Quincy City Council: November 10, 2025

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Welcome to the Monday, November 10th City Council meeting at 6.30 p.m. We'll call this meeting to order. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Ash, Campbell, Devine, DiBona, Harris, Liang, McCarthy, Councilor Minton, President Cain, eight members.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Please stand to observe a moment of silence. Please use this moment as you will. Please turn to the flag for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Madam Clerk, please read the open meeting law.

Pursuant to the open meeting law, any person may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium. Attendees are therefore advised that sex recordings or transmissions are being made whether perceived or unperceived by those present and deemed acknowledged impermissible.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. First item on the agenda.

2025-119. Board our home rule petition and act relative to the maintenance of pre-employment physical examination records for the public safety personnel at the City of Quincy.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. The President recognizes the Mayor's representative, Chris Walker. through you, Mr. President.

Thank you. Thank you, Councilors. I did send out a brief memo before the weekend relative to this home rule. It's a highly processed but I'll walk through it for the benefit of the full body and folks watching. So this home rule relates to what's been a pretty stubborn issue over the last several years that has affected a number of cities and towns in Massachusetts. Quincy's not the only one. This has happened in the city of Boston and a number of other places as well. It's caused some real problems. for some of our public safety personnel who are entitled to full accidental disability benefits from the state retirement system, what we call PAREC, prior to about, 15, 12, 15 years ago, the city did not maintain pre-employment medical records, the pre-employment physicals of police and firefighters, which are

A few years ago, PERAC didn't require these. as a condition for approving these kinds of disability benefits. The understanding was, of course, that any police officer or firefighter who was hired would have to have shown that they were free of any pre-existing conditions that would ultimately potentially be related to a disability. At some point, I would say within the last five or six years, PARAC began requiring evidence of the pre-employment physical and this has caused some issues because The Retirement Board does not have them. The city doesn't have them up until that certain point. I think, again, about 12 or 15 years ago where the city started maintaining them. as part of the record. Now, the city wouldn't maintain medical records for its employees in any great degree anyways.

And we don't know. doing the research on this and talking to folks whether this was a formal policy. there's no one that recalls getting a formal notice from the state that this is the way it was going to be and that it's a new thing or if they're just tightening, which is fine if they're just tightening up existing policy. That's when the issue started when police officers and firefighters that have been otherwise deemed disabled and entitled to these benefits have been denied by PARAC on multiple occasions, even after being approved by the local retirement board for the disability pension. These eligible employees have had to jump through hoops. The cities had to jump through hoops trying to convince PARAC that these eligible employees were indeed healthy at the time of hiring. This home rule, what it will do, it will allow a sworn affidavit by the city or the employee stating that the employee did not suffer from any pre-existing condition.

related to the disability upon which he or she is retiring at the time of their hiring. And this largely relates to what's called the heartfelt Heart Disease, and things like that. As this body knows, police and firefighters are entitled to disability, accidental disability, for various Malady is that we believe that they obtain while on the job, while working, and heart disease is one of them. We developed this home rule petition in conjunction with the lawyers for our local 792. our firefighters union, and I see President Bose with us in the audience this evening, and the two police unions who are also here with us this evening. We worked with their lawyer who has been working on this issue in other cities and towns across Massachusetts, and it has worked effectively in those places to date.

There is a statewide bill, I believe, pending. that would solve this issue, but that has not come to fruition. And we think this is an appropriate way to move forward to ensure that our police and firefighters who are 100% entitled to accidental disability get through this process in a way that without confusion, without getting muddied. Thank you, Mr. President.

Okay. Thank you, Mr. Walker. Any questions, comments from colleagues? President recognizes Councilor Liang.

Thank you, Mr. President. I mean, I think thank you for the explanation of this and walking us through what has been effective in other communities. I think we all know that our first responders are the ones that put their lives on the line every single day to make sure that ours are safe and I do not see why we wouldn't want to move forward to reduce the barriers for them to get proper compensation and care when they need it the most and so I would like to make a motion to approve this.

