Thoughts from a Quincy resident
Thoughts from a Concerned Citizen to City Councilors, the Mayor and All
June 7, 2024
First, I have great respect and appreciation for citizens like the Councilors and Mayor who beyond their personal and professional lives, choose to serve in elected public office. This service involves myriad, frequently overwhelming demands and responsibilities, a commitment to listen to, communicate with, and represent all constituents - and to resolve conflicts fairly. The City Council/Finance Committee meetings of 6/3/24 exposed numerous serious issues regarding salaries and raises for the Mayor and City Council; There should have been: *An absolute determination of the legal salary/raise process- whether per Quincy City Charter or G.L c. 39, s.6A, determined by the Attorney General or Mass Supreme Judicial Court. (This did not occur and out of frustration some citizens have suggested the desperate measure of suing the City to achieve the proper due process.)*Constituent input in the form of public hearings before a vote.*A reasonable resolution and schedule to the salary/raise process, so as not to repeat the current uproar and controversy. None of that happened. As I wrote to Mayor Koch after his January 2024 inauguration, I appreciate his hard work on behalf of and dedication to our City. He is a good man, very experienced, capable, politically astute and connected. With Quincy's current "Plan A" form of government, in my view, Mayor Koch is "too powerful" and the City Council is "too weak." Some comment that with rare exceptions, "If the Mayor wants something, it happens, and if he doesn't, it does not." Under his administration many very good improvements have occurred: the building of several overdue new schools, the public safety headquarters for police and fire, seawall and infrastructure repairs, the Hancock Adams Common, park upgrades, the promotion of arts, cultural and civic programs and events, etc. There have been significant "losses" as well, such as Quincy City Hospital, The Quincy Human Rights Commission, MBTA deterioration in Quincy, the loss of a master plan for the renewal of Quincy Center (as opposed to the current piecemeal development), the "preventable theft of $3.5 million in invested City pension funds, over-development, etc. I feel strongly that Mayor Koch should lead with much more commitment and effectiveness with regard to the environmental crisis, social justice, smart development, and affordability related to housing and property taxes. I look forward to and support such progress over his next, and perhaps his final 3 1/2 years. Yes, we absolutely must offer reasonable and competitive compensation to attract and keep good candidates for public service. However, there are serious concerns regarding the Mayor's raise.
There are questions about the validity and applicability of the $9500 Dorminson Consultants recommendations of $298- $370,000.
Should Quincy's elected Mayor reasonably make more than our Governor, US Senators, and the mayors of major cities in Massachusetts and throughout the U.S.?
An additional very relevant factor is the significant compensation for Mayor Koch upon his retirement with an annual pension of 80% for life. While almost all agree the Mayor (and Council ) are overdue for raises, the amounts and process are the issue. Did any "unbiased" citizens actually contact Councilors in support of these raises and this process? If, during his last campaign, Mayor Koch had proposed his salary be raised 79% to $285,000 with the resultant pension boost (and property taxes be raised up to 18% for many) would he have been re-elected, even by that slim margin of 1904 votes? Not likely. Six months into his current term, the timing, amount and approval of his raise caused me to raise a frustrated and angry sign at the June 3rd meeting which read, "Greed". It is difficult not to view this raise as a "money" grab,” to be rubber-stamped by a too weak and compliant City Council. Only new Councilor Minton had the integrity and political fortitude to refute the " consultant" and suggest a more reasonable raise for the Mayor to $230,000 and $38,000 for the Council. Councilor Minton also cast the only vote against this extreme Mayoral raise, while Councilor and Council President Cain was notably absent. Minton's compromise and any recourse, or further opportunity for public input was ruled out by the Council's sadly predictable vote. Citizens/taxpayers hoped that this controversy would be handled in an open, democratic, fiscally reasonable and fair manner - and it was not!
Moving forward: Typical raises for Police, Fire, and Teachers are 3% per year. It has been calculated that if the Mayor's salary had been raised annually by 3% (and why was it not?) it would now be approximately $213,000. This amount would still be more than that of Boston Mayor Wu at $207,000, serving a city of 650,000. The $285,000, unfortunately, is a "done deal", short of an unlikely, very expensive, and complex legal campaign to overturn the current ordinance, challenge or reform the City Charter or General Law.
At the June 17th City Council meeting-What if the Council, after voting themselves a raise to $38,000, as Councilor Minton suggested (rather than $47,000) then introduced an ordinance for a future 3% annual raise for themselves and the Mayor? Would this at least settle this matter equitably for the future? I, and many citizens /taxpayers genuinely have felt ignored, betrayed, and exploited in this latest municipal legislation. I am sure that is not the Council's intent. Perhaps this Council, with this one ordinance, could begin to "mend fences, build bridges" and move onward in partnership with Mayor Koch to resolve the many urgent priorities Quincy faces.
A Final Note-
The very controversial, conflict ridden and temporarily withdrawn Quarry Hills 99-year lease extension is looming in the wings...Citizens beware!
Councilors, as always, please act in the best interests of all Quincy citizens/taxpayers.
Sincerely and hopefully,
Mike Cotter
