City Council
City Council
lun, 15 de septiembre de 2025
Puntos de agenda
Registros de votación
Resumen del debate
Transcripción
RESUMEN DE REUNIÓNGenerado por IA
Concejo Municipal — 15 de septiembre de 2025
Esta fue una sesión ordinaria del Quincy City Council, destacada por un reconocimiento ceremonial a Quincy Access Television (QAV) y una presentación sustantiva sobre inversiones en infraestructura de alcantarillado y drenaje. Los nueve concejales estuvieron presentes. (Nota: La transcripción de voz a texto contiene distorsiones significativas de nombres; los nombres de los concejales se han cotejado con los miembros conocidos del consejo según el contexto cuando fue posible, aunque algunas atribuciones permanecen inciertas.)
Reconocimiento Ceremonial: Quincy Access Television
Antes de pasar al orden del día, el Concejo homenajeó a Quincy Access Television por obtener el primer lugar en la categoría de Cobertura de Reuniones de Gobierno en el Alliance for Community Media Hometown Video Festival. La pieza ganadora, producida por el coordinador de acceso gubernamental de QAV, Mark Crosby, y el representante de la estación Jonathan Cleary, presentó la reunión del Concejo del 2 de diciembre de 2024. Representantes de QAV hablaron sobre su compromiso con la cobertura íntegra de sesiones de gobierno, juntas y comisiones, así como con una programación deportiva y comunitaria ampliada. Varios concejales elogiaron las capacidades de transmisión en vivo de QAV, su presencia en YouTube y la calidad de sus segmentos del noticiero de revista "In Your Neighborhood". Se presentó una commendation y se tomó una fotografía en la sala del Concejo.
Punto 1 — Apropiación de $1,230,000 del Sewer and Drainage Rehabilitation Fund para Mejoras de Infraestructura (2025-108)
El Comisionado de Obras Públicas Al Grazioso, el Ingeniero Municipal Paul Costello y Joseph Shay de Granite City Partners presentaron una solicitud para transferir $1.23 millones del Sewer and Drainage Rehabilitation Fund —una cuenta dedicada financiada íntegramente con aportaciones de desarrolladores (1% del costo de construcción en proyectos de más de tres unidades de vivienda)— para financiar una serie de proyectos de drenaje y alcantarillado de ejecución inmediata y en fase de planificación en toda la ciudad. El fondo cuenta actualmente con aproximadamente $3.1 millones y, a lo largo de los últimos nueve años, ha recibido cerca de $20 millones en contribuciones de desarrolladores, mientras gastaba $16.4 millones en mejoras de infraestructura. No se utilizan fondos del presupuesto general ni ingresos de bonos.
Los proyectos específicos incluidos en la solicitud de $1.23 millones son:
Evaluación y mejoras en Sherman Street Brook ($275,000): Reconstrucción de seis puntos de descarga, inspección con CCTV de alcantarillas, trabajos en tuberías de salida en Belmont y Hobart, remoción de escombros y mantenimiento del canal.
Reja de entrada de Furnace Brook en Quarry Street ($300,000): Reemplazo de la reja de entrada antes de la sección cubierta del arroyo para evitar que los escombros ingresen y obstruyan el sistema subterráneo.
Reja de entrada de Town Brook en Bigelow Street ($100,000): Instalación de una reja en ángulo para mantener los escombros fuera de la alcantarilla que discurre bajo McGrath Highway y emerge en Elm Street.
Reparaciones de drenaje en Webster Street ($75,000): Instalación de una nueva compuerta de marea, dos pozos secos de seis pies de diámetro, cuatro galerías de filtración y tubería nueva.
Reparaciones de la estación de bombeo de Fort Square y el túnel Deep Rock ($100,000): Reparación de una tubería de drenaje rota que provoca un hundimiento, realineación de un muro de desbordamiento y reemplazo del equipo de aireación del alcantarillado.
Estudio de ingeniería para la intersección East Squantum/Huckins y la calzada cerca de Victory Road ($180,000): Ingeniería conceptual para atender las inundaciones costeras frecuentes que bloquean el acceso a Squantum; las opciones incluyen elevar la calzada, bajar el nivel de Huckins Street o construir un terraplén.
Compuertas de marea de Black Creek en Greenleaf Bridge ($100,000): Planificación y permisos para el reemplazo de tres compuertas instaladas en 1972 y actualizadas por última vez en el año 2000. Las compuertas actuales solo operan completamente abiertas o completamente cerradas; las nuevas compuertas de estilo vertical permitirían un control preciso del nivel del agua, beneficiando tanto la protección contra inundaciones como el hábitat del pantano. Se requiere coordinación con agencias estatales (MassDOT, DCR, agencias de humedales y hábitat).
Compuerta de marea de Sagamore Creek ($100,000): Planificación, permisos, estudio de hábitat y modelado hidráulico para una nueva compuerta de marea que podría reducir las inundaciones en el complejo de State Street, Newport Avenue, la subestación de National Grid, las vías del MBTA y los vecindarios cercanos a Atlantic Middle School.
El debate fue extenso. Los concejales que representan los Wards 2, 3, 4, 5 y 6 identificaron problemas de inundación en sus distritos abordados por estos proyectos. Los puntos clave planteados incluyeron:
El proyecto de compuertas de marea de Black Creek tiene un historial de estancamiento debido a una disputa con una agencia estatal sobre el paso del hábitat del lenguado de invierno; las aprobaciones de ingeniería ya están vigentes y solo necesitan actualización, pero la coordinación con las agencias de hábitat permanece sin resolverse. Varios concejales se ofrecieron a colaborar en la gestión ante las agencias estatales.
El túnel Deep Rock —un túnel de 12 pies de diámetro que corre 180 pies bajo tierra por debajo de Quincy Square— es inspeccionado dos veces al año y ayuda a drenar grandes sectores de la ciudad.
Los proyectos de Sagamore Creek y East Squantum son críticos para el Ward 6, que experimenta cierres de calles e inundaciones en vecindarios durante las tormentas.
El personal municipal señaló que un contratista contratado este año para limpiar las alcantarillas de captación no cumplió con su trabajo, y fue reemplazado la semana pasada por el segundo postor (National Water Main), quien comenzó a trabajar el mismo día de la sesión. La ciudad tiene más de 9,000 alcantarillas de captación en un ciclo de limpieza de tres años. Se alentó a los residentes a retirar los escombros de las alcantarillas de captación frente a sus hogares.
El fondo de contribuciones de desarrolladores está creciendo rápidamente: $1.5 millones en FY2024, $2 millones en FY2025 y ya más de $900,000 a solo dos meses del inicio de FY2026.
Se mencionaron otros esfuerzos en curso por separado (que no forman parte de esta apropiación), incluyendo el dragado cerca de Merrymount Beach, la reposición de arena en Merrymount y un proyecto de realineación a largo plazo de Town Brook presentado anteriormente ante FEMA (estimado en $30–40 millones) que no recibió financiamiento pero ha sido preservado como opción futura.
Votación: Presentada por el Concejal Harris, secundada por el Concejal Divine. Aprobada 9–0.
Punto 2 — Exención de la Tarifa de Licencia para Perros para Residentes de 70 Años o Más (2025-109)
El Concejal DiBona presentó una orden para adoptar el Massachusetts General Law Chapter 140, Section 139C, que permite —pero no obliga— a las ciudades y municipios a eximir del pago de las tarifas de licencia para perros a los propietarios de 70 años o más. Quincy no había aceptado previamente esta disposición. DiBona señaló que la medida fue motivada por la solicitud de un vecino y era coherente con la relación de apoyo de la ciudad con el nuevo refugio de animales en Quarry Street. La Secretaria Municipal Jen Manning y el Asesor Legal Municipal Timons colaboraron en la redacción de la orden.
