City of Quincy City Council Meeting Summary

December 8, 2025 — The Great Hall, Historic City Hall

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Overview

The Quincy City Council held a meeting on Monday, December 8, 2025, covering public hearings, an Ordinance Committee meeting, and a full City Council session addressing tax classification, appropriations, and various municipal orders.

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Key Agenda Items

🔊 Public Hearings

- Utility Matter (2025-127): Hearing regarding a Mass Electric/Verizon utility matter at 58 Taylor Street. - FY2025 Property Tax Classification: Public hearing on tax classification for the upcoming fiscal year. - Ordinance Committee (2025-120): Discussion regarding an electrical explosion incident at Southern Artery and Broad Street, demanding accountability from National Grid and Riley Brothers, Inc.

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💰 Property Tax Classification (FY2026)

Order 2025-128 & 2025-129 — Introduced by Mayor Thomas P. Koch

The Council adopted the following tax classification percentages for Fiscal Year 2026 (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026):

| Property Class | Percentage | |---|---| | Class 1 – Residential | 75.2287% | | Class 2 – Open Space | 0.0000% | | Class 3 – Commercial | 18.0997% | | Class 4 – Industrial | 1.8704% | | Personal Property | 4.8012% |

- A residential factor of 87.6332 was adopted in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40, §56.

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🏘️ Ward IV Mitigation Fund Appropriations

Introduced by Mayor Koch and Ward Four Councillor James K. Devine

Several appropriations were approved from Ward IV Mitigation Funds for community and school programs:

| Order | Amount | Purpose | |---|---|---| | 2025-130 | Unspecified funds | Repurposing former Ward IV Community Center funds to the Quincy Community Action Program's Southwest Community Center | | 2025-131 | $6,000.00 | Traffic improvements in the Batterymarch/Willard Street area (transferred to Traffic, Parking, Alarm & Lighting Dept.) | | 2025-132 | $9,043.81 | PTO activities — South-West Middle School ($4,521.91 for 8th grade activities) and Lincoln Hancock Community School ($4,521.90 for PTO activities) | | 2025-133 | $956.19 | Reimbursement to South-West Middle School PTO for outdoor equipment (soccer net and gaga ball pit) | | 2025-134 | $2,224.64 | Support for the South-West Middle School PBIS Program |

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🚌 School Bus Safety (Order 2025-135)

The City of Quincy voted to accept provisions of Chapter 399 of the Acts of 2024"An Act Concerning the Safety of School Children Embarking and Disembarking School Buses."

- This allows Quincy to install and operate a school bus violation detection monitoring system on its school bus fleet. - The City may enter into agreements with private vendors for installation, operation, and maintenance. - Activation requires consent from the School Committee by majority vote. - This act was declared an emergency law for public safety.

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🏗️ Hancock Street Easement (Order 2025-136)

The Mayor was authorized to execute an easement agreement with Tremont Quincy 1, LLC in connection with the redevelopment of 61-69 and 71 Hancock Street, including the installation of a public sidewalk and related utilities on adjacent city land.

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🎭 Performing Arts Center — Construction Method (Order 2025-137)

The City Council approved the use of the M.G.L. Chapter 149A Construction Manager at Risk (CM at Risk) delivery method for the construction of a new Performing Arts Center (PAC), potentially in conjunction with a presidential center.

- The CM at Risk method was recommended by the Commissioner of Public Buildings over the traditional design-bid-build approach. - Approval covers the PAC construction and all related utility and public works projects.

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Summary

This City Council meeting addressed a broad range of municipal matters, including tax levy classification for FY2026, multiple Ward IV community and school funding allocations, school bus safety legislation, a property easement for redevelopment, and approval of the construction delivery method for a significant new Performing Arts Center in Quincy.

Original PDF:Agendas and Minutes/City Council/City Council/Agendas/Council_2025_12_08.pdf?t=202601261626480