City Council
City Council
Mon, February 2, 2026
Agenda items
Vote records
Discussion summary
Transcript
Meeting summaryAI-generated
City Council — February 2, 2026
This was a regular City Council meeting with all nine members present. The session was notable for its first formal public open forum and a series of orders seeking to repeal salary increases passed by the previous council. A procedural dispute over the application of Rule 23B, which had disrupted the previous meeting, also generated discussion and a successful motion to amend the prior meeting's minutes.
Residents Open Forum and Public Comment
Council President Mahoney opened the meeting's first public comment period, explaining the ground rules: speakers sign in at the podium, provide name and address, speak for up to three minutes, and may not yield time to others. The council would listen but not engage in back-and-forth dialogue during the forum.
Before public comment began, Councillor DiBona clarified for the record that his objections at the previous meeting were not opposition to public participation itself, but a request for clearer procedural guidelines — a point he said he had communicated to the press at the time.
Seven residents spoke:
Hank Dondero (65 Manantum Street), a lifelong 80-year-old resident, raised concerns about the "nastiness" dividing the city over issues like statues and raises. He objected to a cap on speakers, arguing that if 30 people want to be heard, all 30 should be heard regardless of time.
Joe Herosy (Jackson Street) spoke in favor of repealing the mayor's and council's raises, calling them passed "without any real public mandate." He called on the new council to form a citizens' commission of working-class residents to collect grievances around housing affordability, displacement of longtime residents, and homelessness.
Veronica Bertrand (195 Copeland Street), a retired letter carrier and 54-year Ward 4 resident, delivered a lengthy critique of the current mayor, citing the city's $1.6 billion debt, increased property taxes, the mayor's comments connecting the Catholic Church abuse scandal to homosexuality, and the process used to justify a proposed 79% mayoral raise. She was cut off slightly past the three-minute mark.
Kathy Thron (234 Ever Street, Wollaston) expressed broad support for the new council's agenda, including transparency measures, fiscal responsibility, and the repeal of raises. She urged the council to move the city auditor strengthening ordinance quickly given the upcoming budget season, and asked for clearer written procedures around Rule 23B. She also called for a published committee meeting schedule, noting the council has roughly 20 meetings left in its term.
Joanne Collins (88 Hillside Avenue, Wollaston), a lifelong Quincy resident, simply thanked the council for allowing public comment, calling it essential for transparency and accountability.
Jocelyn Sedney (85 Monroe Road) raised a specific financial concern about Quarry Hills Golf Course lease payments to the city. She said her review of quarterly reports showed that in 2023, despite golf course revenues exceeding $6 million and clubhouse revenues exceeding $18 million, the city received only $128,719 in the fourth quarter — because Quarry Hills deducted first, second, and third quarter rent payments already made, effectively crediting itself. She said she found no lease provision permitting this, saw the same pattern going back to 2020, and never received a response after emailing city officials. She distributed copies of the relevant documents to the council.
William Ferrell (43 Corey Street) and Bill Sama (46 Children's Circle) both thanked the council for public comment and spoke in favor of repealing the raises. Sama also commented on the Rule 23B dispute, agreeing with President Mahoney's interpretation that it applies only when a measure is being passed through all stages in a single session.
Stuart Row (53 Woodbine Street, Wollaston) focused on snow removal, specifically the inadequate clearing of sidewalks and crosswalks. He made four specific requests: update the city website's snow removal request form to include sidewalks and crosswalks; increase enforcement of clearing requirements for businesses; publish a publicly accessible map clarifying which entity — city, private landlord, commercial property owner, or MBTA — is responsible for each sidewalk segment; and expand the number of sidewalks the city clears directly.
Order 2026-008 — Establishing Public Participation Procedures for City Council Meetings
President Mahoney introduced this order to codify the public comment format — sign-in, name, three-minute limit, no time transfers, respectful conduct — into the council's permanent rules. Councillor DiBona thanked the sponsors for putting the procedures in writing.
Vote: Motion by Councillor Riley to refer to the Rules Committee; seconded by Councillor Ryan. Passed unanimously (voice vote, no objections).
Orders 2026-013, 2026-014, and 2026-015 — Repeal of Mayor's Raise, Council's Raise, and Annual Raises for Elected Officials
These three orders, sponsored primarily by Councillors McKee, Jacobs, Mahoney, Riley, Ryan, and Yuan, seek to repeal ordinances passed by the previous council in 2024 that significantly increased salaries for the mayor and city councillors and established annual escalators.
Councillor McKee explained that the prior raises were passed without a single public hearing or review of comparable salaries elsewhere — a process failure that motivated several of the new councillors to run for office. She said the goal is to redo the process transparently and restore public trust.
Councillor Yuan addressed a likely public question: why does the council repeal not take effect until the 2028 council term? He cited both Massachusetts General Law (Chapter 43, Section 17A) and the Quincy City Charter, which prohibit salary changes from taking effect during the term in which they are voted. He noted that several councillors, including himself, have decided to donate their portion of the raise to nonprofit organizations — a commitment he said they made during the campaign.
Councillor DiBona, who had objected to earlier versions of these orders at the prior meeting, thanked Councillor McKee for rewriting them with more legal grounding, including references to conflict-of-interest and ethics standards. He explained that his prior objections were based on concerns that the original language could have inadvertently reduced salaries to zero.
All three orders were referred to the Ordinance Committee. Companion ordinances (2026-029, 2026-030, 2026-031) covering the same subject in ordinance form, as well as Order 2026-016 directing the city solicitor to answer questions about raise deferments, were also referred to the Ordinance Committee.
Votes: All referred to Ordinance Committee; all passed unanimously (voice votes).
Order 2026-032 — Disclosure of Tenancies, Lease Terms, and Financials of the Monroe Building
Introduced by President Mahoney with co-sponsors McKee, Ryan, Riley, and Yuan, this order directs the city's Chief Financial Officer, city solicitor, and relevant departments to produce a written report within 30 days on the Monroe Building (1227–1259 Hancock Street), which the city purchased in 2021 for municipal and institutional use. The report must detail all tenants, uses, square footage, lease terms, rent received, operating costs, vacancies, and net fiscal impact — with all non-exempt records made publicly available. The order was referred to the Oversight Committee.
Vote: Motion by Councillor Ryan; seconded by Councillor Yuan. Passed unanimously.
Order 2026-033 — Review of Short-Term Rental Regulations
Introduced by Councillor Riley, this resolve calls for a review of the city's short-term rental policies, including both supporting residents trying to comply and addressing ongoing violators. Riley noted the city recently prevailed in Superior Court against a repeat offender. Referred to the Oversight Committee.
Vote: Motion by Riley; seconded by Councillor Yuan. Passed unanimously.
Order 2026-034 — Dignified Disclosure and Productive Communication in Public Meetings
Introduced by Councillor Riley, this resolve references the "Dignity Index" framework introduced by Timothy Shriver at the Massachusetts Municipal Association conference. Riley noted she has since obtained copyright permission to reference the framework more specifically. Referred to the Community Engagement Committee.
Vote: Motion by Riley; seconded by Councillor Ash. Passed unanimously.
Resolution 2026-035 — Urging Passage of House Bill 91 and Senate Bill 2556 on Community Media Funding
Introduced by Councillor Hubley, this resolution urges the state legislature to pass bills that would modernize funding for community media organizations like QAV (Quincy Access Television) by requiring streaming platforms to contribute to local public access funding, not just traditional cable companies. Hubley noted he worked in cable television starting in 1987 and consulted QAV Executive Director Jonathan Calleri before filing. President Mahoney encouraged residents to write their own letters to state legislators in support.
Vote: Roll call. All nine members voted yes. Passed 9–0.
Order 2026-036 — Review of Residents' Interactions with City Hall and Online Municipal Services
Introduced by Councillor Hubley, this resolve asks department heads to identify the most common reasons residents contact or visit City Hall in person and assess how many of those interactions could be handled online. The intent is to expand digital service options while preserving in-person service for those who need it. Referred to the Municipal Technology Committee.
Vote: Motion by Hubley; seconded by Councillor Ryan. Passed unanimously.
Order 2026-037 — Briefing on January 24–27 Winter Storm Response
Introduced by Councillor Jacobs, this resolve requests a presentation to the Oversight Committee by the DPW Commissioner, Superintendent of Public Works, and Director of Emergency Management regarding the city's response to the recent snowstorm. At Councillor McKee's suggestion, the scope was expanded by friendly amendment to also include the Code Enforcement Officer (given complaints about businesses not clearing sidewalks) and Elder Services Director Michelle Hanley (regarding a program to use high school community service hours to help homeowners unable to clear their own sidewalks). Referred to the Oversight Committee for the February 23rd meeting.
Vote: Motion by Jacobs; seconded by Councillor Ryan. Passed unanimously with friendly amendments.
Approval of January 20, 2026 Minutes — with Amendment
Councillor Yuan moved to amend the January 20th minutes before approval, arguing that the minutes as written did not adequately reflect that the applicability of Rule 23B had been actively contested and that the city clerk, acting as parliamentarian, issued a ruling allowing the objections to stand — a ruling that directly determined how several agenda items were handled. Yuan proposed adding language explicitly recording that she contested the rule and that the clerk ruled the objections would stand. Councillor Jacobs seconded.