Votación: Presentada por el Concejal DiBona, secundada por el Concejal McCarthy. Aprobada 9–0.
Puntos 3 y 4 — Donaciones para el Programa D.A.R.E. (2025-110 y 2025-111)
Se aprobaron dos aceptaciones de donaciones con un mínimo de debate:
$600 provenientes de las tarifas del D.A.R.E. Camp 2025 (2025-110)
$1,000 de Capital Waste Services, Inc. (2025-111)
Ambas donaciones benefician al programa D.A.R.E. de la ciudad.
Votación (2025-110): Presentada por el Concejal McCarthy, secundada por el Concejal Campbell. Aprobada 8–0.
Votación (2025-111): Presentada por el Concejal McCarthy, secundada por el Concejal Campbell. Aprobada 8–0.
Otros Asuntos
Se realizaron dos remisiones de rutina desde la oficina del Secretario sin debate: una solicitud para remitir una petición del Ward 4 para agregar señales de alto en Pembrook Street y Luron Street (creando un alto en cuatro vías) al Ordinance Committee, y una solicitud de ubicación de servicios públicos de National Grid en General Dunford Drive/Hancock Street para ser remitida al Public Works Committee. Se aprobaron las actas de la sesión anterior. La próxima sesión ordinaria del Quincy City Council está programada para el lunes 6 de octubre de 2025 a las 6:30 p.m.
La sesión se levantó a las 7:43 p.m.
Puntos clave
Se aprobaron $1.23 millones en mejoras de drenaje y alcantarillado, financiadas íntegramente con contribuciones de desarrolladores — sin necesidad de bonos a cargo de los contribuyentes ni gasto del presupuesto general. Los proyectos abarcan áreas propensas a inundaciones en múltiples wards, con especial énfasis en el Ward 6 (Squantum, Webster Street, Sagamore Creek) y los Wards 4 y 5 (Black Creek, Town Brook, Furnace Brook).
El reemplazo de las compuertas de marea de Black Creek es un proyecto de alta prioridad pero complejo; las nuevas compuertas de control variable reemplazarían una infraestructura de 50 años de antigüedad, pero la coordinación con las agencias estatales — en particular en torno a preocupaciones sobre el hábitat — sigue siendo un obstáculo que el Concejo se comprometió a ayudar a superar.
Se eximió del pago de la tarifa de licencia para perros a los residentes de 70 años o más, tras la adopción por parte del Concejo de una disposición de la ley estatal que Quincy no había aceptado previamente.
El Sewer and Drainage Rehabilitation Fund se encuentra en buena situación y en crecimiento, con contribuciones de desarrolladores en aceleración — $2 millones recibidos en FY2025 y más de $900,000 ya en los primeros dos meses de FY2026, lo que proporciona una sólida base para futuros trabajos de infraestructura.
El atraso en el mantenimiento de alcantarillas de captación fue señalado como un problema en tiempo real: un contratista de limpieza incumplió su contrato este año y fue reemplazado recién la semana pasada; se instó a los residentes a mantener las alcantarillas de captación frente a sus hogares libres de escombros.
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Puntos de agenda (4)
Appropriation
1Appropriation2025-108 – Apropiación - $1,230,000.00 de Sewer and Drainage Rehabilitation para Drain & Sewer Infrastructure Improvements
Order
2Order2025-109 – Orden - M.G.L. Chapter 140, Section 139C - Tarifas para perros propiedad de personas de 70 años o más
Gift
3Gift2025-110 – Donación - $600.00 de 2025 D.A.R.E. Camp Fees para D.A.R.E.
4Gift2025-111 – Donación - $1,000.00 de Capital Waste Services, Inc. para D.A.R.E.
Votos adicionales registrados en actas
Approve appropriation of $1,230,000 from sewer and drainage rehabilitation to drain and sewer infrastructure improvements
aye 8 · absent 1
Councelor Divineaye
Councelor Mintonaye
Council Harrisaye
Council Leangaye
Council McCarthyaye
Noel DiBonaaye
President Kaineaye
Richard Ashabsent
Scott Campbellaye
Approve order accepting MGL Chapter 140 Section 139C exempting dog license fees for persons aged 70 and over
aye 9
Councelor Divineaye
Councelor Mintonaye
Council Harrisaye
Council Leangaye
Council McCarthyaye
Noel DiBonaaye
President Kaineaye
Richard Ashaye
Scott Campbellaye
Approve gift of $600 from 2025 Dear
aye 8 · absent 1
Councelor Divineaye
Councelor Mintonaye
Council Harrisaye
Council Leangaye
Council McCarthyaye
Noel DiBonaaye
President Kaineaye
Richard Ashabsent
Scott Campbellaye
Approve gift of $1,000 from Capital Waste
aye 8 · absent 1
Councelor Divineaye
Councelor Mintonaye
Council Harrisaye
Council Leangaye
Council McCarthyaye
Noel DiBonaaye
President Kaineaye
Richard Ashabsent
Scott Campbellaye
Approve previous meeting minutes
aye 1
voice voteaye
Motion to adjourn
aye 1
voice voteaye
Transcripción literal disponible
219 segmentos de transcripción indexados
[Music] Good evening. Uh, call this Monday, September 15, 2025 city council meeting to order. Madame clerk, please call the role. Councelor Ash. Councelor Campbell, president. Councelor Divine. Council Deona, Council Harris, Council Leang, present, Council McCarthy, Councelor Minton, President King, present.
Eight members, you have a quorum. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Uh, whatever. Please stand and join me for a moment of silence. We've had some crazy political turmoil out there these days. Let us hope that we can find a semblance of balance and peace in our hearts.
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.
Madame clerk, please read the open meeting law. Pursuant to the open meeting law, any person may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium.
Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or transmissions are being made whether perceived or unpersceived by those present and are deemed acknowledged and permissible. Thank you. First item on the agenda, honoring of Quinsey Access Television.
Great. So, um I guess it was it was back in June that uh Quinsey Access Television, our beloved local access television station and operators, uh they recently won first place in the government meeting coverage category for the Alliance for Community Media Hometown Video Festival and they received the award uh back in June.
Uh and uh so the ACM is an organization that's composed of community media centers like QAV across the US. And so apparently uh the entry which was put together by Mark Crosby and Jonathan Clearary who are sitting here with us tonight.
It featured the Quinsey City Council's meeting of December 2nd, 2024, which featured a presentation, a public hearing, the honoring of Uncle Sam, and the regularly scheduled uh meeting of the city council, which you probably all remember.
So, we all starred in the award-winning episode that was submitted. Um, so we're here to honor QAV tonight uh for their achievement and their award. Uh, they do such Hold on. You're welcome. These guys uh worked tirelessly to make sure that our community is covered and that communications about different events, this meeting, committee meetings, the hearing meetings, the boards and commissions are covered and that people can have access to this on a regular basis.
You guys do yman's work and I know that there is uh a deep bench of talent and volunteers that are out and about on a regular basis making sure that all these events are covered. So, thank you very much for your work and thank you for being here tonight.
Congratulations on winning this award. We'd love to uh have you come up on the podium if you want to have a few words. Um Mr. President, thank you very much. And counselors, thank you. Uh we certainly appreciate the recognition.
Uh and you are correct. Uh the staff of QAV works tirelessly to go out and about in the community uh to bring government meeting coverage, uh political coverage, uh local events, sports, uh school coverage, whatever it might be, to go out there and bring it to the residents of Quinsey.
Uh, and also like you said, our volunteers. Uh, they're really the heart and soul of our our organization, going out there and covering events, helping us cover events and also doing event coverage on their own as well to make sure that they can go out and about and again keep the city of Quinsey informed.
