QUINCY 1993 ANNUAL REPORT QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS "City Of Presidents" THOMAS CRANE PUBLIC LIBRARY QUINCY, MASS. CITY APPROPRIATION I I I ;i COVER PHOTO THE ONLY TWO side-by-side birthplaces of two United States presidents can be found here in Quincy on Franklin St. John Adams, second president, was born in the cottage at right on Oct. 30, 1735. His son, John Quincy Adams, sixth president, was born in the cottage at the left on July 11, 1767. Quincy also has another presidential distinction in the fact that John Adams and John Quincy Adams are the only father-and-son presi- dents in U.S. history. And Abigail Adams is the only woman to be the wife of one president and the mother of another. The birthplaces are supervised and maintained by the U.S. National Park Service as historic sites. (Quincy Sun photo) This 1993 annual City Report is printed on recycledpaper Quincy 'he Publishing Company OF QUINCY CITY MASSACHUSETTS AN N U A CITY 1993 Fiscal Year July 1, 1992 - June 30, 1993 This Annual Report was prepared under the direction of Mayor James A. Sheets 6 1 Table Of Contents SECTION - Quincy's Government I Profile of a City 2 The Mayor 3 Mayor's Mid-Term Address 4 City Council 9 School Committee 1 Boards And Commissions 12 SECTION II - Municipal Departments Building Department 15 City Clerk 1 City Solicitor 21 Conservation Commission 22 Council On Aging 23 Data Processing 25 Fire Department 26 Health Department 28 Quincy Hospital 34 Quincy Housing Authority 37 Thomas Crane Public Library 41 Park, Forestry, Cemetery Departments 42 Personnel Department 48 Planning and Community Development 49 Police Department 53 Public Works Department 55 Purchasing Department 59 Recreation Department 60 School Department 64 Veterans Services Department 68 Weights and Measures Department 70 Wire Inspection Department 71 SECTION III - Financial Statistics Board of Assessors 74 Auditing Department 76 Treasurer's Report 82 Section I QUINCY'S GOVERNMENT PROFILE OF A CITY QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS The City of Presidents 1625-1993 QUINCY YESTERDAY - 1614 - Explored by Captain John Smith 1621 - Visited by Captain Myles Standish 1625 - Settled by Captain Wollaston 1640 - Mt. Wollaston was incorporated as the Town of Braintree 1735 - Birth of John Adams 1737 - Birth of John Hancock 1767 - Birth ofJohn Quincy Adams 1779 - John Adams drafts the Constitution of Massachusetts in Quincy 1792 - The North Precinct of Old Braintree and part of Dorchester become the Town of Quincy 1888 - Chartered as the City of Quincy QUINCY TODAY - Population: City Census 86,343 Land area: 16.77 square miles Shoreline: 26 miles Tax Rate: $13.46 Residential, $28.79 Commercial Assessed Valuation: $4,450,579,279 2 THE MAYOR Honorable JAMES SHEETS A. Mayor of the City of Quincy 1990-1993 Quincy City Council 1973 - 1989 President of City Council 1 984 - 1 985 Massachusetts House of Representatives 1975 - 1978 3 ) Mayor Sheets Second Mid-Term Address, January 1993 4, 'We Have Made Great Progress' The human spi—rit finds ma—ny ways to—be heard. People speak out they write they sing they cre- ateworks ofart. In everyform ofexpression...people offertheiropinions. Theytell stories...andtheyshare their dreams. Our first amendment freedoms honor this gift of expression. Cities also find ways to be heard...they speak through the beauty of their flowers and the cleanli- nessoftheirstreets...throughthepreservationoftheir past for future generations...through a police officer fighting crime on a motorcycle...through a teacher standing in front of a wide-eyed first grade class...through senior citizens making their way to church. Itis my hope...aswe reviewtheactionsofthepast year...and look to the new year...that we give to our city...new strength and new hope...so that when it speaks to our young and old...our strong and our weak...its message is clear...resolute...and positive . Let us look first at the fiscal health of ourcity. Nowhere has our willingness to work together been more evidentthan in the budgetary process. In FY ’91 we faced a 14.5 million dollar budget deficit. , Quincy Hospital, at that time, faced an operating deficit—of 3.2 million dollars. In