Oct. 29, 2009 : Quincy's mayoral race

WHEN WE CONTINUE THE QUINCEY
MAYOR'S RACE.
.
>> IN A POLITICAL SEASON FULL
OF POLITE DEBATES AND AGREEING
TO DISAGREE IT'S ALMOST
REFRESHING TO WATCH A GOOD
OLD-FASHIONED DONNYBROOK THAT
IS WHAT IS HAPPENING IN
QUINCEY.
AS FORMER MAYOR BILL PHELAN
TAKES ON THE MAN WHO UNSEATED
HIM, MAYOR TOM KOCH, AND FORMER
MAYOR BILL PHELAN IS ARE
FIGHTING FOR CONTROL OF THE
CITY OF QUINCEY AND THE GLOVES
HAVE COME OFF.
>> MAYOR KOCH SPENT $100,000 OF
YOUR MONEY REDECORATING HIS
OFFICE WITH AN 18,000 DOLLAR
RUG.
>> THE FACT IS THE DAY I TOOK
OFFICE I DIDN'T HAVE A CHAIR
BECAUSE BILL PHELAN TOOK THE
CITY BOUGHT CHAIR.
>> SQUABBLING ASIDE THERE IS A
LOT THE STAKE.
THE CITY IS CLOSE TO FINALIZING
A DEAL FOR A $1 BILLION
REVITALIZATION OF QUINCEY
CENTER AMOUNT OF THAT WILL
TRANSFORM THE FACE OF THE CITY
FOREVER SAYS QUINCEY PATRIOT
LEDGER CITY HALL REPORTER JACK
INCAR NASSIO.
>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TEARING
DOWN CITY BUILDINGS AND PARKING
GARAGES AND BUILDING ON LOTS
THAT ARE VACANT.
ERECTING OFFICE TOWERS,
COMMERCIAL SPACE, RESIDENTIAL
SPACE, REALLY REMAKING THIS
PLACE.
ONE OF THOSE LIVE, WORK AND
PLAY KIND OF SPACES THAT
EVERYONE SAYS IS THE KEY TO
ACTUALLY BOOSTING THE REVENUE
IN QUINCEY IN TERMS OF TAXES
AND IN TERMS OF THE FUTURE.
>> BOTH MEN ARE TRYING TO
CONVINCE VOTERS THE OTHER GUY
CAN'T BE TRUSTED.
>> THEY HAVE PRETTY MUCH BLAMED
EACH OTHER FOR EVERY PROBLEM ON
THE TABLE SO FAR.
>> FOR KOCH THAT MEANS BLAMING
FELLAN FOR UNPAID BILLS, BAD
CONTRACTS AND THE MESS HE HAD
TO CLEAN UP WHILE CITIES LIKE
QUINCEY ARE BEING HIT HARD BY
STATE AID CUTS.
>> BILL PHELAN HELD THE CITY'S
CREDIT CARD FOR SIX YEARS AND
THE BILL HAS COME DOWN.
>> FOR PHELAN IT MEANS
REMINDING VOTERS OF BETTER DAYS
BEFORE RECENT CUTS TO SCHOOL
PROGRAMS AND HIKES IN TAXES.
>> THE FACT IS TOM KOCH HAS
MISMANAGED OUR CITY.
HE INCREASED YOUR TAXES MORE
THAN ANY MAYOR IN CITY HISTORY.

.
>> Rooney: NEXT WEEK VOTERS
WILL DECIDE WHICH MAN WILL
WRITE THE NEXT CHAPTER IN
QUINCY'S HISTORY.
ALL RIGHT JOINING ME ARE QUINCY
MAYOR TOM KOCH AND CHALLENGER
BILL PHELAN.
WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Rooney: THE TRUTH OF THE
MATTER IS YOUR CITY IS FACING
PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO EVERY OTHER
CITY ACROSS THE STATE INCLUDING
RIGHT HERE IN BOSTON.
THERE ARE SOME SIGNIFICANT
DIFFERENCES STARTING WITH THE
PROJECT WE WERE JUST TALKING
ABOUT.
THIS $1 BILLION REVITALIZATION
PROTECT OF DOWNTOWN.
STARTING WITH YOU, Mr.^MAYOR, I
WILL CALL YOU BOTH Mr.^MAYOR,
THAT IS THE PROPER TITLE.
YOU GOT THE BALL ROLLING SIX
YEARS AGO.
BUT IT HASN'T REALLY GONE
ANYWHERE, HOW COME?
>> WELL, I THINK MOST RECENTLY
WE WERE TRULY DID MORE THAN GET
THE BALL ROLLING.
WE REXENED THE ENTIRE DOWNTOWN.