Vote on amendment: Roll call. All nine members voted yes. Amendment adopted 9–0.
Vote to approve minutes as amended: Motion by Councillor DiBona; seconded by Councillor Ryan. Passed unanimously.
Committee Meeting Scheduling
The council scheduled the following committee meetings for February 23, 2026:
Public Utilities Committee at 6:00 p.m.
Rules Committee and Ordinance Committee at 6:30 p.m.
Oversight Committee at 7:00 p.m.
Regular Council Meeting at 7:30 p.m.
Memorials and New Business
Councillor Ryan remembered Andrew Smeen, 56, of Squantum, who died unexpectedly on Sunday. A Liverpool native who had lived in Quincy for 23 years, he is survived by his wife Jackie and seven children, four of whom attend Quincy public schools. A fundraising effort is available through Sweeney Brothers Funeral Home.
President Mahoney remembered Mary "Terry" Pesvich, who passed away January 21, 2026, at age 95. A longtime Quincy resident and devoted parishioner of Sacred Heart Parish, she was the mother of former Councillor Susan O'Connor. Councillors DiBona and Jacobs also offered remembrances.
Councillor Ryan noted that a new coffee shop will open at 279 Willard Street in Ward 4 in mid-February, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the mayor and the Chamber of Commerce.
Key Takeaways
Public comment is back: For the first time in years, residents were able to address the council directly. The council voted to codify formal public participation procedures into the council rules, with a Rules Committee hearing scheduled for February 23rd.
Salary repeal process is underway: Six separate orders and ordinances seeking to repeal the 2024 raises for the mayor and city council have been referred to the Ordinance Committee. State law and the city charter prevent any change from taking effect until 2028 at the earliest; several councillors have pledged to donate their raise share to nonprofits in the interim.
Monroe Building and Quarry Hills transparency: The council ordered a 30-day financial disclosure report on the city-owned Monroe Building. A resident's public testimony about unexplained deductions in Quarry Hills lease payments — potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of dollars over several years — puts that issue on the council's radar.
Rule 23B dispute formally recorded: The council unanimously amended the prior meeting's minutes to reflect that the city clerk ruled on a contested procedural challenge to Rule 23B, creating a clearer public record of what occurred.
QAV funding legislation: The council unanimously passed a resolution urging the state legislature to modernize community media funding so that streaming platforms, not just cable companies, contribute to local public access television operations.
AI-generated summary from voice-to-text transcript. Not the official record. Verify important details with the source documents linked above.
What happened at this meeting
Residents Open Forum and Public Comment President Mahoney
# Summary: Residents Open Forum and Public Comment with President Mahoney
President Mahoney opened the Residents Open Forum and established ground rules requiring speakers to sign in with their name and address, speak for a maximum of three minutes without transferring time, keep comments respectful, and limit total public comment time to approximately 20 minutes. Councillor Davono expressed support for public participation while advocating for clear procedural guidelines. Multiple residents voiced concerns including Don Dondero's criticism of recent divisiveness over statues and pay raises, Joe Hersey and William Ferrell's calls to rescind mayoral and council salary increases, Veronica Bertrand's concerns about the city's $1.6 billion debt, Jocelyn Setney's detailed documentation of improper Corey Hills Golf Course rent deductions, and Stuart Row's specific requests to improve sidewalk snow removal policies. Other speakers, including Kathy Thron and Joanne Collins, supported transparency ordinances and praised the council for enabling public participation as an accountability mechanism.
President Mahoney opened the Residents Open Forum and established ground rules requiring speakers to sign in with their name and address, speak for a maximum of three minutes without transferring time, keep comments respectful, and limit total public comment time to approximately 20 minutes. Councillor Davono expressed support for public participation while advocating for clear procedural guidelines. Multiple residents voiced concerns including Don Dondero's criticism of recent divisiveness over statues and pay raises, Joe Hersey and William Ferrell's calls to rescind mayoral and council salary increases, Veronica Bertrand's concerns about the city's $1.6 billion debt, Jocelyn Setney's detailed documentation of improper Corey Hills Golf Course rent deductions, and Stuart Row's specific requests to improve sidewalk snow removal policies. Other speakers, including Kathy Thron and Joanne Collins, supported transparency ordinances and praised the council for enabling public participation as an accountability mechanism.
2026-008 – Order Amending Council Rules – Establishing Public Participation Councillor Mahoney Procedures for City Council Meetings Councillor Ash Councillor Hubley Councillor Jacobs Councillor McKee Councillor Riley Councillor Ryan C ouncillor Yuan
# Summary: 2026-008 – Order Amending Council Rules – Establishing Public Participation
Council President Mahoney introduced Order 2026-008 to amend council rules and establish permanent public participation procedures for City Council meetings, which would codify the existing open forum process into the rules book. The formalized procedures include signing in with name and information, speaking for three minutes on the record, not transferring speaking time, and maintaining respectful conduct. Councillor Davono indicated his plan to vote in favor and requested clear procedural guidelines for the meeting, while Speaker Kathy Thron expressed strong support, citing the importance of transparency and improved public access to information. Councillor Deon thanked the sponsors for documenting procedures that were previously not formalized in the rules book. Councillor Riley moved to refer the order to the Rules Committee, which was seconded by Councillor Ryan and passed unanimously.
Council President Mahoney introduced Order 2026-008 to amend council rules and establish permanent public participation procedures for City Council meetings, which would codify the existing open forum process into the rules book. The formalized procedures include signing in with name and information, speaking for three minutes on the record, not transferring speaking time, and maintaining respectful conduct. Councillor Davono indicated his plan to vote in favor and requested clear procedural guidelines for the meeting, while Speaker Kathy Thron expressed strong support, citing the importance of transparency and improved public access to information. Councillor Deon thanked the sponsors for documenting procedures that were previously not formalized in the rules book. Councillor Riley moved to refer the order to the Rules Committee, which was seconded by Councillor Ryan and passed unanimously.
2026-013 – Order – Repeal of Mayors Raise (Ordinance# 2024-055) Councillor McKee Councillor Jacobs Councillor Mahoney Councillor Riley Councillor Ryan C ouncillor Yuan
# Summary: Order 2026-013 – Repeal of Mayor's Raise
Councillor McKee introduced Order 2026-013 to repeal the Mayor's raise from Ordinance 2024-055, which a public commenter characterized as inappropriate—noting the proposed 79% raise would make the mayor the highest paid in the United States and was preceded by a $10,000 consultant analysis commissioned before the 2023 election. McKee explained that the previous council passed raises without public hearings or review of comparable positions, eroding public trust, and moved to refer the order to the Ordinance Committee to establish a more transparent, data-centered process for future political compensation. Speaker Kathy Thron supported repealing the raise but advocated for establishing an appropriate formal process for future mayoral compensation adjustments, recognizing that the position does deserve raises when handled through proper channels. McKee subsequently rewrote the order after receiving legal advice clarifying that salary changes cannot occur in the same term they were established. The motion to refer to the Ordinance Committee passed unanimously by roll call vote.
Councillor McKee introduced Order 2026-013 to repeal the Mayor's raise from Ordinance 2024-055, which a public commenter characterized as inappropriate—noting the proposed 79% raise would make the mayor the highest paid in the United States and was preceded by a $10,000 consultant analysis commissioned before the 2023 election. McKee explained that the previous council passed raises without public hearings or review of comparable positions, eroding public trust, and moved to refer the order to the Ordinance Committee to establish a more transparent, data-centered process for future political compensation. Speaker Kathy Thron supported repealing the raise but advocated for establishing an appropriate formal process for future mayoral compensation adjustments, recognizing that the position does deserve raises when handled through proper channels. McKee subsequently rewrote the order after receiving legal advice clarifying that salary changes cannot occur in the same term they were established. The motion to refer to the Ordinance Committee passed unanimously by roll call vote.
2026-014 – Order - Repeal of Council’s Raise (Ordinance 2024-056) Councillor McKee Councillor Jacobs Councillor Mahoney Councillor Riley Councillor Ryan C ouncillor Yuan
# Summary: 2026-014 – Order - Repeal of Council's Raise (Ordinance 2024-056)
Councillor McKee presented an order to repeal the Council's raise (Ordinance 2024-056) and explained that Massachusetts General Law Chapter 43 Section 17A and Quincy City Charter prohibit salary changes from taking effect during the term in which they are voted, which is why the repeal only takes effect at the beginning of 2028 rather than immediately. Speaker Kathy Thron expressed support for repealing the raises, stating she is "in favor of repealing the raises," and advocated for developing an appropriate process for providing raises to city council positions in the future. McKee noted that several councillors, including himself, have decided to donate their portion of the raise to nonprofit organizations. The motion to refer to ordinance committee was seconded by Council Riley and passed.
Councillor McKee presented an order to repeal the Council's raise (Ordinance 2024-056) and explained that Massachusetts General Law Chapter 43 Section 17A and Quincy City Charter prohibit salary changes from taking effect during the term in which they are voted, which is why the repeal only takes effect at the beginning of 2028 rather than immediately. Speaker Kathy Thron expressed support for repealing the raises, stating she is "in favor of repealing the raises," and advocated for developing an appropriate process for providing raises to city council positions in the future. McKee noted that several councillors, including himself, have decided to donate their portion of the raise to nonprofit organizations. The motion to refer to ordinance committee was seconded by Council Riley and passed.
