Quincy City Council: September 15, 2025

September 15, 2025
Watch Video View Transcript
AI Disclaimer: Summaries and transcripts above were created by various AI tools. By their nature, these tools will produce mistakes and inaccuraies. Links to the official meeting recordings are provided for verification. If you find an error, please report it to somervillecivicpulse at gmail dot com.

Podcast Summary

Subscribe to AI-generated podcasts:
RSS Spotify Apple Podcasts

City Council Meeting Minutes

Meeting Date: September 15, 2025 Governing Body: Quincy City Council Meeting Type: Regular City Council Meeting Attendees:

  • Richard Ash, City Councillor
  • Scott Campbell, City Councillor
  • Jim Devine, City Councillor
  • Noel DiBona, City Councillor
  • William Harris, City Councillor
  • Nina Liang, City Councillor
  • David McCarthy, City Councillor
  • Dan Minton, City Councillor
  • Ian Cain, City Councillor (President)

Executive Summary: The City Council convened to honor Quincy Access Television (QATV) for winning first place in government meeting coverage at the Alliance for Community Media Hometown Video Festival. The Council then approved a significant appropriation of $1,230,000 from the Sewer and Drainage Rehabilitation Fund for various infrastructure improvements across the city, addressing critical stormwater and sewer needs. Additionally, the Council passed an ordinance to exempt senior citizens aged 70 and over from dog licensing fees and approved two gift donations.

1. Honoring of Quincy Access Television

  • Discussion: City Council President Ian Cain recognized Quincy Access Television (QATV) for winning first place in the government meeting coverage category at the Alliance for Community Media Hometown Video Festival. The award-winning entry featured the Quincy City Council meeting of December 2nd, 2024.
  • Speakers:
    • Jonathan Cleary (QATV): Expressed appreciation for the recognition and highlighted QATV's tireless work in covering community events, government meetings, and local sports. Emphasized the crucial role of volunteers.
    • Mark Crosby (QATV Government Access Coordinator): Stated QATV's commitment to "gavel to gavel" coverage without editing the initial broadcast, ensuring transparency. Mentioned the "In Your Neighborhood" programs as an example of their diverse content.
    • Councillor Scott Campbell: Commended QATV's sports coverage, particularly the Thanksgiving Day football pre-game show, which received recognition from an opposing team's coach.
    • Councillor Jim Devine: Thanked QATV for their enhanced live streaming capabilities, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and for their support with various community shows.
    • Councillor Nina Liang: Praised QATV's comprehensive coverage of meetings and boards, noting the utility of their YouTube channel and Facebook live stream for residents. Highlighted the quality of the "In Your Neighborhood" segments.
    • Councillor Dan Minton: Recalled working with QATV on crime prevention shows and acknowledged their national award for a segment on carrying a purse safely.
  • Outcome: The City Council presented a commendation to Quincy Access Television.

2. 2025-108: An appropriation for $1,230,000 from sewer and drainage rehabilitation to drain and sewer infrastructure improvements

