
179 million comes from the commercial industrial and personal property classes with 100 million new growth from the commercial class and over 70 million new growth from personal property. New growth does not just come from construction.
When an exempt entity sells a property to a non-t taxable entity, this parcel can be added to the tax role. This year, we had four commercial parcels added through a sale. One Enterprise Drive, formerly Blue Blue Cross Blue Shield Building, 16 Crown Colony, formerly 32 Health, 162 Old Colony A, formerly owned by East Nazarene, and 148 East Quantum Street, former Stars Daycare.
Combined, these parcels add up to just under 70 million assessed value. It's pretty evident driving around the city that construction is always ongoing. With local option, the state allows us to pick up new growth up to June 30th.
Our office works diligently to this date to maximize the city's return. Here are the some of the projects that were added to the tax role this year, either as complete or parcel still under construction.
Our total new growth in tax dollars this year is $6.7 million. Quinsey historically ranks in the top 10 every year in new growth with last year's ranking fifth in the Commonwealth. And while not all communities have finalized their new growth figures this year, this year we currently ranked seventh out of 351 municipalities.
38% of our new growth tax laws come from the residential class with 62% coming from the commercial, industrial, and personal property classes. As part of our data analysis phase, sales data is reviewed every year to apply market adjustments to meet the state's certification standards established by the Department of Revenue.
These sales the sale prices of comparable properties are the primary indicators for residential property value. Fiscal year 26 values were determined through analyzing sales that occurred during calendar year 2024.
The number of sale transactions saw a slight uptick from the prior year while prices continue to rise at a slower rate than previous years. While analyzing the sales data, we looked at single family sales by price point.
The highest volume of sales fall within a range of 600 800,000 while there are only two qualified sales under a purchase price of 400,000 and 30 sales over a million dollars. The citywide median sale price of a single family home was $720,000 in 2024, a 6% increase from the prior year's median sale price of 680,000.
While analyzing sales data, we reviewed the sale price in each neighborhood. The neighborhood with the highest median sale price was Quinsey Center with a median of $810,000. This ends Squanum's long reign at top this category and speaks to Quinsey Center in the downtown becoming more desirable.
In review of the single family sales by neighborhood, something's going on here. All right, where were we? Single family calendar year 26 sales. Thank you. Yep. As we can see here, in review of the single family sales by neighborhood, we saw that Wall and West Quinsey had the highest volume of sales at 14%.
For fiscal year 2026, the median single family home in Quinsey has an assessed value of 663,400, which is a 5.2% increase from fiscal year 25. In order to calculate the tax rate, the total tax levy for the city is divided by the total assessed value of the city.
That number is then multiplied by a,000 for the price per thousand rate known as the single tax rate. While we do not have the levy until next week, we can still make the classification decision tonight.
A single tax rate would represent no adjustment to the class percentages and each class of property would bear the equal share of the levy. This would be representing a residential factor of one. The option before you tonight would apply the maximum shift under masterinal law towards the commercial, industrial, and personal property classes, a 1.75 shift.
Tonight, the vote before you will be whether to adopt the minimum residential factor of 8763, resulting in the lowest residential tax rate the city can provide under the law. This decision is a this is the decision this body has made over the past two decades, first applying the 1.75 shift in 2004, consistent with what we've done year-over-year.
Tonight we ask you that you approve the minimum residential factor and shift to the maximum amount under Mass General law of 1.75. Thank you. Thanks, John. We doing questions from Oh, just Okay. All right.
So, uh now we're going to take testimony from uh the audience. Anyone who's come to speak in favor of uh voting on the split or single tax rate is welcome to come to the microphone and speak. Uh anyone that comes to the podium has three minutes to do so.
So excuse me just speaking on this particular measure or the tax rate in general the voting on the split or the single tax rates. So will there be more discussion afterwards or questions and answers? No, there are no questions and answers.
Just anyone that would like to speak on the tax rate, the split classification or the single adoption name and address. Just name address. Okay. And please state your uh your name and address when you approach the podium, please.
uh Mike Carter U five Post Allen Road and I'm speaking on behalf of myself and my wife Cindy. Um just like to read a brief statement that I think applies. Um we've been homeowners and taxpayers in Quinsey uh uh since 1971.
That's 54 years. And now at 75 years of age, we're in that large and growing group of seniors uh on fixed incomes, in our case, savings and social security. Um we ask that when you vote for the uh residential tax rate on December 15th, please give this group special consideration beyond the current deferments that are in place uh with provisions that allow services uh seniors rather to continue to live in the city.
we have helped to build and which we love. We all appreciate the great services provided by the city and financed by our taxes. We count on this and future city councils to be efficient and effective stewards of our taxes and we thank you for that.
This is especially complicated and challenging with a $456 million annual budget and a $1.64 billion debt. We support the suggestions for increased departmental special audits, increased oversight, exploring of alternatives uh and um revenue sources and uh reaching out to other cities uh comparable to to Quinzy for examples of effectively balancing services with residential and commercial tax levies.
Thank you. Anyone else? Good evening. Kathy Thran, 234 Ever Street. The first thing I really want to know is do the property tax rates you're proposing include the 16 mill million dollar pure act assessment.
The large assessment is likely due to a combination of things. Past investment losses, COLA adjustments, and an increased number of pensioners. The 2021 pension obligation bond provided relief, but it's not forever.
In 2021, $3.5 million stolen. In 2022, over $90 million investment lost. Hopefully, future investment gains will offset future assessments. Regardless, it's my understanding you have to include that assessment into the tax rate.
Otherwise, the problem will be magnified in 2026. I see that the residential evaluation will probably go up on top of whatever our tax rates are. So, this is going to be really hurting. Furthermore, I'm not sure about how much the commercial rate really works.
The majority of our res our revenue comes, as you can see, from the residential, not commercial taxes. So, to really gain revenue, you need a larger commercial base. But has our commercial base really increased?
It looks like a very, very small fraction. And I honestly don't know where we're going with the commercial base. Where is IHOP? Where is Alapocos? Where is the good health store? And most recently, we handed Grossman's a big state and local tax break for what amounts to a reduced commercial base.
We have to start thinking about that. The commercial base has got to increase. So, why did we give tax breaks to somebody who was reducing the commercial base? Why is this discussion always after an election?
I would ask the new city council at least, please put it before the election. It's an important discussion and should reflect the city council's performance. The financial gain of relying on new development to keep the tax levy down will end.
We had a chance to reduce the budget in May. We didn't. And I think you're leaving the new city council with a lot of problems. Thank you. Good evening. Good evening. Uh my name is Virginia Ryan and I live in 89 Alick Road in Quinsey, Mass.
I am here to speak on the tax rate and the calculation. I'm not it's kind of confusing which tax rate is the most beneficial to the residents, but the ones that's will generate the lowest amount of um real estate taxes is what I am for.
If the tax rate does not include the calculation for the 16 million for the increased pension funds due to salary and cola increases, I am not in favor of that calculation. I had an opportunity to attend new counselor training on December 5th and according to the department of local services, the state will not certify the tax rate if it does not include that funding calculation and the property tax bills may be delayed which could result in not one but two bills being sent to home owners.
I'm sorry, but if this is the same account that lost 3.5 million due to cyber theft and high investment losses, the city administration needs to do a better job in the management of this account. The city needs to ensure spending is within reason.
And you know, we also need to remember that because the taxpayers are the one that foots the burden for these projects, these libraries, all of these commercial projects. Thank you. And please think about that when you vote on this.
Just keep coming. Don't hesitate. Step right up. Good evening. My name is Ali Shauny. I live at 16 Bay Street in Squanum. I just want to make a comment about the gentleman that just was up here first talking about those that are on fixed income and how do we how do we try and take some of the burden off of those on the fixed income starting at 65 typically and still have it so they can stay in their house and not have to move out or give up the house where they they're house rich but they're kind of tax poor.