2026-015 – Order – Repeal Annual Raises for Elected Officials (Ordinance CO# Councillor McKee 2024-090) Councillor Jacobs Councillor Mahoney Councillor Riley Councillor Ryan
Councillor McKee moved to refer Order 2026-015 (repeal of annual raises for elected officials, Ordinance 2024-090) to the ordinance committee for discussion. The motion was seconded by Councillor Ryan and passed unanimously.
Agenda items (5)
Procedural (1)
1ProceduralResidents Open Forum and Public Comment President Mahoney
Members of the public are invited to speak during this open forum period to address the city council with comments or concerns about any topic.
What happened
# Summary: Residents Open Forum and Public Comment with President MahoneyPresident Mahoney opened the Residents Open Forum and established ground rules requiring speakers to sign in with their name and address, speak for a maximum of three minutes without transferring time, keep comments respectful, and limit total public comment time to approximately 20 minutes. Councillor Davono expressed support for public participation while advocating for clear procedural guidelines. Multiple residents voiced concerns including Don Dondero's criticism of recent divisiveness over statues and pay raises, Joe Hersey and William Ferrell's calls to rescind mayoral and council salary increases, Veronica Bertrand's concerns about the city's $1.6 billion debt, Jocelyn Setney's detailed documentation of improper Corey Hills Golf Course rent deductions, and Stuart Row's specific requests to improve sidewalk snow removal policies. Other speakers, including Kathy Thron and Joanne Collins, supported transparency ordinances and praised the council for enabling public participation as an accountability mechanism.
Order
2Order2026-008 – Order Amending Council Rules – Establishing Public Participation Councillor Mahoney Procedures for City Council Meetings Councillor Ash Councillor Hubley Councillor Jacobs Councillor McKee Councillor Riley Councillor Ryan C ouncillor Yuan
The council is proposing to change its own meeting rules to establish new procedures for how residents can participate and speak during city council meetings.
What happened
# Summary: 2026-008 – Order Amending Council Rules – Establishing Public ParticipationCouncil President Mahoney introduced Order 2026-008 to amend council rules and establish permanent public participation procedures for City Council meetings, which would codify the existing open forum process into the rules book. The formalized procedures include signing in with name and information, speaking for three minutes on the record, not transferring speaking time, and maintaining respectful conduct. Councillor Davono indicated his plan to vote in favor and requested clear procedural guidelines for the meeting, while Speaker Kathy Thron expressed strong support, citing the importance of transparency and improved public access to information. Councillor Deon thanked the sponsors for documenting procedures that were previously not formalized in the rules book. Councillor Riley moved to refer the order to the Rules Committee, which was seconded by Councillor Ryan and passed unanimously.
3Order2026-013 – Order – Repeal of Mayors Raise (Ordinance# 2024-055) Councillor McKee Councillor Jacobs Councillor Mahoney Councillor Riley Councillor Ryan C ouncillor Yuan
This proposal would cancel a 2024 pay raise that was given to the mayor, reversing a previous decision.
What happened
# Summary: Order 2026-013 – Repeal of Mayor's RaiseCouncillor McKee introduced Order 2026-013 to repeal the Mayor's raise from Ordinance 2024-055, which a public commenter characterized as inappropriate—noting the proposed 79% raise would make the mayor the highest paid in the United States and was preceded by a $10,000 consultant analysis commissioned before the 2023 election. McKee explained that the previous council passed raises without public hearings or review of comparable positions, eroding public trust, and moved to refer the order to the Ordinance Committee to establish a more transparent, data-centered process for future political compensation. Speaker Kathy Thron supported repealing the raise but advocated for establishing an appropriate formal process for future mayoral compensation adjustments, recognizing that the position does deserve raises when handled through proper channels. McKee subsequently rewrote the order after receiving legal advice clarifying that salary changes cannot occur in the same term they were established. The motion to refer to the Ordinance Committee passed unanimously by roll call vote.
4Order2026-014 – Order - Repeal of Council’s Raise (Ordinance 2024-056) Councillor McKee Councillor Jacobs Councillor Mahoney Councillor Riley Councillor Ryan C ouncillor Yuan
This proposal would cancel a 2024 pay raise that was given to city council members, reversing a previous decision.
What happened
# Summary: 2026-014 – Order - Repeal of Council's Raise (Ordinance 2024-056)Councillor McKee presented an order to repeal the Council's raise (Ordinance 2024-056) and explained that Massachusetts General Law Chapter 43 Section 17A and Quincy City Charter prohibit salary changes from taking effect during the term in which they are voted, which is why the repeal only takes effect at the beginning of 2028 rather than immediately. Speaker Kathy Thron expressed support for repealing the raises, stating she is "in favor of repealing the raises," and advocated for developing an appropriate process for providing raises to city council positions in the future. McKee noted that several councillors, including himself, have decided to donate their portion of the raise to nonprofit organizations. The motion to refer to ordinance committee was seconded by Council Riley and passed.
5Order2026-015 – Order – Repeal Annual Raises for Elected Officials (Ordinance CO# Councillor McKee 2024-090) Councillor Jacobs Councillor Mahoney Councillor Riley Councillor Ryan
This proposal would cancel automatic annual pay raises for all elected officials in Quincy that were approved in 2024.
What happened
Councillor McKee moved to refer Order 2026-015 (repeal of annual raises for elected officials, Ordinance 2024-090) to the ordinance committee for discussion. The motion was seconded by Councillor Ryan and passed unanimously.Additional votes recorded in minutes
Refer order amending council rules establishing public participation procedures to rules committee
aye 1
voice voteaye
Refer order appeal of mayor's raise ordinance 2024-055 to ordinance committee
aye 1
voice voteaye
Refer order repeal of council's raises ordinance 2024-056 to ordinance committee
aye 1
voice voteaye
Refer order repeal annual raises for elected officials ordinance 2024-090 to ordinance committee
aye 1
voice voteaye
Refer order to have city solicitor answer questions regarding raise deferments to ordinance committee
aye 1
voice voteaye
Refer ordinance for repeal of mayor's raise 2024-055 to ordinance committee
aye 1
voice voteaye
Refer ordinance repeal of council's raises 2024-056 to ordinance committee
aye 1
voice voteaye
Refer ordinance repeal annual raises for elected officials 2024-090 to ordinance committee
aye 1
voice voteaye
Refer order requiring disclosure of tenancies, lease terms, and financials of Monroe building to oversight committee
aye 1
voice voteaye
Refer resolve review of short-term rental regulations to oversight committee
aye 1
voice voteaye
Refer resolution on dignified disclosure and productive communication to community engagement committee
aye 1
voice voteaye
Adopt resolution urging passage of Massachusetts House Bill 91 and Senate Bill 2556 to modernize funding for community media programming
aye 9
Anne Mahoneyaye
David Jacobsaye
Deborah Rileyaye
Maggie McKeeaye
Noel DiBonaaye
Richard Ashaye
Virginia Ryanaye
Walter Hubleyaye
Ziqiang Yuanaye
Refer resolve requesting comprehensive briefing on city's response to January 2026 winter storm to oversight committee
aye 1
voice voteaye
Refer resolve ordering review of residents interactions with city hall and online municipal services to municipal tech committee
aye 1
voice voteaye
Amend minutes of January 20, 2026 to reflect contested rule 23B procedure ruling
aye 9
Anne Mahoneyaye
David Jacobsaye
Deborah Rileyaye
Maggie McKeeaye
Noel DiBonaaye
Richard Ashaye
Virginia Ryanaye
Walter Hubleyaye
Ziqiang Yuanaye
Approve minutes of January 20, 2026 as amended
aye 1
voice voteaye
Motion to adjourn
aye 1
voice voteaye
Verbatim transcript available
226 transcript segments indexed
going to call the um the February 2nd, 2026 city council meeting to order. Um calling the role of the members by city clerk. Councelor Ash, present. Councelor Dubana, present. Councelor Hubley, present.
Councelor Jacobs, present. Councelor McKe, present. Councelor Riley, present. Councelor Ryan, present. Councelor Yen, President Mahoney, present. Nine members, you have a quum. If we could all just take a moment of silence.
And if we could stand and please 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. 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. Um at this portion we're going to be opening um up an open forum but before we do I know that um councelor Davono wanted to say a few words and then we'll come back for the rules for opening them up.
Thank you Madam President. I really appreciate it. Uh, I just want to publicly say to everyone out here, um, this was given to, uh, a text message to, uh, the Patriot Ledger, Peter Bandino, as well as email to the Quinsey son, as well as text message to Joe Catalano on QAV AM Quinsey.
Um, a few days, it was a two days after um, the last meeting on Tuesday um, this 13 days ago today. And this is what I wrote. I'm not against public participation or input. In fact, I plan to vote in favor of it.
However, I believe we need clear guidelines regarding the procedures for the public open forum. I need more time to review review those details and the matter will be discussed at the next meeting which is here tonight.
So, I'll let the papers know that. Um, I want to thank the Quinsey Sun for writing it in theirs. I want to thank Joe Catalano on QAV AM um Quinsey on QAV. He had spoken about it P2B. He did not write it in his article.
