LIVE: Quincy City Council (Oversight Committee, Public Hearing, Finance Committee) - May 11, 2026

• Governing Body: Quincy City Council
• Meeting Type: Oversight Committee, Public Hearing, and Finance Committee
• Date: May 11, 2026
• Attendees:
  • City Councilors: Ian Cain, Maggie McKee, Anne Mahoney, Richard Ash, Scott Campbell, Nina Liang, Ziqiang Yuan, David Jacobs, Deborah Riley, William Harris, Dan Minton, David McCarthy, Noel DiBona, Walter Hubley.
  • Administration: Christopher Walker (Mayor's Representative), Paul Della Barba (Director of Municipal Finance), Molly Smith (Treasurer/Collector), John Rowland (Assessor), Catherine Logan (Purchasing), Nicole Crispo (City Clerk).

The committee discussed Resolve 2026-057, a resolve requesting a comprehensive report of city property transactions. The goal is to understand how city-owned property is acquired, leased, managed, and sold.

Key Discussion Points:

• Eastern Nazarene College (ENC): The administration is pursuing a $22.5 million appropriation for the acquisition of the 20-acre campus. This includes $1.5 million for a feasibility study. The administration suggests the city could recoup $7–$9 million by selling 13–14 single-family homes on the property.
• Maritime Center (Bayview Ave & C Street): Purchased in 2017/2018. Plans were delayed due to storm mitigation priorities (drainage and seawalls). The city's maritime unit currently uses one house on-site.
• St. Mary’s School (Crescent Street): Purchased in 2017 for $2.7 million for a future elementary school. It is currently utilized as a fire department training center while awaiting MSBA funding.
• Cleverley Court Car Wash: Purchased for $1.7 million to provide parking for youth soccer fields and a future park.
• 172 C Street: Purchased for $245,297 via capital bond for open space and fire department use.
• Monroe Building & Town River Marina: Identified as the city's primary revenue-generating properties.

Residents and union representatives provided testimony regarding the proposed budget.

Public Comments:

• Tom Bowes (Quincy Firefighter Association, Local 792): Opposed budget cuts, noting the budget is 98% personnel. Quote: "Cuts would jeopardize the safety of the citizens of Quincy as well as my members."
• Greg Hodnett (Quincy Police Patrol Officers Association): Urged the Council to fully fund the police operating budget.
• Bill Zamsow (Resident): Criticized the 5% spending increase and projected that the city might exhaust its $24 million untapped levy, leading to a 10% property tax hike in 2027. He also questioned the District Improvement Financing (DIF) projections.
• Jocelyn Sedney (Resident): Recommended level funding and questioned the lack of detailed financial data for Quincy College and the golf course.

Director of Municipal Finance Paul Della Barba presented the revenue outlook.

• FY2026 Collections: 92.3% of estimated revenue collected as of May 7, 2026. Real estate tax collections are at 96.1%.
• FY2027 Projections: State aid is expected to increase by $2.3 million (2.52%) to a net of $70.9 million.
• DIF Concerns: Councilor Mahoney raised concerns regarding the commingling of DIF funds with the General Fund and the cessation of the sinking fund in 2022. RKG Associates (Eric Wissages) explained that the DIF currently covers its debt service through 2044, but long-term projections extend to 2067.

The Council voted on several departmental budgets for FY2027:

• Municipal Finance (135): Budget of $1,556,154. Includes a $125,000 increase for auditing services.
  • Outcome: Approved. (McKee opposed).
• Reserve Fund (132): $1.75 million for stabilization and $250,000 for OPEB.
  • Outcome: Approved unanimously.
• Unemployment Compensation (913): $100,000.
  • Outcome: Approved unanimously.
• Medicare (910): $3,800,000.
  • Outcome: Approved unanimously.
• Long-Term Debt (700) & Short-Term Debt (752):
  • Outcome: Tabled/Held for further documentation on debt schedules and bond premiums.
• Retirement and Pensions (911): $9,749,500.
  • Outcome: Failed/Tabled (2-7). No: Hubley, Jacobs, Mahoney, McKee, Ryan, Yuan, Riley.
• Purchasing (136): $284,354.
  • Outcome: Approved unanimously.
• Licensing Board (165): $118,541.
  • Outcome: Approved unanimously.
• Census (168): $100,000.
  • Outcome: Approved (Jacobs and Mahoney opposed).

Treasurer Molly Smith discussed the transition to a new online payment platform, "Pay Quincy MA," which will offer e-billing to reduce postage costs.

• Treasurer/Collector (138): Budget of $1,194,443.
  • Outcome: Approved unanimously.
• Tax Title (158): Councilor McKee moved to reduce the unclassified expenditure line from $150,000 to $120,000.
  • Outcome: Approved as amended (120,000). (DiBona opposed).

The Council made significant reductions to the Elections budget based on historical underspending.

City Clerk (161):

• Action: Reduced Communication line (530400) from $20,000 to $15,000.
• Outcome: Approved as amended. (DiBona opposed).

Elections (162) Budget Cuts:

1. Election Workers (512880): Reduced from $300,000 to $225,000.
2. Police Details (510196): Reduced from $200,000 to $150,000.
3. Early Voting Custodians (510252): Reduced from $2,000 to $0.
4. Early Voting Police Details (510251): Reduced from $15,000 to $0.
5. Building Custodians (512454): Reduced from $27,890 to $12,890.
6. Early Voting Rentals (520706): Reduced from $3,000 to $1,500.
7. Ramp Rentals (520708): Reduced from $18,000 to $10,000.
8. Professional Tech (530000): Reduced from $5,250 to $3,000.
9. Communication (530400): Reduced from $100,000 to $80,000.

• Outcome: Approved as amended.