City Council
City Council
Mon, September 8, 2025
Agenda items
Vote records
Discussion summary
Transcript
Meeting summaryAI-generated
City Council & Finance Committee — September 8, 2025
This was a relatively brief session comprising a public hearing, a Finance Committee meeting, and the regular City Council meeting. The most substantive item was the Finance Committee's consideration and full council vote on a long-awaited land disposition agreement for a blighted downtown property.
Public Hearing — Utility Grant of Location (Verizon, Washington Street at Southern Artery and Beacon Street)
A public hearing was held at 6:30 p.m. on Order 2025-098, a utility grant of location for Verizon on Washington Street at Southern Artery and Beacon Street. No members of the public came forward to speak in favor or opposition. The hearing closed at 6:31 p.m. The Public Works Committee later issued a positive recommendation, and the full council approved the grant.
Vote: Approved unanimously by voice vote.
Finance Committee — Land Disposition Agreement for 1620 Hancock Street (Order 2025-074)
This was the centerpiece of the evening. The Finance Committee reconvened to continue deliberations on the proposed sale of a city-owned parcel at 1620 Hancock Street — the site of the former Tassos Pizza, destroyed by fire in 2002 and vacant for 23 years. The city acquired the property by eminent domain in 2022 for $2.2 million through its Urban Redevelopment Authority.
Background: The city is proposing to sell the parcel to a private developer for $1.9 million (corrected during the meeting from an initially stated $1.8 million). The developer also controls the adjacent former Coleman's/Blockbuster/Good Health property, and the two lots would be developed together as part of a roughly $75 million mixed-use project in Quincy's downtown Hancock Street corridor.
The price gap: City representative Mr. Walker addressed the frequently asked question of why the city is selling for $1.9 million what it paid $2.2 million to acquire. He explained that the eminent domain appraisal is done "in a vacuum" — courts direct appraisers to assess highest and best value without mitigating factors. The disposition appraisal, by contrast, accounts for the city's design guidelines, permitting requirements, and public improvement obligations, all of which reduce the land's market value. The LDA also makes the developer responsible for seven-figure public improvements, including expanded sidewalks, that the city would otherwise have to fund.
Tax revenue upside: The existing blighted property generates approximately $12,000 per year in property taxes. Once developed, both parcels combined are projected to generate approximately $700,000 annually. Mr. Walker noted that tax revenue begins accruing incrementally during construction, not just upon completion.
Councillor questions and discussion:
Councillor Campbell asked whether the development footprint could expand in the future. Mr. Walker said this LDA covers only the two specific parcels, though additional expansion in that block remains a future possibility.
Councillor Ash dug into the appraisal's comparable sales, noting that three of the four comparable properties averaged roughly $141 per square foot, while 1620 Hancock is valued at approximately $166 per square foot. He also asked about the timeline between closing and when increased tax revenues would materialize, and whether a property sale triggers reassessment. Mr. Walker confirmed that tax calculations begin rising during construction and that the assessors would handle reassessment questions.
Councillor Yuan focused on the city's legal protections if the project falls through. The LDA requires the developer to break ground within 120 days of closing and complete construction within approximately two and a half years (with narrow exceptions for acts of God). The purchase price will be held in a separate escrow account at closing; if the city must repurchase the property, those funds are available. If the project succeeds, the escrowed funds flow back into the Downtown Improvement Financing (DIF) account for capital use in the downtown district.
Councillor DiBona offered a personal history of the site — the Tassos Pizza fire, the years of blight, the 2018 council resolution he co-sponsored with then-Councillor Palmucci urging the mayor to act on vacant downtown properties — and called the LDA "a no-brainer," pointing to visible construction progress nearby (the Kilroy Square garage, Atlantic development near General's Bridge) as evidence that the city's approach is working.
The Finance Committee voted to issue a positive recommendation to the full council.
Finance Committee Vote: Approved — unanimous among members present (Chairman McCarthy noted Councillor Kathy was absent due to a prior appointment).
Full Council Vote on 2025-074: Councillor Yang reported the positive committee recommendation. Motion passed unanimously, 8–0 (roll call: Ash, Campbell, Divine, DiBona, Harris, Yuan, McCarthy, Mitten — all yes).
Gift Acceptances — Copeland Family Foundation (Orders 2025-100 and 2025-101)
The council accepted two gifts from the Copeland Family Foundation submitted by Mayor Koch:
$7,500 to the Quincy Animal Shelter (2025-100) — Moved by Councillor Harris, seconded by Councillor DiBona. Approved 8–0.
$10,000 to the D.A.R.E. program (2025-101) — Moved by Councillor Harris, seconded by Councillor DiBona. Approved 8–0.
Consent and Routine Items
The council approved minutes from the June 16 and July 21 meetings without discussion. The City Clerk referred two traffic regulation requests (no parking additions in Wards 2 and 4) and three utility grant requests (National Grid/Verizon on West Quantum Street, Federal Street, and Chub Street) to the appropriate committees for scheduling and public hearings. Two ordinance committee items passed: removal of handicap parking at 65 Lurton Street (2025-077) and addition of handicap parking at 301 Billings Street (2025-097), both approved unanimously by voice vote.