Motion to approve made by Councilor Liang, seconded by Councilor Devine. All in motion? Okay. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Ash, Campbell, Devine, DiBona, Liang, McCarthy, Minton, Cain, 8 members.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Next item, please. 2025-120, a resolve regarding the electrical explosion incident at Southern Ottery and Broad Street demanding accountability from National Grid and Riley Brother Inc.

President recognizes Councilor Lanning.

Thank you, Mr. President. Speaking of our first responders responding to incidents, unfortunately, a few weeks ago during some of the utility work that was getting done over on Southern Arterie and Broad Street, there was an exclusion that so far I don't think we can deem as tragic yet. The person who was injured is unfortunately still at the hospital fighting for their life at this point. and many more could have been injured because of this one incident. And I think given the amount of work being underway in the city right now, we need to make sure that the standards that the city sets specifically through I want to mention the Department of Public Works or our commissioner. We all know from working with him how high his standards are and how that ripples throughout his entire department. When we work with contractors like National Grid, who then work with their contractors like Riley Brothers. The expectation is that those standards that we set, that our commissioner sets, trickles down to those contractors.

And this incident shows, I think, that unfortunately, it's not the only time that National Guard continues to fail to follow the standards set forth by our commissioner in the city. And so what happened was that National Guard's contractor, Riley Brothers, had some folks on site doing utility work. And the supervisor on site told the employee, oh, that line isn't live. You're fine. Go ahead and keep doing the work. And that line, unfortunately, was live. And when it was struck, it created an explosion where actually there of power outage throughout the city in that area as well. And again, this employee is now still in the hospital weeks later fighting for his life. And it's something that could have been so much worse, but still ended up itself as something that is still completely unacceptable. And so I think it's important that we, as a council and as a city, holds these contractors accountable. And I think we're owed an explanation. What's the training process? What was the person on site even instructed to do?

The employees that are working for these contractors trust those supervisors to keep them safe. and again this could have been an issue where our first responders could have been injured as well and so just all around it's like we can set the standards but we need to make sure the contractors are meeting them and a company as large as National Grid should not be one that we're concerned with. And again, it's unfortunate that this is not the first time that something has happened. And so I'm submitting this resolve to really call them to task and come and explain to us what the procedure and policy was leading up to this, what the training process was, what their process is working with their contractors. What's the screening process when they bring on their contractors? We need to make sure, again, that whatever conditions we set forward for safety measures are being met. And so that's what this resolve is, is to call both National Grid and Riley Brothers to come to the council and explain, again, what the proper safety protocols are, what the training process is,

and the second half of the resolve is to have DPU, the Department of Public Utilities for the state initiate a comprehensive investigation as well because National Grid and Riley Brothers doesn't just operate in Quincy, of course I'm always selfish when it comes to Quincy I want to make sure that we're doing everything we can to keep folks here safe but it can't be ignored that National Guard and Riley Brothers does work across the Commonwealth and they need to be held accountable for that as well and so with that I'd like to make a motion to not only pass this resolve but to put it into committee so that hopefully at a future hearing, maybe in December, National Grid and Marley Brothers can come and explain themselves. So with that, I'd like to make a motion to approve and to move into ordinance committee.

Thank you, Councilor Liang. Motion to approve by Councilor Liang, seconded by Councilor DiBona on the motion. The President recognizes Councilor Ash.

Thank you, Councilor Liang, for submitting this resolve. My question would just be what happens if we don't get representatives to come to that ordinance committee meeting? In cases like this, obviously this is the first resolve that's drafted in this fashion that I've reviewed in my time on the council. So my question really would just be, In cases like this, what happens if we don't get somebody from National Grid or Riley Brothers to come to that meeting? Are there any ramifications, say, that would draw them here to give this presentation to us?