So, a lot of the public does not know that. So, I also um madam madame president uh Mahoney as well as councelor McGee had gotten the same information. So, just want to let everybody know out there on the public participation.
I objected to it last time 13 days ago. Not against it. I just needed some clear guidelines to the procedural input of what we do up here tonight. So, um, with that, I want to thank Madame President Mahoney for letting me speak beforehand, and I'd like to, uh, thank the public for giving me the opportunity to speak about it tonight.
So, as for the other ones, we'll talk about that when we get to them. Thank you. All right. Thank you very much, Council Dona. Council, I have a couple. Yes, Madame President, to ensure this meeting is conducted in an orderly and a consistent manner, it's important that all councilors have a shared understanding of our rules.
To date, we have not received a clear interpretation from the city clerk regarding rule 23B concerning objection, which was heavily used by one counselor and contested by another counselor at the last meeting.
for counselors to follow the rules properly and for the public to understand our process clarifying this interpretation is essential to transparency and orderly proceedings. So madame president through you to madame clerk the parliamentarian is it correct that rule 23b regarding objection applies only when a measure is being passed through all stages of legislation in a single session and does not apply to normal procedures such as referral to committee or discussion.
Yes or no? No. Madame President and through you, Madame's uh committee clerk, could you note down the uh exchange of this fully in the meeting minute as a record? Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. So, moving on, Madam President.
Yes. May I explain? Yes. Thank you. Um, councelor Yen, if somebody objects to something coming out, it there is no deliberation. It stops immediately and that measure gets pushed to the next agenda. That's an objection to whatever counselors want to object.
There is supposed to be no talk of it after the objection and then it goes to the next agenda. So, thank you. I'm actually going to interrupt now as the as the council president I I I'm going to stop because this is not on the this is not on our um agenda and it's not for open forum.
Um however I will say that for item number 23 when it's being voted on in the same night that's where the objection does count. It was going into committee so the objection wouldn't be able to stand further going forward.
So moving on residents for open forum and public comment. Um first of all I want to welcome everybody who's here this evening and we are going to have open forum. Se several of you have already signed up.
There is a signup sheet at the at the the podium out here, but we'll be calling them in order as we've gone. Um so we're asking people to sign in at the podium providing your name, address if you're a Quinsey resident, and um the reason if you have a reason for being here tonight.
When you're speaking, we're going to ask you to spell your name. Um just for the record, because sometimes we don't get the full spelling of the name. Each speaker will have three minutes and you cannot give your time to someone else.
The total public comment will be about 20 minutes. If we have more people tonight, we will extend it, but we won't be extending it for two hours. Um, we're going to ask you to keep your comments respectful and then we're also going to ask the council let you know that the council will listen attentively to the people who are speaking to us, but we cannot engage in a back and forth conversation during this time.
So, I thank you all for joining us this evening and I look forward to hearing your comments. And the first person after um this person signs in will be Hank Dondura. Good evening. My name is Hank Dondo.
D O N D E R O 65 man and a half Quinzy obviously. Uh first thing I would like to do is congratulate all the new counselors on getting elected. I mean that sincerely. However, I think what has taken place is that it was uh an election that exploited out a low voter turnout with uh significant input to absentee ballots uh right in ballots and also uh early voting.
Uh that's that's a comment. I have no grounds for or basis for it, but that's the beginning of it. Uh you're going to have to excuse me. Uh I'm a little bit older. I have to uh write notes down and do things like that.
Uh I'm 80 years old, lived in the city all my life. Uh property that we live on uh has been in the family for 100 years. Okay? So I'm not a uh person that's just recently shown up on the scene. Uh my credentials, those are my credentials.
I am a taxpayer as everyone likes to state. Uh what's really bothering me is the vitrial and the uh uh bottom line nastiness that's gone on over the last two years regarding statues, regarding payraises.
Uh you know, it it's just created some major issues not only with individuals but dividing the city. We see this in a national level, we see it in the state level, and now we're seeing it on the city level.
And I'll tell you something, you can win the Super Bowl one year, but you sure as hell better be able to win it again the next year because there's going to be a lot more competition. Uh there was a recent incident where uh someone injected themselves, actual counselor injected themselves into a situation that shouldn't have taken place.
Uh my comment on that is stay in your own lane. Simple as that. you know, there's going to be a situation where what's evolving is there's going to be one of these competitions where there's going to be a lot of people getting wet.
And uh I don't mean that for joke or anything else. Uh I do have a number of different things to say, but uh you know, without knowing what we have for time left because there's no uh timer up there, which there should be.
Uh Madame uh uh uh Madame President. Oh. Oh. All right. Madame President is in charge. So, uh, we're gonna have to trust you. Okay. I don't have any problems with that, but I'd like to see a timer. Uh, I'm going to cut this short.
Uh, just a comment about this uh, open forum with a limited number of speakers that's going to be instituted. You're going to have a seven speakers with three minutes each, ultimately 21 minutes. It's supposed to be an open forum.
you know, you're going to curtail uh people's ability to speak. Number one. Number two, uh if there are 30 people here that want to be heard, 30 people should be heard. Shouldn't matter how late in the night this whole process takes.
That's your job. That's our job as constituents to make you aware of what's going on and what the situation is. And with that, I'm going to conclude. Hi, N. Good job, buddy. Thank you. Bye. So, now we have um Joe Hershey is next.
Joe Heresy, Jackson Street. Uh H E R O S Y. I'd like to speak in favor of rescending the raises for the mayor and city council. These raises were passed without any real public mandate or democratic process.
The organized opposition to these raises shows that people in Quinsey are ready for serious changes in our government. I'm hopeful in that the days of sitting quietly in city council while politicians talk down to the people who live here are over.
Shutting down a huge raise to the ruling class of Quinsey is a big step in that direction. I'm also hopeful that this opening will help us address the needs and rights of workingclass families in Quinsey around the costs of housing.
City government has largely been organized around real estate deals that have increased the number of housing units while rents and property taxes for residents have gone way up. How many longtime working Quinsey families have been pushed out by their landlords seeking to get higher paying tenants or sweet deals from developers?
How many small businesses have been forced out? How many seniors have been forced to sell their homes due to property tax bills that are higher than social security payments? How many people from Quinsey have ended up homeless just so outside interests can interest increase their capital gains?
Further discussion, public input, and the cooperation of city officials who have access to the needed information will help answer these questions. We can make sure that working people of Quinsey are able to stay here.
I say the new city council should form a citizens commission of workingclass people that can collect our grievances so that the city can better respond to them. Let's unite in solidarity on these issues that affect us all.
Thank you. So the next one we have is Veronica Bertrand. Good evening. My name is Veronica Bertrand. It's Ber T R A N D as in David, 195 Copeland Street. I am a lifelong resident of Quinsey, having lived in Ward 4 for 54 of my 67 years.
I am married to Susan Cullen. Our daughter attends North Quinsey High School. I'm a retired letter carrier, spending the last 16 years of my career in the North Quinsey post office. My spouse and I are homeowners, taxpayers, citizens who deserve to be heard with our concerns and disappointments of our city leaders in government.
So, I wrote this uh before the last election. I was not allowed to present it to the city council because even though tonight is scheduled to be 20 minutes, it's 20 minutes longer than we ever had in the last two years to speak to the city council.
This last year has been particularly hard to bear. especially the following. Our debt has grown to $1.6 billion. That's $16,000 each of the 100,000 people living in the city, including children and others who do not pay property taxes.
Real estate taxes have increased for many. Hidden projects announced after having been decided and paid for without taxes, such as saint statues. the mayor's rewriting of history with his callous and disp disp excuse me despicable remarks regarding regarding concerning pedophilia in the LGBT community going as far to say that the Catholic arch dasis of Boston's abuse scandal was mostly a homosexual issue and disparaging teachers and coaches by saying they have a higher percentage rate than the church never mind that there are nearly 35 times as many teachers as priests in the United States and se in in the 70s there were 100 times as many teachers as priests today.
He made a half-hearted apology to the Quinsey teachers, indicating that he never meant to disparrage anyone, but also added comments indicating that only 4% of the church case was pedophilia and 80% was same-sex postpuberty attraction.
That statement completely trivializes the the suffering of hundreds of teenage boys who were impacted, insinuating that they chose sexual relationships with their priests, those who were charged with administering administering sacraments, leading the congregation in worship, being spiritual advisors and promoting the teachers of Jesus Christ further had taken a vow abs of abstinence.
This is simply repulsive. While the last year has been especially egregious, unfortunately, the mayor has pushed boundaries before relative to racism, homophobia, misogyny, and questionable financial issues along with a variety of remarks, including the following.
Buying several pro properties, including many, by imminent domain, at one price, and then selling them to developers for less. conveniently hiring a firm just a few months before the 2023 mayor election to analyze the mayor's pay and paying them $10,000 to do so when a Google search or a few phone calls would have found the same the same information and ultimately proposing a 79% raise for himself that would make him the highest paid mayor in the United States.
Let me say that again. The highest paid mayor in the United States. Veronica, you're coming up on the three minutes. You've actually passed the three minutes. Pass the three minutes. Pass the three minutes.
Okay. All right. So, can I just say that I want to congratulate the new council and I'm looking forward to changes in all these matters. Thank you. Thank you. So, the next person I have on the list is Kathy Thron.