Memorials and Recognitions
Councillor Campbell extended condolences to the family of Betsy Daly, a longtime Quincy Point resident and CCD teacher who passed away, with a wake scheduled for Wednesday. Councillor Ash mourned the passing of Mary Bella (née Bersani), 92, a lifelong Quincy resident and hairdresser; her memorial is Friday, September 12 at 11:30 a.m. at Pine Hill Cemetery. Councillor Ash also congratulated Councillor Divine on completing his ninth annual 50-mile MS walk on the Cape with his daughter Grace, raising over $600,000 for the MS Society collectively. Councillor Ash wished Frank Brillo a happy 80th birthday, noting Brillo's Purple Heart from Vietnam and his record-setting 19 championships coaching the Quincy Point Panthers youth team. Councillor DiBona offered broad praise for the summer's public events — the Dropkick Murphys concert at Hancock Adams Common (estimated 11,000 attendees), the Darius Rucker and John Fogerty concerts at Veterans Memorial Stadium, the Ruth Gordon Amphitheater Friday night series, and Wednesdays at Wollaston Beach — crediting the Quincy 400 Committee, Mayor Koch, the Quincy Police Department, and city departments.
Key Takeaways
The Land Disposition Agreement for 1620 Hancock Street passed unanimously (8–0), clearing the way for a private developer to combine the former Tassos Pizza site with the adjacent former Coleman's property into a mixed-use project projected to generate $700,000 annually in property taxes — compared to $12,000 today.
The city is selling the parcel for $1.9 million, $300,000 less than the $2.2 million eminent domain price paid in 2022; officials explained the difference reflects development constraints and that the developer bears responsibility for significant public improvements.
Key protections are built into the LDA: the purchase price goes into escrow at closing, the developer must break ground within 120 days, and the city retains the right to repurchase the property if conditions aren't met.
Two gifts totaling $17,500 from the Copeland Family Foundation were accepted — $7,500 for the Animal Shelter and $10,000 for D.A.R.E.
Construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2026, with completion roughly two and a half years after closing.
AI-generated summary from voice-to-text transcript. Not the official record. Verify important details with the source documents linked above.
Agenda items (2)
Gift
1Gift2 025-100 - Gift – $7,500 from Copeland Family Foundation to Animal Shelter M a y o r K o c h
2Gift2025-101 - Gift – $10,000 from Copeland Family Foundation to D.A.R.E. M a y o r K o c h
Additional votes recorded in minutes
Approve Land Disposition Agreement 1620 Hancock Street (Finance Committee)
aye 1
voice voteaye
Approve gift of $7,500 from Copeland Family Foundation to animal shelter (2025-100)
aye 8
Council Campbellaye
Council Divineaye
Council Harrisaye
Council McCarthyaye
Council Mittenaye
Noel DiBonaaye
Richard Ashaye
Ziqiang Yuanaye
Approve gift of $10,000 from Copeland Family Foundation to DEER (2025-101)
aye 8
Council Campbellaye
Council Divineaye
Council Harrisaye
Council McCarthyaye
Council Mittenaye
Noel DiBonaaye
Richard Ashaye
Ziqiang Yuanaye
Approval of previous meeting minutes (June 16 and July 21)
aye 1
voice voteaye
Approve utility grant of location Verizon Washington Street at Southern Artery and Beacon Street (2025-098)
aye 1
voice voteaye
Approve Land Disposition Agreement 1620 Hancock Street (2025-074) - Full Council
aye 8
Council Campbellaye
Council Divineaye
Council Harrisaye
Council McCarthyaye
Council Mittenaye
Noel DiBonaaye
Richard Ashaye
Ziqiang Yuanaye
Remove handicap parking at 65 Lurton Street (2025-077)
aye 1
voice voteaye
Add handicap parking at 301 Billings Street (2025-097)
aye 1
voice voteaye
Motion to adjourn
aye 1
voice voteaye
Verbatim transcript available
156 transcript segments indexed
[Music] Good evening. Good evening, folks. Uh, I'd like to call to order the September 8th, 6:30 p.m. public hearing, uh, to order. Uh this public hearing is for council order 2025-098 utility of grant location grid Verizon uh Washington Street at Southern Arty and Beacon Street.
So at this point I'd like anybody who'd like to speak in favor or opposition to come to the podium. State your name and address. If you wish you do not wish to speak but would like your support or opposition recorded please sign in on the sheet on the table at the back of the chamber.
So um with that uh anybody would like to speak in favor or against? Okay seeing none um I'm going to call the meeting uh over at 6:31 and we'll be back at 6:35 for the finance committee meeting. Thank you.
[Music] Good evening. I'd like to call the uh finance committee meeting to order this evening uh in regards to 2025 074 the land disposition agreement for 1620 Hancock Street. Agent, can you call a role?
Councelor Ash, Council Kane, Council Campbell, Council Divine, present. Council Deona, present. Councelor Harris, present. Council Yang, present. Council Mitten, present. Chairman McCathy present. Thank you.
Could you please stand and join me in 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.
Thank you. Uh also uh the open meeting law language. 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 unpreceived by those present and deemed acknowledged and permissible. Um, we had a meeting on this back in June.