  • Presenter: Al Grazioso, DPW Commissioner, accompanied by City Engineer Paul Costello and Joe Shea from Granite City Partners.
  • Key Discussion Points:
    • The appropriation of $1,230,000 is requested from the Sewer and Drainage Rehabilitation Fund for various sewer and drainage projects.
    • The fund is financed by developers, who contribute 1% of construction costs for projects over a three-family home. This fund has accumulated approximately $20 million over the last nine years, with $16.4 million already spent on projects.
    • The current balance in the fund is $3.1 million.
    • The projects are critical for improving stormwater flow, replacing damaged infrastructure, initiating engineering designs for flood prevention, and replacing sewer equipment.
    • Specific Projects and Budgets:
      • Sherman Street Bog Area Assessment and Improvements: $275,000 (includes rebuilding discharge points, CCTV inspection, tree pruning, debris removal).
      • Furnace Brook Inlet Grate at Quarry Street: $300,000 (includes replacing inlet grate, wall repairs, access path, DCR coordination).
      • Town Brook Inlet Grate at Bigelow Street: $100,000 (includes wall repairs, angle grate for cleaning, access easement, minor culvert repairs).
      • Webster Street Drainage Repairs: $75,000 (includes new tide gate, dry wells, leaching galleys, new pipe installation).
      • Fort Square Pump Station and Deep Rock Tunnel Repairs: $100,000 (includes replacing broken drain pipe, aligning overflow wall, replacing sewer aeration equipment, cleaning wet wells).
      • East Squantum and Huckins Intersection and Causeway near Victory Road: $180,000 (for engineering design to improve access/evacuation routes and address coastal flooding).
      • Blacks Creek Tide Gates on Greenleaf Bridge: $100,000 (for planning and permitting of three replacement gates, habitat study, state agency coordination). These gates are 30 years old and currently operate as an "on/off" switch, impacting the marsh.
      • Sagamore Creek Tide Gate: $100,000 (for specialized consultant for planning and permitting, habitat study, updating hydraulic models, state agency coordination). This project aims to mitigate flooding in Montclair, North Quincy, and the Atlantic area.
    • Councillor William Harris: Expressed strong support for the appropriation, noting the significant impact on Ward 6, particularly Sagamore Creek, Victory Road, Atlantic Street, Webster Street, Huckins, East Squantum, and Marina Bay. Made a motion to approve.
    • Councillor David McCarthy: Commended the DPW for addressing long-standing infrastructure issues. Inquired about the Town Brook inlet at Bigelow Street and its relation to the culvert on McGrath Highway. Joe Shea clarified that this project focuses on an inlet grate behind the old Chamber building to prevent debris from entering the culvert system. He also mentioned a larger, unfunded FEMA project (estimated $30-40 million) to widen Town Brook in that area, which the new nursing home development accommodated.
    • Councillor Scott Campbell: Inquired about the Fort Square pump station's history and whether similar deep rock tunnel projects are planned for other areas. Commissioner Grazioso explained Fort Square was an Army Corps project and that other areas, like State Street, would require raising roads and new tide gates rather than similar tunnels. He also highlighted the continuous replenishment of the Sewer Drain Rehab Fund through developer contributions.
    • Councillor Jim Devine: Thanked the DPW for their proactive approach to flood mitigation and acknowledged the importance of developer contributions to the fund.
    • Councillor Noel DiBona: Inquired about the Deep Rock Tunnel's length and inspection frequency. Joe Shea stated it is approximately one mile long, 12 feet in diameter, and inspected twice a year. He also raised concerns about dead trees near the Furnace Brook exit on the highway and the Joyce and Canal pump house, suggesting attention to power reliability. He noted the positive impact of the Town Brook project on Ward 4.
    • Councillor Dan Minton: Asked about the impact of the Blacks Creek project on the Princess Eve Marsh. Joe Shea confirmed it would have an impact, allowing for better fine-tuning of water levels to balance flood protection and habitat needs.
    • Councillor Noel DiBona: Followed up on state agency coordination for the Blacks Creek project, noting past disagreements regarding winter flounder habitat. Joe Shea confirmed that while technical engineering is approved, habitat agency components still require work.
    • Councillor Nina Liang: Expressed appreciation for the Town Brook attention, noting the severe flooding in July and August. Inquired if any line items indirectly address flooding on Independence Avenue. Commissioner Grazioso explained that while not specifically listed, the DPW is actively cleaning drains and investigating new flood-prone areas, urging residents to clear debris from catch basins.
    • Councillor David McCarthy: Provided an update on the Sewer Drain Rehab Fund, noting its growth: $1.5 million in 2024, $2 million in 2025, and over $900,000 in the first two months of fiscal year 2026.
  • Motion: Councillor William Harris moved to approve.
  • Second: Councillor Jim Devine.
  • Vote:
    • Councillor Ash: Yes
    • Councillor Campbell: Yes
    • Councillor Devine: Yes
    • Councillor DiBona: Yes
    • Councillor Harris: Yes
    • Councillor Liang: Yes
    • Councillor McCarthy: Yes
    • Councillor Minton: Yes
    • President Cain: Yes
  • Outcome: The motion passed unanimously (9-0).

