Quincy City Council: October 19, 2026

The Municipal Technology Committee held a discussion regarding the status of Quincy's municipal broadband initiative.

• Background and Market Conditions: Committee Chair Walter Hubley noted that when the city initiated the municipal broadband concept around 2018, Quincy had limited competitive options beyond Comcast and Verizon DSL. Since then, the market has expanded significantly with fixed wireless options, Verizon Fios committing to a full city build-out within two years, and GoNetSpeed announcing a private $34 million investment to build a high-speed fiber network citywide. Continuing the municipal project would require an estimated $50 million for a pilot and roughly $200 million for a full build-out, with an opt-in model that posed logistical challenges for renters and required an uncertain 40% take rate.
• Project Expenditures and Status: Chief of Staff Christopher Walker confirmed that the administration will "put a pin in it" indefinitely and cease further spending. Over seven to eight years, Quincy spent $500,000 on two contracts: Entry Point Communications for project management and Tilson Technologies for network design. These funds came from a $250,000 snow and ice surplus transfer and $250,000 in previous capital improvement appropriations. No physical infrastructure was constructed, and an earlier Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for pilot areas in Quincy Point and Merrymount was paused.
• Council Feedback: Councilor Deborah Riley supported closing out the project completely, zeroing out remaining authorizations, and removing the broadband project link from the city website to avoid confusing residents. Councilor Ziqiang Yuan confirmed that no outstanding unissued debt remains authorized for this project.

The City Council presented three community recognitions:

• Montclair-Wollaston Neighborhood Association: Councilor Walter Hubley presented a commendation honoring the 35th anniversary of the association, founded on September 12, 1991. Former Councilor and current Association President Kevin Coughlin spoke on the group's history of civic engagement and neighborhood advocacy.
• The Rudder Crew: Councilor Hubley recognized the local musical group (formerly known as The Rudder Kings) for their long-standing performances at civic events, neighborhood gatherings, and the Ruth Gordon Amphitheater, and offered a tribute to former band member and local educator Leo Sullivan, who passed away in March 2025.
• National Bullying Prevention Month Recognition: Councilor David Jacobs recognized Cleo Truesdale, a student at Atherton Hough Elementary School, for initiating and completing a two-year campaign collecting plastic bottle caps to install a "Buddy Bench" on the school playground to foster student inclusion.

A public comment period was held with comments summarized below:

• Mass Surveillance and Flock Safety Technology: Multiple public commenters voiced strong opposition to the city's use of Flock Safety automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras. Speakers cited Fourth Amendment and Massachusetts Declaration of Rights concerns, lack of evidence that ALPRs deter crime, corporate data ownership in Flock's terms of service, potential privacy risks for healthcare seekers, and the recent decisions of more than 40 Massachusetts municipalities to reject or terminate ALPR systems. One public commenter stated, "Quincy's data... is not private and it's not closed. It means Flock owns the data." Another speaker voiced support for Police Chief Mark Kennedy and argued the cameras provide valuable tools for law enforcement.
• Eastern Nazarene College (ENC) Acquisition: Several members of the public commented on the administration's announcement regarding the purchase of the Eastern Nazarene College campus by a Quincy Housing Authority non-profit affiliate. Speakers expressed appreciation for proposed senior housing and open space preservation, but raised concerns regarding transparency and the City Council's lack of prior involvement in negotiations.
• Municipal Nonprofits and Festival Audits: A public commenter expressed concern regarding proposed audits of 501(c)(3) organizations associated with the city, highlighting the substantial tourism and economic revenue brought into local businesses by the annual Quincy Christmas Festival and parade.
• Elected Officials' Salaries: A member of the public urged the Council to respect the certified citizen ballot question setting the mayoral salary at $183,000 rather than pursuing higher compensation figures.
• School Department Matter: A resident and parent spoke regarding ongoing communication difficulties and a no-trespass order issued by Quincy Public Schools following a student bullying grievance, requesting Council assistance to facilitate dialogue with the school administration.