WE CREATED A DISTRICT
IMPROVEMENT FINANCE ZONE AS
WELL AS THE FINANCE PLAN.
WE STREAMLINED PERMITTING
PROCESS.
WE REDESIGNED AND TOOK ALL THE
PROPERTIES FOR A MAJOR ROADWAY
IN THE DOWNTOWN.
WE MET WITH THE STOP N SHOP
COMPANY, CONVINCED THEM TO STAY
AND CALL OFF THEIR SEARCH TO
MOVE ELSEWHERE.
THEY BROUGHT IN SOME STREET
WORKS AND WE WERE IN
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THEM.
OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, NOT A
LOT HAS HAPPENED PRIMARILY
BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMY.
INVESTORS ARE NOT INVESTING IN
THOSE PROJECTS.
>> Rooney: THOSE ARE THE TWO
YEARS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN IN
OFFICE.
>> WE'VE BEEN WORKING EXTREMELY
HARD WITH THE NATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT WE HAVE CHOSEN,
STREET WORKS.
>> Rooney: YOU BOTH BELIEVE THE
PROJECT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
>> WE BOTH LOVE THE CITY AND
BOTH AGREE THIS IS A MAJOR
PROJECT THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN
FOR THE CITY.
>> Rooney: AND ALL THE MONEY IS
THERE, THE $1 BILLION.
>> IT NOT THERE YET.
THERE IS PRIVATE INVESTMENT
THAT THIS COMPANY IS SEEKING.
WE'RE PLEASED THAT ONE.
OLDEST QUINCEY COMPANIES,
150-YEAR-OLD QUINCY INSURANCE
COMPANY HAS SIGNED ON AS A
MINOR INVESTOR INTO THE
PROJECT.
THEY DO GREAT WORK IN THE
COMMUNITY THAT TO ME WAS A
GREAT SIGNAL.
>> I THINK WHAT WE CAN'T LOSE
SIGHT OF IS THE FACT THAT IT'S
A PRIVATE-PUBLIC RELATIONSHIP.

