[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":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,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6604203,"mediaKeyId","2993299-f1cd6e34c20c4838e9ca2b20e9abbf63","parentId",2993299,"title","Quincy Council adopts ordinance allowing liens for unpaid inspectional services and health fines, 7-1","audioSeconds",903,"startMs",3099000,"endMs",4002000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2993299-f1cd6e34c20c4838e9ca2b20e9abbf63&start=3099&end=4002","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2993299-f1cd6e34c20c4838e9ca2b20e9abbf63/thumbnail_3099000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6604203/Quincy-City/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Quincy-Council-adopts-ordinance-allowing-liens-for-unpaid-inspectional-services-and-health-fines-7-1","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6604203-0920ef053cffa4a4efb916aa5c80024e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773607858&Signature=YsGnT5lqu4kwhzOr751tfykvuDvE2jVFDSv8OgD~5QvhfJFLZSmFtXQuO9Rvt9LfU3TeEAMgBDvQpQQ74grnKt~~6nGxiVECYN3ycZsjdBwOgG7IE~pH6cZGyefP9daxPf89Q2gCa9atOy2tPuO7-FsvOVi0DL-od3s461-OdtObXzoxd8AQEDfRBKLBLNDfiPEbF3dVUTJCJEOEC2Hyob5GK3TY2yEwkuEg7bVc74N1lCqXHI7gujBtSB6xRo-~~e4QxrcTk-VElyqb8uu9q~5gmb4G3Rn7cXJm9Ur485WqYzeIdsxXG1XNIhvPiW2kbB9k65kv1omSBnerX1rP0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Quincy City, MA","date","2025-04-15T14:30:57.78Z","article","The Quincy City Council voted to adopt an ordinance implementing Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40, Section 58 to allow the city to place municipal liens on unpaid fines and charges issued by Inspectional Services and the Health Department. The ordinance passed on a roll-call vote, 7–1.

Treasurer and Tax Collector Molly told the council the change will add a collection tool similar to existing water liens and help the city collect fines tied to blighted properties and unsafe or illegal living arrangements. “What we’re looking at here is any uncollected fine,” Molly said, citing an example of a parcel with more than $13,000 in unpaid fines for illegally created spaces, lack of fire detection and missing emergency egress.

Councilors expressed support and asked procedural questions about implementation. Councilor Devine said the measure should reduce the need for repeated court actions by Inspectional Services and free that office to focus on enforcement. Councilor McCarthy asked whether the lien authority would apply retroactively to outstanding fines and Molly replied that the intent is to place liens on existing unpaid fines once the ordinance is in effect and that the city will develop a process and thresholds with Inspectional Services and the Health Department.

Councilor Yang moved approval; Councilor Campbell seconded. The roll-call vote recorded seven votes in favor and one against. President King voted no.

Molly said the tax office will work with Inspectional Services to set practical thresholds — such as a minimum dollar amount or a length of time unpaid — to avoid using resources to collect very small fines, and to avoid duplicative work when fines already are being pursued in court. She said the city logs notes in its accounting software and will coordinate internally so fines in OpenGov and other department systems can be matched to tax records.

Councilors asked about non-owner-occupied properties and absentee landlords; Molly said a substantial share of problem properties are vacant or owner-occupied by owners who live outside Quincy and that this new lien authority will give the city more leverage to enforce property maintenance and health standards.