I think that you know as of right now the resolve is giving them an opportunity to do the right thing and to show up should they not I believe the second part of this is still pertinent where we really lean on the state to do a full investigation for their work statewide, not just in Quincy. Following should they not show up, which to be frank with you, have done some things in the city where we've tried to call them to task before and they haven't. I'm hoping this time, given the severity of it, they will. But it's an opportunity for us to reconvene and decide, again, in conjunction with our commissioner, of course, to figure out what else can we do to try to hold them to task and hold them accountable, frankly, to explain themselves to the residents and to the family of the injured employee. As of right now, I'm not trying to put anything detrimental in here with their licensing or permitting because I do want to you know me right I'm always thinking positive trying to give them the benefit of the doubt but certainly and given that it happened I believe I maybe it crosses over your ward, right?

But this is something where, as counselors, we always have the opportunity to submit a resolve, a future piece of legislation, whatever we see fit as a body to take as next steps, should they ignore this if it passes. so it's a really long-winded way of saying like there's nothing specific outlined in here as I guess like a punishment if they don't show up because I want to give them the benefit of the doubt here but that doesn't mean that that's not on the table should they decide not to come.

Thank you. We don't have subpoena powers, but we've called National Grid here before for a season that took place a couple of years ago. and I remember former Councilor Palmucci asking some people to come. I don't remember what that was about, what the issue was, but they never came. But National Grid at least came last time, so I'm sure. If this passes, we'll have Madam Clerk reach out to the appropriate community representatives to get some people to come. Motion to approve by Councilor Liang, seconded by Councilor DiBona. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Ash, Campbell, Devine, DiBona, Liang, McCarthy, Minton, Yes.

And Madam Clerk, will you please make sure that those letters go out to both National Grid and to DPU. Thank you, Councilor.

Madam Clerk, next item on the agenda. Number three, 2025-121, a gift for $2,750 from various donors to DARE.

Motion approved by Councilor Devine, seconded by Councilor Campbell. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Ash, Councilor Campbell, Councilor Devine, Councilor DiBona, Councilor Liang, Councilor McCarthy, Councilor Minton, President Cain, eight members.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. That concludes our regularly scheduled agenda for the evening. Approval of previous meeting minutes? Motion to approve. Motion to approve by Councilor Denning, seconded by Councilor Campbell. All those in favor? Those opposed? Ayes have it. Communications and reports from the mayor and other city officers and city boards. Madam Clerk.

Yes, I do have two traffic requests to refer to Ordinance Committee for Advertising, Board 2, Councilor Ash. Remove, no left turn on Fort Curtis Ave. at Washington Court. Add two stop signs on Arnold Street at 5th Ave, creating a four-way stop.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Unfinished business and proceeding meeting. Seeing none, reports of committees, seeing none, presentation of petitions, memorials, and remonstrance.

President recognizes Councilor Campbell. Thank you, Mr. President. I just wanted to make sure we acknowledge someone whose daughter has been a worker at the City of Quincy for a long time, Michelle DiPlacido, her mom. and Anna passed away on November 1st. I'm sorry, I believe actually October 30th. and I just wanted to make sure that we at least acknowledge that she was a wonderful lady, someone who was born in Abruzzo, Italy, she came here in 1965 at the age of 25 and she started in Dorchester and then she finally made the perfect move over to Quincy. where she's lived here ever since until a few years ago she moved out to Scituate. She was a dedicated home worker, a home maker I should say, and worked at the original Montelio's Bakery in Quincy Center for a little bit. She was the mom of Rose Grada, Maria Fulciniti.

Oh, my Italian heritage is really taking a hit right now. Michelle DiPlacido, and the grandmother of Juliana Sullivan, her husband, Davis, Joseph Grada, and his wife, Kimberly. and Emily, Anthony, Felicia, Gabriela and Daniel. She was the cherished great grandmother of Ellie and someone who I know, we all know Michelle. She's worked in the health department now for a bunch of years. I graduated high school with her. She's a wonderful lady, and obviously she was a great extension of a mom. So sending the Placido family the best of wishes as we move forward.

Thank you, Councilor Campbell. Okay, motions, orders, and resolutions? Seeing none. scheduling of committee meetings and public hearings. Our next regularly scheduled council meeting is Monday, November 17th at 6.30 p.m. be there or be square. Motion to adjourn made by Councilor Liang, seconded by Councilor McCarty. All those in favor? Those opposed?