Hi, my name is Kathy Thrron. I live at 234 Ever Street in Wallist. First of all, I wanted to say thank you. You have a great slate of ordinances and I'm really looking forward to hearing more about them and I support the vast majority of them.
First of all, in transparency, this public forum, easier access to information because those foyer requests are a pain in the butt. um supporting QAV, improving municipal website, all good transparency moves.
Maybe we'll even get a decent sound system instead of gold drapes. Raises. Okay. Yes, I'm in favor of repealing the raises. Now, I would like to see a process of providing raises to elected officials because the mayor position and the city council positions do indeed deserve a raise, but there has to be an appropriate process.
Fiscal responsibility. Okay, all of them. Great. This city needs a lot more fiscal responsibility. Fiscal safeguards, strengthening of the city auditor, questioning short-term rentals. Well done. However, I'd like to see the ordinance concerning the city auditor move into qui committee and into this chamber quickly.
There's no time left when the budget's going to come up. And I'd love to see those audit reports before before you start debating and talking about the budget. Councelor Jacob's quest resolution questioning what we can learn from this year's snowstorm is a good start.
I did send you all an email that I'd also like us to pay better attention to public sidewalks. As I walked here through the city hall, the pathways are clear. As I walked through the cemetery the other day, the pathways are down to the pavement.
I think that public sidewalks, particularly those used by children, deserve the same level of attention. I would also like to have more clarity around rule 23. I was confused two weeks ago. If we don't have a clear steps of how to deal with that particular objection, then I feel like those rules have to be amended.
They should define the scope, the steps, what happens next because because I was confused. So you've got less a little over 20 meetings left. So the next thing I would very and the last thing I'm going to say I would very much like to see is a schedule of those committee meetings.
We need that schedule so that we can start moving because a little over 20 meetings ain't no time at all. Thank you very much. Thank you. So, we just have two more people on this list. I just want to make sure if anybody wants to speak, we just need you to come up and sign into the sign on sheet.
Um Joanne Collins is the next speaker. Good evening. My name is Joanne Collins. C O L L I N. I live at 88 Hillside A in Wallist. Um, oh, my credentials. I was born and raised in Quinsey. Went through all of the Quinsey public schools, graduated in Quinsey, got married in Quinsey, had children in Quinsey.
Not that you need to to be able to speak. I want to thank the council for allowing public comment. Period. At a time when there's so much misinformation circling circulating online about what's happening in our city, this space is allocated for direct resident input.
And it is incredibly incredibly important. Hearing from residents helps bring clarity, transparency, and accountability to our local government when citizens voices matter more than ever. So once again, I want to say thank you for allowing public input.
Jocelyn Setney was the next person. Hello, my name is Jos Sedney. I live at 85 Monroe Road here in Quinsey. And I actually have um sort of a specific question and I'm not sure what the mechanism is for me to convey that to all of you or for me even to get an answer to my question, but it involves payments by Corey Hills for their um under their lease to the city of Quinsey.
Um as you may all know, um every quarter Corey Hills sends to the city a um a group of documents that shows how much money they have made, how much money they owe the city. they go through with with a great deal of diff um spec specificity as to um why they believe they owe what they owe.
In um the fourth quarter of 2023, I was reviewing the um information provided by Quarry Hills. And in that year, the total rent that should have been paid to the city was $863,290.89. The city received $128,719.95 because Corey Hills deducted from that $863,000 the amount that they paid in rent for the first quarter, the second quarter, and the third quarter.
And that's why we ended up with 128. Now, that year, the golf course fees were in excess of 6 million. The clubhouse fees were in excess of $18,000 or $18 million, excuse me, and yet we got paid $128,000.
I can't see anywhere in the lease that allows Corey Hills to deduct from that last quarter rent payment the rent payments that they paid for the first, second, and third quarters. I sent an email to a number of different people in the city.
I asked to have a response just to explain to me perhaps I'm not an accountant. Perhaps there's something there that I don't know. I read the lease. I can't see that that it's permissible for them to deduct that.
I went back and looked at the uh figures for 2020, 2021, 2022. And the same thing happened in the fourth quarter. I have a copy of that page where Corey Hills sets forth their um computation of their rent and I have copy 10 copies.
I'd love to be able to send this around to each of you so that you can see sort of what I'm talking about. At the bottom is the $863,000 rent and then they take off the first quarter, second quarter, third quarter, essentially giving themselves credit for the amount of money they paid us for rent for the first, but I don't understand it and I never got a response from anybody from the city.
And I'd love to have an answer to that question. Can I pass this one? You can just leave it out there. We'll get it. We'll get if you just leave it on the table right there. I'll make sure everybody gets it.
You're welcome. So, I recognize Bill Zamzo came up to sign in. So, Bill, you're up. Pet is dead. Hi, William Ferrell, live at 43 Corey Street in Quincy. Um, I first of all would like to thank you for having the public comment period.
I think it's important. I realize at some point it could get out of hand if you have a 100 people who want to speak, but the process of not allowing anyone to speak or even having um people who represent groups be able to bring things to the attention of the council is really really a bad idea.
And I think we have a um a good start here for something. If it does start to get out of control, um I would hope you would array have some situations so at least people could have a way to maybe sign up ahead of time to guarantee that certain people could have an opportunity to express the opinions, especially the opinions of large groups of people.
I would also like to say that I'm still very much against the idea of the raises. I'm not against raises. I think um public employees need to be paid well and also paid well in that they're working for their constituents, not necessarily depending upon campaign contributions or gifts or friends.
But the raises that went through were just ridiculous. They were just beyond belief. I think we have to have a situation we can't just say, "Oh, well that's already happened. Let's forget about it." we really can't forget about it any more than we can forget about the huge debt we're up up up against.
So, I would like to say we uh very much um push the idea that we should try and do anything that can be done to resend those raises and also anything that can be done to prevent huge expenditures from the city from going forward that aren't necessary.
Um I realize a lot of things are necessary. I'm not talking about shutting down programs, especially some of the park programs, things the city does that are good. Those aren't costing us millions and millions of dollars.
But I think the council needs to get control again. I see a lot of people who I think here now are trying to get control of it. And I wish you all well. Thank you very much. Thank you. Bill Sama, 46 Children's Circle, Quinsey.
First off, I'd like to thank the council for opening up the floor. It's uh historically it's only been a couple times a year that that's been allowed and I'd like to see this practice move along. At the same time, councelor Deona, um I I have to say I do appreciate you pointing out that you are in favor of an open forum.
However, my suggestion would have been that that probably your concern about particulars is really something that should have been addressed during it being before the committee. I also will give you some slack and I look forward to your explanations on the five other items you decided to object to.
Can we keep it to general conversations, not directing it to any one particular counselor? Okay. Um then I I will readjust my comments. Um, next in terms of 23B, I have to agree with the ch with the chair council president on that read.
23B, as near as I can tell, is clear. It is only an implicable for an objection during an attempt to move something through committee during the same meeting. Also, I found it odd looking through that 23B again and again and again.
The reality is those items weren't for the council. They weren't brought in. How do you object to something that's not available to object to? And I find the supporting of that view curious to a level of reaching Alice and Wonderland and going down the rabbit hole.
Thank you for your time. Thank you. Does anybody else want to speak? Thank you. If you could just give us your name and spelling of your name, please. Sure. Do you want me to sign in first or after? You can It's okay.
You can just give this. Uh, good evening, council. My name is Stuart Row. I'm a resident of Wallist at 53 Woodbine Street. Um, I wanted to quickly um well, thank you for the the opportunity to comment publicly.
Um, I wanted to echo my neighbor in Wallist just on the the comment regarding the clearing of um sidewalks after a winter storm. I commend the city for the job that it did uh to clear the streets so quickly and effectively.
Um I will say though that snow removal or lack thereof greatly limits the mobility of Quinsey residents, particularly c senior citizens, children, and people with disabilities primarily on sidewalks. Um I have four requests.
Number one, uh to update the snow removal request on the city website to include obstructed sidewalks and crosswalks. Um right right now is all related to road clearance. Um and it just says other. So I would like specific um drop downs for that issue.
Um I'd like to request for the increase of the enforcement of the removal requirements particularly on businesses. Um, just a personal thing, my neighbor is in her 60s and she walks to work at Marshalls on Newport.
Um, and has to cross several large ice mounds due to the lack of clearance outside of Wendy's and Marshalls and the whatever that Newport Plaza and then it continues down to um, Stop and Shop. So, I think um, it does talk in the code about enforcement, but I'm not sure how thoroughly it is enforced.
Um, third, I request to publish the publishing of a publicly accessible map of the sidewalks that shows the responsibility for clearing between the city of Quinsey, private uh, landlords, commercial companies, and the MBTA.
Because right now, you call uh, the MBTA, they say it's the city. You call the city, they say it's the MBTA. There's a lot of ambiguity near those those boundary points. Um, and ultimately I would like to see the city increase the number of sidewalks and particularly crosswalks cleared by the city.
Um, imagine if we left the the uh plowing to individual citizens. We wouldn't get very far. That's basically our approach to clearing sidewalks. The responsibility is on, you know, a couple thousand people to do the right thing and there's always going to be people who do not follow through with that and that interrupts um, everyone significantly.
So, I think there's definitely money that could be reallocated to this um from won't go into those other expenditures now, but um those are my requests. Thank you. Is there anybody else who'd like to speak at open forum?