So this isn't my idea. This is a friend of mine and I suggested this at the uh Access TV, the Quincsey Access TV during the campaign and this seemed this is going to be my only opportunity to really talk about it now cuz I didn't do so good during the campaign but that's okay.
So Mr. Kylie, a friend of mine out in Squanum had suggested to me during a veterans of vet up at Pageant Field that if we could take the burden for the elderly and I'm now elderly if you go by the 65 and those that are on fixed income and let's just for hypothetical numbers here.
You buy a house when you're 25 years old and it cost you $500,000. You live in the city for 40 years, the house goes up to maybe a million dollars. So now you've gone from 500,000 to a million. The house has been assessed every year between that 25 years, 25 age up to 65.
And you know, I would think assessed fairly and those are the years when you can make your most money because 25 to 65 is when we generally make the most money. So now you hit the 65 and it becomes fixed income.
So, what do we do to try and keep the elderly to help the elderly stay in that house that they've been very, you know, uh, diligently paying for for years, the mortgage, the everything. They families, the schools, and all that kind of stuff.
And now they're at 65. The kids are all done with school. There's they're not nearly as much of a burden on the on the city tax base as they were before. I would tell you that the rubbish they produce is probably like one barrel every two weeks.
they're not really like putting too much burden on the city. So, we got to give them a little bit of relief mainly to keep them in their house. But how do you do it? Because the city's growing so so fast, which is okay because it's a matter of cash flow, right?
So, if the city's growing fast and the values continue to go up, like you become house rich, but you're kind of poor because now you can't pay the tax bill on the house. It's like the house rich and you don't want to go and reassess, not reassess, excuse me.
You don't want to go and borrow against the house to pay your tax bill. So what he had suggested, take the original purchase price of the house when you were back at 25 years old and say at the $500,000 rate, start it all over again.
Start the assessment clock back when they were 25 years old at whatever that assessment was then and then for the next 30 years only go up by $300 a year on that assessment. So a lot of persons at 65 and so for 30 years so they're 95 the most are going to go up is $300 on top of the assessment that started at the 25 year old age.
So I know there's a lot of math involved and I know there's a lot of uh due diligence and homework and it's just an idea to throw it out there to say what can we do to help them. Thank you very much. Your three minutes is up.
Three minutes is up. Thank you. Thank you all. Good evening. My name is Nick Richardson. I live at 21 Ocean Street in North Quinsey. Um I have a specific comment about uh how we differentiate residential um buildings and business from commercial businesses.
And one of the things I wanted to raise attention to is that in recent years there has been a proliferation of short-term rentals being operated in violation of residential zoning, but they happen to be in the residential neighborhoods and are therefore taxed at the residential rates.
Some of these are very large operations that are being run by non-residents and they're bringing in significant incomes. As an example, I found out last week that one has been opened next to me by operators from out of town and they have a total capacity advertised 35 different people, guests at four different units in North Quinzy.
Not to ask the question about why we aren't able to shut these down, but I'm trying to understand why they are taxed at residential rates that are intended for residents. They have significant income.
The one next to me is asking over $10,000 a month. And yet they pay the same rate that I do to subsidize their use of our street parking, their use of city services to maintain their properties. So I would just ask you to consider as you go forward to consider whether the residential rates are really being appropriately applied applied to residents or whether they are being inappropriately offered to commercial businesses.
Thank you. Anyone else? Hello, my name is Jocelyn Sedney, 85 Monroe Road and I just sort of wanted to follow up on the last two speakers. Um, in terms of the residential rate, I think a lot of times people think that when we're talking about residential, we mean people's homes.
We do need mean people's homes, but we also mean these big huge apartment complexes that have been built in Quinzy. We heard during the presentation about construction. There's construction, construction, construction.
And that's true. And it's construction of building large buildings with apartments and those buildings are taxed at a residential rate. So the millionaires, the multi-millionaires, the billionaires who are building these projects are paying the same tax rate that we are paying as individuals.
And so I think the last um speaker was uh pointing out that there was a problem in terms of these Airbnbs or whatever that they're actually commercial versus residential, but that's the same problem we have with these big commercial developments.
But I don't know that there's much that we can be done about that other than giving some tax relief to the individuals who own the individual homes. And this goes a little bit to which Mr. uh uh to what Mr.
Shaughnessy was talking about. He suggested a tax exemption that was a little bit complicated. And I would suggest that the city council consider this city council, the next city council, the administration consider a residential tax exemption.
24 cities and communities across the Commonwealth have a residential tax exemption. Now, what this means is not a total tax exemption, but if you have a home that's worth $500,000. If the tax exemption is $100,000, you get taxed on 400, not the 500.
Some cities and towns have a higher rate. Maybe they take off the 200,000 from the valuation. Others may take off, you know, even less. It would be a small accommodation for those residences or those people who own actual homes in Quinsey.
And in most of those cities and towns, they qualify the residential exemption to be only for owner occupied occupied buildings, one family, two family, three family, and perhaps perhaps four family, but they have to be owner occupied.
There have been many tax breaks given to these developers of these huge, huge projects. This would be a small way to recognize that there are people who live here in Quinsey and they deserve a tax break as well.
It would also help the senior citizens that Mr. Shaughnessy was talking about. And I'd also point out that there is a senior tax exemption now in Quinsey. However, that tax exemption allows an exemption for $35,2.74 for seniors and they have to have assets of less than $80,000.
We don't have to keep to that number. Quinsey can increase that. Quinsey can increase the the senior tax exemption to $1,000 and and change the asset allocation as well. Thank you very much. Your three minutes is up.
All right. Thank you very much. I appreciate your attention. Um, just one moment. We're going to open the council meeting. We'll come back to the public hearing. Thank you. Um, okay. Well, we already did the whole, so Okay, we open the council meeting.
Going to take a brief recess. We'll go back to the public hearing. Come back up. Good evening. My name is Deborah Riley. I live at nine Landrain Street. Um it's always a little hard to follow Docselin.
Um I would like to just read into the record because there's been talk of the um the unfunded pension obligation. I know that that there was a lot of touting over the uh restructuring of the pension obligation through some bonding.
However, um it seems like just yesterday, we were here a year ago and on December 18th, 2024, the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission issued a letter to the Quincy Retirement Board of approval of funding schedule.
This commission is hereby furnishing you with approval of the revised funding schedule you recently adopted and a copy is attached. The schedule assumes payments are made on July 1 of each fiscal year.
The schedule is effective in fiscal year 2025 since the amount under the prior schedule was maintained in fiscal year 25 and is acceptable under chapter 32. The unfunded liability of the system increased by approximately $81 million from the January 1st, 2022 actuarial evaluation.
This increase is due to the asset loss over the past two years, the salary loss over the past two years, the payment of a 5% cost of living increase in fiscal year 23, and the increase in the cost of living base from 15,000 to 18,000.
As a result, the fiscical year 26 appropriation and all future appropriations increased significantly from the prior schedule. The fiscal year 26 appropriation increased from 11.6 6 million to 18.1 million, a 56% increase.
As a result, the revised funding schedule now completes the amodization of the UL in fiscal year 39. So, this amount needs to be budgeted. We need to bring this back in. We can't ignore it. And if anyone is ever challenging their um property tax bill, we all know that we have to pay that amount while we challenge it.
The city needs to do the same thing. We need to fund this and we need to remember regardless of what the the tax um burden is that it all falls on us the taxpayers. Thank you. Anyone else? Please keep coming.
Just once somebody comes, come on up. This isn't school. Hi, I'm William Farrell. live at 43 Cory Street, Quincy. Um, I came here because I wanted to talk about the U tax rate um and and some of the reasons why I believe the tax rates are higher than they could be.
Um, there there's a lot of spending in the city and I'm not against having low-level services or a low-level government, but I think we have to have a reasonable level of of operation. I mean we have an enormous budget that's very very large and I think is extremely disproportionate for the size of our city or the tax base of our city.