Um, I know there were a few questions on the LDA at 1620. I'm going to open it up with Mr. Walker just to kind of give a recap and uh we have in the audience uh Brian Golden who is um a legal representative with the city also Mr.
Fats is here this evening uh and Janet Pekkin the city solicitor so feel free to bring anybody up to the podium if you feel like you have a question that um Mr. Walker doesn't cover uh but um I'll go to Mr.
Walker right now. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Chairman. Good evening counselors. I appreciate the opportunity to speak to you again on behalf of Mayor Ko on this matter uh that was first discussed last June.
Um benefit to everyone. I'm not going to read the repeat the entire presentation uh from before the summer, but I did want to uh before the council continues its deliberation uh provide a bit of a refresher on what we discussed last June.
Uh, in the meantime, um, I think Iowa, the mayor himself has spoken to each of you, um, directly over the course of the summer. Um, really appreciate those conversations that were had and the questions that were asked.
Um, and hopefully continue that progress uh, tonight. Um, first just or orientating ourselves again. This is 1620 Hancock Street, uh, property that was about 11,000 square ft, destroyed by a fire in 2002.
uh and it was never put back to any kind of use. Uh it satow, blighted um and vacant uh for upwards of more than 20 years. Um using its urban redevelopment authority and with the approval of this body, the city took the property by eminent domain for $2.2 million in 2022.
Um a private developer and this is a key piece to this. Um subsequently to that a developer um came to an agreement for the adjacent property which then uh leads to the potential of coupling these two.
Uh that vacant property folks will know as the former Coleman site, the former Blockbuster site, the former good health site. um that brought redevelopment to a reality and that triggered the process that we're undergoing uh right now and ultimately this land disposition agreement.
As I mentioned last time, uh it's helpful to view an LDA uh as a purchase and sale agreement. It sets the conditions for which the city will ultimately close on the sale of the property. We talked a little bit about those conditions.
Not going to go over all of them again, but essentially the key piece is that it sets conditions calling for a permitted. So the condition is essentially a permitted developable piece of property under a certain amount of time in a certain timeline.
That those are sort of the key trigger points to when the city will go closed on the property. Um, as I mentioned last time, uh, it's that permitted redevelopment that really is at the heart of the delta that all of you have asked about between the $2.2 million, uh, purchase price, taking price paid by the city and the $1.8 million that we're selling it for.
And I'll walk through that piece again because it's it's important. Eminent domain, when it's done for urban renewal, it's essentially done in a vacuum. The way the courts look at it, you don't consider many outside factors.
you don't consider a lot of mitigating factors. You're basically uh advised by the courts to get the highest and best value potential out of the site. So those appraisals and that process comes up a little bit differently than it would under this scenario which is the disposition property disposition sale.
Um the appraisal done for this LDA is not done in a vacuum. It considers all the facts that we deal with on redevelopment on a regular basis. It considers the fact that the city limits the city controls redevelopment.
All those factors from the design guidelines in the downtown to the requirements for public improvements to the permitting guidelines within the planning department. All of those things are mitigating factors and all those contribute to the price of the property.
And that's where you see the difference between the $2.2 million and the 1.8 million. Now the bigger question is what is the value getting out of the city out of this uh proposition? Again, as I mentioned last time, this is a site that sat vacant blighted in producing $12,000 in property taxes.
When all is said and done here, the two properties together, $700,000 in property taxes produced the city of Quinsey. And that's not to mention excise tax from folks registering their cars in the fac in the building, meals tax for any possible restaurant that's uh part of this project.
In addition, you'll note that the LDA makes the developer responsible for public improvements around the site, including new and expanded sidewalks per our downtown guidelines. That in of itself is a seven figure contribution.
These are things that would not be happening if we were not in front of this body with the land disposition agreement. So the value is unquestionably there. Again, $12,000 in taxes compared to $700,000 in taxes.
Um councils, this is textbook urban renewal. This is why urban renewal is created. We took we're taking a blighted vacant piece of property that has been a drag on the downtown for almost a generation and what the end result is a $75 million investment in regular annual taxes paying into the city of Quinsey.
This is what urban renew renewal is about. This is also probably uh those councils with the past experience on LDAS. This is probably the cleanest, most straightforward uh LDA we've had, there have been a number of LDAs that have been uh quite complicated that have come with substantial public investment, the diff funding.
Um there's been tricky land use and land um assemblage as part of some of our LDAS in the past. Um this is not this is straightforward. We are giving uh we're selling a piece of property for it to be developed to enhance the downtown.
Um as chairman McCarthy mentioned, we have Brian Golden and Sha Nahill uh from our legal team helped craft this agreement. Uh we have Mr. Fats, Mr. Stevens here from the planning department uh to answer any questions as well as myself.
Uh with that, I would throw it back to the body. Mr. Ch. Uh thank you, Mr. Walker. Um thank you for the summary. Uh I'll open it up uh to uh my colleagues. I'll start with um water for counselor Jim Divine.
I mean, I'll start. I'd like to make a motion to approve. I think uh it'd be good to get this started and uh get that moving so we can clearly get more taxes going, but and go from there. Okay. On the motion any Okay, we got a few.
Let me just check this side. Yeah. Council Campbell. Um I think I just have a couple questions. Is there So, this 32,000 square feet this this area is um that that that's what the area is. And is that limited to are there are other are there other opportunities to to have that grow or is it is this going to be just exclusive to that area?