Um, Mark is our government access coordinator and he's in charge of doing all of the government meeting coverage and when he can't be there, uh, such as tonight when Chris Potter is upstairs doing our government coverage, uh, other people step in to do that as well.
Uh but I want to let Mark speak a little bit because again he's the main coverage of all the meeting coverage and does a great job and has done so for for many many years at QAB. Thank you counselors.
Thank you council president. One of the um things that I really think that uh is really shows I suppose the depth and um the exactness of QAV's coverage is that we cover gavvel to gavvel. We don't edit.
We show we edit at times to show to condense a meeting, but we don't edit the initial broadcast. It is the way it is. And I want to say that that meeting that was obviously edited to include what happened that evening showed that it showed that we show everything that happened that evening.
And incidentally, the meeting coverage, yes, the Quinsey City Council, the license board, the zoning board, but as councelor Ash knows recently, the in your neighborhood programs, which is basically a news format, kind of a news magazine format that was on just moments before this meeting here tonight.
So, I just want to thank you all and it's been a pleasure and I hope uh to see you all uh not only in the chamber but back in the studio to kind of continue the government coverage that we were just recognized for.
So, thank you very much. Thanks Mark. Any of my colleagues Scott Campbell? Thank you Mr. President and um I have a great appreciation uh for what they do at Quincsey Access. of no mark a lot of years and John I actually coached in football back in the day lumbering tight end that he was.
Uh but I I would be remiss if we didn't tell the story that just happened recently. Um, and and unfortunately I'm talking about the sport the sports angle because I really appreciate how it it has evolved and if you haven't really watched the sports stuff it has really taken on a whole new level and it's every sport possible if you call John he will he will show up.
um two years ago, three years ago, I think we started these the um uh Sunday or Thanksgiving day game day where we had um we set up a an actual um set and people would come in would have guests coming in and we had a host and co-host and it was it wasn't a question of whether um they were we were going to do it.
It was how we were going to do it. And John stepped in and um I think one of the best testaments that he can get was the other night at the River game. The coaching staff came by and he said, "Wait a minute, are you the guy that does the pregame for the Thanksgiving Day football game?" This was a guy in whole uh River who saw the the the pregame and and how incredible it was and that's credit to the whole the whole staff, the volunteers, the elements, all that stuff they deal with, but just the quality of the product and and kudos for you guys.
You guys are amazing and I can't say enough good things. Truly, that was a I think it was a big smile on everybody's face, Stevie Mays and and everybody involved that that it actually took that um extra notice by someone who you wouldn't expect who would notice but thought it was great.
So, congratulations. Thanks, Councelor Campbell. President recognized councelor Debona. Uh thank you, Mr. President. Um Jonathan Mark, you guys have done a great job over at QAV. Um I want to point out over co um you guys have stepped up and uh did a fantastic job which is the live streaming has gone up to another level.
Um you know Betty Campbell um for many many years and then Jonathan taken over and doing a really good job. So just want to thank you for everything you've done over the years. Um my first start when I was back in 2011 2012 I was coach of the Quincy Point Panthers and uh I was doing videos um all the time and ran for school committee and then I'm up here at the council.
But uh you guys helped me with a lot of the videos. The um the editing was very different back then. So we really had to wait for it to go through real time where it's a lot different now with the um with the technology upgrades that you guys have had over there.
So just want to thank you for everything you're doing and you're continuing to do you help us out with all the different um different shows and Mr. Joe Catalano in the morning. So I just want to give a shout out to him and and the rest of the crew and the gang um done just a great job over the years.
So thank you. Thank you counselor. President recognizes councelor Ash. Thank you, Mr. President. Um, John, Mark, great to see you guys. I I know that the the specific award is for uh one of our meetings and um I I can commend you both on kind of the showing every aspect of every meeting and every board.
I know last week when I couldn't make a meeting, I knew exactly um how to get on and how to view it uh both in real time and right after. Um, and I certainly try to um, let people know that because I I think it's an underutilized um, you know, forum, your your YouTube channel and the Facebook live stream and I really want and try to push more people to access meetings that way if they can't make it to them.
Um, but that being said, and Mark, you beat me to it, the in your neighborhood um segments that especially the one that we just did, outside of just outside of a live meeting forum, even the editing um and those episodes and where where you're able to use, you know, your skill set, I would assume, a little more in the in those in your neighborhood segments and going to the different places and adding clips in and um certainly like flex that muscle, which makes me look a lot better because we get to cover all of the all of the W 2 um items and then I'm always um happy and and surprised and thankful afterwards when I go back and watch it.
And although I hate hearing my own voice, um I do appreciate you guys going back to the sites and getting real time footage and blending it all together. So, it's a nice succinct uh halfhour program. So, uh congratulations on this award and really your operations in general just it's impressive.
Um, I would, you know, uh, certainly recommend any of my colleagues up here that haven't been in a while for a program or a sit down or an interview. And there are so many different ways, uh, for us to utilize QAV.
So certainly, I'm I'm thankful for the opportunity to do that and wish you continued success and congratulations. Thank you, councelor. President recognized council me Mark Jonathan. Thanks for all the years that we worked together.
We started in 2005 two 2020. We did a lot of shows on crime prevention and I think you know that I got a lot of slack for how to carry a purse safely. National award winner as well. Yeah, that was the Frankenstein one which my kids said never show again.
We'll show it again. I'm sure you will. All right. Thanks again. Thank you. Okay. Um we have a commendation here on behalf of the council that we'll give you. Why don't we take a brief recess? We'll take a picture in the well and um we'll you know celebrate.
Take five. Thanks. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Okay, Madame Clerk. Next item on the agenda, please. Number one, 2025108, an appropriation for 1,230,000 from sewer and drainage rehabilitation to drain and sewer infrastructure improvements.
Joining us this evening is DPW Commissioner Al Grazios. Al, nice to see you. Good evening, Mr. President, city councilors. Uh joining me this evening is uh city engineer Paul Costello and Joe Sha from Granite City Partners.
Um they're here to help with any questions you may have after this presentation. So tonight, uh we'll be asking for transfer from the sewer drain rehab fund for sewer drainage projects throughout the city.
You can see the first slide is something I think you're all familiar with. Um it just gives a basic uh DPW systematically assesses and improves the horizont horizontal infrastructure with an asset management based approach.
This tells you, you know, what we have in our assets. Uh,35 roads are 257 miles, 304 miles of sidewalks, 240 mi of water manes, 28 miles of sewers, 150 miles of drainage system, and 188 outfalls. We have dozens of pumping stations, water tanks, and fixed assets.
So, there's a lot a lot to maintain around the city. As you know, in the last few years, um, the mayor's aggressive investment plan with the support of this council is improving neighborhoods quickly in a programmatic year-to-year advancement.
Asset management approach to coordinate roads, water, sewers, and drains. Balances replacements with maintenance strategies to extend the life of our assets. Roadways and water manes are funded in omnibus multi-year approvals and sewer and storm water MS4 are funded annually based on annual budgets.
Tonight we will talk about several um about sewer and drainage infrastructure improvements throughout the city. Several immediate construction projects to improve storm water flow in our brooks and streams.
Added infrastructure for better functioning of our Brooks and streams. Replacing damaged storm water infrastructure. Initiating the engineering design of several largecale future flood prevention projects.
Replacing sewer equipment in our largest pumping station. If approved, the money used to fund these projects will be transferred out of the sewer and drainage rehab rehab account, which all of you know was funded by developers on private projects in the city.
So once you know the important thing to note is this work will be paid out of the uh be paid out of this fund not out of the general fund or not from borrowed bonds. The next slide um just to give you an example, we went back I went back about nine years talk about all of the projects that the sewer drain rehab fund has has funded.
Um the last nine years alone, we've spent over 16.4 million on all of these projects you see here. Um we've we've actually brought in about $20 million into that fund over the last nine years. Um, again, funded by developers.