Um we also have as has been mentioned an enormous number of um deferrals that have been given to various um contractors who or organizations that are building very large buildings. And this is just kind of sort of a race to the bottom amongst each community to give large facilities huge task tax discounts that are not available to um the residents.
Um, and I also believe the idea that having the residents um get a benefit um for being a um owneroccupied residence is is a very significant thing um as opposed to someone who's essentially running much almost a motel um when when they're having people especially short-term people stay there.
And also I'm very very upset about the fact that one of the reasons our budget is in such tough shape is because of the really I believe astronomical raises that were given um uh to the city. Um I'm sure people are very familiar with all this issue both the uh mayor and the council members I hope are very familiar with the people who are so dissatisfied with that.
um because uh I don't think we should underfund people who are working for the city or representatives of the city but giving out raises that especially in the case of the mayor that are way more than cities that are much much larger than Quincy and much much more affluent than Quincy or even some extremely large national cities but somehow Quinsey feels we need to pay more of that and I really don't see that as being a legitimate method of uh uh of handing out raises that I think are not even fair.
But these are some of the things I think that are most important and are really causing the problem. And the big problem we have with the huge debt and I don't see the huge debt as a benefit or an investment.
Some people have called it an investment. I don't see how the huge debt can be an investment. Um and and also spending on some projects that were really very much overspent and overpriced. So, I hope you will take that into consideration also when you consider how we're going to proceed here.
Thank you very much. Next. Hi everybody. I missed you all. Ann Mahoney, 12 Street, Quinsey, Massachusetts, newly elected council at large taking office in January. I'm speaking tonight to clarify the mandatory legal requirements regarding the city of Quinsey's fiscal year 2026 pension assessment.
Under Massachusetts general law chapter 32 section 22, cities must fund their annual actuary determined pension assessments. It's not optional. In March of this year, the Division of Local Services issued a statewide bulletin stating that pension assessments must be fully funded in fiscal year 2026.
If the city fails to appropriate that assessment in its budget, DLS requires that an entire amount be raised on the tax recap. This is exactly the situation we're in tonight. That's $413 for the average family home.
That means it's higher if it's than the average house. Quinsey did not appropriate any funds for the fiscal year 2026 pension assessment. This law is absolutely clear. The entire assessment must be added to the tax recap.
There has been discussion suggesting that the city can rely on the 2021 pension obligation bond instead of making their annual payment. That is incorrect. Borrowed money cannot replace the pension assessments and PER has repeatedly confirmed this.
There has also been a mention of the review by Millleman. That review does not change the legally certified fiscal year 2026 assessment, nor does it alter the requirements to fund it on the tax recap.
If we delay this funding, Quinsey will be forced to pay both the fiscal year 2026 and the fiscal year 2027 pension assessments next year, creating an enormous financial burden on the taxpayers. That could be 30 million or much more next year that we'll be facing.
And I'll be on the council at that point. I'm asking you all to consider this because you are the counselors. If we delay this funding just so the other part I want to make sure you understand is that this is a legal requirement.
It's a legal requirement. It's not a policy. It's what we're legal oblig We're legally obligated to do. When we came up here before and we were talking about the 1.6 billion worth of debt, it was a nice presentation.
We were calling ourselves geniuses for the pension obligation bond that we don't think we have to do this and they can take it out of the future profit proceeds from that bond. That's not how it works.
The law is clear. The guidance from DLS is clear. Perrick's position is clear. The fiscal year 26 pension assessment must be raised now as part of the fiscal year 2026 fiscal re tax recap. It's our responsibility.
It's yours to make sure that you're watching the fiscal responsibility of our city and it's if it doesn't go on, it will go into the tax recap. We're going to get taxed one way or another. So, we have to stop playing games with our tax taxpayers.
Thank you. Hello, I'm Andrew Fam. I reside at 154 Ser Street, Unit One. And I just want to paint some color uh to the property taxes between residential commercial. And there's a common defense that politicians make to try to increase the commercial tax rate thinking that, you know, this is going to alleviate the burden for residential taxpayers.
Um, but the truth is the landlord practice is to shift that property tax burden onto that tenant. So, we're thinking our small businesses here, our restaurants, those are going to cause menu prices and prices all over the city to to increase.
So, the true solution to move forward is try to see how we can limit city spending. And as counselors over the past year as I ran for council at large, I was hoping at least one of you would scrutinize or ask the mayor, could you consolidate some of the administrative roles within the city to try to limit some of the spending or can we consolidate some of the city events that are happening?
Do we really need another Christmas tree lighting or another parade when Because I I went to the the the previous parade. I see a banner, 75th annual Christmas parade. But 75th annual, as someone who's just went to go find prices for banners and signs, those things are expensive.
So now the city is going to have to spend another $600 for the 76th annual um parade next year. And I'm just trying to, you know, can one can can you guys use your position to to just just say no, Mr.
Mayor, can we consolidate some of the city events because uh because there are currently Quinsey public school teachers on third party donor sites that are requesting for $300 for books and tissues. While meanwhile, we we are splashing on city events and parades that are supposed to drive economic I get it.
Supposed to drive economic um opportunities in in the city. But uh it's it's we're seeing dwindling uh attendance, guys. Um there's there's more gaps between the uh between the sidewalks than I've noticed in the past 10 years.
Um something's got to change. And um uh thank thank you for for your time. Annalie, are you coming up? Okay. Thank you for the opportunity. I'm Annalie Johnson, 36 Garfield Street in Quinsey. Uh it's evident that as homeowners subsidizing this developers because homeowners pay now what 85% of our uh running this city.
It doesn't seem to be fair that uh developers who build 300 and 400 unit apartment buildings and they get the same residential rate as homeowners. They are definitely a commercial business that should be classified as commercial.
They also have other ways of reducing. They can deduct all the expenses that runs this big development which the homeowners don't have. So this is such a simple common sense thing to classify the large developers as commercial and that would solve your problem.
Thank you. Thanks. Okay, last call. Good evening. My name is Stuart Shrier. I reside at 69 Shelton Road. I don't think you can fix this this year, but you got to start thinking about how you're going to fix this in the future.
you're going to vote for the 175 because who votes to elect people? The homeowners, the commercial, industrial, often they don't even live in Quinsey, so they're not going to vote. So, you're going to vote for 175.
But that doesn't fix the problem long term because tax is policy. What you tax, you get less of. What you don't tax, you get more of. So, do you want more commercial? You can't keep doing this because you're going to push the commercial out and then the commercial won't be here in the future to reduce the tax burden on the residences.
There's really only one solution and the lady that spoke earlier was absolutely correct. The city of Boston offers a homeowner tax exemption for owner occupied single family, two family, three family homes.
You want to encourage owner occupants. Those are the people that are there and take care of their property. Those are the people that shovel the snow. Those are the people that rake up the leaves. Those are the people that take care of the city.
So in the future, you can't fix it this year, fix it next year. put the owner occupancy exemption in place and then fix this so you don't overt tax the commercial because we need the commercial to subsidize us in the future.
Okay. Anyone else? Good evening, Bills 46 Tilton Circle. Um, I could offer a comment on as I on how I've long and often noted that the mayor is relying on untapped levy as a proxy reserve fund is a high-risk proposition.
However, you would likely not care to hear about it, but here we are. I could also offer comment on how I long noted how I noted a handful of years ago that going with a pension obligation bond posed well-known and serious concerns.
However, you would likely not care to hear about it, but here we are. Additionally, I could offer comment about proflegate spending by the administration, which was approved by you all. However, you'd likely not care to hear about it, but here we are.
At the same time, I cannot speak to the crux of why we are here tonight. And that is what I and all other local property owners are looking forward to in the way of property tax increases in the start of 2026 is no tax rates have been posted by the administration.
