[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6634316,"mediaKeyId","2675268-e83c4d4570a2cf82281e2001e3501934","parentId",2675268,"title","Votes at a glance: Council approves utility permits, appropriations, donor‑leave referral and a Lunar New Year enforcement resolve","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",5215000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2675268-e83c4d4570a2cf82281e2001e3501934&start=5215&end=5215","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2675268-e83c4d4570a2cf82281e2001e3501934/thumbnail_5215000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6634316/Quincy-City/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Votes-at-a-glance-Council-approves-utility-permits-appropriations-donorleave-referral-and-a-Lunar-New-Year-enforcement-resolve","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634316-97915b4799d77e5feea8a73dced70321/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213477&Signature=FjHXyDZJ6XgV1uVyLqoPHpGmSkzye-SdIoJdd~0Jjs~pbS41qPFcF2dP5ZWmulGKrWTJ2SrnL~sWwwEU5X1lx6yLHsx~r0Yl6LijwPeCYeqNOA7Owz9nVcMacAKrrpEMyPSh50jB6s-qPj1hCT6nP5Mzx8WcvSVxmT9GJ3QC6KrgULOQ-pydye2lVVA1yMqsLSMTlgJZjWkPiKKjoxDmVjyGhXxQEfe01ZKxTDrX8Q7ku~4H0y4GXxdp1VtodWVYLJlnZ5BgDIH65qvsA7WxBu1IAEDw22q0PkhXpTHkv9KmsRmQmtF~p8A1CkJKycnP920nKQ9Q42MGPmbO0CNPUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Quincy City, MA","date","2025-03-18T19:08:42.347Z","article","The Quincy City Council took a sequence of formal actions during its March 17 meeting. Below are the key outcomes, the votes recorded on the council floor and immediate next steps.

1) Utility grant public hearings and approvals
- Items: Council orders 2025‑024 and 2025‑025 (utility grant of location for utility work by Eversource/Mass Electric and Verizon at specified streets).
- Action: Public hearings were held (no public speakers) and the Public Works Committee issued positive recommendations. The council then approved the committee recommendations by roll call.
- Vote: Both utility orders were approved by unanimous roll calls (9–0). Next steps: Permits and location approvals proceed to the applicable permitting/utility coordination process.

2) Hotel‑motel tax transfers and Quincy 400 appropriation
- Items: Two appropriations transferring hotel‑motel tax funds to tourism/open‑space and authorizing $1.5 million for Quincy 400 events.
- Action: Council approved transfers and the $1.5M appropriation for Quincy 400.
- Vote: Both appropriations were approved by unanimous roll calls (9–0). Notes: City presenters said sponsorships and ticket sales (including an announced Darius Rucker concert at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Aug. 2) are expected to offset much of the outlays; staff will return with revenue receipts and may request subsequent appropriations.

3) Ordinance adoption — organ‑donor leave (referral)
- Item: Ordinance adoption under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 149, Section 33E, to provide leave for employees who serve as organ donors; the proposed city ordinance would expand leave to include blood and stem cell donation.
- Action: The council moved the ordinance to the Ordinance Committee and voted to advertise (referral to committee for review and public hearing).
- Vote: Motion to refer/advertise carried (voice vote and later related roll actions). Next step: Ordinance Committee will schedule hearings and draft language for future council consideration.

4) Resolution — Second Chance at Life (donor leave resolution)
- Item: A resolution supporting leave for organ/stem cell donors.
- Action: Council passed the resolution and referred the proposed ordinance into committee.
- Vote: Roll call shows unanimous approval (9–0) on the resolution as recorded.

5) Resolve enforcement of Council Order 2024‑045 (Lunar New Year)
- Item: A council resolve asking the city solicitor and administration to enforce an ordinance the council passed last year recognizing Lunar New Year for city buildings and operations.
- Action: After extended debate, the council adopted a resolve to seek enforcement of the prior order.
- Vote: The roll call was 7–2 in favor (Yes: Ashe, Campbell, Debono, Harris, Liang, McCarthy, President King; No: Devine, Minton). Notes: The city solicitor advised the council that the school committee has legal authority over school calendars and that practical enforcement could require further legal or intergovernmental steps; the resolution directs follow‑up rather than immediately overruling school‑calendar decisions.

6) Gifts and routine committee recommendations
- Item: Gift appropriations and committee recommendations (public works and ordinance committee reports) were approved as presented.
- Vote: Rolls recorded unanimous approval on those items (9–0). Next steps: Administrative processing of gifts and committee referrals.