This this property will be I think it's uh council I think it's roughly 11,000 ft. Um this particular property will be part of the development together with the parcel next door. Um the future holds potential for the the further furtherance in in that block but for now um this conveyance applies only to that one project.
Okay. And and this is being paid out of the uh the DIP fund. Yes. And um which generation was that? Well, in actually that we're selling this piece of property, so we're going to make a little bit of revenue on this one.
Um but yes that would that is money that goes back the revenue. So within the past year we've um generated you know I believe between this and uh the projects on um the general uh bridge side of Hancock Street um upwards of 8 to9 million in revenue um that can go be pumped directly back into the downtown.
And that's and I you raised a good point. I think I I see where you're going this one. The the financing of downtown. Um, as this body knows, um, we use when we do public improvements that are publicly that are publicly funded, not part of the private development project, we use what's called district improvement financing.
It's a state program. And what that does, it allows us to borrow money and use the anticipated new tax growth and the actual new tax growth from the development to pay for those improvements. So everything that you have approved and all the progress that this body together with the mayor have made over the last 15 years has all been financed through that program.
So when folks look at their tax bills in the fall and the winter, um that money is not coming out of that. Uh the downtown has its own financing system where the taxes in the downtown pay for the public improvements in the downtown.
Okay. I think um any idea what the anticipated shovel in the ground moment happens or three Mr. Chairman I I I would imagine uh first quarter of next year. Okay, great. Thank you. Thank you, councelor.
Chair recognizes councelor Debana, then councelor Ash. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to just kind of go back in history just a little bit because um we spoke about this back in June of 2025 for any viewers that are kind of just picking up this information tonight.
Just to get back a little bit history of the Tasos Pizza that burned down back in 2002. Um it was a nice establishment that had um was a familyrun business in the city of Quinzy and um they provided great service, great pizzas, great subs.
that little pinball machine in there. Um, and then it burned down in 2002 and it sat light basically for the last 23 years. Um, next door to it you had the prior Coleman's Blockbuster Video and then now it's Good Health over the years.
Um, this was the beginning of the um, start in the summertime. We had the nice sidewalk sale many years ago. This was the beginning of it starting from basically that part of Coleman's all the way down through the downtown Hancock Street corridor.
Back in 2018, myself and former Ward 4 counselor Brian Palmucci put forward a resolution asking the mayor to somehow spike or move forward on a lot of properties in the Hancock Street corridor which right now presently you have the Accardis and the Slers doing a lot of work where the existing old child world used to be in that particular corridor and then it moved down to where we are in Coleman's which extended the URDP over the last few years.
These properties sat vacant. They sat blighted for many many of years. And if you can look at something right now and you can see it is you look at Kilroy Square and the parking garage that's out in front of there today.
Um, it took some time to build and if you driven by the General's Bridge lately, if hopefully you drove by it tonight, you saw that there's four five stories of a garage getting built next to the General's Bridge and a lot of construction to the to the north side of it, which is the Atlantic development property, which is being built as well.
These properties take time to come up, but you see the progress. And as a council, we're sitting up here for a blight property for 23 years. What What's the next step? We just leave it sitting there for another couple years and not have any progress.
We're coming in the postcoid era here, five and a half years out of that 2020 march. Um, and the good thing about Quinsey is we were the leaders out there. We continued to build. We didn't sit back like other communities, other towns, other cities and stop work.
We we continued to work and that's where we are today. But you can it's a tangible product out there. You can actually feel it. You can hold it. You can see it. It's there. You see the development happening in the downtown.
This is our economic engine that's going to move it forward. This is another piece of the puzzle, another piece of the pie to move it forward. Um council Palucci is no longer here, but into fruition. and hopefully some of the things that we instituted back then the mayor and the administration has take forward with some of our suggestions.
Um, at the time back in 2018, it was a very bold statement to ask the mayor to start taking properties if you had to because no one's doing anything with them, but we're starting to get a grip on some things in the downtown.
I want to thank you for listening. Um, so for me, it's kind of a no-brainer. um $12,000 on the payroll right now on the um books right now and you could potentially get to 700,000 um dollars in in in um in taxes.
So, um this is a blighted property that's been sitting there for quite a while. So, for me, uh I think it's it's it's it's a very important move to move the city forward. Um a lot of the other parcels in the downtown have done their part and unfortunately it takes time to build.
Um but the revitalization of the downtown is is coming to fruition. Um look at the Hancock Adams common right outside here. Um did anyone think it was going to be all these different activities and stuff?
So um starting from this part of the Hancock Street all the way down um to Coleman's the old former Coleman's is is where this is this property and this parcels lies. So um just wanted to give a little brief history of you know growing up in Quinsey and and and using these establishments.
Tasos Pizza, um Coleman's to buy my sneakers and um sporting stuff for school. Um they bring back a lot of memories, but it's been sitting there blighted for quite a while. Um and we need to continue to to move Quinsey forward.
Um a lot of other areas of the city I would be more hesitant. It's not in the right area. It takes away from the character of the neighborhood. This particular area is where we need to get economic growth.