Further, it does not appear public comment will be allowed next week should the administration actually reach agreement with the do on the 26 tax rates by by the next meeting. Such poses the problem of an open meeting law violations along the line of how I saw this body admonished several years ago, seven years ago, I'm sorry.
However, you would likely not care about that either, but here we are. In any event, what I can say is I worked long and hard to run the numbers as best I can with the numbers available and can so advise local homeowners that Maricop's expectation of a modest property tax increase looks to be running somewhere in the range of just a bit under 10% toward leaning on 12%.
Barring well a Christmas miracle. Further note, if the administration does not agree to fund the $16 million PARK assessment to make progress on funding the shortfall of the city's pension obligations, the department of revenue cannot certify Quinsey's tax rates for 2026 given of applicable rules and rigs.
In turn, without going into the steps it would take, what would happen is in the March bills would have to cover the whole nut for what's needed to cover the whole thing. That works out to about a 40 or 50% increase in the average tax bill for that one period.
Granted, the mayor slam act and outside his act brought in an outside actuality firm. However, it'll take months to see it this addressed and it can perhaps find problems and then likely even longer to convince Perak that mistakes were made in setting Quinsey's rate.
A rate which the administration knew was coming at the start of this year but has only recently begun to challenge. In short, good luck with that. Even so, I fully expect that we're going to listen to more talk about how this that and the other and Parak's not a problem.
Again, good luck with that. Finally, it's only proper to ask you, will you do the do will you all go along with the administration's likely to be quicksodotic quest or will you do the right thing by local taxpayers?
Thank you. meeting. Madam clerk, next item, please. Number one, 2025128 adopted residential factor of 87.6332 for fiscal year 2026. Okay. Well, we just had a presentation. I don't have questions for um Mr.
Roland. President recognizes councelor Debona. Thank you, Mr. President. Um John, thank you for your presentation tonight. Um just had a few questions here. Um kind of puzzled here a little bit. Traditionally, we we come in with the with the residential factor and the percentages by classes with the tax rate.
Um what the assessor's values are they certified from the state yet? Yes, they are. So those are those are certified. They are certified values. Yes. And that came up with the assessed values that are on the single family slide that you have 630,225 to 663 400.
Yeah. I'm going to pull the slides back up. Yeah, sure. Bring that up, please. Did you want to see the detailed version? Yeah, just it's there's there's two houses sitting there. One 2025 2026. Excuse me, Jen.
there's an issue with the computer. Uh I'll ask the question anyway and you can get to the slide when you can. Um so you don't need the tax rate to make this evaluation valuation. This is on the class percentages.
We're making an adjustment to the class percentages. Those percentages are known and they are approved by the state. We have the I can pull up a That's why you bring back up copies here. Sure. Where? Where?
There it is. Here it is. Okay. Going. Okay. Thank you. Yes. So, the shift is on the percentages. We know the percentage. We know the residential class makes up 85.84. We know the commercial makes up the 10.3, personal property 2.7, industrial 1.
And the question is whether we shift away from the residential class towards the commercial. And we can do that with these value percentages. And couple more slides and you get to single family home. Um that's what I'm kind of like like how did you come up with this number?
Basically go a couple more slides. It's not going to be working in front of us, but the slide regarding the single family home, it's 2025. It's 630,100, which is what we currently the assessment. Yeah, the assessment.
Yep. Medium assessed value. Yes. So, how are how the single family homes are valued is we we look at the values each year and compared to the sales. So, for 2020, fiscal year 26, we looked at calendar year 2024 sales.
So how we did that is we reviewed last year's assessment versus the new sale price that we saw in 24 and then we compared it and had an assessment to sales ratio to determine and this is all state standard to determine what a ratio is and the state likes to see a 95% ratio on the assessment to sales.
We had a 5% increase because our ratio was 90. So we increased the the single families by 5% and that's you can be seen also in the median sale price was a 5.28% 28% increase. Does this have any factoring um with the new growth that we had in the city?
This has nothing to do with that. This is just the single family home value has nothing to do with the new growth. That's I um so certifications for the tax level. I I'll correct that and saying that potentially the new growth is making the city more desirable.
Okay, that's so certified tax levy. We don't have that yet. Is that correct? And why is that? I will defer to Mr. Walker on this point. Okay. Through you, Mr. President. Um there are a couple factors going on traditional essentially to every year um end of the year closings, bookkeeping issues, getting to that point where we're comfortable coming before the body with the full levy.
This is not other than the two dates, it's not different than the way we've handled this in previous years. In previous years, the public hearing has been on the split rate at the front end of the meeting and then at the back end of the meeting, the council does its deliberation on the financial orders in the things that the city does to keep that levy down.
So, it's essentially the same thing. We're just breaking it up into into two meetings. Um, and keeping in mind what you'll see next week when we present the financial orders are some of the same things we've done in past years, getting to those numbers where we can bake down that tax levy to keep the increase at a reasonable level for our medium family homeowners.
Um, as we've mentioned year over year, it's tens of millions of dollars that this city, this body has uh has approved that has kept down the tax levy. And we talk about this a lot about that excess levy capacity.
We've been able to keep that excess levy capacity in place. Our policy is to stay within the confines of Proposition 2 and a half. We are underneath Proposition 2 and a half. We'll remain so. And we put a lot of work into getting to that number to keep it under that Proposition 2 and a half levy that if you read some of the news stories, other cities and towns across the Commonwealth, more and more are facing override votes, more and more are going to that limit.
More and more are asking people to pay even more in taxes than we are. Um, and next week what you'll see again is our effort through the Department of Municipal Finance, working with our partners at the state working together is to keep that levy as low as possible.
Um, through John or through the president to Mr. Walker, if I could, um, free cash. Um, do we have any certification on the free cash yet? Working through that right now. Okay. Do you think that'll be in delivery for next week's meeting?
Yes. Okay. So, they're in Why Why so late? I can't speak to that because traditionally traditionally like this particular meeting was supposed to be last week on December 1st and then we have our last meeting which is next week on December 15th.
Traditionally, we usually get this information. We digest it. We have an opportunity to to know where we are in free cash. And usually by then, everybody else in the audience knows that this is where we're at for how much this tax assessment is going to be or this tax rate is going to be.
And this is your single family, you know, approximation of it's been done different ways in different years, council. Okay. There have been years where it's gone two meetings. There have been years where it's been one meeting.
There have been years where there's been a lot of deliberation that it's gone on multiple hours. There's been years where there's been very little deliberation. Um it's it's a year-to-year process. Um this year it's taking a little bit longer than it normally would um through a variety of different factors.
Um, I wouldn't raise an alarm bell, but you'll see and we'll be talking throughout the week on the efforts that are going to be made to ensure again that that tax levy is going to be kept as low as humanly possible.
My last question really is um the $16 million from the pension bond. Is that that was that or was that was it or wasn't in the budget and is that going to be um paid for in this particular the I think the body is well aware that that was not included in the budget.
you had a rationale for that. Um, and that's one of the issues we're working through with the state right now. Okay. So, you don't you don't know that question or you do I will have the ability to clarify and at the next meeting.
Um, we're in active discussions on that. Okay. But it's not Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Do you have We have a good sense that we have a solution. Okay. We have the we have clarity. Do you have a general consensus of where free cash is?
Do you do you have a ballpark figure at all? I'm not going to get into that right now. Okay. Does it make it makes it's very important that we we know that number. Well, yeah. It does and it doesn't because keep in mind, council, we don't have to appropriate free cash to keep the tax levy down.
We've done that historically. We've done that more probably than any community in Massachusetts has done. Um, keeping in mind that this process in virtually every city and town across the Commonwealth is from point A to point B.
Here's the levy, here's the split, you're done because you're at the max anyways. So that's what your rate's going to be. Sure. We do it, put a little bit more effort into it to ensure we're providing revenue sources in the right places to keep the levy down.
And we've done that year over year for you've been here 15 18 years now that every year we add revenue to offset the levy and that's provided a great benefit. You know I just want to step back here. I've been up here for 10 years.