Um, all funded by developers. So, $20 million is really nothing to sneeze at. Some of the projects we uh have completed um Squanum School area drainage project and the Dorchester Street outfall pipe, the Sailor's Home Pond dredging and drainage project, citywide MS4 outfall pipe rebuild and repairs, the Butler's Pond drainage and dredging project, Town Brookke at Bigalow Street Reconstruction, Manadav Seaw Engineering, Langley Circle Drainage age and tide gate repair.
Adam shore seaw wall there was a grant match um in 2018 the emergency repairs to seaw walls tide gates reetment roads and sidewalks due to the 2018 March flooding that was really important because we all know what went on in 2018.
We had neighborhoods that were cut off. we needed to make emergency repairs um and come up with over $3 million uh very quickly. Um we couldn't go to the general fund and DPW doesn't have funds to budget that, but because we have money in the sewer drain rehab fund, we funded those projects.
Um, we do sewer contractual emergency repairs. The Broad Street pump station. Uh, we we repaired a section of pipe supported drainage at piping system at New Briav, Hunt Street, and Kendall Street. We we replaced the Senbrook outfall.
We repaired that. We rebuilt the Rockland Street Bridge. Scott, you're familiar with that. repair and con reconstruction of embankment and protection of sanitary sewer system at Sumac Road in Squanum.
The Quinsey Point pump station rehab design and the East Quantum Street Atlantic area sewer repairs. Again, this was all done in the last nine years, $16.4 million. Um, just to give you an example, uh, our drain budget uh, for the city on a yearly basis is about 1.6 6 million.
Um the contractual part of that is about $800,000. It's all we have to do, you know, repairs to to pump stations, tide gates, catch basins, catch basin cleaning, disposal of catch basin cleanings, MS4 emergency work.
All of that has to come out of that 800,000. And I I think as all of you know, recently we've seen a lot of flooding around the city. Um, and you know, it's probably one of the most recently it's probably we've had more calls on drainage and flooding than than we've seen in years.
Um, again, in a drain budget with only $86,000 to be able to fix some of those things. We It just isn't there. So, this is a it's a fantastic story. You know, $20 million developers paying into this fund.
the indiv individual projects we're going to talk about tonight. Um Sherman Street B Area Assessment and Improvements. Um Joe Shay can talk about that. He he's uh he's done a lot of work in there. Furnacebrook Inlet Great at Quarry Street, the Townbrook Inlet Great at Bigalow Street, Webster Street drainage repairs.
Council Harris has been on us for quite some time to get some that situation resolved. Fort Square and Deep Rock site repairs. That's our biggest pump station. East Squanum and Huckkins intersection intersection and causeway near Victory Roadway resiliency.
That's the flooding we've been experienced where Squanum is actually cut off. Um, again, Council Harris has worked with us and the mayor's office to really push this Blackree Tide Gate. I know that affects uh several wards throughout the city.
Um, we have a lot of issues. We've been trying to get these tide gates permanent for years. Joe can talk about that. Uh, Sagamore Creek Tide Gate also up in the Monontlair area which affects Wad Three and Wad Six.
the Sherman Borg assessment improvements. Um, six discharge points into one outlet system to be rebuilt. CCTV internal inspection of Barks Culver inlet along Harvard Street. A 36 inch outlet pipe at Belmont and Hobart.
The MS4 outfalls. Uh tree pruning and channel reestablishment, access paths and gate for maintenance, debris removal and environmental repairs and construction contingency. And that budgets for 275,000.
the Furnusbrook inlet grade at Quarry Street. Um it the inlet before the it's roughly the one mile covered Brook um which is next uh we're we're fixing the great next to that in the the daylighted area east of Bernazani to replace it entirely.
Localized wall repairs to support the new structure angle grate for easier cleaning. Access path and slope repairs. engineering design and construction. Uh DCR coordination and construction contingency.
That's a $300,000 budget. The Town Brook Inlet grade at Bigalow Street. Again, um the inlet before the cross country granite culvert, which daylights at Elm Street, McGrath Highway. Localized wall repairs to support a new stale structure.
Angle grate for easier cleaning. access easement for adjacent property, minor repairs to the culvert, engineering and construction, construction contingency. That's a $100,000 budget. Webster Street drainage.
Um, and we can thank uh city engineer Paul Costello, who's done a lot of work on this, working with councelor Harris on this one. Uh, install a new tie gate, install two six ft diameter dry wells, install four leeching galleys, install 25 ft of new 12-in pipe, police detail cost, and construction contingency.
That's a $75,000 budget. Ford Square pump station in deep rock tunnel repairs. This is for both drainage and sewer system repairs and improvements. Uh, we're going to replace a broken drain pipe which is causing a sink hole at the deep rock tunnel.
Align the overflow wall section into the tunnel. Replace sewer erration irerration equipment in Fort Square station and clean the existing wet wells and prep for new equipment. This has a $100,000 budget.
East Guanom Huckkins intersection and causeway near Victory Road. uh these are two areas that experience frequent coastal flooding. So we want to engineer this to come up with improve the access and evacuation routes conceptual engineering design adjacent parcel impact evaluation construction cost estimates and set a funding plan and strategy.
So, we're looking at a couple different options whether we raise the road lower Huckkins or build type of burm to keep the water out. But all of that that 180,000 is to engineer this. Next page is a picture of the original Black Creek Bridge in the 1940s.
Pretty interesting how they move that. The Black Creek tide gates on the Greenbird Bridge. Um they will help in storm water retention. It's a storm water retention base for Furnusbrook. The as we know the park departments use use this as their boating uh program venue in this in this um these tide gates will um help with the coastal marshes marshes habitat when we have to close the tide gates completely.
Now all of those marshes get drained out and we don't get that as council mitten would know when they're living in that area everything dries out. So in Joe can talk to you about some of the per permitting requirements.
Um so the gates were installed in 1972. The last major infrastructure upgrade was bid in November of 2000. So the current request is for planning and permitting of three replacement gates, update the engineering, a habitat study and benchmarking, state agency coordination, and set a funding plan and schedule.
We're asking for 100,000 in that. the Sagamore Creek tide gate which affects the Montlair in the North Quinsey area in the Atlantic area. Um we're hoping that will help with some of the State Street complex flooding, Newport A extension closures, National Grid substation protection, MBTA track inundation, faster draining of many neighborhoods at the Atlantic Middle School area.
Welcome young area in John and division streets. So we want to hire a specialized consultant for the planning and permitting of habitat study and benchmarking, updating hydraulic and inundation models, commercial parcel impact evaluation, state agency coordination, and set a funding plan in the schedule.
Again, this is another $100,000 budget. So the total of the projects in this request come to $1,230,000. Um currently I think as the auditor may uh may be able to answer but I believe we have 3.7 million in that fund as of today and we are open for questions.
Thank you commissioner. Um you said there's 3.7 million in the fund right now. Let's so is that Oh, 3.1. Madam monitor. Currently, there are is 3.1 million in the account right now. And the um sorry before I get to my colleagues, I just said this online.
20 million that um you referenced over the same 9-year period, that's how much has come in. Yeah. If you So, if you add in the 16.4 and the 3 point, we're roughly somewhere around $20 million. And again, that's a lot.
that funding keeps coming as projects get online. Great. Any of my colleagues have questions, comments? Uh, President recognized Council Harris. Thank you. Thank you very much. Um, Al first of all and your folks.
Thank you. Um, a lot of W six has six six has been mentioned tonight and I can't thank you enough because um there's nothing worse you know when when uh during some of the storms that take place um most of you the ward that I represented is underwater or can't get out of certain locations and um the first thing that came to my mind was that it's so sad that um as I believe um President Kaine mentioned earlier about the the atmosphere of what's going on in politics whether it's uh above us or at the bottom level that we're at basically we are the the ground floor of of representing our the people and it's so sad that the negative attention on everything gets gets from certain media groups gets um the attention instead of all the great work that's coming to fruition here, especially with with the appropriation tonight.