3. 2025-109: Order Mass General Law Chapter 140 Section 139C fees for dogs owned by persons age 70 and over

  • Presenter: Councillor Noel DiBona.
  • Key Discussion Points:
    • Councillor DiBona introduced the ordinance, stating it was inspired by a constituent's request and the opening of the new animal shelter.
    • Legal Language: "In Massachusetts, state law allows cities and towns to exempt senior citizens age 70 or older from paying a dog's license fee. It is not a statewide mandate. This means that specific exemptions depends on whether your local municipality has accepted this provision. Massachusetts General Law Chapter 140, Section 139 states that no fee shall be charged for a license for a dog owned by a person aged 70 years or over in a city or a town that accepts this provision."
    • The ordinance aims to allow Quincy to accept this provision, exempting seniors aged 70 and over from dog licensing fees.
  • Motion: Councillor Noel DiBona moved to approve.
  • Second: Councillor David McCarthy.
  • Vote:
    • Councillor Ash: Yes
    • Councillor Campbell: Yes
    • Councillor Devine: Yes
    • Councillor DiBona: Yes
    • Councillor Harris: Yes
    • Councillor Liang: Yes
    • Councillor McCarthy: Yes
    • Councillor Minton: Yes
    • President Cain: Yes
  • Outcome: The motion passed unanimously (9-0).

4. 2025-110: Gift for $600 from 2025 DARE

  • Motion: Councillor David McCarthy moved to approve.
  • Second: Councillor Scott Campbell.
  • Vote:
    • Councillor Ash: Yes
    • Councillor Campbell: Yes
    • Councillor Devine: Yes
    • Councillor DiBona: Yes
    • Councillor Harris: Yes
    • Councillor Liang: Yes
    • Councillor McCarthy: Yes
    • Councillor Minton: Yes
    • President Cain: Yes
  • Outcome: The motion passed unanimously (9-0).

5. 2025-111: Gift for $1,000 from Capital Waste

  • Motion: Councillor David McCarthy moved to approve.
  • Second: Councillor Scott Campbell.
  • Vote:
    • Councillor Campbell: Yes
    • Councillor Devine: Yes
    • Councillor DiBona: Yes
    • Councillor Harris: Yes
    • Councillor Liang: Yes
    • Councillor McCarthy: Yes
    • Councillor Minton: Yes
    • President Cain: Yes
  • Outcome: The motion passed unanimously (8-0).

6. Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes

  • Motion: Councillor Nina Liang moved to approve.
  • Second: Councillor Scott Campbell.
  • Vote: All in favor.
  • Outcome: The motion passed.

7. Communications and Reports from the Mayor and other city officers and city boards

  • Referral to Ordinance Committee: A request to refer to the Ordinance Committee for the Advertising Board for Councillor Devine regarding two stop signs on Pembroke Street and Lurton Street, creating a four-way stop.
  • Referral to Public Works Committee: A utility request to refer to the Public Works Committee for Schedule and Advertising to break the location National Grid, General Dunford Drive and Hancock Street to 101 General McConville Way.

8. Unfinished Business and Proceeding Meeting

  • No unfinished business.

9. Reports of Committees

  • No committee reports.

10. Presentation of Petitions, Memorials, and Remonstrance

  • No presentations.

11. Motions, Orders, and Resolutions

  • No additional motions, orders, or resolutions.

12. Scheduling of Committee Meetings and Public Hearings

  • The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting will be Monday, October 6th at 6:30 p.m.

13. Adjournment

  • Motion: Councillor Nina Liang moved to adjourn.
  • Vote: All in favor.
  • Outcome: The meeting adjourned at 7:43 p.m.

Last updated: Nov 9, 2025

Back to Meetings