I don't ever remember it ever being split into two nights. always was in the same particular night as the residential factor with the percentages and then the tax rates right on top. So, we'd have one, two, three votes right in a row.
Um, I'm not traditionally used to breaking it up into different nights. Um, suggested please for the public. Sure. I I think we if you're if the suggestion is and I'd be happy to to suggest to the president that we can certainly keep the public hearing open.
Um and if that provides a sense of comfort can we do that? Is that up to the president, Mr. President? Sure. Okay. Yeah. All right. Um, I just wanted to get some of these questions answered because folks are emailing me and calling me and asking me questions and I don't particularly have the answers to give them.
So, on the constituent side, I I can't give them the answer. So, sometimes um this cames to the you know, sometimes we don't get this presentation till, you know, 48 hours out like it's not enough time.
So, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Walker. Um, we'll make sure that we'll talk a little bit more about the tax rate and I'm not going to get into more discussion about that because it's not on this particular line item.
And um, John, I want to thank you for putting this together and um, is this your f second year doing this now? Second year. Third. I did have one co year in there. Um, you know, obviously I just want to make sure that the public knows and and everybody that's in the audience knows what's going on here.
So, thank you, Mr. president for if I have any other questions I'll come back. Thank you. Anyone else? President recognizes councelor Ash. Thank you Mr. President. Um thank you Mr. Roland for the presentation um and for the information.
My question um councelor Nabona did ask some of the the questions and the uh trains of thought I will say that I was going to be asking you about. But um really, you know, last year when we had this meeting, um the residential shift at the 175 came out to a residential factor of 87.6863.
This is for FY25. Um and I just use that as a as a marker, not necessarily for um that I think it's pertinent to the question, but this year the residential factor comes out to 87.6332. 6332, which is a bit lower.
So, my my question really just as I'm working through the numbers and and um want to be able to have the right facts to be able to relate to my constituents and people that ask, if last year was the lowest and then this year or this year were even lower, I guess if you could try to help me wrap my head around around how that factor changes year to year.
Um I think in in an aerial sense that would uh be really beneficial to me and to the people um at home and in the audience. Absolutely. So the maximum shift is the 175 that is the most we can do under state law and that in result you shift the commercial away from the commercial.
So when you start out we our starting percentages were at under a 1% factor 85 85 and then 1415 to shift to the maximum under state law we multiply the 1415% by 175. In doing so, this creates the shift from 75 24 25 7525.
And the minimum residential factor is the factor of the residential burden after the shift divided by the residential burden before the shift. So those class percentages will vary will change the minimum residential factor year over year.
The reason why our minimum resone factor is lower this year than the last year is because we had an increase in percentages of commercial industrial personal property as I pointed out previously in the presentation where we went from 8614 even and now we're closer we have 858 to 142 we're getting better on that end and we're any anytime we shift closer towards the commercial industrial and personal property classes that minimum residential factor will be decreased.
Thank you. Um, and then my I'm I'm un sure if councelor Deona asked this particular question. Um but are we expecting a uh an an opinion or an order or um something from Milleman this week in with respect to the calculations or that will that will um determine the calculations that we'll we'll be seemingly going into next week?
No. Mr. Walker, did you have a comment? No. Okay. Thank you. That was directed to me that I do not know. Okay. Thank you. Did Did you have more questions? No. Okay. Thank you. Anyone else? Okay. Um, thanks everyone for your comments tonight.
And this is a always every year. I wrote down every year because this happens every year. Nobody understands this process. Any That's the truth. It people interpret it very differently. Yeah. Sorry to feel insulted, but that is the truth.
People get confused. They don't understand it and so that's why they come here. So, uh, point being is tax policy is governed by the state. Correct. Correct. So, any changes we'd want to make would have to go through our state legislature.
Absolutely. Either by home rule petition or through our representatives. Yes. Okay. Just want that to be clear. So, um, we're still at res, you know, adopting the residential factor. I don't have a motion.
We're going to punt it to next week. Okay. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Next item. Number three. Oh, do you want to go to number two or do you want to uh talk about that and it's the same? It's the same. Yeah.
We'll move on. Okay. Number three. 2025130 order reposing uh repurposing the ward 4 mitigation funds to the Quinsey Community Action Program Southwest Community Center. President recognizes councelor Divine.
Um so this is um it was under um the W4 uh community center no longer exists. So, uh, we have the Southwest Community Center, so we switched that. And, uh, this is getting mitigation money that I wanted to get into, uh, QCAP so that they can use it.
Um, I think everybody knows that it's been a hard year for, um, food pantries and community centers because of, uh, SNAP and other programs that were shorted. Uh so this is a very good opportunity that we're able to move some mitigation money uh into uh W four which was meant for community center.
So now it's going to Southwest Community Center. Did you make a motion to approve? Motion to approve. Motion to approve. Seconded by councelor Campbell. Madam clerk, please call the role. Councelor Ash.
Yes. Councelor Campbell. Yes. Council Divine. Yes. Council Debona. Yes. Council Harris. Yes. Council Leang, yes. Council McCarthy, Councelor Minton, yes. President King, yes. Nine members. Madam Clerk, if I may, um, Mr.
Roland, one thing that didn't come up that we usually have available because again, not everyone understands how this works. There's a book called Understanding Your Taxes that you usually put out. Yes.
Is that available yet? It won't not. It's not available yet. It will be available come January. We do intend to put it out. It will be online. it will be available in our office and we'll be happy to answer any questions when I send that out every year to people and so because the same conversations happen so I want to make sure that that's available to the public um but again it helps people understand how how properties are valued and assessed the you know process of calculating the tax rates generally and this paper will be available online as well this presentation the presentation I presented tonight and the paper that is in the crowd will be online tomorrow okay great all All right.
Thanks. Yep. Uh, madam clerk, next item, please. Number four, 2025131 appropriation for $6,000 from Ward 4 mitigation funds to traffic, parking, alarm, lighting, tel for traffic improvements. President recognizes council divine.
Uh this is just uh simple funds uh that we needed to switch from um the mitigation money into the um traffic department so they can do some um street works on around um Willard Street up around Shay Park uh Shay skating rink.
Uh there's a few lights up there and this money was uh earmarked for that area, Rosecliffe area. Mhm. So uh I'd like a motion to approve. Okay. Motion to approve made by councelor Divine, seconded by councelor Campbell.
Madam clerk, please call the role. Councelor Ash, councelor Campbell, yes. Councelor Divine, yes. Councelor Deona, Council Harris, yes. Council Leang, yes. Council McCarthy, Councelor Mittton, yes. President Kane, yes.
Nine members. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Next item, please. Number five, 2025132, an appropriation for $9,43.81 81 cents from Ward 4 mitigation funds to Southwest Middle School and Lincoln Hancock Community School for PTO activities.
President recognizes councelor Divine. Uh once again uh mitigation funds that um we uh were moving into these two schools. One of the uh constituents came up earlier and spoke about teachers having to come up with some of their own money.
uh I think he said about $300 to try and pay for things. Some of this uh money here is earmarked exactly for that um for teachers so that they can buy uh personal stuff for in their classrooms, pens, papers, whatever they need the extra stuff.
But also this is um money that was earmarked for uh word for improvements and uh both schools have some very active PTOs that uh it will help with. um one of their uh the south southwest middle school is um they have a uh eighth grade um trip that they do every year.
So this will help uh lower the cost for those students which is really good because about 40 of them go every year to New York. Uh some of this will probably help to reduce each student by $100. And then at Lincoln Hancock they have a uh a lion um a lion dance.
I'm not sure exactly what it is, but it's a field trip that they do and uh some of this is earmarked for that, but it's um not all of it is limited to they do have some discretion that they can spend it on, but it's um something we wanted to move out into the um the schools so they can use it.