This is going to help our tax role. this is going to help our city as a whole. Um, but I just want to move back on, you know, you see the development now. Um, over my last 10 years of being on the council, we've we've come a long way and I want to continue to move it forward.
So, for me, this is a no-brainer. I'm I'm going to be supporting this tonight. Thank you. Thank you, councelor. Chair recognizes councelor Ashton. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I appreciate the the summer recess to go over um the LDA and the appraisal.
Um, I know I mentioned back in June, of course, I think, you know, with the headline being the delta between the purchase price in 22 and um the um proposed appraised value of the property. Now, that's of course uh what's on everybody's what's on everybody's mind, notwithstanding the language of the actual LDA, but rather the appraisal.
uh when I Oh, I'm sorry. Uh first uh Mr. Walker, I believe you the the purchase price proposed is 1.9 million. Correct. I apologize uh through you, Mr. Chairman. I I misspoke. It is 1.9, not 1.8. Thank you.
Um when I looked at the um appraisals that are on page the I'm sorry the comp the comparable sales on page 46 of the appraisal um at least with respect to sales 2 3 and four. These are properties on uh Washington Street, McGrath Highway and Hancock Street.
Um I I did stay away from sale one um just because there is a discrepancy in that particular uh quote comparable sale due to buildable acres and surplus land. Um the average purchase price for sales 2, three, and four by my calculations, not being um of course a certified appraiser or an expert in real estate appraisal, that was $141 uh per square foot.
Um it looks like the the this particular property at 1620 is 166 um and change per square foot. Again, I'm using a very um basic approach to uh to looking at the comparable sales that are listed in the appraisal um and um trying to see the differences in the that land um in those sales that are noted on page 46.
Um, my question would be for uh Mr. Walker, when you when we're talking about 700,000 in potential property taxes, is that both lots together? I assume 1620 and 1630. Correct, sir? I I think I I think in June I had suggested 550 and I think that was one one pro one property not necessarily the two of them together but 750 is the uh is the number 700 we're looking at.
And so if this LDA goes through um and we're talking about an assessed value at 1.9 million for per I'm sorry an appraised value at 1.9 million. Do you know um or is there anybody here that could speak to what that assessed value would be like right out of the gate after this purchase?
Cuz I know Chairman, that's that would that's a question for the assessors, but I believe that that first assessment when a building is fully occupied and functioning is more closely reflected of an appraisal than any other assessment nor normally would be because you're right out of the box at that time.
you're not looking at comps necessarily. Um or you are looking at comps but not in the same way you would. It's a new building. Um but that generally speaking would be a question for the assessors. Okay.
If if a property changes hands, is that um grounds for a reassessment or an adjustment of the assessed value? I guess my question is a if this sale goes through, are we going to see an immediate increase or an immediate um uh property tax uh property taxes coming into the city at that commercial rate?
You do. You do. You see it a little bit before full full occupancy, too. You see it throughout the construction period, too. There's different calculations. Again, I'm getting just a touch beyond my skis relative to how the assessors work, but there is a process to which it's no longer being taxed as a vacant piece of property.
Once the developer has uh stuff on site and stuff is going vertical, you are now getting uh a calculation of property taxes, certainly not the same as it will be when the building is done and occupied, but it sort of levels up throughout the process.
So, you know, I don't think it's unfair to say, you know, by this time next year, we'll be producing more tax revenue than has been produced on that site uh in many, many years. Thank you. Um, so my I took a few properties that I noticed they're residential but um but by notwithstanding that classification properties that sold uh recently and then what the new assessed value is and from what I could see it looks like there's roughly an 80% um it's it's usually point around 08 if you will.
So, a property sells for say 600 thou. We'll use raw numbers. A property sells for 500,000. We can usually um see that the property is assessed at around 400. Very round, very basic. I'm not I don't not I don't mean to um create a a seminar and appraisals, but that those are the the few residential properties that recently sold.
That's what I um noticed. We were somewhere between a 75 and a 85. Um, so I guess my my question was if this property changes hands at 1.9 and we can say the assessed value is using that round formula, say 1.55, would we see that 35K in property taxes this year or would it be would we be waiting?
And I I if you if if it's not a question that you can answer, that's fine. I I I just trying to wrap my head around the the um the tax um incentive here. Um but what I I guess not with with without any of that as the background, we're um I have I'm working um right now on a separate issue that has to do with uh parking lot appraisals or empty land appraisals.
Um, and I'm not, you know, we're not, um, the the details of that are not necessarily up for something to discuss, but given my recent um my given my recent exposure to these appraisals, um, I I understand that the the risk associated with the property changing hands a few years ago, um, and that process, um, and I I again, all my questions have been answered.
and appreciate the summer to look at this more in depth. Thank you. All set. Thanks, councelor. Chair recognizes council Yank. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yeah, I mean, I um I'm looking at the the draft plans for this space and um not unlike my colleagues, right, trying to ensure that the benefit of having um another piece of property come onto our tax uh payrolls is great, right?
I I mean I'm not thrilled that the retail space is so small. I mean I think I have um probably sounded like a broken record time and again about increasing our commercial footprint, but at any um at any rate anytime we get any retail space on the on the tax roles like I'm excited about.