AND THE PRIVATE COMPANIES WANT
OUR TAXPAYERS TO PLEDGE
APPROXIMATELY $250 MILLION OF
FUTURE TAX REVENUES, WITH THE
PROMISE THAT WHAT THEY
ULTIMATELY CONSTRUCT WHICH BY
THE WAY WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THE
INVESTMENT DOLLARS ARE GOING TO
COME TO CONSTRUCT BUILDINGS AT
THIS POINT IN TIME.
WILL CREATE ENOUGH TAX REVENUE
IN THE FUTURE TO PAY DOWN THE
COST OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE
IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE HAVE
PLEDGED FOR THAT ORIGINAL TAX
MONEY.
AND THE CONCERN IS, WHO IS
GOING TO TAKE THAT RISK, NUMBER
ONE.
AND HOW MUCH OF A RISK IS IF
GOING TO BE?
THERE HAS TO BE A BALANCE
THERE.
>> RIGHT.
>> I WANT TO KEEP, BECAUSE
VIEWERS HEAR CAN'T GET INTO THE
DETAILS.
THEY DO UNDERSTAND BUILDING AND
DEVELOPMENT AND THEY UNDERSTAND
TAXES.
ONE OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT
HAS COME UP FOR YOUR CITY IS
THAT UNDER YOUR ADMINISTRATION
YOU FELT FORCED TO RAISE THE
CITY PROPERTY TAXES, 16.5
MILLION SPREAD ACROSS AVERAGED
OUT LIKE 530 DOLLARS A
HOUSEHOLD.
BUT YOUR OPPONENT IS SAYING
LOOK, YOU ARE DRIVING PEOPLE
OUT OF THE CITY.
THEN WILL YOU NOT GET THESE TAX
BASES THAT YOU NEED TO KEEP THE
ORGANIZATION GOING.
IS THERE ANY TRUTH TO IT.
>> WE HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD ON
THE ECONOMICS DEVELOPMENT PIECE
TO EASE THE BURDEN GOING
FORWARD.
BUT FOUR MONTHS INTO OFFICE,
THE MAJOR DEFICIT WITH
STRUCTURAL DEFICIT, THE
CONTRACT TO EMPLOYEES, IN
FUNDING, CONTRACTS WITH OUTSIDE
VENDORS LIKE -- WE HAD A DEAL
WITH THOSE THINGS.
NO MONEY WAS PUT ASIDE FOR
THOSE.
SO WE HAD TO USE 10 MILLION OUT
OF 15 MILLION STABILIZATION TO
OFFSET THOSE BILLS BUT THOSE
WERE REOCCURRING COST ITEMS TO
THE NEW FISCAL YEAR WHICH
PRECIPITATED.
ANOTHER PIECE WAS AN EXTRA $5
MILLION WAS CHARGED TO THE RATE
PAYER, 12% OF THE POLICE AND
FIRE BUNNS TO THE RATE PAYER,
THE STATE ORDERED ME TO PUT
THAT BACK ON THE TAX LEVI
BECAUSE IT WAS NOT PROPER.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE
MAYOR IS REFERRING TO IS THE
HONEYWELL PROJECT.
I CAN'T GET INTO THE DETAILS OF
IT.
ESTIMATES OF UP TO 70 MILLION
DOLLAR BURDEN HAS BEEN PUT ON
THE TAXPAYERS WHO WAS CONTRACT,
MAINTAIN BOILERS AND THAT KIND
OF THING.
THERE WAS A LONG-TERM 20 YEAR
WHATEVER IT WAS, 20 MILLION
DOLLAR MAINTENANCE CONTRACT
THAT ISN'T FUNDED.
AND THE MAYOR IS SAYING LOOK,
THAT HAPPENED UNDER YOUR WATCH.

>> IT ABSOLUTELY DID.
>> IT HAD YOU NUN MUSS COUNCIL
APPROVAL AT THE TIME AND IF
FACT WE JUST HEARD FROM THE
HONEYWELL COMPANY STATING THAT
WHAT MAYOR KOCH HAS SPENT
ALMOST 400,000 DOLLARS, EMILY,
OF CAMPAIGN MONEY TRYING TO PUT
A SMOKE SCREEN, REALLY, TO THE
CITIZENS OF QUINCY.
>> IT IS INACCURATE.
TRYING TO TELL PEOPLE IT IS
INACCURATE.
>> FOR EXAMPLE.
>> BE SPECIFIC.
>> THE CONTRACT, THE ROOF, FOR
EXAMPLE, AT THE WALLACE AND
LIBRARY.
THE MAYOR CONTINUOUSLY STATES
IN HIS CAMPAIGN WHETHER IT IS
THAT WE PAID HONEYWELL 224,000
FOR A ROOF.
>> HOW MUCH DID YOU PAY.
>> THEY DIDN'T PAY FOR ONE
ROOF.
THEY CONTRACTED ONE COMPANY FOR
SEVEN ROOF ITS AND THEY DIDN'T
PAY ON THE ROOF BY ROOF BASIS.