Um Sagore Creek, Victory Road, Atlantic Street, Webster Street, Hawkins, East Guana, Victory Road, Marina Bay. We're talking about all of W six. So I I just would hope that my colleagues would uh I I ask you all I'd always would would would if if a ward counselor especially would ask for help.
This is important. This is important. This is a no-brainer and I ask uh can I make a motion to approve? And I'd like to make a motion to approve. Thank you very much. Thank you council. There's a motion on the floor to approve.
On the motion, president recognizes council McCarthy. Thank you, Mr. President. Good evening. Good evening, councelor. Uh yeah, it's um a tremendous amount of work. We've all talked to you about this um you know, and and in all due respect to other administrations, a lot of this stuff gets kicked down the road.
The can gets kicked and kicked and kicked. I mean, the fund is healthy and is doing the right thing. Um, but the amount of uh infrastructure work, period, even outside of this presentation tonight, is it's all things the city needs.
So, thank you very much. Can I um pinpoint in on a couple of things here? Um, I'm looking at uh hang on with me. The the town brook inlet over at Bigalow. And I know that uh councelor Ash and myself and council mitten kind of all merge in that area, but when we talk about this and we talk about the tr town inlet, are we also are we talking about the the the the inlet the uh the culvert at on on McGrath highway?
You know, I mean, is that in the mix in this? Not not in this particular case, right? But that all kind of filters I know that we've had issues y in the in that area and I know that um there's some construction going on there now in regards to a beautiful building that's going up to replace the that blighted and um nursing home that was there.
And I'm I'm just wanted to pin kind of pinpoint on where this is. It's it's actually kind of right behind there. It's right on Bigalow. Um it's it's before that you get to that building Joe may um Joe you want to come up and Joe's work on some of that area.
Uh thank you commissioner. Uh thank you Mr. President. I'm Joseph Sheay from Granite City Partners the great fortune to do a lot of engineering work in the city. Nice to see you. Thank you. Uh to your question, counselor, this this is the inlet great behind what most of us recall to be the old Quinsey Chamber building uh and on Bigalow, but really near Miller Styles.
And the inlet um of Town Brook in this area no longer has a great to keep debris out of it. So, as debris floats in underneath 21 McGrath Highway, floats underneath Washington Street and what many of us think of as Bagnell Auto Supply, although it has a new name, and then it daylights at Elm Street.
We're finding a lot of debris is getting snagged on the rocks in the region of Town Brook along McGrath Highway. So, we want to keep that debris out, keep that section flowing out to Bracket Street in the ocean, make it as optimal as possible.
and uh a inlet grate of a design similar to the most effective grate we have in the city which is behind Home Depot in Ward 4 um on Center Street also where Townbrook enters the city will be the same model we design here and on Corey Street the project before this one but the goal is to make sure these underground pipes that cut through our city just flow with water they don't flow with branches leaves debris the things that can wash So, so Joe, you think that, you know, I I understand, you know, this is going to catch debris.
Are we were we ever thinking I and I guess I'm I'm getting off subject, but to to look a little further down. I know we had there was discussions when that when that construction was starting that we we we might have some issues on how the on how the brook kind of angled by that nursing home.
And and I didn't know if we were we're in the ground or getting in the ground, we could try to do something there to straighten the flow to get out to Town Brook where the old cab place was there. You know, right right there at the um Armagrath Highway.
I I I guess I'm uh um I know this is one piece, but I knew that was close and that seemed to be a problem. Uh no, that's a great memory. You you pay very close attention, counselor. So, in 2020, the city submitted an application uh to FEMA under their brick program called building resilient infrastructure to effectively take Town Brook in this section, triple its width, and put it into Bigalow Street, come straight across underneath Dagnell Auto Supply and the Pizza Place, and really take out a lot of zigs and zags and corners and curves um that don't assist with the water flowing quickly to the ocean.
You are correct. That was a project that we submitted to FEMA. Um FEMA's review of it is they supported elements of it, but they would not fund it. The project that was submitted, I'm going to um try to recollect that it was in the 30 to $40 million order of magnitude because it required taking houses on um Bigalow Street.
this uh to your question, when the nursing home redevelopment came in before the planning board, we were able to review it and make sure that its layout doesn't foreclose on that future project. Uh so the redeveloper, the Galvans, uh and their designers were very accommodating to the fact that if that 30 to 40 million project ever comes to fruition, it their project does not impede its ability to move forward, which is terrific.
They basically future designed their project uh for our benefit. This is more of a smaller intermediate type project to make sure what we have operates as efficiently as possible. Yeah. That No, it's all good, Joe.
And I'm glad we're still on track with the other one because I think the city owned maybe an easement there next to the uh auto place, the auto parts place. We do. So, we were we were working that. I'm glad we're still working that.
Um, another thing I'm surprised on Black Creek's Bridge here. Um, on Moresy Boulevard, now Quincy Shore Drive. Are you telling me Moresy Boulevard came all the way and we re It came all the way? I I had no idea that I I mean Al was a kid and swam waters in the 40s, but Al will tell you that was a kid.
Yes. Marcy Boulevard entered right into Quinsey and just kept going. So leading into that, when we do the black black creek project, um is that kind of a combo with the state? I mean, how does that very much so?
How does that work? Um because I got another good one for you. I have to Okay. Um the way that this works is the the state owns the bridge, the Greenberg Bridge in Quinsey Shore Drive and is responsible for it.
We have tide gates on the state's bridge. So there are tide gates. The control of the water is incredibly important to us because it is the drainage system for W 4 and portions of W 5. Um as the commissioner correctly said, these gates are now 30 years old.
They are not the most modern style of gate. They're not a style that allows us to really fine-tune the operation of that marsh. They're they are like a light switch. Black Creek either has all the water or has zero water.
Those are our only choices. And when it's full of water, if we get a rainstorm, we run the risk of flooding out Armory and Putinham or if we really get hit, that's the reason why all Rick Road floods out.
new gates that are proposed. Um, actually there's a concept picture in your packet. There's not one in the slideshow, but new gates that are proposed would be a vertical style and would allow us to to trim the water to keep the marsh wet but take keep the excess water in the ocean.
Um, much more modern style of gate would allow us to operate in a much more modern manner. And uh the current gates again approaching their 30th birthday when they break they break closed. So some may remember they were broken for a number of years uh in the late 90s and Blacks Creek was just a mud flat for an very long extended period of time.
Uh it's time for renewal. This project is listed uh at a $100,000 budget really to get directionally correct, get a funding strategy and a timeline for a much larger project in concert with the state, both DCI who owns the bridge, but all of the state agents agencies who will be stakeholders in the habitat impacts on Black Creek.
Same philosophy for the next project on Sagamore Creek in terms of So does that does the gate the control of those gates does it control the velocity of the of the water coming in and out on on the tides at all?
It does not right now. Nope. They are because there is a uh you know it always comes up and it I I've known I' I've thrown it at the state a few times and really haven't got an answer about when it comes out of Black Creek that Mry Mount Beach.
it it's kind of a swirling effect and it's eating the beach away on the way it comes out because and I know it's not us. I know it's the DCR but you know trying to get a jetty and trying to get a uh almost a canal type you know um model coming up to get to get the water so it doesn't swirl in and and eat the beach away which it which it has been for years.
So I didn't know if this was going to help. Yeah. Um the tide gates are going to help in the flooding. That that's a separate project. Joe, you may I know and u Chris may be able to talk that the mayor is looking at um a possible dredging of that area.