And so, you know, I think for me what I've learned in my time looking at different LDAs is that I do understand that there's a lot that can happen between uh when we look at an LDA and then the actual closing happening and then finalized plans and then different costs going up, etc., etc., etc.
So, you know, I've learned in that time to when I'm going through the LDAS, always look very carefully at, you know, what is the protection that the city has if worst case scenario or something happens that we ultimately always maintain control right to the very end.
And I see that that's um very early on in the LDA. So, that makes me excited. Um, you know, to councelor Campbell's point, we were just talking after he was chatting that, you know, we again understand that there's that that um that time in between, you know, getting this approved and then trying to get something built.
And it's like, let's get this done if we're going to do it right and and get these things on the tax roll. So, you know, it says in here that they have um 120 days within the closing to actually get a shovel in the ground, right, and get started, which I think is great.
And then um they have I believe from there about two two and a half years to get this done. So I mean this is this is going to be you know very clear right that unless there's says in here right like some act of god or act of terrorism like they have to get this done and I appreciate the expediency that we're putting on to them um in this in this legal document.
It also says in here that um at the time of the closing, we can actually place the purchase price into a separate escrow account. Again, just to have that protection in place that should we need to purchase the property back because, you know, even with the best intentions, things happen, right?
if the developer changes plans on us, if they do something, you know, significantly different than what we expect of them and what we want of the property that we do have not only again the legal document that says we can purchase the property back, but the finances to do it as well.
And I'm just curious about could you just go over um logistically what that looks like? So, we have the closing and then where do the funds come from and then if we do need to purchase the property back, it does say less any cost that we in incur, right?
So I I assume we're going to put a conservative amount in there and likely again this is all worst case scenario, right? If we had to buy it back, we wouldn't use the full amount that's in that escro account.
So could you just walk me through where those funds would be coming from and then um what happens with the remaining funds if we don't end up using it? So if we don't end up using if we the purchase goes free and clear and the project happens and we um are satisfied that the conditions of the LDA are met the city uh takes that money out of escrow and it flows into it has to be used uh for capital expenses.
It has to be used uh in the downtown uh under accordance uh with state law and how uh disposition of of property works. Um, so it ultimately would flow back into the diff. If for some reason it falls apart and we do need to purchase the property back, um, you know, we do have the ability keeping that money in escrow.
There's no plans for this uh immediately. Um, so we would certainly keep um that in escrow and until we see a a an occupancy permit um is probably the the key trigger to that that we're free and clear and that money can drop back into uh the city uh funding.
Okay. But it's going to stay like you'd mentioned again it's going to be um funded from and go back to the diff, right? And so there's this again given the area where it is, we're still staying true to that commitment that anything in this downtown contributing into the the um improvements here, right, it's going to continue to be funded just by the correct.
Correct. Okay. All right. Thank you. I just again I I always want to make sure, right, that yes, you hope for the best. We understand obviously given even some LDAs that we had that has gone on years with projects down here, right?
That yes, the acts of God's happened and you know things that are unforeseen, but um always always always hoping for the best and just making sure that we have protections in place to purchase land. In fact, there's only so much of it left, right?
And so I always want to make sure that we um maintain control until we see something um 100% completed to, you know, our satisfaction. So I appreciate that. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh thank you, councelor.
Um, so I have a motion by council divine and before we go just a couple of comments. I think councelor Dewana hit on a on a few things and it has to do with long-term and all these moves that we've made with LDAS in the in the past.
Um, people can see uh the progress that's been made here in in Quinsey and Quinsey Square and and that blighted area down there for 23 years. Um, it's time to make a move and as Mr. Walker has said um long-term um it looks like a a winner.
It looks like something that again uh will will really spruce up which I consider that really that's a gateway into the into Quinsey Square there at Firestone. So um with that um all no more uh any more conversation.
All those in favor? Opposed? The eyes have it. Thank you. Uh that concludes the finance committee meeting at 7:04. Thank you. Say Kathy absent. Had another had an appointment this evening. Okay. Yeah.
I I don't know. Anybody had an appointment? Okay. I'd like to uh open up the uh city council meeting at 7:05. Um Madame Clerk, can you call a role? Councelor Ash. Councelor Campbell present. Council Divine.
Councelor Deorna present. Council Harris. Council Leang present. Council McCazy present. Council Mitten. Eight members. You have a quorum. Thank you. Can we all stand for a moment of silence, please? Uh this evening, the moment of silence.
I really ask everybody to keep in their prayers. We have had some recent shootings out in Minnesota at the uh Annunciation School and a few other locations and let's all say a quick uh little prayer that that slows down and stops at some point.
Thank you. Thank you very much. Can we turn to the pledge of allegiance? I pledge algiance 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.
Would you read the open meeting law? Madam clerk, pursuant to the open meeting law, any person may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium.
Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or transmissions are being made whether perceived or unpersceived by those present and are deemed acknowledged and permissible. Thank you. Uh madam clerk, what's the first item on the agenda?
2025-100, a gift for $7,500 from Copeland Family Foundation to the animal shelter. Motion approved by councel Harris, second by councelor Deana. Uh can we get a roll call vote? Councelor Ash, yes. Councelor Campbell, yes.