Okay, it's going once, going twice. Anybody else? All right, so we're going to close this portion of the meeting. So, open forums closed. Thank you for everybody who came up and spoke and we will be having this on the agenda going forward.
Thank you. Moving on to item number two, 2026008 order amending council rules establishing public participation procedures for the city council meetings. Council Mahoney. So that was introduced by me the last time we were here and that is simply just what we're doing here tonight.
We're having open forum. So what we'd like to do is put this into rules and have a discussion in rules to make it permanent. As council president, I can have open forum on every agenda if I so choose.
But what I'd like to have it be is part of the council for the public in the rules book so that we we will be putting into rules. Um councelor Deon, you did ask a few questions. So, I'm just going to answer that in this session that we just did, signing in, providing your name and information, speaking for three minutes on the record, not being able to transfer, um, being respectful, and listening is pretty much the most of the things that we're asking to do.
So, if anybody has any I'd like to make ask for somebody to make a motion for me um to put this into the rules committee. Council Riley. Yes. I'd like to like to make a motion that we put this into the rules committee um at the next opportunity.
Okay. Do I have a second? Second. Second by Ryan on the motion. Does anybody have any questions? Council Deona. Thank you, ma'am. Um thank you, Madam President. Um Mahoney, I want to want to thank the entire group of sponsors on this.
It has all the rules right here. You can get it online. I was looking for this at the last particular meeting and there was nothing in there. So, just want to thank my fellow colleagues for putting this in writing.
We'll deliberate a lot more about it in the next particular meeting, I guess. So, thank you. Is this an all those in favor? All those in favor? Anybody against? No. So, the eyes have it. So, that's going to go into rules.
Moving on to item number three, 2026 013 order appeal of the mayor's raise ordinance number 2024-055. Councelor McKe, I move that city council refer this order to the ordinance committee for discussion and a vote.
I'm sorry, could you repeat that? Sorry. I move uh that this that we um refer this order to uh the ordinance committee for discussion and a vote. Okay. Do I have a second on that? Second. Second by council Jacobs on the motion.
I just wanted to Yep. Um so I have a number of orders tonight seeking to undo the raises that the previous council passed for the mayor and council and to calculate new raises in a more transparent datac centered process.
I hope that these orders will go into committee so we can discuss them fully, but for now I want to briefly explain the reasoning behind the orders. The previous council voted the raises into law without a single public hearing and without reviewing the salaries of any similar elected positions.
This process or lack thereof eroded the public trust and inspired several of us here to run for office. The orders I'm submitting tonight are an effort to rebuild that trust by going back to the drawing board and following the transparent and robust process we think should have happened all along.
I hope my fellow counselors will vote to send these orders to the ordinance committee so we can redo the process by which we calculate politicians raises and thereby restore some of the faith that thousands of Quinsey residents lost when their representatives ignored their concerns and pleas for public hearings.
So, we have a motion on the table and it's been seconded and this is going into order. So, we have to have a roll call for that. So, all those in favor. Anybody against? Okay. So, we're moving that into ordinance.
Moving on. Number four, 2020. The council raises ordinance 2024 056. Council McK be um referred to ordinance committee. Okay. So, there's a motion to move. Do we have a second? Council, are you seconding or uh I have a comment.
Okay. Okay. So, I I just want to explain to the um the public why this order is is saying starting at the beginning of the 2028 council term. This is repeal the coun repeal the council's race. Uh because uh I heard some people ask why don't you repeal the counselor's race from this term since now the council's pay raise already kicked in.
So some some interpret that oh your counselors just want to pocket your own pay raise and only repeal it uh start at the beginning of 2028. So here I would like to uh explain um according to the according to the Quincy city charter the chapter 43 section 17A salaries of mayor city manager and the council.
There is a an item say no increase or reduction in the salaries of mayor or city councilors shall take effect during the year in which such increase or reduction is voted. This is MGL chapter 43 section A and Quincy city charter is even more strict.
It said no increase or reduction in the salaries of mayor or city councilors shall take effect during the term in which such increase or reduction is voted. So even we are repealing the councelor's race right now it can only take effect next year according to MGL and can only take effect next 10 according to Quincy city charter.
So that's why this ordinance say um starting at the beginning of 2028 consult term and people ask then how about this year this year we counelors are forced to take this pay raise so and for that reason I know several counselors including myself have decided to donate our portion of counselor's race to nonprofit organization ations and we we we made that decision even during last year's campaign once elected we would donate our portion of councelor's race to nonprofit organizations we are not eating our words I just I just feel it's important to explain this to the public to ensure transparency and gain public trust thank you.
So, we have a motion on the table and we need a second for that motion. Council Riley seconds it. Is there any discussion on the motion? All those in favor of moving this ordinance. Anybody did I? Nope.
All right. That's going to go into ordinance. Moving on to item number five. 2026 015 order repeal annual raises for elected officials ordinance CO number 2024 090. Council McKe I would like to uh refer this to committee for discussion.
Oh, sorry. Ordinance committee said it's made as a motion. Yes, I move to do that. Do we have a second? Seconded by councelor Ryan. All those in favor. Anybody opposed? The eyes have it. Moving on to number six.
2026 1 six. Order to have the city solicitor answer questions regarding raise deferments. I move that the city council refer this order to the ordinance committee for discussion and a vote. Do I have a second on that motion?
Second. Council Hubley. All those in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay. Okay, the eyes have it. Moving on to number seven. 2026 029 ordinance for repeal of the mayor's raise. Ordinance number 2024 055. Council referred this order to the ordinance committee for discussion and a vote.
Okay. Is that in the motion? Yes. Okay. The motion's made by council me. Do I have a second? I councelor Ryan. All those in favor? Any opposed? Okay, that's seven. Moving on to number eight. 2026-030 ordinance repeal of council's raises ordinance 2024 056.
I move that the city council refer this order to the ordinance committee for discussion and a vote. Motion made by council McGee. Do I have a second? Councelor Hubley. All those in favor? I. Anybody against?
Okay. Moving on to number nine. 2026 031 ordinance repeal annual raises for elected officials. Ordinance council order number 2024 090. Council refer this order to the ordinance committee for discussion and a vote.
Do I have a second? Council on the Thank you, Madam President, for um I just want to explain a little bit about the objections now. Um now that we have them going into committee, um the first orders that were done two weeks ago, 13 days ago, had not much substance inside the verbiage of the orders.
Tonight, they're rewritten. Council McGee rewritten them. Um have a lot of factual information in these new ordinances. So, just to let you know, the reason where the objections came out was their interpretation of basically having a situation and I'm count I'm very happy that council yawn just explained that everything that pertained to the last council also pertains to the new council.
Any raises, increase or decrease cannot be done in that same term. So, I'm I'm glad you said that. Take that a step further. Um, essentially in the order that I got some I guess I could say factual uh legal advice is the repeal could have been where no one gets anything.
The repeal would be the mayor would get actually nothing. The counselors up here would actually go to nothing. So, um, they're rewritten correctly. Um, imagine that go to nothing. Um, but the interpretation of the of the law can can be that situation.
So, uh, I want to thank Council McGee for for rewriting, um, and really doing her homework on this because a lot of, uh, the information that's in there is exactly, uh, that was constituted on the conflict of interest/ ethics, um, from the state level.
So, I want to thank my colleagues for for for the rewriting and and the and the and the co-sponsorship of it. But that explains it. When I object, it's end of conversation. There's no having a conversation about it after I object.
So, um, I'm explaining it now that very happy that my colleagues have rewritten these. So, that's basically my answer to a lot of folks that were not understanding the explanation behind it. So, thank you, Council M McGee, for rewriting these.
They look good. Thank you. Anybody else on the motion? With that, we're going to move that on to a vote. It's going to go into the ordinance committee. All those in favor? Any opposed? Okay, we're all set.
We're going to add into ordinance. Okay. Moving on to item number 11. Number 10, sorry. 2026 032. Order requiring disclosure of tenencies, lease terms, and financials of the Monroe building. Thank you very much.
Um, so this is an order that I put through and I want to thank uh council McGee, Council Ryan, Council Riley, and Council UN. Um the city of Quinsey um purchased the Monroe building located at 1227 1259 Hancock Street in 2021 for a municipal and/or institutional uses.
Um the city of Quinsey has therefore become a landlord. Um and the city is responsible for leasing, managing, and maintaining that property using public funds. Residents of the city of Quinsey own the Monroe building and are asking for transparency regarding the use, tenants, and financial performance of this city-owned property.
And the city council has a duty to provide that fiscal oversight to ensure the city property is managed transparently, responsible, and in the public interest. We are asking for the chief financial officer in coordination with the city solicitor and any other department, board, commission, authority, or agent responsible for the management of leasing of the Monroe building shall prepare and submit a written report within 30 days.
The order applies to the city- owned Monroe building exclusively. There's also a parking lot that's part of this at 1259, which is um across the street from um I forgot the name of the restaurant. Mason's.
Um, so that would be included as well. What we're looking in this report is for the name of the tenant, the occupant, suite and unit identification, use of space, municipal, educational, office, commercial, storage or other, square footage occupied, lease or occupancy, start dates, end dates and including renewal options, current base rent, rent escalation schedule and any additional recurring charges, concessions or abatements or rent forgiveness, security deposits or G or um or any terms legally exempt information redacted any arars or outstanding balances owed to the city, copies of the executed leases, amendments, license, occupancy agreements governing the property use.