Councilor Deborah Riley introduced leaders and representatives of the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag to address the City Council:

• Tribal Genealogist David Allen Lambert detailed the regional ancestral history, noting the tribe's seasonal home at Moswetuset Hummock and Squantum, the impact of 17th-century epidemics, and the deed of August 10, 1665, signed by Sagamore Wampatuck conveying land to European settlers.
• Tribal Elder Elizabeth Solomon spoke to the enduring presence of the Massachusett people over thousands of years, describing their historical removal to praying towns like Ponkapoag and their traditional core values of relationship, reciprocity, and responsibility within the "common pot."
• Sagamore (War Chief) Farris Gray expressed gratitude for the city's welcoming relationship and discussed plans for a tribal cultural center at Squaw Rock in Squantum, which will serve as a gathering space, allow the tribe to return to Boston Harbor in traditional dugout vessels (mishoons), and provide a venue to share indigenous heritage and ecological knowledge with the public.

The Council considered the reappointment of Timothy Baker as an at-large member of the Quincy Housing Authority Board for a five-year term.

• Qualifications and Board Overview: Baker testified that he has served on the board for two and a half years following a vacancy. He stated that the Quincy Housing Authority manages 1,557 housing units and 200 Section 8 vouchers, serving over 6,500 residents.
• Inquiries: Councilor Ziqiang Yuan questioned Baker regarding the Quincy Housing Authority Development Corporation and its involvement in the pending purchase of the Eastern Nazarene College campus; Baker noted the non-profit corporation owns four existing properties and that transaction details for ENC are still being finalized. Councilor David Jacobs requested that the board work with the Traffic, Parking, Alarm and Lighting (TPAL) Department to review overnight resident parking restrictions and towing policies impacting residents in Germantown.

Motion to approve the appointment of Timothy Baker made by Councilor Jacobs, seconded by Councilor Yuan.

• Outcome: Passed 9-0.

The Council evaluated an order approving a 25-year lease and power purchase agreement (PPA) with Select Energy for solar canopy installations on the two new General McConville Way municipal parking garages.

• Presentation: City representative Paul Hines reported that the solar array on the new Public Safety Headquarters garage became operational today with a final PPA rate of $0.07 per kilowatt-hour, below the estimated cap. For the two General McConville Way garages, the agreed generation rates are capped at $0.16 and $0.22 per kilowatt-hour for the shorter and taller structures, respectively, with no transmission, delivery, or tariff charges applied.
• Terms and Maintenance: Hines confirmed that Select Energy covers all engineering, installation, and operating costs, backed by a performance bond from a AAA-rated institution. Select maintains the equipment and underside canopy lighting throughout the term. At the end of the 25-year lease, ownership of the galvanized steel canopies and systems transfers to the city at no cost.

Motion to approve made by Councilor Richard Ash, seconded by Councilor Deborah Riley.

• Outcome: Passed 9-0.

Councilor Maggie McKee moved to briefly remove the order from committee to provide a public update.

• McKee reported that an informational Google form and survey spreadsheet tracking comparative municipal compensation data remains open for councilor and public input through the November 9, 2026 meeting.
• The order was returned to committee without formal action.

Councilor Deborah Riley introduced an order seeking accounting and oversight of funds associated with the Quincy Christmas Festival Committee, Quincy Foundation, Quincy Relief Fund, and Mayor's Cup golf tournament.

• Financial Transfers: Riley stated that city budget lines for celebrations transferred $100,000 in fiscal year 2025 and $75,000 in fiscal year 2026 to a private nonprofit entity. She stated that Mayor's Cup proceeds were historically processed through city finance until 2017–2018, but have lacked public municipal accounting since.
• Reporting Concerns: Riley noted tax Form 990 filings for the Quincy Christmas Festival Committee grew from $56,500 in 2016 to $230,000 in 2023, while using municipal property addresses. She requested clarity on fund administration, tax deductibility, and historical expenditures such as quiet fuel assistance allocations.

Motion to refer to the Finance and Oversight Committees made by Councilor Riley, seconded by Councilor Jacobs.

• Outcome: Passed 9-0.

Councilor Maggie McKee introduced an order to examine the administration's announced acquisition of the Eastern Nazarene College (ENC) campus.

• Proposal Details: McKee reported that an affiliated non-profit entity of the Quincy Housing Authority signed an agreement to acquire the campus. Current proposals include tapping the city's Affordable Housing Trust Fund to create 57 units of senior housing in the Young apartment building, and utilizing Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds to purchase and preserve campus open space, including the athletic fields and arboretum.
• Scope: The order aims to review the exact relationship between the city, the housing authority, and the non-profit, as well as clarify long-term taxpayer obligations and neighborhood advisory input.