Council Divine, yes. Council Debona, yes. Council Harris, yes. Council Yang, yes. Council McCarthy, yes. Council Mitten, eight members. Thank you. Second item. 2025-101, a gift for $10,000 from Copeland Family Foundation to deer.
Motion by councelor Iris, second by councelor Debana. Uh, please call the role. Councelor Ash, yes. Council Campbell, yes. Council Divine, yes. Council Deborna, yes. Council Harris, yes. Council Leang, yes.
Council McCarthy, yes. Council Mitten, yes. Eight members. Thank you. Um, next item is the approval of approval of previous meeting minutes, the 16th of June and July 21st. Could I get a motion? Motion by councelor Harris.
Second by councelor Dana. All those in favor opposing the eyes have it. Thank you. Communications and reports from the mayor and others. City clerk, do you have anything? Yes, I do. Um, a couple of traffic requests to refer to ordinance committee for advertising.
Ward two, councelor Ash, add no parking on the odd side of Oak Street. Ward four, councelor Divine add no parking anytime between 53 and 55 Snowy Road and Nelson Street. Ward four council of divine at handcap parking excuse me at 57 Buckley Street.
We also have um three utility requests to refer to public works committee for scheduling and advertising. Grant of location national grid Verizon West Quantum Street at Allington Street. Grant of location national grid Verizon Federal AD Street.
National grant a location national grid chub street at Washington Street and Ray Crocoft Daff. Thank you. Uh next item is unfinished business and proceeding meetings. Seeing none, reports of committees.
I'm going to go to councel Harris and then we'll have um the finance committee will have a discussion. Thank you. Uh we held a public hearing prior to this evening's council meeting on the following 2025-098 utility granted to location of Verizon Washington Street and Southern Ottery and Beacon Street.
Um a positive recommendation from the public works committee. Motion for approval. Motion by councelor Harris, second by councel Yang. All those in favor the eyes have it. Um that's it. That's it. Yes.
Thank you. Um, finance committee. Uh, councel Yang. Thank you. Vice chair, finance committee. I'd like to just report out that um earlier this evening we had a meeting to discuss 2025-074 order land disposition agreement 1620 Hancock Street.
Positive recommendation out of committee. Okay. Motion uh by councel, second by councelor Divine. Uh all those in favor. Roll call. Sorry. Um roll call. Madame clerk. Councelor Ash. Yes. Councelor Campbell.
Yes. Councelor Divine. Yes. Council Deborah. Yes. Council Harris. Yes. Council Lee Yang. Yes. Council McCathy. Yes. Council Mitten. Yes. Eight members. Thank you. Thank you very much. Um, next item, presentation of petitions.
If I could, I just have um I just switch over to ordinance for a moment. No worries. I have two out of ordinance committee I'd like to move here. I'm I'm Hey, you know, I'm right there with you. All right.
So, out of ordinance committee now 2025-077 for Ward 4, remove handicap parking at 65 Lurton Street. Pause the recommendation out of committee. Motion made by councel Yang. Second by councel Campbell.
All those in favor? I opposed. The eyes have it. Thank you. And then the last one. 2025-097 at W 6 at handicap parking at 301 Billings Street. Pause the recommendation out of committee. Motion made by councel.
Second by councelor Harris. All those in favor. Post. Yeah. Have it. We're good. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Um, next item, presentation of petitions, memorials, and moronses. Council Campbell. Thank you, uh, Mr.
Chairman. Um, and I have someone that, uh, it's been a long summer, so I'm sure we're going to miss some people along the way, but we have a a wait coming up this Wednesday for a very close friend, I think, of the city.
She's lived, uh, in the city for a number of years. She she um, Betsy uh, Daly. She was a Olympia out of um Quincy Point. Had a huge family and just a sweet, sweet lady. She was uh my CCD teacher back in the day and her son Phil and I uh have been best friends since sixth grade and um she was one of those ladies that I really really um enjoyed being around.
She was she was sweet. She worked at Quincy City Hospital uh for a number of years. She graduated 1968 from Quincsey High School and someone that uh I know she adored her children, Kelly, Phil, and um uh the entire family.
They're just absolutely positively u beautiful. They have seven grandchildren. Uh her uh husband predesceased her, but he was someone that I know adored her and someone that I know that's going to be missed uh very very much so.
Um I think I did I mention Kathleen, her sister Kathy. um Katie I should say. Um but they're great great family and people I know that that over the years uh I'm sure you've come across a daily or or a dimpio and if you you have you were pretty lucky because they're about as as good of a a group of people that you're going to meet.
So I want to just send my condolences to the family and wish them all the best. Thank you councelor. Uh check chair recognizes councelor Ash. Thank you Mr. Chair. Um I um I'm saddened to report u the death of uh Mary Bella, 92 um 92 years of age uh most recently lived at a thousand southern artery and had for uh the uh the at least I want to say at least 15 years or so.
But um Mary um her maiden name Bersani was a lifelong resident of Quinsey. She passed on Monday, August 25th at Southshore Hospital in Weimoth. Um she was born in Quinsey. Um she graduated from Boston trade school, became a talented hairdresser.
Um she notably worked at the um hair salon at a thousand southern artery before becoming a tenant um and being very active. She was a friend of my late grandmother. Uh she was a staple in the building.