The council’s votes produced a mix of immediate approvals that enable staff to execute planned events and processes (utility permits, Quincy 400 spending and committee referrals) and a resolution that signals the council will pursue avenues to align municipal practice with earlier council action on Lunar New Year. Several items will require follow‑up appropriations, committee hearings or intergovernmental coordination before final implementation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Quincy City Council: March 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","On March 17 the Quincy City Council voted on utility grant locations, hotel‑motel tax appropriations, a referral for an organ‑donor leave ordinance, a donor‑leave resolution, and a council resolve seeking enforcement of the Lunar New Year ordinance; roll call results and next steps are summarized.","taxTitle","Quincy City, Norfolk County, Massachusetts","taxId",4293,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6634320,"Quincy approves $1.5M transfer for Quincy 400 events; Darius Rucker concert set for Veterans Stadium",370,3864000,4234000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2675268-e83c4d4570a2cf82281e2001e3501934&start=3864&end=4234","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2675268-e83c4d4570a2cf82281e2001e3501934/thumbnail_3864000.jpg","/articles/6634320/Quincy-City/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Quincy-approves-15M-transfer-for-Quincy-400-events-Darius-Rucker-concert-set-for-Veterans-Stadium","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634320-4e22bb3503bed1f4956d2b559d5b08cc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213477&Signature=L58VvbpK8HSzHw-6AM1Hu~9jYd00BOyTbUKhw6aDgJSaozwwrw28tWdFmCMdkXBEVAaXRGXuZ~8wQPr9wncGwdcWwquoxQJk3I1Qn8Y~m1RyiYpbF2hyAPuoLKQxSaMAWIcIEHWtftEYQwNjROycPevUTgv1jl6zkGTaOYpLCpscwVDh52Nd1Pjkqk54-QBVxDw~x3SaBUQpYITAxRO5QKIMLGzPTdaQgh2QzC6nH99e2foqM~DOmM-xnOLH9EZZKj-YoZmsmyPwDNR3PdTYbu7YZMsutEiqDbuyvuY5FOAzMisblcu-MedQeh6f0k0PfAyuM0Kho6oSa-mmKFg4Uw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Quincy City Council approved two related appropriations on March 17 to support the city’s 400th anniversary celebration, moving a total of $1.5 million into tourism‑related accounts for planning and events tied to “Quincy 400.”

City finance staff described the transfers as a necessary down‑payment for a summer of events and said corporate sponsorships, ticket revenue and an anticipated bump in hotel stays should offset much of the expense. “A lot of it, not all of it, but a lion’s share of it — there’s good potential that it will be coming back to the city through some corporate sponsorships and ticketed events,” the city’s presenter, Mr. Walker, told the council.

Walker said a headline act has been confirmed: country singer Darius Rucker, of Hootie & the Blowfish, is scheduled to perform at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Aug. 2. Organizers are pursuing a second show on Aug. 1 or Aug. 3 to take advantage of production economies. Walker estimated ticket sales at roughly $300,000 per concert and said several corporate sponsors were already committed; he named Dan Quirk as a lead sponsor and listed Santander Bank and South Shore Bank among interested sponsors.

Councilors discussed revenue projections and the city auditor confirmed the city’s hotel‑motel accounts can absorb the advance. Walker said sponsorship receipts typically flow back to the Quincy 400 operating account and may require subsequent appropriations to reallocate the funds into specific line items. He told councilors that some events will be ticketed and that the ticketing partner is SeatGeek; officials warned residents to avoid third‑party scams and stressed that fraudulent listings have appeared on social platforms.

Councilors praised the range of planned programming, which Walker described as including a maritime festival in July, a hot‑air balloon event and an expanded Flag Day celebration tied to the Quincy 400 schedule. The mayor’s office is coordinating programming across departments; Walker said planning teams from multiple departments were already using the draft Quincy 400 plan to align funding requests and pursue state and private grant opportunities.