Um the report shall summarize vacant space within the property, total rent received, build and collected, operating a maintenance cost by the city, net fiscal impact to the property of the city, the city budget, all non-exempt records produced pursuant to this order shall be trim transmitted to the clerk's office and made publicly available.
The report shall be reviewed publicly at the city council oversight meeting within 30 days of the submission of this tonight. Um, if any provision of this order is held invalid, the remaining provisions shall remain effective, meaning that you can't say you didn't finish the report if you're missing one piece of it.
We want it all, but we would take it in pieces if we have to. So, we're going to be moving this into oversight. I need somebody to make a motion for me. Councelor Ryan, make a motion to motion to this to oversight committee.
All right. Seconded by Council Yan. All those in favor? Any oppose? The eyes have it. Thank you. Moving on. Number 11. 202633 resolve review of policies, procedures, and enforcement of short-term rental regulations.
Council Riley Council, thank you. Um, I'm introducing this um so that we can take a look at the short-term rentals in the city of Quinsey. I know we have some regulations in place and we have people who are operating and trying to work within the framework of those of those rules.
Um, we also have people who are defying them. Um the city recently prevailed in a superior court case um for a repeat offender who just refused to um to adhere to the rules. So what I'd like to do is to um bring this into um oversight committee so that we can take another look at the rules, help the people that want to adhere to them uh do so and um perhaps even offer some improvements.
So if we could, I'd like to make a motion that we move this to oversight committee. Seconded by motion made by councelor Riley, seconded by council yuan. On the motion, does anybody have anything on the motion?
I'm going to go for a vote. All those in favor say I. Any opposed? Okay, moving that into number 12, 2026 034 resolution upholding dignified disclosure and productive communication in public meeting regulations.
Council Riley. Council Riley. Thank you. Um this was something that I um we many of us attended our first Mass Municipal Association um conference and the dignity index came as a result of the keynote speaker Timothy Shrivever um who put together this framework and it has been adopted by a number of communities organizations.
Um I didn't have as much detail in the order as I would have liked because I did have to seek uh copyright permission to even reference it more specifically which I now have. So, I think the best thing would be if we could um if I could motion to move this to um community engagement committee and we can discuss it further, but I think it it works very nicely with the open forum that's been introduced to allow us to do so in a in a dignified manner.
That's a motion to move to um I think community engagement. Community engagement. Do we have a second? Second. Councelor Ash second on the motion. Does anybody have any questions or comments? So, we're going to take a vote on that.
All those in favor? Any opposed? The eyes have it. Moving on. Number 13, 2026 035 resolution urging passage of Massachusetts House Bill House 91 and Senate Bill Senate 2556 to modernize funding for community media programming.
Council Hubble. Council Hubble. Yes. Um, thank you, President Mahoney. Um, so one note of housekeeping, uh, Senate 41 was actually changed to Senate 2556, uh, before it entered ways and means. So, if we can make that small adjustment to, uh, our language.
Um, my, uh, good friend Stacy from the state house pointed that out. So, thank you, Stacy. Um, so this resolve comes actually as a sorry, as a suggestion from one of my constituents, uh, Jennifer Mcdana.
Um, in my early days, one of my first careers, I was back in cable television back in 1987, Janu uh, March 23rd, 1987. And, uh, back then, QAV was referred to as local origination or LO for short. Um, this is back when I first met Betty Campbell and the whole crew years and years ago.
Um, and so the aside from the fact that it was spun out into its own entity, I think that was in the 90s, uh, it's effectively, uh, stayed the same in terms of its funding mechanism. And so I think these bills are actually right in time to evolve, um, the funding mechanisms for it.
It basically they get money from the cable companies and that's what funds the operation. Now the industry itself which I was in for about 30 years uh has evolved quite substantially from pure linear broadcast television to nonlinear to alleart streaming all the above that we all kind of know and love today.
Uh but what hasn't changed is the funding source for that and so a lot of these programmers Netflix so forth don't contribute anything to the local um production and so this these bills uh seek to resolve that.
Um, one thing I want did did want to point out is that while the industry has changed a lot, uh, QAV without a big change to their funding has kept pace. They've adapted to the nonlinear, more ondemand, more streaming infrastructure and, uh, you know, to their credit, they've done it without a substantial investment.
So, um, one of the things that's important to me and many people I know is that QAV really tells the story of our city. It also enables people who otherwise wouldn't be able to participate in parades and other events to bring that content right into their living room.
And so it it serves a very valuable person purpose. It also allows people to learn video editing and and all types of things. My son went through that program as well. And um I'm going to be dating myself here a little bit, but much like how WJDA used to be the soundtrack of many of our mornings back many years ago with the familiar voice of Joe Catalano back in the day.
Some of some of you are nodding on this one. Um and it it has this very recognizable voice. Today am Quinzy basically serves that same function. It's kind of the soundtrack of my morning. It's where I drink my coffee and hear what Joe has to say early in the morning.
Uh, I love their programming, although he's not no longer flanked by Herb Fontaine, Roy Lynn, Don Kent, Mike Logan, and the rest. Um, but I met with Jonathan Calleri, the executive director of QAV before I submitted this, and he definitely appreciates the advocacy, as does some of his employees.
So, I would hope my colleagues could join me in uh, this resolve. So, do you have a motion to vote? Motion by um councelor Hublene. Do I have a second? Second by councelor McGee. Um does anybody have anything to say on the motion?
Okay, councelor Ryan. It's a good start to increasing exposure of QAV. I find that it's a great program and a great outlet for many people who are stuck at home who can't go out to have access to what's going on in the city.
And if I could just add one thing, tonight's resolution will be we'll be taking a vote on that resolution and the letter will come out from the council as a whole. What I'd like to mention to people at home, if you want to write letters to yourself, to your to the Senate to let them know that you're also encouraging this because QAT and public access is an important um testament to all communities.
It's not just here in Quinsey. It goes through every community and it's getting harder and harder to be able to keep this in state with the way streaming is happening and different things are happening.
So, we do ask for your support too from home. If you could write into those letters as well, that would be greatly appreciated. So, with that, this is a roll call vote and clerk, could you call the role?
Council Ash, yes. Council Debana, yes. Council Hubley, Council Jacobs, yes. Council McKe, yes. Council Riley, yes. Council Ryan, yes. Council Yen, President Mahoney, yes. Nine members. Thank you very much.
Okay. Am I on? Next is number 14, 2026 036 resolution ordering a review of residents interactions with city hall in opportunities to expand accessible online municipal services. Councelor Hubley. Sure.
Thank you, President Mahoney. Um, so the city does a really good job at providing services to its its residents in an over-the-counter manner here in city hall as well as on the phone. Um, but there's always areas for room for improvement in anything that we do.
Uh this resolve really asks department heads to provide a list of the top reasons why people walk in the door at city hall and make a phone call to city hall and then to understand how many of those same things can be accomplished online for those who choose to do business in in that way.
Um, this resolve by no means seeks to eliminate in-person service, but rather to enable an online option for those who prefer to do so and freeing up valuable resources for those who prefer or really need uh in-person hands-on support.
Um, so with this information, the IT team who's doing great work can explore different online options to augment what we already have. Uh, and this is first in a series of resolves that I'll be sending into the municipal tech uh, committee that we we're going to be scheduling very soon.
Uh, and then we'll work we'll provide feedback to the IT team on where the opportunities are for improvements and efficiencies. That's the intention of this. So, uh, make a motion to, um, refer it to the municipal tech committee, please.
Motion made by councelor Huby. Do I have a second? Second by councelor Ryan. All those in favor? I actually I actually didn't open up to the motion so I apologize for that on on the motion. I have a question.
I I would like to suggest to send this order to the committee to for further uh further debate and the discussion. It's going to the comm resolution for it to go into the munitech committee. Correct. Oh, okay.
I thought it's a start vote. Sorry. So we had a motion. It was second by councelor Ryan. Anybody else on the motion? Seeing none. And this isn't all those in favor for moving. All those in favor? I. Any opposed?
The eyes have it. Number 15, 2026 037, a resolve requesting comprehensive briefing to the city council by the commissioner and superintendent of public works and the director of emergency management regarding the city's response to the January 24th through 27th winter storm and any other weather related emergencies that may occur prior to February 23rd, 2026.
Councelor Jacobs. Councelor Jacobs. Hi. Yes. Um, as most of you know, we had a storm uh a week or so ago. Um, and I think that, um, just having the, uh, superintendent of public works, um, and the commissioner, the DPW, um, and the, um, emergency management director or the designate come before the council, um, and the oversight committee just to kind of explain, you know, what what what happened, um, what what their goal was, uh, what what we achieved, uh, as a community and, uh, how we're going to, you know, move forward and learn from what happened.
Um, so I'm I move that the council vote to res um vote on resolved uh 2026 037 which requests a briefing on the city's storm response at the next oversight committee meeting. So it's a motion on the floor to move to oversight.
Do I have a second? Council Ryan seconds on the motion. Does anybody have anything on the motion? Councelor Ryan. Um I reviewed this resolve with um David Jacobs because not being in any type of public service before, I am not aware of the internal work that gets done to make sure that residents see their streets plowed and snow is provided.
