Public Records Requests
Anyone can request public records from the City of Quincy, which says:
“The City of Quincy will assist members of the public in accessing public records within the requirements of state and federal law. To help us identify all records sought, we ask that the request be in writing. The City has up to ten days to respond to all written requests for records. If search and/or copying costs are involved in a request the City will provide a written estimate of such costs (if over $10.00) with the ten day period and require payment before any search or copying commences. If the records requested are exempt from disclosure, the City will provide a written explanation of the specific applicable exemptions.”
How to make a public records request
Fill out this simple form on the City’s website — but don’t press the “submit” button just yet. Be as specific as possible with the records you’re looking for, and try your best to determine which department would have them (but don’t worry if you’re not 100% sure).
Before you click “submit” on the form, copy the text of your request into an email and send it to the City’s records officer, Brenda Fernandez, at BFERNANDEZ@quincyma.gov. This step ensures that your request is received even if the web form doesn’t work. Click “submit” on the web form.
If you don’t hear anything within 10 business days of sending your request, follow up with an email to Ms. Fernandez asking about the status of your request.
If you still don’t hear anything back, you can appeal to the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Public Records Division.
NOTE: If the City does not respond to your request within 10 business days, it cannot charge you any fees to produce your records. If it does request a fee, that request must also be made within the same 10-day period (and the fee cannot exceed $25/hour of work to produce the records unless it receives permission to charge more from the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Supervisor of Records).
Resources
Database of public record appeals to the Secretary of the Commonwealth (put “Quincy” in the field labeled “Custodian name” to see instances where the City denied records requests and the requesters then appealed to the Secretary of the Commonwealth)
A selection of Quincy public records
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This list does not include employees of the Quincy Public Schools.
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This out-of-state consulting firm, run by associates of the City’s Chief Financial Officer, produced a much-criticized 2024 report suggesting Quincy’s mayor make up to $370,000 in salary per year.
They were the only company to bid on the City contract for economic and financial analysis, which began in 2021 and ended in 2024. The contract stipulated an hourly pay rate of $350.
In 2024, they beat out three other companies to win a contract for financial analysis services. The contract, good for one year with an option to extend for two additional years, stipulated an hourly rate of $420 in the first year, $431 in the second year, and $441 in the third year (an increase of 2.5% in the last two years).
Here is a list of all Dorminson payments and invoices as of Sept. 3, 2024.
Here are the reports and presentations associated with the above list of invoices.
Blockchain Analysis (DC202406_1Quincy)
Analysis of Proposed Public Safety Building (DC202202_01Quincy)
Implementation plan and economic impact analysis, Squantum Point Ferry (DC202403_2Quincy)
Economic viability/feasibility analysis, Shipyard Project (DC202401_1Quincy)
Adequacy of 2020 Census (DC202205_1Quincy)
Analysis of Affordable Housing Crisis (DC202206_1Quincy)
Effects of past and current fluctuations in materials costs on the viability of construction projects (DC202109_1 Quincy)
Economic Courthouse Impact Project (DC202112_1 Quincy)
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A public records request for all contractors paid using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act and CARES Act produced these two documents in May 2024.