So my understanding is they moved the bridge years ago that used to flow in and out. There was a beach there. The Army Corps did some work and I don't know if they ever finished the work they were going to do there which created some issues.
And then one time they put sand on the beach and all that sand ended up on Mry Mount. So there is uh some studies going on now about dredging that dredging that Mry Mount beach area. Um I'm not sure if the tide gates affect that will affect that.
This is more about keeping water in the creek, filling those marshes, being able to to they're either shut or they're open. There's no in between. So, this would allow water to go in and and and keep the levels to control the levels of the water.
So, um if that answers your question. No, maybe um I can ask Mr. Walker through you, Mr. President, just to if if he does have information on that because I know we've all Well, I've been asked a few times.
I'm sure the mayor has to show through you, Mr. uh President. Um, as the commissioner mentioned, the mayor's committed uh to a couple of dredging projects in that area. One specifically out near the um yacht clubs uh to assist in the channel out there.
Um that's a bigger scope. Um and then one closer to uh the beach area in this area. Um and that is in the permitting process. Uh, as we speak, we've been fortunate to have some state grant money assist us in that.
Um, working with the Mry Mount U Beach Association. We're also uh on the final planning stages of some beach beach renarishment uh in that area. Um, as you know, counselor, uh, that the water comes in and it takes out the sand.
Um, and it leaves a a good deal of a pebbly beach, a rocky pebbly beach. Um, so we're working through the permitting process on uh beach reourishment at Mry Mount as well. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Walker.
And I'll just one final thing. You know, the I'm looking at the um over the last nine years, I I between Broad Street and a lot of the, you know, Butler Pond. Um, but the big thing with me, of course, is is the seaw wall, everything we've done down there.
Um especially the drainage because the water's going to come over the wall in a storm. The drainage has improved so much on Sea Street and uh I know we're looking at Man of A now. I know we're we're very close to uh having something solid to um show to the residents down there.
So, that's a great thing, too, because that that pretty much um there's a few small sections down there I'll probably bother you about, but that's that's a big a big section down there and that takes care of um that north side and then the the south side um with Edgewater Drive is has really worked out great and I know that was done a long time ago.
So, thank you very much. Great job. Um, city engineer Paul Costello has been working very closely with Tetrate Tech on that project. Um, so you know, we'll be talking shortly on that. Thank you, Council McCarthy.
Thank recognizes councelor Campbell. Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you guys for this uh presentation. It's it's really to see the the amount of work that gets done with really the amount of limited funds that that go into this is is incredible.
Um I think I just had a couple real quick questions on um the uh Fort Square um project. That's one of those ones where you have one, four, and five coming into it that um as far as the drainage goes is is I mean obviously that's a major um thorough affair for for lack of a better word for all of the uh systems that work throughout.
Um, and you mentioned the area down in State Street and and and all those things there. Are there plans at some point? I know this is maybe kind of a futuristic type thing, but for something of that to end up down there or is that uh the four square uh item is that is that unique to the area?
I don't know who who necessarily that would go to. So, I guess the question is um this seems to be working, right? That's been in in service now for has to be 25 30 years, right? Yeah. And that was an Army Corp project.
Army. Okay. So, and I would imagine that, you know, to solve some of the the drainage that goes on. Is is are there other areas of the city that they're this is there's a candidate for this type of work or this type of for another like Joe?
I don't know. I mean, we have projects, but another pump another pump station like that. That's a deep rock tunnel. That's a that's a multi-million dollar projects counselor. Um I mean there's there's as far as State Street the tide gates um eventually that area that road is going to have to be raised over there.
Um which would alleviate a lot of that flooding also. Um so we we're we're doing a lot in that area that North Quinsey Montle area. We really have been trying to fine-tune that area but there are you know some major elements.
uh raising the road would be a huge piece of that and the mayor wants us to study that. Great. But the tide gates are uh really critical down there. Is it so so that okay that that that answer that that question um and you also brought up the just the amount of projects that we're doing here 16 you know close to 20 million I guess if you add in all of it it so without predicting kind of you know the expectation of things the projects that are being done is there a percentage I think that that uh gets put into this fund and allows us to do it can we anticipate what that's going to be and sure well So the sewer drain rehab fund is funded by developers.
So every project in the city, they're required to pay a 1% of the project of the construction cost. So if say downtown someone's putting in a $50 million project, they would pay a half a million dollars, 500,000, 1% into this fund.
So the fund is always being replenished. Um and as we see some of these and and most of this is financed through the downtown projects um 1% anything over a three family home any construction over three family the contractor plays pays 1% the developer um so it's it's a great story it's so positive I maybe the ledger will write a story about it something positive um but it's a great story um and not only that they also this is what they mandatory they have to pay that's what before mitigation that's before any drainage sewer work they have to do on that project that we before we allow that project before you know our engineering department goes through all of that to make sure uh they can handle any water or anything on there on there so this is over and above that it's over and above mitigation they may agree to pave a road or put a water man uh the project down on Wentworth street.
Now, uh those two projects, they're going to be paying to put in a new water man on Wentworth and pave that road. These are things that great things that happen uh through mitigation, but um but the sewer drain rehab, it's continually being funded.
That's great. So, a lot of the infrastructure is being done by the developers themselves. Yeah. And on top of that, we're adding in kind of the drain. So, that's great. All right. Great. Thank you. Thank you, Council Campbell.
Uh President recognizes Council Don. Um thank you, Mr. Mr. President, um Commissioner, um Mr. Cassello, Mr. Sheay, as well as Mr. Prenville. Um just want to thank you guys for coming in tonight. This is kind of nuts and bolts of um city council work.
Um like the presentation you guys have done. I think one of the major things that I've gotten out of tonight is the preventative measures. Um we've done a lot of work out there, but we have to do a pro we have to have a proactive approach upon floods and all these different measures that are going to happen out there in the city from natural disasters slash um mitigation of weather.
We don't know, we can't predict it sometimes. And um going through the 2018 floods over on Post Highland Road and it went all over the Merry Mount section was down in Germantown. It hit Squanum in in January of 18 as well.
So, all the areas got hit pretty hard. Um, you guys have done such a good job listening to the different wards and different things in their wards. Um, um, but I think uh, the major part about all this is um, the developers going into the private fund and helping out with paying for all these projects.
Um, to move the city forward, infrastructure is very important. you don't it's it's not to call it not sexy. It's it's underneath, but it has to be done to do the roads and sidewalks. So, I know you guys are out there working hard every day.
We're going to try to get this stuff in for another couple months right before the winter. Um so, we're hopefully going to pound away as the best you guys can, but um I'm in full support of this tonight and I want to thank you for your presentation.
Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, councelor. Thank you, councelor Ron. President recognizes councelor Divine Commissioner. Uh thank you very much for coming in Paul and everyone. The uh while we're still uh with Council Campbell talking about um the Deep Rock there.
How long is the Deep Rock tunnel? Uh that's a great question and I'm I'm going to uh nerd out a little bit here counselor, but uh the you could just give me a rough you could even say where does it mile long that's a 12 foot diameter hole behind Star Market.
It goes down 180 ft and then it goes over towards Pawn Street. So between Pawn Street and Bracket Street where the skateboard park is. Yeah, it comes back up and flows immediately out under southern artery to the town river.
So, it's a 12t diameter tunnel goes down 180 ft under Quinsey Square. Is any of it over by um Columbia Road on the back side there? No. By Columbia Road over behind Dunkin Donuts. Does it not start down there?
Uh no. So, actually, yes. There are two overflow. I got them. Very good. In Town Brook where there are two overflow structures. Yeah. This overflow structure is the larger one behind Star Market. There is a smaller overflow structure in Ward 4 in front of BJ's right in front of where Lincoln Memorial Granite was and is now a heritage tree site.
