Quincy Council May 18th Agenda: Raises, Eastern Nazarene College, Finances. A message from WeVoters.
Seven out of 9 City Councilors deferred or donated their raises. Our City Councilors keep their promises.
Hi!
Wow! It is going to be a hot week! Is summer really coming?
Our City Council continues to work hard, long hours to keep the promises they made during their campaigns. So yes-the agenda is again packed and the meeting may be long. (It is astonishing that some are complaining about the length of the meetings. –Huh? They are working for us; they are required to meet in public as a group.) Some people (some not even from Quincy) remain surprised that we now have a city council that actually puts in time and effort to ensure that our city government is working in our best interests. Sometimes the commentary from these haters is a bit crazy. So, please come, listen and make up your own minds. If you can’t—QATV streams the meeting live on Comcast Channel 9.
The May 18^(th) City Council meeting will be at City Hall on the 2nd floor.
6:30 PM — Public Hearing. 2026-067-068-Utility Grants of Location-Mass. Elec/Verizon-46-50 Street. Pole removal and installation.
6:35 PM—Ordinance Committee Meeting. The full agenda here: https://www.quincyma.gov/government/elected_officials/city_council/council_agendas___minutes/ordinance_committee.php#docaccess-6df0c02d63054f79e933698d84ce868b
2026-016-Order to have City Solicitor Answer Questions Regarding Raise Deferments. This is about unanswered questions regarding deferring the raises in October 2025. The previous City Council said they deferred the raises, but never said how. Another question asks whether the City Council can defer all City Councilors’ raises using whatever process was used in ’25. Note that the 2 re-elected City Councilors from the previous council neither deferred nor did they donate their raises. They made no promises to do so during their campaigns.
2026-029-031. Repeals of Council’s Raise (2024-056), Repeal of Mayor’s Raise (2024-055), Repeal of Annual Raises for Elected Officials (2025-090). The repeal of these 3 ordinances provides a clean slate. They bring back salaries to the pre-2024 levels, as of January 2027. By law, they cannot be repealed any sooner. No one ever said that raises were not deserved, but the amount proposed was absurd. WeVoters believes that the next step is providing a process for making sure that a 79% increase will never sneak by again.
7:30 PM — City Council Meeting.
Residents Open Forum / Public Comment. You might want to say a few words about what kind of process you would like to see for our elected officials’ raises. Then there is the most important topic you might want to think about. That topic is the-purchase of ENC in light of $1.8 billion of debt and our credit rating being reduced-AGAIN. A reduced credit rating means higher interest rates. We have a sea wall to be replaced and schools that need critical repairs—what takes precedence?
Many thanks to our City Council for giving us a voice in what are the priorities.
Legal Update-Eastern Nazarene College. The Mayor and City Solcitor have provided no information about this agenda item---sooo, no idea what this will be about. Perhaps an explanation of the Letter of Intent?
2026-084-Order-Amending Council Rules Twenty Four Council Meeting & Twenty-Five special Meetings -Notice. This is a straight forward revision largely allowing for electronic delivery of notices.
2026-085-Order Requesting the Administration to Provide a two-Fiscal Year Capital Bonding Plan and Financial Projections for Major Projects. Planning is a fundamental step to managing money—doesn’t matter if it is a family of 4 or a city of 100,000. It does become more important when we are talking about $1.8 billion in debt, a lowered credit rating, and a request for $22.5 million to buy a piece of property that would be nice—but is it essential? Ensuring a low-density development for ENC can be handled through zoning ordinances.
Plus, we have temporary interest only loans (BANs) that will need to be funded by long-term bonds. Bonds that will likely come at higher interest rates, due to lowered credit ratings.
What money has been spent is gone---but planning for the future, developing a full picture of , at least, our major expenses is crucial to managing our money responsibly. Would you be buying a Porsche when you are not sure you can make your mortgage payment?
2026-086—Gift—$1,000 from the Quincy Police Patrol Officers Association to D.A.R.E. Thanks to our Police Officers!
May 18, 2026 City Council Agenda: https://www.quincyma.gov/government/elected_officials/city_council/council_agendas___minutes/city_council.php#docaccess-43c1abc2cd266b28e43d2e91e0c6a905