I'd like to motion to approve. Motion to approve made by councelor Divine, seconded by councelor Campbell. On the motion, president recognizes councelor Ash. Thank you. Um, councelor Divine, just these seem like very specific amounts.
Is there like something like, you know, this is just money that was um sitting there that wasn't used and um I came across some of it, so I wanted to just get it out cuz um there's no need to be leaving it sitting in a uh in a fund that's not being used.
Was it from like one specific project or is it No, they're all different ones. So, the one coming up for the 956 uh that we're going to talk about one second is actually um uh the PTO for Southwest. They wanted to buy a couple of things.
Uh a a soccer ball net and they uh I don't know, it's a Gaga ball kit. I don't know exactly what it is, but it was something that they wanted to buy for the students. So, uh the $956.19 is paying them back for that exact amount.
Um, but how like how about this? $9,43.81 each. Well, that's because 9,59 $956.14 came out of that original fund. The original fund was rounded up to Okay. All right. Yeah. So then that was taken out of that fund.
Okay. Thank you. Uh motion to approve made by councelor Dry, seconded by councelor Campbell. Madam clerk, please call the role. Councelor Ash, yes. Councelor Campbell, yes. Council Divine, yes. Council Deborn, yes.
Council Harris, yes. Council Leang, yes. Council McCarthy, yes. Councelor Minton, yes. President Kane, yes. Nine members. Next item, please, Madam Clerk. Number six, 202513, an appropriation for $956.19 from a four mitigation funds to Southwest Middle School PTO for equipment.
Uh, very simple. we just spoke about. It's for a couple of sports equipments that the PTO wanted to buy. So, uh, motion to approve. Motion to approve made by Council Drive, seconded by Councelor Campbell.
Madam Clerk, please call a role. Councelor Ash, yes. Councelor Campbell, yes. Councelor Divine, yes. Council Deborah, yes. Council Harris, yes. Council Leang, yes. Council McCarthy, Councelor Minton, yes.
President Kane, yes. Nine members. Thank you. Next item, please. Number 7, 2025134, an appropriation for $2,224.64 from Ward 4 mitigation funds to support the southwest middle school PBIS program. Council Ron, so uh once again the numbers are off councelor Ash because um it's just a residual amount that's left.
I wanted to give this to the um Southwest PBS uh PBIS program. It's a program that um at Southwest they encourage every child to do better and as they um they get recognized every day and they get to spin a wheel and on that wheel uh there'll be something like as simple as a pen a $10 um Dunkin Donuts card.
Uh our belly used to fund that and uh when I started about 3 years ago they had no real funds. Uh so I was able to get a local lawyer funded it one year and um then we got some other money from some other u neighbors and this year we were able to get this mitigation money so I wanted to get it over there for them so that they can keep that uh positive behavior program going and uh it's very supportive to those students there.
So motion to approve. Motion to approve made by councelor Ryan seconded by councelor Campbell. Madam clerk please call a role. Councelor Ash. Councelor Campbell. Yes. Council Divine. Yes. Council Deborn.
Yes. Council Harris. Yes. Council Leang. Yes. Council McCarthy. Councelor Mittton. Yes. President Kane. Yes. N members. Thank you. Next item, please. Madam clerk. Number 8. 2025135. Order adoption of Mass General Law Chapter 90 section 14 and 14C.
an act concerning the safety of school children embarking and disembarking school buses. President recognizes Mr. Walker. Through you, Mr. President. Thank you. What's before the body this evening is adoption of a state law passed earlier this year uh chapter 90 section 144 C an act concerning the safety of children embarking and disembarking school buses.
Essentially, what this will allow the city to do, working with the school department and the police department, is install stop arm camera uh equipments on the stop arms of school buses and will allow us to actually enforce violations of uh stop arm uh stop arm the stop arm laws um through that camera system.
Um this is a recently enacted state law. Uh, a couple people have brought this to our attention over the course of the last several months and uh, we think it's absolutely worthwhile. Motion to approve.
Motion to approve made by councelor Vine, seconded by councelor Campbell. On the motion, president recognizes councelor Rash. Thank you, Mr. President. Um, I I agree. Um, the adoption of u this section of mass general laws seems like a no-brainer.
I just wanted to take a minute and um I I know um school committee woman Kathy Huby, Katherine Huby brought this up um to me actually probably uh six or eight months ago. So I just wanted to note that for the record.
Certainly I know that there is um interest from the school committee um and wanted to make sure that I recognize that and we had some good conversations about this legislation. I think it was um at the Mass Association of School Committees um annual uh meeting that it was first discussed.
Um so I'll be in support of this but wanted to note that for the record. President recognizes councelor Divine. Uh this is extremely important. Um in just uh the last couple of years uh up in the Grove Bates um Upton Unity area, the um parents have been having some serious issues with uh bad drivers driving trying to get to school to work and then home.
So they're driving through that neighborhood um very badly. And uh we've been sending up some police presence to try and help out. And uh we had to move both school buses, one on Bates and one on Upton because of this exact situation, cars driving around school buses.
Uh so we moved them to safer areas. Uh but it's still very important. So I'm glad this is being done. And even um at about 5:00 on my way over here, I was speaking with a constituent that lives on Upton Street and they sent me a picture of their Ring uh camera and it was a um a mother and child trying to cross the street and uh as they were crossing a car stopped to let them go.
They're halfway across the street and another vehicle drove around the stopped car and um you know drove past these ch the child and the mother uh which is very similar to what we're talking about. So uh I'm very happy that we're doing this.
Thank you. Thank you. President recognizes Council Dono. Thank you, Mr. President. Um just pursuant in the chapter 40 here in the amendment in the second paragraph here. Um, is this going to also be instituted into any third party or subcontracted um, private vendor um, buses or school buses or driving mechanisms through you, Mr.
President? As it stands right now, that's TBD counselor. But I think the city would and the school department would work initially to equip the city's existing fleet first and then move on potentially with the private uh vendors.
So will this pertain to children that are being busted into out of district schooling or is this just straight across the board for City of Quinsey? That gets a little bit into a policy discussion that I think we'd leave to the to the school department.
Sure. Um on how they want to deploy, obviously working with the city on the contract. Um so I would I would punt that question until we get a little bit further in the process. Sure. Fully understand.
Thank you. So thank you. Uh I'll 10. Did you motion to approve by councelor Divine? Yes. Seconded. Councelor Campbell. Madam Cler, please call the role. Councelor Ash, yes. Councelor Campbell, yes. Councelor Divine, yes.
Councelor Deana, yes. Councelor Harris, yes. Council Leang, yes. Council McCarthy, yes. Councelor Mitten, yes. President Kane, yes. Nine members. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Next item, please. Number nine, 2025 136, order 61 through 69 and 71 Hancock Street easement.
President recognizes the city solicitor. Mr. President, members of the council, good evening. Um, this is a pretty straightforward matter. Uh, the developer of the project down at the corner of Hancock Street in Newport A as part of the project is going to be installing the utilities.
Um, the company will be paying for the work, performing the work, and they're working in handinand with National Grid. Um, part of the deal is, uh, you have plans that came with the proposed easement and the plans show, um, four utility pads.
They're going to be installed at that corner and that's where the electrical service is going to be brought in. Now, the issue is that Hancock Streets actually it's a state controlled way. Um and Newport A is controlled by the city and uh they merge in a kind of nebulous area at that bend and so for that reason there were some ownership issues and lack of clarity about who owns what.
So what's going to go on is the developers designed the project. Um the utility easement plan is before you and the city of Quinsey is going to grant an easement to the developer um so that the developer has control over a portion of the land that we believe is controlled and owned by the city.
And within the easement um there's language that says that any work that's done um has to be to the satisfaction of the city. But for the most part, the developer is going to be controlling all this. And as part of the project, they're going to construct a sidewalk.
I've seen you've seen I believe you've seen a number of projects in the city where the developer constructs a uh sidewalk in front of the building. This will be same type of approach. So, it's pretty straightforward.