the years which fol- lowed we chose not to allow a budget crisis to become a crisis ofspirit...we did not allow a revenue crisistobecomeacrisisofresolve. In myfirstinaugu- wraelraedpdariensfsu,l aInsdtarteeadl-twheatw-owhuilldesouucrcefsissfcaulllpyrroebsloelmvse "WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL because we have them...and they would pass into history. setasidetraditionalpoliticalfearsandhaveworkedfor I am here to tell you this morning that they are the common good of the citizens of Quincy," Mayor indeed passing into history. The city—of Quincy is James Sheets said during his mid-term address in solvent...andeconomicallysound.And as prepare January. I theFY’94budgetforpresentationtoyou.Jdosowith (QuincySunphoto by Tom Gorman optimism...and with hope. — No the governor has not promised more local from that action for FY ’94 will be approximately 1.5 aid. With the city of Quincy having lost $9—.6 million million dollars...and another 1.5 million in each ofthe dollarsin localaidoverthepastthreeyears expect followingtwoyears.Thisefforthasrequirednegotiat- I — onlythat our level of local aid will stabilize. Certainly ingwith24individualunions and...todate...21 ofthe it will ngt increase. 24 unions have agreed to a single provider. Instead... am optimistic because...working No other city in the commonwealth has been able I together...we havefoundcreativewaysofcuttingthe to match this accomplishment. cost of government...and they have worked. Reorganization has been...and will continue...to Weareintheprocessofcompletingatwoandone- bethe k—eytofuturebudgetarysuccess. In the FY ’94 halfyear reorganization of our health insurance pro- budget it is my intention to submit reorganization gram.Thefirststepinthateffortwasrestructuringthe plansforasinglecity-widepurchasingdepartment...a healthprogramforretirees65yearsofageandolder. streamlined personnel department...and a single That action resulted in aone million dollarsavings in citywide...maintenance department. the FY ’93 budget. Creation ofa united maintenance department will The second step involved choosing to move from occurintwophases...first-itemssuchasprocurement six health insurance providers to one. The savings and snow plowing will be integrated. 4 - However...because extensive negotiations are nec- Also, other infrastructure changes having a posi- essarytoovercome personneland laborissues...this tive effect upon our quality of life have been will occur in the second phase. completed...or newly begun in 1992: In addition, it is my intention to create a single •TheWestQuincy InterceptorandSewerRehabilita- division of inspection....placing all agents of inspec- tionprojecthasbeencompleted. BeguninNovember tion under one department. of 1990, this project reconstructed and rehabilitated am confident that we will successfully meet the 44,100 linear feet of sewers...at a cost of 7 million I economicchallengesofthisnewyear...but,weshould dollars.Seventy-fivepercentofthiscostwasborneby rememberthatthese economic challenges are fleet- the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. ingandtemporary.Thetrulylastingissuesarequality • 3.14 miles of water main construction occurred in of life issues...And, in 1992, we have made great 1992. Itwillimprovethequalityofdrinkingwater...and progress. the quantity of water available for fire fighting. Nowhere is ourprogress more evidentthan in the • Work proceeded throughout 1992 on the Quincy deliveryofhealth care services. Quincy Hospital has Bayplanwhich isdesignedto preventthepollutionof been willing to try new ideas...and is unwilling to fail. Quincy Bay...through city storm drains. We have It continues to be committed to meeting the health replaced 1300 feet of sewer pipe...and 840 feet of care needs of our city. Look at the record of the last drain line inthe area. We anticipatethatall construc- twelve months: tionwork...withtheexceptionofthe“strand”area...will •Thenumberofsurgicalcasesgrewby7.5%to5,535 be completed prior to the 1993 beach season. • Emergency department visits grew 4% to 31,668 In 1992-work began on two major flood control •Thefinancialsituationhasstabilizedandthehospital projects. One will eliminate flooding in the Sachem