So, it's a good education for me and that's why I firmly believe that this is a good resolution. Council McKe just um maybe we can add a couple of people in addition to the ones mentioned. So, maybe um the code enforcement officer.
I know I've gotten some complaints about businesses not clearing sidewalks. So, just to understand more about that process. Um, and also, um, maybe, um, Michelle Hanley of the Elder Services Department, um, I saw a mention online that there's a a program to, um, have community service hours for high school students be used for um, homeowners and um, residents who cannot clear their own sidewalks.
So, maybe a couple more people. We ask that as a friendly amendment, too. Yes. Okay. Council councelor Jacobs, are you okay with those amendments? Uh yes. Yep. Those bills both uh seem seem good. Yeah.
And what did you say? Of the whole of the whole. Yeah. Everybody's in Everybody's in favor of the whole for those changes. I'm sorry. Elder services. The other change elder services code enforcement. All are in favor of those changes.
All in favor of the changes. Okay, everybody says yes. Okay, this is going into oversight. All those in favor? Any opposed? All right. Okay, moving on. Let us conclude. Uh that concludes the regular um the regular agenda items for this evening and we're going to be moving on to the approval of previous minute meetings for January 20th, 2026.
Motion approved by councelor Deona, seconded by council McKe and we have councelor Yuan. I will be voting no to on the minute. I previously asked whether the minutes could be amended to reflect that what occurred regarding rule 23b at the last meeting.
My concern is not about recording debate but about actually recording a contested procedure ruling that directly affected how multiple agenda items were handled. Rule 23B was contested and the city clerk acting as parliamentaring made a ruling that allowed the objections to stand.
That ruling determined the disposition of those items and caused significant confusion among counelors and the public. We have since received multiple resident inquiries seeking clarification. As currently written, the minutes state only that objections were made without reflecting that the rules applicability was challenged and ruled upon.
In my view, that doesn't fully or actually uh accurately reflect what occurred. For that reason, I can't support approving the minutes as written and would request that they be amended to more clearly reflect the procedure action taken.
I would move to amend the minutes by adding the following paragraph. Councelor Yang contested the applicability of council rule 23B. The city clerk acting as parliamentarian wrote that the objections would stand and all the items being objected to were were placed on the agenda for the next city council meeting.
We can vote on this amendment. Are you asking for a vote on the amendment? So, we're going to take a vote on the amendment council's amendment to the minutes. We're going to do that in roll call. So, adding saying yes, we'll be adding the amended to the minutes.
Voting no, we'll be leaving the minutes as is. So, roll call and that. Get a second. Can I get a second on that? Second by councelor Jacobs. Councelor Ash vote on it. If you want to, she has it printed right there.
So, if I'm understanding correctly, Council Yan objected to rule 23 and had some um back and forth and she just wants that to be added in. Yes. Council Dona. Yes. Council Hubley. Yes. Council Jacobs. Yes.
Council McKe. Yes. Council Riley. Yes. Council Ryan. Yes. Council Yen. Yes. President Mahoney. Yes. Nine members. The amendment stands. So we pass amendments with the amendment. Motion to approve as amended.
Motion to approve as amended by council Dono. Second by councelor Ryan. Anything on the motion? All those in favor? Any opposed? Moving on. So, um, communications and reports to the mayor and other offices, city and boards, none.
Unfinished business and proceeding meetings? None. Reports of committees? None. Because we haven't had any. Presentations of petitions, memorials, or remmonstresses? Okay, councelor Ryan. Yes, I I would like to um and I hope that this doesn't become a habit that I have to do these for Squantum people, but um Andrew Smeen uh age 56 of Squantum died unexpectedly on Sunday.
Um although he was born and raised and educated in Liverpool, England, um he's made Quinsey his home for the past 23 years. He um is the husband of Jackie and he has seven children. and four of them are in the Quinsey public schools.
Um his wake is being held tonight. His funeral is tomorrow. Um it's really um a tragic loss for the for the community and there is a um uh a fundraising effort um which people can get the information through the um Sweeney Brothers funeral home, but it's it's very sad and our thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Thank you. Anybody else? Do you have one? some new business in. We're going to stick with we're going to stick with this. We'll move on to new business after this. So, for remembrances, I just wanted to take a moment to remember Mary Terry Petlovich.
Did I say that correctly? Pesvich. Pesvich. Um, tonight we pause to remember the life of Mary Pesvich who passed away peacefully on January 21st, 2026 at the age of 95. And I consider that young. Um, Terry was a woman of deep faith, quiet strength, and an unwavering love for her family.
She was born in Boston, but she was a proud Quinsey resident for nearly 64 years. She lived a life of rooted in service, kindness, and devotion, especially to her beloved Sacred Heart Parish, where she was a longtime parishioner and active member of the Catholic Women's Club.
Family was a center for Terry's world. She was a devoted mother to her her daughter Susan, and she was not only a mom, but a constant source of love, guidance, and strength for Susan and her extended family.
Um Susan's mother's faith, generosity, and grace clearly lived on through Susan. And um the love that she had for her family, especially for her grandchildren, and the truest reflection of who she really was.
Terry's faith was lived daily, bread to bread, through the rosary. She had um held close to her prayers, and she offered those around her love and anyone that needed it. She believed deeply in seeing the good in others, and she shared belief in her kindness through her service, her quiet way that she made people feel welcomed and cared for.
She's now reited with her now reunited with her eternal peace and her beloved husband Walter and her love and prayers remain with those she leaves behind. For Susan O' Conor on behalf of the city council, please know that we are holding you and your family and our thoughts and prayers.
May you find comfort in the extraordinary life that your mother lived and the faith that she carried and the love that she leaves for your legac for the lasting legacy she lives for you. and we're very sorry to um to that you request your mom Susan.
Does anybody else have anything else to say? Council Deon. Councelor Deon. Thank you, Madam President. Just like to add a little bit to that. Um just over the years sitting next to Susan O' Conor on this side of the well for the last 10 years.
We got to talk a lot about um the vacationing that she did with her family. Um she did 37 straight years to Aruba with her entire family and she went this past year and the year before and um those are those are lasting memories.
Um just talking to her about the interaction with the entire family just uh you have any um family members out there you you just every day every second you have um is cherished and we had a lot of great conversations about this.
So um she's going to be dearly missed. So thank you. Does anybody else have any memorials? Council Jacobs about um Susan Okconor's mother. You know, I just met Miss Okconor recently and um we've only had one conversation.
It was about her mother. Um that's how strong a relationship she had with her. So, I really feel for her and u and their whole family. Anybody else? Okay, moving on. Um, I'm sorry, Councelor Ryan, what did you do you want to add something?
I just had some new business that I'd like everyone to be aware of. Okay. And that is a new coffee shop will be opening up in Ward 4 at 279 Willard Street and um it'll be opening up in the middle of February.
There will be a ribbon ceremony with the mayor. The Chamber of Commerce has been notified and I just was hoping that everyone would embrace them in the community. Excellent. Thank you very much. So, just looking around, make sure there's any more petitions, memorials, or remmonstrances.
Nope. Then we're going to move on to motions, orders, and resolutions. Scheduling of committee meetings and public hearings. Councelor McKe, I would like to uh schedule ordinance and rules committee meetings for February 23rd.
Um 6:00 p.m. for the first No, I cannot do 6 p.m. We have utilities from 6:00 to 6:30. So, we'll be doing 6:30. 6:30. Okay. 6:30. Okay. like a dual meeting like um I would we could do one and then the other or Yeah, it'll be okay.
Yeah. Council Jacobs, did you want to schedule for the 23rd? Yeah, I did. I just didn't I mean if she's if uh that one's going at 6:30, I mean um what what time is available to us for oversight? Has to start at 7.
The council has to start at 7:30. So we can have it we can have it presented at we can recess and start and go back into council then recess back into it. So Okay. So at 7. Okay. That's good. So we'll have um oversight at 7:00 on February 23rd.
Thank you Madam President. I believe rules committee is not a committee of the whole. So how do we want to schedule those? So um to be cognizant of who's on what who's sitting in which committee and and the time chair um I guess we it would be nice to get rules going soon so that we can get the um public comment sort of in the or in the uh rules for the for the council.
Um, so but I guess if we have to start at 6 for the public utilities, um, would it be possible to do rules at 5:30 and then is does anyone have an issue with 5:30 for rules and then we could do six for the utilities?
Are you on 6:30? 6:30. We can always recess back into a regular council meeting then come back to it. Okay. Yeah. So work on it offline too. We can work it offline. Okay. Well, we we'll we'll schedule it then offline when we figure out um what is happening.
Yeah. But yeah. All right. So we have on the 23rd starting at 6:30 rules ordinance and then moving into oversight. Um probably closer to the regular meeting. Is there anybody else who would like to schedule any meetings?
All right. Sorry, Madam U Madam President. Yes, the public utilities will be scheduled for the 23rd at 6:30. I'm sorry. 6 o'clock. Now I'm getting confused. Six o'clock for the for the um utilities. Thank you.
That's okay. I think we're all confused right now. All right. So, we'll work out the scheduling. Um so, that's the that's the scheduling for the committee meetings. Um I think we're all set with that.