Thank you to all who attended the neighborhood finance meetings hosted by Mayor Koch and Director of Municipal Finance Nick Puleo. Managing a $226 Million dollar budget is quite comprehensive and it is important for residents to understand what services they receive for their tax dollars and how those numbers are determined.

 

Quincy is a "Strong Mayor" form of government. Mayor Koch, as the Chief Executive Officer, is charged with monitoring and initial development of the City Budget. The Mayor meets with Department Heads, considers the available revenue and projected costs to determines the amounts needed to provide services. The Mayor sets the "bottom line" for the Quincy Public Schools, but may not earmark funds within that budget line. State law says that only the School Committee can decide how to spend the money allocated to the School Department. The Mayor serves as one of the seven members of the School Committee in making the decisions to allocate funds to the various spending accounts of the Quincy Public Schools.

 

The City Council must receive the Mayor's budget proposal 45 days before the close of the fiscal year, and must vote to approve the City budget. The Council may cut funding from the Mayor's proposed budget, but are not authorized to increase funding. When the Council cuts money from a department's budget, it is the decision of the Mayor and the Department Head to direct what gets cut within the department to reflect those savings. The Council cannot direct how funds are spent.

 

The City Council has held a series of finance committee meetings to review the budget by department and will meet on Monday, June 14th at 8pm in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1305 Hancock Street to vote on the proposed Fiscal Year 2011 budget.

 

 

The Zoning Board of Appeals will meet on Tuesday, June 8th at 7:15pm in the Second Floor Conference Room of Quincy City Hall, 1305 Hancock Street.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

10-014 Request for a variance/finding to demolish and reconstruct the second floor and legalize the existing basement apartment on the premises numbered 42 Bayview Ave. *** The Zoning Board requested the applicant resubmit plans for basement apartment to qualify as in-law unit as opposed to an apartment with a secondary entrance. These plans are currently underway and this item may or may not be discussed at the June 8th meeting.

 

10-015 Request for a finding to legalize the existing basement apartment on the premises numbered 55 Sea Ave, Quincy. *** The Zoning Board requested the applicant resubmit plans for basement apartment to qualify as in-law unit as opposed to an apartment with a secondary entrance. These plans are currently underway and this item may or may not be discussed at the June 8th meeting.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

10-026 Request for a finding by Christopher Houseworth to construct a second story addition to an existing home on the premises numbered 32 Maxim Place, Quincy. *** While this item is on the agenda, the applicant submitted a request for withdrawal without prejudice and will not be moving forward with this project at this time.

 

10-028 Request for a variance/finding by Richard and Susan Troup to alter the existing non-conforming single family dwelling to add an in-law unit and a partial third level on the premises numbered 11 Riverbank Road, Quincy.

Anyone can attend the meeting to express their support for or opposition to any of these projects. If you cannot attend the meeting you can send a letter to the Zoning Board of Appeals at 55 Sea Street Quincy, MA 02169 or an email at nbrienzi@quincyma.gov. I have notified neighbors of these projects, but if you have a question or need additional information, please contact me.