Right. And kind of flanks Colombia and heads down towards the Star Market. It trims off water coming out from behind Brainree and behind Home Depot and actually runs it straight down Bergen Parkway. Right.
And dumps it into this same location. Exactly. So it's almost like the introduction chamber to this location. Start like a little tributary. Um very technical term. Yes. Yeah. Um do we ever inspect those?
I assume we inspect them a lot. Uh twice a year you inspect them. Okay. Um, that's great cuz I always worry, you know, you talk about a 12T pipe, but uh sometimes sediment and stuff gets in there and all a sudden it's no longer 12 ft.
It's, you know, 10 or nine. Uh, and it's great to hear that it's it's uh inspected. Um, so well, I guess to get started, I mean, the reason I know a lot of this because my house is at Cross and Miller uh during the the big flood where all road got really destroyed.
Uh my house did too. I had uh you know six feet of water in my basement. Uh I I was able to take a canoe over a sixoot fence in my backyard. So I've watched it closely. Uh so I do have a couple of more questions.
First I'd like to say it's unbelievable what Quinsey has been doing uh for the last 15 years uh that I've watched uh for flood mitigation. We just keep getting it done. We're getting uh grants uh other funding besides this 16 million that we're talking about here um on um we're doing so much work on the uh the burn zani kal area.
I was hoping that we could uh pay attention or we talked about the fact that DCR is in conjunction with us on there and they're working on it and I know you guys work closely with them. I was hoping that we could also get whoever owns the area between Furnusbrook um exit on the highway.
There's a lot of dead trees there. And uh I've I've heard that the state doesn't want to put in a what do you call it? gate um there because it it also goes in the culit where commissioner Grazioso I know when a big storm's coming because he has them pulling dead trees and cleaning certain catch basins or parts of the culit.
So as soon as I see you guys out there I know a storm's coming because you are proactive like I think uh councelor Dabono said. Um, but if we could work on maybe trying to reach out to them to make sure that their dead trees are not falling in and then we're picking it all up.
Uh, cuz we're going to catch it at Barnesi. Uh, just one observation. Um, and then, uh, Joyce and Canel, the pump house. Uh, I I see a lot of money being here. I don't think it would take a lot, but I was hoping that we might be able to get something that would tell us that we have power there because I think possibly um a transformer blue and uh it's uh sort of archaic.
I know you put a lot I know you lifted it up and you put in extra pumps and it works really well, but I was hoping we might be able to give a little attention to that too because that's very important to uh Oor like Canel, the people that are on the low end of Canel and All Road.
Um, and then the uh the Town Brook inlet, great on Bigalow. I I know it doesn't say anything about affecting Ward 4, but in reality, that's great for Ward 4, too, because the faster Town Brook moves, the better Grossman Street, Kin Kaid area is going to drain.
That's great. So, I very thankful for all that. Uh, like, um, councelor Harris said, uh, he he sees a lot of W six. Well, I see a lot of W four, too. So, we're also thank thankful for everything that you guys are doing there.
Um, then I'm all over the place. I hope you're catching all this. Uh, we can replay it on uh QAV if we have to, right? Uh, at Furnace A. Um, Dr. Iorio one time found a old um little uh creek that was supposed to be added um during the highway when the highway was developed and it was never completed.
And then over the years a some people that own the property that we now own filled it in uh where we potentially were going to put a furn uh a pump station to furnace up. So, I hope that maybe we can also look into uh recreating part of that uh brook which will help drain some water and possibly make a retention basin there or something.
Absolutely. Um it's just another small step, but um so while we're talking about this, I wanted to throw it out there and other than that, I'll let you go. Thank you. Thank you, counselor. Thanks, Councelor Divine.
Uh President recognizes councelor Minton. Just quick question regarding the Black Creek project. What effect is that going to have on the Princess Eve marsh? Joe, you want to talk about the Princess Eve marsh?
What affect uh the direct answer is yes. It would uh it will have an impact on the Princess Eve marsh. Uh the Princess Eve marsh for decades was protected by a separate tide gate on Feno Street. Um that then came into uh the very natural pros and cons of tide gates where the Princess Eve marsh may not have been being flooded because of the tide gate.
Therefore, yards on Havland or Princess Eve uh or even up to Dickens may have been dry. However, they stayed too dry and then the marsh dried out and habitat impacts occurred. So then the tide gate would be opened and there would be a a flushing a benefit, a fire protection benefit, a habitat benefit, but then a flooding benefit.
I believe that tide gate on Feno Street was put in because Black Creek couldn't be fine-tuned. It was either fully empty or fully clo fully full or fully empty. Um, Princess Eve Marsh is hydraulically connected.
So, a new gate system on Black Creek will have an impact on Princess Eve Marsh. You can I think it will have both a flood protection and a habitat benefit impact because we could fine-tune what's happening in Princess Eve Marsh.
Uh, in terms of the the your constituents, there are the ones who lean towards flood protection versus the ones who lean towards habitat. I'm not sure we will ever satisfy both of those constituencies at once, but we'll we'll be equipped to do a better job.
Yeah, most of the constituents want a healthy marsh. That's the most important thing. Fair. Thank you. Thank you, Council Minton. President recognizes Council Divine. You can stay up there if you want, Mr.
Sh. Um, I forgot I had another note. Uh, council me reminded me talking about Black Creek. Uh it says here that uh state agency coordination. Uh am I correct that I heard uh rumors that some of the agencies were going back and forth and one would say yes and the other would say no or is everybody okay?
Because if you need the support of the council, if if anybody's giving you a hard time, I'm pretty sure that everybody here uh we'll do whatever you need to make sure that those agencies work together.
I know we don't have real power, but um if you're having any issues, please let us know because uh this is important for all these community. I think we saw almost everybody is affected by the black creek.
Uh so I speak for myself, but I think everybody else here would agree that whatever you need from us, we're going to do to make sure that those agencies work properly with you so you can get this done.
Thank you. Thank you very much. We do appreciate that. And yes, there um there are a number of state agency stakeholders in Black Creek from DOT because of the roadway, DCR because of the brook um wetlands and habitat agencies.
Um this initiative was engineered many years ago um coming out of a 2011 capital improvements plan. So the design is is solid design has been in place for a while. Um at that point the project got derailed over a winter flounder habitat um disagreement.
That's probably what you the rumors that you heard. Yeah. Um is a state agency really dug in around for this to happen the winter flounder need to pass through the Greenberg Bridge and for that to happen the Greenberg Bridge would need to be fully rebuilt to a natural sand bottom bridge.
Um, we are looking to maintain gates and not rebuild bridges. Yeah. Um, I guess maybe that was a bridge too far to come up with a terrible pun in terms of what they needed from this project. And at that point, the project initiative ceased.
Um, but one of the reasons why in your packet in here it says three replacement grades updating the engineering is significant engineering from a technical standpoint has already been approved by the state.
Okay. In terms of what the bridge can hold, how it could be fastened. So that state agency component was approved and is in just needs to be updated. The habitat agency components still need work. Okay.
Well, whatever you need from me, uh, let me know, please. We may be calling upon you. Thank you. Okay. Thank you, councelor Divine. All right. There's a motion on the floor. President recognizes councelor.
Thank you, Mr. President. Um, I'll be brief. Commissioner, thank you for the presentation. Um I have a want to thank you specifically of course on the Town Brook um attention. There have been a number and of course Mr.
Sheay and Mr. Costello, there have been a number of uh projects, whether they be uh the 11 McGrath highway, which I do know a lot of the constituents and residents over there were happy um with the particular um uh details to that in that project that lend themselves that l that lend themselves to uh to future Town Brook uh remediation and certainly don't not only um uh refrain from making the area the matter worse but also actually the inverse.