endedtheyear 1.5 millionintheblack.This isthefirst Brook area of Montclair...and the second will control profitable year for Quincy Hospital-since 1988...and tidal flooding in Squantum. Taken together...these was the most profitable year since the early 1980’s. projects have an estimated cost of 2.2 million • The —hospital has co—ntinued renovating operating dollars...andarecurrentlymovingintothefinaldesign rooms one at a time overthe last two years. stages. • Quincy Hospital has received preliminary approval • In 1992-work also began on the East Squantum from the Department of Public Health to develop a Street Causeway project. Funded by one million Radiation Therapy Center..in conjunction with South dollarsofMWRAmitigationmoney...whichwasnego- Shore Hospital. and— tiated by this administration...this project was de- .. — • In the past year...the hospital has attracted 24 new signedtoendflooding...along and—overtheCause- physicians to its active medical staff. way. The recent coastal storm demonstrated the Quincy Hospital has proved the wisdom ofdaring soundness ofthis project. to do things differently. • Work has begun on the final phase of the Town Another important aspect to our quality of life Brook project which will end flooding along Town is....extendedrecycling.Wecontinuetosetapacefor Brook for the people in South Quincy and those other cities and towns to follow. 1993 marks the people living along the brookfrom HancockStreetto beginning of an enhanced recycling program. It in- the bay. cludes: Alloftheseactions-whetherrecentlycompleted-or • An expanded collection program for metal newlyundertaken-willhelpmakeourbeachescleaner cans...aluminumcans...telephonebooks...corrugated and safer. They will help free our citizens from the cardboard..and magazines. constant burden and fear offlooding. •Establishmentofadrop-offcenterforrecyclables...so Closely related tothese quality of life issues have thatthosewholiveinapartmentscanparticipateinthe been oureffortsto restore Quincyto its rightful place program. ofhistoricalgreatness...therebycreatingthebasisfor • Creation of a waste-oil collection center which will a meaningful tourism industry. They include the fol- help keep oil out of our surface and groundwater lowing: systems. • Successfully lobbying into the 1993 United States • Dedicationoftwodayseach yeartothecollectionof Department of the interior budget—a new line item hazardous waste materials...and... earmarking $925,000 forthe City ofQuincy National •Creationofarecyclingprogramforourpublicschool ParkService.Thisfundingisdesignedtobeginarchi- system. tectural and design work on the Beale Estate on Theseimprovementsarepartofanewsolidwaste Adams Street...complete the National Park Service collection contract..signed in 1992. This contract not Report,whichwill—bepresentedtoCon—gressinthefall only expanded our recycling program...but saved of 1993, creating by Federal Law an expanded $300,000inthisfiscalyearandwillsaveanadditional national park service visitor center in Presidents $400,000 in the new FY ’94 budget. PlaceinApril...and...tocreatetrolleyservicebetween 5 the historic sites. acres ofthe Hancock parking area...extending outto • We also expect that an agreement between the Hancock Street. The retail development of this area National Park Service and the United First Parish provides us with one of the few opportunities to Church will be signed this month. Under that agree- change the retail character of downtown Quincy. — ment, the church and the sepulchre with two presi- Yes Phase Two is complete...and the timing is dents and their wives, will be open for visitors from perfect. The CityofQuincywill sharethe responsibil- AprilthroughNovember...onthesamedailyschedule ity of planning and marketing the Hancock Lot as the Adams National Historic site...and the presi- project...withitsbusinessandlaborpartnersinQuincy dents’ birthplaces. The National Park service esti- 2000. In October 1992...Quincy 2000 came into be- matesthat25,000touristswillvisitthechurchin 1993. ing. Inaoneandone-halfyeareffort, wewereableto Tours will be conducted by a National Park Service recruit 90 members...to raise $125,000...and to at- Ranger...assisted by volunteers. tract