Um she'll certainly be missed. Um, if any of the folks listening would like to pay their respects, there's a memorial service at Pineh Hill Cemetery on uh Friday, September 12th at 11:30 a.m. Um, so certainly my thoughts and prayers go out to um Mary's children um her her daughter Cheryl um and Bill out of Norfolk.
certainly um thinking of the the Bellachella Persani and Cook family this week. Um on a positive note, I wanted to um congratulate Councelor Divine on finishing his 50-mi uh challenge walk in support of the fight against um MS that he completed last weekend with his daughter Grace down the Cape.
Or actually, it may have been just yesterday you completed it. Got back on Sunday. Got back on Sunday. So, um, he he had a a nice fundraiser in support of that and I love that you guys that you and your daughter do that together in honor of some of your family members.
So, certainly congratulations. Ninth year, ninth year in a row. [Applause] My daughter said one day she wanted to um do a bigger walk. we used to do a 10K. My sister started doing and I said, "Sure, I'll I'll chaperon you." And uh not thinking she'd find one, she came back to me five lay five minutes later and said, "Here, we'll do this one." 50 miles.
I was like, "Oof." But uh I enjoy it and uh we've made a lot of headway. Um, we made uh the group that went out this weekend made $600 and something thousands towards uh the MS society which helps out greatly, but it's more about the awareness and we have people from all over the country walking.
So, thank you for recognizing that. Um, well deserved. Um, and then lastly, happy 80th birthday to Frank Brillo. Uh, Mr. Brillo, as many of you uh know and love, Frank Brillo, he uh turned 80 on September 3rd.
Um he had an 80th birthday party, which I um I was happy to um to attend over the weekend. I will say I did invite myself, but that's okay because I I couldn't resist the chance to get to say happy birthday to Frank.
Um Mr. Brillo um again turned 80 on September 3rd, attended St. Joseph school in Quinsey Point until grade 8. Uh went to the Vietnam War, came back with a Purple Heart. Um has a great great story. um in throughout the city in different roles um in raising his children in Quinsey Point.
Um and and while I will spare um the the lengthy remarks, all very welld deserved, I think um folks would be I would be remiss if I did not mention that Coach Brillo led the Quinsey Point Panthers to a record setting 19 championships.
So that was certainly the highlight. Of course, of course, secondary to the Purple Heart and his amazing family. So, um, I would, uh, you know, certainly happy 80th to Frank and I wanted to recognize that as well.
Thank you. Thank you, councelor. Councelor Dana. Thank you, Mr. Mr. President. Um, just wanted to allude a little bit about the summer and how how nice it was. Uh, want to give kudos to the Quinsey 400 committee.
Um, we had a nice beautiful concert right outside here, Hancock's Adams Common here in the um with the Dropkick Murphy's over the summer. It was a fantastic over I think it was 11,000 folks were out there.
Um kudos to the Quinsey Police Department for doing a really good job. Um kudos to the downtown district department, Mary Kay Hill and the gang. Um and then we floated right over to Veterans Memorial Stadium for the Darius Rucker and the John Fogerty concerts which were um I don't even call them home runs, I call them grand slams.
Folks were leaving the concerts going, "Are we going to do this next year?" Um that was the sentiment out there. Kudos to the Quincy 400 committee, Mayor Ko, um park department, um Dave Murphy and the gang.
Um and then Hancock Adams Common right outside here with Chavarez and all the the concerts and events that we were able to enjoy all throughout the summer. Then you go down to Pageant Field and you got the Ruth Gordon Amphitheater.
Kudos to the friends of the Ruth Gordon Amphitheater. It was beautiful, beautiful concerts with thousands upon thousands of people um enjoying their Friday nights. We had a rain out on a Friday night over Labor Day and they came back on Sunday and uh I couldn't believe how many folks were out there enjoying themselves, families, seniors, um just it's just enjoying it.
And um the Wednesdays at Wallist Beach were also a nice one nice Wednesdays um over at the beach. I know like some of my colleagues have um attended these events. I mean where we've come tonight to where we've been over the last 10 years has been unbelievable.
Um we have to kind of um you know not only Mayor Ko and his administration, but we have to take a little bit of credit for that as a council. Um a lot of these things are flourishing um because we're moving the city forward in the right direction and uh we got to keep it going.
So, um I just want to say kudos to everybody involved with with these beautiful events that we had over the summer for everybody to enjoy and hopefully um Quincsey 400 will continue to do things stuff through the end of the year.
Um but just wanted to allude that it was it was a nice sentiment out there. People were really congratulating us that we were actually doing these activities that we had never done before. So, we opened the doorway up for a new avenue.
Um Quinsey is going in the right direction. Thank you. Thanks, councelor. It was a nice summer. Um, councelor Divine, just wanted to add to uh No's um comments there. Uh, great job. Uh, thank you for doing that.
But I wanted to include our traffic department. They were hugely implemental to all of that and it went pretty seamlessly because we have a an amazing traffic department, too. Um, so thank you. Thank you, councel.
Thank you. Uh, next item is motions, orders, and resolution. Seeing none. Uh, scheduling committee meetings and public hearings. Monday, September 15th, city council 6:30. Monday, October 6, city council 6:30.