Both appropriations were approved by roll call: the transfer of hotel‑motel tax funds to tourism/open‑space accounts and the appropriation of $1.5 million for Quincy 400 passed by unanimous votes. Councilors said they would monitor sponsorship and ticket revenue as plans solidify.","The City Council approved hotel‑motel tax transfers to fund Quincy 400 events, including a Darius Rucker concert at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Officials said sponsorships, ticket sales and increased hotel stays are expected to offset much of the cost.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6634323,"Quincy officials present updated seven‑year open space and recreation plan, seek council endorsement",1425,369000,1794000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2675268-e83c4d4570a2cf82281e2001e3501934&start=369&end=1794","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2675268-e83c4d4570a2cf82281e2001e3501934/thumbnail_369000.jpg","/articles/6634323/Quincy-City/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Quincy-officials-present-updated-sevenyear-open-space-and-recreation-plan-seek-council-endorsement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634323-37a1be66e969fe4ac84056a8f21e1127/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213477&Signature=WG1DdNYF3V4N6o3jZJ4StXCChfc5-68rP8Oopst91740zL1cW~oYitTbgz1TB0THBU80R17E6sZN75vcaZ0eoAKXYohiIiZQks5mRW9hMJysMttKmTHfz1ulqyJ3LT9MH4wpSPiZnJ6i33XtXb5HiEaTvM-80Ga4pWcaebtpPgQ7AoEFi9miZmkffLeiGQSZfpNS2o2fOq46XNOK8UJXdQcWBAWGVI8OxD5YUwXQLVwuiJNoBDdK9mpIetvHM9J1Rx9V9rdfmE8ep2hd6RFFlLkZ4lYPDJ2uX2vucFFuIOgbqiETrxcV2ydpD9uDNsbTnu1TvXMHR5sV5cZfIEPzVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Heather Liss, the city’s environmental scientist, and Commissioner David Murphy presented an updated Open Space and Recreation Plan to the Quincy City Council on March 17, saying the plan has been revised, expanded and extended to a seven‑year action schedule and will be submitted to regional and state reviewers for final approval.

The plan inventories Quincy’s parks, waterfronts, conservation land and other open spaces, updates goals and objectives set in earlier plans, and lists prioritized actions, responsible departments and likely funding sources. Liss told the council the update reflects public input collected in 2023–24, additional outreach to environmental‑justice neighborhoods and several management changes in the new Department of Natural Resources. “We do plan to use it, and we actually are already,” she said.

The plan is meant as a roadmap rather than a binding commitment, Liss and Murphy told councilors: it outlines projects and management priorities the city could pursue over the next seven years and makes the city eligible for state grant programs if the plan is approved. Liss said the draft is conditionally consistent with the state’s Recreation Planner’s Workbook and that the city will next seek endorsement from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) and then final approval from the Division of Conservation Services within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

Councilors asked detailed questions about specific sites, maintenance and funding. Councilor Lester McCarthy praised the scope and progress and asked staff to remain engaged on work at Bannock (Marina) Lake and nearby hydrology changes; Liss said the plan contains objective 5.5.0.2 to address marsh and hydrology issues and that staff have been coordinating with the water department. Councilor Liang commended the outreach and asked how the council can show formal support; Liss said a letter of endorsement from the mayor and/or city council can be included in the plan and that the draft plan is already being used in interdepartmental grant‑planning conversations, including for Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness and Coastal Zone Management funding.

Liss summarized the plan’s organization: community setting and demographics, an environmental inventory, an inventory of conservation and recreation lands, an analysis of needs, seven broad goals (resource protection; safe waterfront access; expanded recreation; funding; climate resilience; accessibility; stewardship/education), and a prioritized seven‑year action list mapped to responsible parties and likely funding sources. She said some action items already have identified budgets; others will rely on grants such as state park grants, the Land and Water Conservation Fund and trails or resilience funding.

Murphy and Liss stressed that the plan is flexible: action items can be adjusted if circumstances change and new opportunities arise. Several councilors thanked staff for projects already completed and ongoing work, including playground revitalizations, street tree inventories and the Sailors’ Pond restoration — all items Liss highlighted as part of the plan’s recent accomplishments.

By the end of the presentation the council had not taken a formal vote; staff requested letters of support and an endorsement that would be attached to the final submission to MAPC and the state. Liss said the city hopes to finalize the plan this spring if possible and will incorporate any additional comments from the council and MAPC before state review.","City staff and the Department of Natural Resources presented a revised Open Space and Recreation Plan that extends planning to seven years, emphasizes environmental justice, maintenance, and grant eligibility and asks the council for a letter of endorsement before state review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Council approves utility permits, appropriations, donor‑leave referral and a Lunar New Year enforcement resolve

Quincy approves $1.5M transfer for Quincy 400 events; Darius Rucker concert set for Veterans Stadium

Quincy officials present updated seven‑year open space and recreation plan, seek council endorsement