the attention of cities...such as Brockton and • In 1992, an office for the United States Naval Pittsfield...who are interested in duplicating our suc- Shipbuilding Museum opened in Presidents cess. Place...and...onDecember1stwewereinformedthat have been informed byTom Galvin, chairman of I MWRA the Board ofDirectors hadvotedto negotiate theBoardforQuincy2000thatacandidateforExecu- a lease with the Naval Museum for a 5.5 acre site at tivedirectorforQuincy2000 has beenchosen...from theshipyard. Withintheweek...thegovernorwill sign among 125 applicants...and will be presented to the legislation creating the United States Naval Ship- board this Friday for approval. The Hancock retail building Museum Corporation. We fully expect that project will be the first major project to feel the theQuincy-builtUSSSalemwillarriveattheshipyard powerful impact of this new partnership. I am abso- in May orJune. The dream of a class of students at lutely confident of its success. Broad Meadows Middle School...that a museum be Plans for the commuter rail station...and the founded to house our 200 years of shipbuilding Grossman area...are proceeding on schedule. We history...is on its way to becoming a reality. also look forward to beginning the new lighting and • In 1993-thehistoricalcharacterofdowntownQuincy sidewalk improvements in the Wollaston business will be further enhanced by the reconstruction of community this year...and, in the North Quincy busi- Constitution Common...and McIntyre Mall. With the ness district in the summer of 1994. exception of $50,000-this project-like the Shipbuild- Let me now say...nothing is more importantto the ing Museum-will befunded privately...orwith federal qualityoflifeinthisCity...than itseducationalsystem. money.The“WalkofNames”project-which issimply Here, too, 1992 has proved a positive and progres- the sponsoring of individual brick pavers by our sive year. citizens...will providethatadditiona—l money. Todate- Check the record: 1200brickshavebeensponsored at$50each.Our • Firstandforemost,wechoseGeneCreedontolead goal is2,500bricks.ThecenterpieceoftheCommon our public schools into the 21st century...no better will be a fountain...which we hope will be sculpted leadercan be found...he win make a difference. from Quincy granite. This project should be com- • Duringthe 1991-1992schoolyear...morethanthree pleted by the fall of this year. million dollars in grant monies were received by the Also important to our quality of life is downtown Quincy Public Schools. Quincy. PhaseTwo ofthe revitalization ofdowntown • Sterling Middle School was selected by Stanford Quincy is now virtually complete...1.3 million dollars University...and the Massachusetts Department of of federal and state money has been spent in resur- Education...to participate in a nationwide pilot study facing Hancock Street...constructing newsidewalks- of the accelerated schools project. with abrickaccentstrip...and, designing a landscap- • The New England Association of Schools and ing program...which includesnewtrees...grass...and Colleges awarded North Quincy High School full — flowers as well as new historical lighting. accreditation...andcontinuedaccreditationforQuincy These improvements...while impressive...onlyset High School. thestageforPhaseThree...whichistheexpansionof • Plans were brought forward to build an addition to ourretail mix...whichwill allowone-stopshoppingfor the Bernazzani School...and to build a new early our citizens. It is pure folly to believe that we can childhoodcenteronthesiteoftheold LincolnSchool. attract modern retailers to a vacant site...like the old Thesebuildings...which arescheduledtoopen inthe Child World location...or into a downtown that looks latefallof1993...willalleviatetheovercrowdingatthe shabby. We must create new retail space which Bernazzani and Lincoln-Hancock schools...as well meetsthe requirementsoftoday’sretailers...suchas as put Quincy on the cutting edge of early childhood a “Toys-R-Us.” To that end-on December 23rd, we education. placed an RFP in the central register...calling for •QuincyCollegecontinuestoexpandandgrowunder 110,000 square feet of new retail space in the 5.5 theleadershipofO. ClaytonJohnsonandtheSchool 6