It's um it's an excellent project and the easement was fairly simple to draw up. President recognizes councelor Leang. Thank you, Mr. President. Um, good evening. I just have a question about um timeline for this and I had some residents who live in the area who concerned about the ongoing construction that's been going on there for quite some time now, but then with this particular project, uh, they're curious about timeline for the work.
Um, you know, different points of contact for them to reach out to if there are any questions or concerns. They didn't have any issue with the actual work itself, right? I think um anybody who walks around that area and actually going down Newport all the way like towards the 99, I'm thinking of that development over there when they had redone the sidewalks.
I mean, it's just so much safer for the folks who are walking in and around that neighborhood. And so, uh there weren't any complaints that came in about obviously putting in utility work and that resulting in improved and wider sidewalks, but uh curious about timeline and points of contact for the residents in the area.
Yeah, I really don't know that information. I know that the um developer has advised me that uh all the permits are now in place and they're ready to start the project, but it'll be on their timeline, I believe.
Okay. Do we have any recommendations for folks who uh are curious about just making sure that they're up to date with what's going on? Uh again, they're not, you know, the questions that I got from folks weren't like, "Oh, we want to make sure they're starting this date, ending this date." It was just about being kept in the loop so that they know what to expect and then they can make any adjustments if they need to on their travel schedules etc.
So I'll let Mr. Walker answer this, but before he does, I'll just suggest that the preference we have is once a project is permitted. Um the developers takes control of the site. They'll have signage up.
they'll have information up and and it's easier for us on a project like this and more efficient that the there's a direct connect between the developer who's controlling everything and um folks who are interested in the project.
Um we'll definitely get um and then I don't know if there's a municipal official in public works who might be quasi clerk of the works. I know we've had someone down on the Sea Street project, but if you know any more, Mr.
Walker, you can take it from here. Thank you, Mr. Solicitor. Exactly as the solicitor said, um, we'll have a project representative make sure that that we find the contact information and also someone from the oversight team at DPW in terms of what's in the public way.
Um, we'll make sure everybody's up to speed. Okay, that sounds good. if we can um find a way or a place to put that information up whether it's mailing the um the residents in the vicinity when when we get that point of contact that would be great.
Um certainly have a lovehate relationship with developers over the years and I have found the one consistent is you know again having folks um under leadership and from DPW on site I always tend to find that to be the best route to answer questions.
So, I'd feel a lot better knowing that someone from his team, someone from the city is on site. Um, or if not on site, like a point of contact for the residents. And so, thank you, Mr. Lister. Uh, the last thing I'll say is that I just hope that National Grid doesn't have Riley Brothers on that site, but that's all.
Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you. Entertain a motion. Make a motion. Yep. Motion to approve. Council McCarthy. Second, Councelor Campbell. Madam Clerk, please call the role. Councelor Ash. Councelor Campbell.
Yes. Council Divine, yes. Council Dana, Council Harris, yes. Council Leang, yes. Council McCarthy, yes. Councelor Mittton, yes. President Kane, yes. Nine members. Okay. Next item, please. Number 10. 2025 137 order performing arts center project use of chapter 149A construction manager at risk delivery method.
President recognizes Mr. Walker. Through you, Mr. President. Uh before you tonight, it is language you've all seen many times before. Uh this is the city's preferred uh method of construction under MGL, Mass General Laws, um for major projects.
Um construction manager at risk. It differs a little bit from traditional design bid build projects. construction manager risk brings in the GC and the construction manager early on in the process early on in terms of design.
They help with cost estimates. They help with the overall uh making of of the project prior to the actual bidding process. And we found this to be very effective particularly when it comes to our school buildings.
Um this is incredibly preliminary. I don't want uh to suggest that there's a there's a there's a project um that is remotely close to being before this body, but this is two these are two things that have been discussed um for the last several years throughout the city.
Um the mayor and the mayor's office and the team were looking forward to uh engaging uh in a very robust way with the public on how we move this forward in the coming months. Um but this sets the table.
Um there's no funding attached to this. This is just gets us in the pipeline with the state as it does um as it has with a number a number of our other projects. President recognizes council mayor. Thank you.
I'd just like to make a motion to approve and just um thank the administration for their work on moving this forward. Um I remember conversations with folks over the last 10 years who were so interested in having some sort of performing arts center here in the city, right?
just a place that folks can go to instead of going to theaters in other communities. You know, we had the restaurants, we have this beautiful city like center that you can walk through. Um and certainly, you know, there have been desires over the years from folks who are performers themselves or people who are looking to go um to local plays and performances to be able to do so here in Quinsey.
So, I'm just I'm thrilled. I know we're so like you said, Mr. Walker, so early on on the process. Um would love to have been able to vote on like an actual uh performing arts center, but I'm super excited to hear that uh this is finally underway.
And I do just want to make sure um I'd be remiss if I didn't give a shout out to uh John McDonald for those who don't know. Um he's done an incredible job across the city putting on events and giving us that same experience as a performing arts center without actually having one.
And so I know that um certainly I can only assume that this is inspired by a lot of his events and his success and what he's done. And I'm just super excited to see um what's to come even more, right?
like now that we have this space hopefully soon somewhere down the line to to have artists come. So yeah, really excited that this is uh in the works and I'd like to make a motion to approve. Motion to approve made by councelor Leang, seconded by councelor McCarthy on the motion.
Councelor Ash. Thank you, Mr. President. Um thank you, Mr. Walker. I know you say we don't have a a cost associated or or funding. Um, is there a location that that we have that um I'm sure folks at home that are in really interested in this project as I am would um be interested to to hear about.
Yes. Through you, Mr. President. It hasn't been uh finalized, but I think it's safe to say that uh our focus is on the Monroe building across the street here. Um, and I failed to mention that during my my opening that the performing arts center would be coupled with um the Adams Presidential Center, which we've been also talking about for a couple of years.
There's incredible amount of synergy uh between these two visions. Um, and we're looking forward to to get getting cracking on on making something that works for the community. Uh, thank you. So, if if we're going to be engaging the public in kind of in the process early on in this um in in the performing arts center and and presidential center, um what are the uh pros to approving the design build at this point?
And I guess what does it do to set the stage for for the next steps? It gives us the foundation. Um there's also a public process right now uh that's taking place. is I think it's just about finalized for selecting an architect.
Um we want as much of the project team on uh and available as as early as possible. Um because when we go out to engage the community as we have now this goes back as council Yang mentioned particularly when it comes to the performing arts center this goes back six or seven years where um we had a committee put together made a number of recommendations.
Um looked at different sites for that particular venue. Nothing sort of was worked. Uh we went through a couple different iterations. Um and the same thing with the presidential center um which a vision that um is really going to be something extraordinary.
Um telling the story of the Adams family. Um there is no more I don't have to tell anybody in this room no more important family to the American story than than John and Abigail and John Quinsey and Louisa Catherine.
Uh and the convergence of those two things um really seemed to fit. Um, but once we go out and engage the public and we're soliciting ideas and finding out what may work, what may not work, we're going to have to produce something.
And to have the folks on board that produce uh design um can help us develop cost estimates, help us develop massing, how much space is required for each particular uh aspect of this project. It's it's important to have um a team in place very very early on even if um we're still in the conceptual stages.
What would the first substantive request of of this body be down the line when it comes to to planning um the performing arts center or the APC? I would think and I'm going to make a a relatively educated uh answer to that, but not but saving myself potential for it not to be a a schematic design type of investment that we've done on a number of other projects that gets us to a certain point and then at that certain point we would be ready to come back with the full project costwise.
Thank you. President recognizes councelor Dono. Thank you, Mr. President. Um, you kind of revealed exactly where you think it's going to go. Um, I know this past year, um, there was a little bit of discussion about possibly putting it next to the Adams Academy in the green space and possibly taking the Planet Fitness.