It seems that that project and the particular attention and uh aspects related to the town brook would would help the area. Um outside of that, there are some other um smaller rehab um uh proposals in the area and that usually um helps uh that residents tend to look around and see what what can be fixed um when there is a residential proposal or a commercial proposal in their neighborhood.
That being said, uh the the proposals that have been um brought to my attention or filed with the boards in that area, Bigalow, Miller Style, Elm Street, McGrath Highway in conjunction with the flooding that we saw in July uh and August of this year, um resulted which th those rainstorms and floods hit the area pretty hard behind the Chamber of Commerce on Elm Street.
uh the roads were closed and it's in and the the the water and the flooding was higher as I'm told um than a lot of residents have seen over there. So I certainly um appreciate the recommendation uh from Mr.
Sheay and and through uh DPW to pay some attention to that area. Um the other area that I wanted to ask about was um Independence A. Independence A is uh a butts ward 2 and I know that um I certainly saw and and and noticed some flooding over there that I don't ever recall seeing in the past.
I know we discussed it. Um and I'm I'm wondering if any of these line items while they don't necessarily um they aren't labeled or cited as independents have if they are geared towards helping that particular area in a roundabout way or if there's another um issue over there that we can talk about.
Well, I mean, we we've spent a lot of time over there catching uh checking all our drains, cleaning our drains. Um this summer, we've seen probably more flooding than I've seen in my nine years here. Um some of these storms, they happen, the rain comes in so fast, the inundation, uh and then if you have a high tide at the same time, there's nowhere for the water to go.
When the tide goes out, the water goes down. Uh a couple simple things we've seen some of the issues not maybe not particularly in that neighborhood but we've seen some of it down in Montlair. We go to catch we go and check the catch basins and the catch basins are clean but we see debris all on top of the catch basins causing it's like a it's like a stop in a bathtub causing the water to pull.
And I would just ask, you know, any resident listening out there this evening. If just check the catch basin in front of your house, um if you see debris, clear it. It will help. We have nine over 9,000 catch basins throughout the city.
We're on a three-year cycle. We try to clean 3,000 a year. Um we actually we contracted with a company this year based on a low bid and um they signed a contract and they didn't show up. Wow. Uh and uh city engineer Paul Costello was called them and said, "Hey, you know, you don't show up.
We're gonna we're going to the second bidder." And that's exactly what we did. And that happened last week. The second bidder was in town today. National Water Man, they've done tremendous work for us.
They're on our GIS system. They do everything. They started cleaning catch basins today. So between them and I mean we have our in-house uh catch basin cleaner but we can't again 3,000 a year is a lot and then we try to concentrate on those areas that we know are floodprone.
Um so you know we see a storm coming we go out and we check um and you know but we are looking in that area because you are correct we had places that never flood flooded before. So, thank you. President recognizes Council McCarthy.
Yeah. Thank you, Mr. President. Just to go back to Councelor Campbell and yourself, Commissioner, about the formula, the 1%. Uh, a couple of stats here. Uh, in 2024, uh, it grew to 1.5 million. In 2025, it grew to 2 million.
In fiscal 2026, we're a couple of months in. We're already at 900,000 plus. So, it's a great account. It's a great formula with the the the people that are, you know, contributing into it 1% and it's at $900,000 two months in.
So, I'd love to see it at the end of fiscal 2026 because it's going to be a lot larger. Thank you. Okay, we have a motion on the floor from councelor Harris. Do I have a second? Seconded from councelor Divine.
Madame clerk, please call the role. Councelor Ash. Councelor Campbell. Yes. Councelor Divine. Yes. Councelor Deona. Yes. Council Harris. Yes. Council Leang. Yes. Council McCarthy. Yes. Councelor Mittton.
Yes. President Kaine. Yes. Nine members. Thank you. Thank you all. Thank you councelor. Appreciate it. Thank you. Madam clerk. Next item please. Next. Number two. 2025109. Order. from Mass General Law, Chapter 140, Section 139C, fees for dogs owned by persons aged 70 and over.
Uh, President recognizes Council Gabbone. Thank you, Mr. President. Um, uh, thank you, Madame Clerko, um, Jen Manning, as well as Solicer Timonss for helping me out with this um um, ordinance. Um, you know, this this first came to me, um, you know, with the animal shelter, um, going through the ribbon cutting in the process of opening that beautiful center up there on Quarry Street.
Um, I built a lot of great relationships up there. Um, before the vote, after the vote, and then just up there over the last uh, you know, less than a year now. I know Susan, we'd always talk about it over here next to me um, about the dogs and the cats and all the different things.
And then a constituent came to me over the summer and asked me if we could do something to help out seniors. And um we did some digging and uh we found out that we could help out some folks. Um I'd just like to to read it in the record just for leg u legal purposes is in Massachusetts state law allows cities and towns to exempt senior citizens aged 70 or older from paying a dog's license fee.
It is not a statewide mandate. This means that specific exemptions depends on whether your local municipality has accepted this provision. I'm going to put it in front of us tonight to allow that to happen.
Um, so Quinsey can be one of them. Uh, you know, Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 140, section 139 states that no dog, no fee shall be charged for a license over for a dog owned by a person over aged 70 years or over in a city or town that accepts this provision.
Um, bringing this in front of my fellow counselors, we're looking to adopt this. Um, also goes with the ringtone, adopting, you know, go to the animal shelter, adopt. So, we're adopting tonight. Um, if you guys um would help me out and, you know, support this measure.
I'd like to put that in a form of a motion to approve. Motion to approve. Second. Motion to approve by councelor, seconded by councelor McCarthy. on the motion for this highly controversial. [Laughter] Okay, madam cler, please call the role.
Councelor Ash, yes. Councelor Campbell, yes. Councelor Divine, yes. Council Debana, yes. Council Harris, yes. Council Leang, yes. Council Mccazy, yes. Councelor Mitten, yes. President Kane, yes. Nine members.
Thank you, councilors. Madam clerk, next item, please. Number three, 2025 110 gift for $600 from 2025 dear. Motion approve made by councelor McCarthy. Seconded by councelor Campbell. Madam clerk, please call the role.
Councelor Ash. Council Campbell. Yes. Council Divine. Yes. Council Debana. Yes. Council Harris, yes. Council Leang, yes. Council McCarthy, yes. Councelor Mitten, yes. President Kaine, yes. Eight members.
Thank you, Madam Clerk. Next item, please. Number four, 2025 111 gift for $1,000 from capital waste. Motion to approve made by council McCarthy. Seconded by councelor Campbell. Madam clerk, please call the role.
Councelor Campbell, yes. Council Divine, yes. Council Debana, yes. Council Harris, yes. Council Leang, yes. Council Mazy, yes. Councelor Mittton. Yes. President Kaine. Yes. Eight members. Thank you very much, madam clerk.
That concludes our regularly scheduled agenda for tonight. Approval of previous meeting minutes. Motion approved. Made by council. Seconded by councelor Campbell. All those in favor? Those opposed? Eyes have it.
Communications and reports from the mayor and other city officers and city boards. Madam clerk. Thank you. I do have um a request to refer to ordinance committee for advertising ward 4 council divine.
add two stop signs on Pemrook Street and Luron Street, creating a four-way stop. And I also have a utility request to refer to the public works committee for scheduling and advertising. Grant the location, National Grid, General Dunford Drive in Hancock Street to 101 General McCo Way.
Thank you, Madam Clerk. Unfinished business and proceeding meeting, seeing none. Reports of committees, seeing none. Presentation of petitions, memorials, and remmonstrants. Seeing none, motions, orders, and resolutions.
Seeing none, scheduling of committee meetings and public hearings. Our next regularly scheduled city council meeting will be Monday, October 6th at 6:30 p.m. Be there or be square. Motion to journ by councelor Leang.