Motion to refer to the Oversight and Finance Committees made by Councilor McKee, seconded by Councilor Virginia Ryan.

• Outcome: Passed 9-0.

Councilor Ziqiang Yuan introduced an ordinance establishing regulatory oversight and restrictions on the acquisition and deployment of automated license plate readers and intrusive surveillance technology.

• Yuan emphasized the nonpartisan nature of privacy protections and constitutional liberties under the Fourth Amendment, noting extensive community feedback opposing mass surveillance.

Motion to refer the ordinance to the Ordinance and Oversight Committees made by Councilor Yuan, seconded by Councilor Ryan.

• Outcome: Passed 9-0.

Councilor Ziqiang Yuan introduced a resolution requesting that the administration take immediate steps regarding automated license plate readers.

• Resolution Terms: As introduced, the resolution urged the administration to terminate all Flock Safety contracts, direct the vendor to remove all 49 cameras from city property, immediately cover cameras if removal is delayed, and require City Council approval for any future ALPR vendor contracts.
• Friendly Amendment: Councilor David Jacobs proposed an amendment expanding the termination request to encompass "other ALPR network contract agreements," including recently identified Motorola units. The amendment was accepted by the sponsor and adopted by voice vote.
• Council Deliberation: Councilor Ryan noted that while ALPRs aid police investigations, the vendor's data handling and the absence of prior public hearings warrant stopping the program. Councilors Riley, McKee, Ash, and Council President Anne Mahoney agreed that third-party data ownership, AI expansion, lack of statewide guardrails, and neighboring municipal cancellations outweigh the investigative utility. Councilor Hubley cautioned that significant resolutions should ideally be vetted through committee before a final vote.

Motion to approve the resolution as amended made by Councilor Yuan, seconded by Councilor Ryan.

• Outcome: Passed 8-0.

Councilor David Jacobs introduced a resolution calling on the administration and the Department of Public Works (DPW) to require identifying markers on private contractor snowplows working on behalf of the city.

• Purpose: Jacobs noted that residents on dead-end and coastal streets frequently cannot distinguish municipal contract plows from private driveway plows during major storms, leading to confusion and disputes.
• Department Response: DPW Commissioner Dan Glennon stated that existing seasonal contracts are already finalized, but the department is evaluating a targeted pilot program using vehicle door magnets on select routes, noting prior difficulties with antenna flags blowing away.

Motion to approve the resolution made by Councilor Jacobs, seconded by Councilor Riley.

• Outcome: Passed 9-0.

The Council considered two donations to municipal programs:

1. Gift to Quincy Department of Elder Services / DIA (Item 2026-145): A gift of $1,000 from Donovan Service.
   • Motion to approve made by Councilor Noel DiBona, seconded by Councilor Ryan.
   • Outcome: Passed 9-0.
2. Gift to Animal Care Center Food Pantry (Item 2026-146): A gift of $250 from Randolph Elks Lodge 2130.
   • Motion to approve made by Councilor DiBona, seconded by Councilor Jacobs.
   • Outcome: Passed 9-0.

Councilor Richard Ash reported that the Committee on Public Works held a public hearing on Council Order 2026-131 and issued a favorable recommendation.

Motion to approve the grant of location made by Councilor Ash, seconded by Councilor Yuan.

• Outcome: Passed 9-0.

A traffic request submitted by Councilor Walter Hubley to establish a designated handicap parking space at 94 Wilson Avenue was referred to the Ordinance Committee for legal advertising.

Councilors shared memorials and community announcements before adjournment:

• Michael Berry: Councilor David Jacobs and Council President Anne Mahoney eulogized long-time community leader, Houghs Neck activist, IBEW Local 103 officer, and Boy Scout mentor Michael Berry, who passed away on October 9, 2026, at age 76.
• Eileen Rita (Fury) Moynihan: Council President Mahoney remembered long-time Wollaston resident Eileen Rita Moynihan, who passed away on October 16, 2026, at age 91.
• National Tragedy: Councilor Deborah Riley offered remarks regarding gun violence and school safety following a fatal school shooting in Bend, Oregon.