The ordinance was read as agenda item 2025‑049 and is intended to let the tax collector place municipal charges on real estate bills to facilitate collection if fines remain unpaid.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Quincy City Council: April 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The City Council voted to authorize tax liens on unpaid fines from the Inspectional Services and Health departments under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40, Section 58, giving the city a new tool to collect charges on blighted or code-violating properties.","taxTitle","Quincy City, Norfolk County, Massachusetts","taxId",4293,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6604209,"Quincy mayor says MBTA investments restoring service; new electric bus yard and dedicated ferry planned",1923,1169000,3092000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2993299-f1cd6e34c20c4838e9ca2b20e9abbf63&start=1169&end=3092","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2993299-f1cd6e34c20c4838e9ca2b20e9abbf63/thumbnail_1169000.jpg","/articles/6604209/Quincy-City/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Quincy-mayor-says-MBTA-investments-restoring-service-new-electric-bus-yard-and-dedicated-ferry-planned","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6604209-3bd283868de8c5dfe8cd38a985dcf86c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773607858&Signature=O~LkqdWVzHuZSXigQaOKjCveChMcn8qGIn6CTHgd4a3FhWlSEbXpHYC7Q6iLy4u8liR8vfJAcFRNclJSEtOyLrq9rR46IWOLUGkqe3oJXdYj7Fq7OxbIC8xA0yZbqL9SLKlBmLoLVdCxXY9P-oPrFhJhUsQkD-pxfkhUpxHO~kBFOTWLgEBEupXcOvHEBl~OEJfUKP-SoIOqIunCuYzsS~aaSu2KnQyUrQrv9X-uN2NLGL3qxwThfaClF4821vnnh77TsKYHleobIpAXNACDLPM0dvmNeAgkJMbjpoT9y5fvNZ8cvEyWvKhi2sU8NB1a~~e5u5-xCw6jawA~Pe5ZRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Koch told the Quincy City Council that recent capital investments and management changes at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority have begun to restore reliable service and support several projects that will affect Quincy commuters and development.

Koch said the MBTA has eliminated slow zones, increased reliability and ridership is returning. “It’s going in the right direction,” he said, crediting recent capital work, a new general manager and state funding for the turnaround.

The mayor told the council that roughly 40 new Red Line cars have been delivered so far and that new cars are arriving at about two per month; he said he expects the fleet replacement to be phased in around 2027. He also described a major bus-yard project on Bergen Parkway that will house roughly 90 buses (with space for 120) and will use all-electric vehicles; the MBTA estimates early 2027 for that facility’s opening. Koch described that bus-yard project as a roughly $300 million investment.

Koch said other recent capital work includes the $60 million rebuilds at Wollaston and Quincy Adams stations, work on Quincy Center Station and removal of an old, condemned garage at Quincy Center to make way for a transit-oriented redevelopment. He said the MBTA has also purchased two ferry boats from New York, one of which will be dedicated to Quincy service and provide more dependable weekend runs from Memorial Day through Columbus Day.

The mayor reiterated that the MBTA faced a roughly $700 million operating shortfall earlier in the budget cycle but said he expects state action to close the gap and maintain the capital program. He also praised the MBTA’s general manager, saying the appointment brought credibility and a more candid public account of needed work and timelines.

Councilors at the meeting praised the update and asked about safety and staffing. Koch said the transit police force has been replenished after recent vacancies and that transit police work closely with Quincy Police. He also said the MBTA is building a new operations control center in Quincy and that changes to bus routing and platforms at Bergen Parkway aim to reduce congestion around Hancock Street and Russell Park.

Councilors asked about a possible return of ferry service to the former shipyard area; Koch replied that the MBTA no longer owns a wharf there and that structural and ownership issues at that site mean there are no immediate plans to return ferry service to the shipyard. He said Marina Bay’s pier and parking capacity make it a practical site for the growing ferry service.

Koch said the MBTA has made progress filling critical positions, including drivers and transit police officers, and that those staffing improvements have helped service reliability. He said the MBTA is also pursuing restructuring of bus routes and continuing to advance upgrades at Quincy Center that will reroute buses to Bergen Parkway and reduce Hancock Street congestion.

Quincy councilors said the projects would improve commuter experience and the city’s gateway to downtown Quincy, and several praised Koch’s work representing Quincy on MBTA advisory bodies and boards.

Koch invited follow-up questions and said he would return with more details as projects proceed.","Mayor Koch told the City Council the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is seeing sustained improvements, including rebuilt stations, a new electric bus facility slated for 2027, and a dedicated ferry to serve Quincy seasonally and on weekends.","actionData","errors"]

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Quincy Council adopts ordinance allowing liens for unpaid inspectional services and health fines, 7-1

Quincy mayor says MBTA investments restoring service; new electric bus yard and dedicated ferry planned