Um, so that's off the table. Is is that correct? Yes. Okay. So, no, we looked at that site originally for the Adams Presidential Center. Uh there were a number of complicating factors. It was a tight site.
Um there was the potential for eminent domain. Um and there was not a lot of agreement from property owners there that they'd be willing um to sell. So, the mayor at at some point decided to to look elsewhere.
Just a disclosure, I was a I'm a member at Planet Fitness and I had a lot of discussions inside the facility and I want to thank you guys for listening and taking that off the table. To be honest, it wasn't Planet Fitness that was unwilling to sell.
There are some other property owners in the area. Planet Fitness, the owner, who were the people that didn't want to sell. No, it wasn't Planet Fitness. But where would So, if you took Planet Fitness, where would you displace them to?
Where would you have a relocation? Did you have that in the plans at all? No, because that would have been I mean this is all moot, but that would have been the end of a lease. That would have been a sale of the property and it wouldn't have it wouldn't have gone into it.
We we would never have gone to eminent domain for that. It was part of the reason why we didn't move forward with any of it. Not so much, as I said, because it wasn't about Planet Fitness. Um, but eminent domain did loom for one or two of the other properties and the mayor determined that if if folks weren't willing to sell that, we weren't going to move forward.
But it wasn't Planet of Fitness. If you would if they had sold it, where do you think it would have relocated to? That not would not have been our issue. So it just would they would have they voluntarily were going to sell.
Correct. The lease would have run up. The property owner would have sold and that would have been the arrangement. So they didn't hold up the land. It was something other entity. Correct. Okay. Thank you.
That's all I have. Thank you. Do we uh motion to approve by councelor Leang, seconded by councelor Campbell. Madam clerk, please call the role. Councelor Ash, I'll abain. Councelor Campbell, yes. Councelor Divine, yes.
Council Dana, I'm going to abstain. Council Harris, yes. Council Leang, Council McCarthy, yes. Councelor Mitten, yes. President Kane. Yes. Seven members. Thank you. Okay. That concludes our regularly scheduled meeting for tonight.
Approval of previous meeting minutes. First from uh Monday, November 10, 2025. Motion approvement by Councelor Lang. Seconded by Council McCarthy. All those in favor? Those opposed? Eyes have it. Uh meeting minutes from Monday, November 17, 2025 meeting.
Motion approved. Made by Councelor Leang, seconded by Councelor Campbell. All those in favor? Those opposed? Eyes have it. Communications and reports from the mayor, other city officers and city boards.
Seeing none. Unfinished business and proceeding meeting. Seeing none. Uh reports of committees pass uh uh public works tonight. Ordinance. Thank you. I have a couple of traffics. Uh the first is out of Ward 1 2025-126 add passenger pickup and drop off zone in front of Broad Meadow School of Crossing 31 Calvin Road.
Positive recommendation out of committee. A positive recommendation and a motion to approve made by councelor Nang, seconded by councelor Campbell. Madame clerk, please call a role. Councelor Ash, yes.
Councelor Campbell, yes. Councelor Divine, yes. Councelor Deona, Council Harris, Council Leang, yes. Council McCathy, yes. Councelor Mitten, yes. President King, yes. Okay, last two are out of W 2, 2025-122.
Remove no left turn on Curtis at Washington Court. Positive recommendation out of committee. Positive recommendation, a motion to approve by council Leang, seconded by councelor Campbell. Madam clerk, please call the role.
Councelor Ash, yes. Councelor Campbell, yes. Council Divine, yes. Council Deborna. Council Harris, yes. Council Leang, yes. Council McCarthy, Councelor Mitten, yes. President Kane, yes. Okay, last one.
2025-123. Add two stop signs out on Arnold Street at 5th of creating a four-way stop. Positive recommendation at a committee. Pause the recommendation. A motion to approve made by councelor Leang, seconded by councelor Campbell.
Madame Kirk, please call the role. Councelor Ash, yes. Councelor Campbell, yes. Council Divine, yes. Council Deborah. Councelor Harris, yes. Council Leang, yes. Council McCarthy, yes. Councelor Mitten, yes.
President King, yes. Eight members. Thank you, Madam Chair. Petitions. Presentation of petitions, memorials, and monance. President recognizes Councelor Campbell. Thank you, Mr. President. I uh feel very honored to be the person up here, and I want to thank Councelor Divine for allowing me this opportunity um to recognize an incredibly um incredible woman.
Uh she's the matriarch of one of the most special families in Quinsey and and someone who I grew up knowing and and have loved from uh day one. Um just to spend a send a very special 100th birthday to Mary Apollo from Bartlett Street.
Uh she's truly one of the best humans to ever walk this earth and thankfully I was lucky enough to grow up in a neighborhood where we all considered each other family and Mrs. Depalo was one of the catalysts that welcomed us all with open arms.
Mrs. Depal was born Mary Mulligan and lived on Shaman Street until 1950 and that's when she met and married Mr. George Depalo who moved the family into the Depollo homestead which was established in 1880 up on Bartlett Street.
Uh Mr. Dala was a legendary uh custodian at Sterling Middle School, Sterling Junior High at the time. I think actually might have been Salt Junior High at when he started there. Uh and he single-handedly kept that furnace running for over 50 years over at Sterling.
Uh Mary and George were married for 60 years and had three beautiful children who married incredible life partners. Uh John and Janice Depalo, Kathy and Johnny Scribby, Mary Beth and Frank Flora. Uh Mary's grandchildren dot on her daily, Joey, Danny, and Jimmy Scribby, and Frankie, Lisa, Maria, Nicole, Flora.
The true apples of her eye are her great grandchildren, Amelia, John, Matthew, Mary, Lily, Georgie, and Gloria. Uh they're just an incredible Quinsey family. Mary was a neighborhood mom to so many, and Apollo, I called the farm back growing up, uh was like walking on to Fenway Park as a kid.
perfectly manicured and always beautiful flowers and the apple tree. Everything was just perfect. If Hollywood was looking for a real life Mayberry in Quinsey, the Apollo's house on on Bartlett Street uh would have been tough to beat.
Mrs. Depalo was uh turned 100 100 years old on December 5th. Uh I know that the mayor and representative ears went by to see her special. Uh and she to this day is as beautiful as we all remembered her.
She's kind and sweet in the life of every party she joins. As a neighborhood, if Mrs. Depalo was going to be in attendance at a family cookout, we knew we were all in for a treat because she is the absolute best.
Tonight, we celebrate not just the fact that Mrs. Paulo Mary has reached this incredible age, but how she has lived every single one of those 100 years. She has created a legacy of warmth, wisdom, and quiet dignity that will live on in this community long after the celebrations have faded.
My very best wishes to a true one-of-a-kind legend, Mrs. Mary Depalo. Happy birthday. Thanks, Council Camel. President recognizes Council Divine. Uh this is one of the reasons why I asked uh Council Campbell to um step in and speak for any of my constituents about Granite Links because uh I'm not supposed to speak of it, but um he grew up in Ward 4 and uh I really appreciate how you just did that really well and you named all these uh great people of It's a real backbone.
Most of those names are all backbones of Ward 4 and uh Ward 4 has a uh extremely tight neighborhood and uh historical very very old. So uh thank you very much. Thank you from the all those families. I know they're very proud of you what you just said for them.
Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Uh motions, orders, and resolutions. Seeing none. scheduling of committee meetings and public hearings. So, we're going to host a public hearing uh again next Monday regarding the tax classification and the tax levy at 6:30 p.m.
and then we'll start our city council meeting. We'll schedule it for 7. So, the Yes. Thank you, uh uh counselor. So, we'll the pub No, we punted that next year. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Good luck.
Um, okay. So, next Monday, December 15th, 6:00 p.m., be there or be square. Motion to adjurnn. Motion to adjurnn. Made by council, seconded by councelor K. All those in favor? Okay. May everyone find true peace, true joy, true happiness, and liberation.