>> IT WAS JUST FALSE.
>> IN THE BACKUP TO THE
DOCUMENT, THE SEVEN ROOFS
LISTED.
ONE OF THOSE IS THE LIBRARY
WHICH LISTS 224,000 FOR THAT
ROOF.
HONEYWELL PAID THE CONTRACT OF
45,000 FOR THE ROOF.
THE CITY PAID HONY WELL THE
224.
ITS HE IN BLACK AND WHITE.
>> YOU FEEL THE CITY WAS HELD
WITH THE PURD ABOUT OF A
CONTRACT THAT WAS MADE FOR
THESE PEOPLE.
THE CITY CAME UP WITH THE
MONEY.
>> IN MY OPINION IT WAS A NO
BID SWEETHEART BILL AND THE
TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING A LOT OF
MONEY.
>> THAT IS THE HEART OF THE
ISSUE, THAT THIS IS A NO-BID
CONTRACT THAT YOU ALLOWED TO
HAPPEN.
>> IT WAS A NO-BID CONTRACT AND
THAT IS HOW THE LEGISLATURE
PROPOSED IT.
IT WAS A PERFORMANCE-BASED
CONTRACT.
AND WHAT YOU DID WAS YOU
SELECTED A COMPANY TO COME IN
AND DO THE CONTRACTING FOR YOU
BECAUSE AS A PRACTICAL MATTER
CITIES AND TOWNS DON'T HAVE THE
RESOURCES TO DO THAT.
THEY THEN GUARANTEE THE ENERGY
SAVINGS THAT RESULT FROM THE
IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE DONE, AS
WELL AS THE ENHANCED REVENUE
FROM THE NEW WATER BILLS THAT
ARE BEING BILLED OUT MORE
ACCURATELY.
AND THAT GOES BACK TO PAY IN
FULL.
>> Rooney: THAT'S A GOOD POINT
THAT IS A GOOD ISSUE.
HAVE THERE BEEN SIGNIFICANT
SAVINGS AS A RESULT OF THIS
ENERGY SAVINGS CONTRACT.
>> NOT NEARLY ENOUGH TO PAY FOR
THE NOTE ON IT.
THE FACT IS THAT THE
PERFORMANCE CONTRACT THAT
GUARANTEES SAVINGS ON A $32
MILLION IN CONSTRUCTION, NOT
THE 16 MILLION FINANCING OR THE
18 MILLION OF THE MAINTENANCE
CONTRACT.
IF YOU OFFERED ME THAT DEAL I
WOULD TAKE IT IN A HEARTBEAT.
>> THAT WAS THE DEAL.
>> Rooney: THEY BROUGHT UP THE
RUG FOR YOUR OFFICE, THE
$18,000 RUG.
AFTER GOVERNOR DEVAL PATRICK
WENT THROUGH HIS, YOU KNOW,
WOES OVER FURNISHINGS AND DID
YOU THINK TWICE BEFORE DID YOU
THAT I KNOW YOU END UP PAYING
IT OUT OF THE CAMPAIGN FUND.
>> WE PAID HALF UP FRONT OUT OF
THE CAMPAIGN FUND AS A GOOD
FAITH GESTURE JUST AS I
PURCHASED PERSONALLY ALL THE
CHAIRS FOR THE CONFERENCE TABLE
AND BROUGHT IN A LIVING ROOM
SET FROM HOME FOR THE OFFICE,
MY CAMPAIGN MONEY PAID FOR THE
CHAIR BEHIND MY DESK AS WELL.
SO WE THOUGHT -- IT WAS THE
RIGHT THING.
>> Rooney: DID YOU TAKE THE
CHAIR.
>> BUT I PAID FOR IT.
THE PRIOR MAYOR TAKE THE CARE
THAT HE SAT IN.
>> Rooney: SO IT IS A NONISSUE.

>> I WOULD --.
>> Rooney: YOUR CAMPAIGN IS
PAYING FOR THE RUG AND YOU ARE
BRUNGING IN LIVING ROOM
FURNITURE FROM HOME, WHY IS
ANYBODY MAKING AN ISSUE.
>> NONISSUE.
WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT {WZ} WE
WILL PUT IT TO REST.
>> WE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE WE
CAME ON, MICHAEL WIDMER TALKED
ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE
GOVERNOR WAS GETTING RID OF THE
QUINN BILL.
>> Rooney: HOW DO YOU FEEL
ABOUT THAT.
>> I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE IN
THESE DIFFICULT TIMES.
THIS MAN SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH
THE FIREMEN OFFERING THEM A 13%
RAISE IN THE FIRST YEAR OF
THEIR CONTRACT AS HE INCREASED
TAXES HIGHER THAN ANY MAN IN
HIS {TROOEZ} IF THEY GOT HIGHER
EDUCATION.
>> THAT WAS ONE PART OF THE
COUNTRY.
HE ACTUALLY, THE CONTRACT
INCLUDED RAISES THAT --.
>> Rooney: WHERE WAS THIS AT.
>> THAT ADDED UP TO CLOSE TO
15% IN 1 YEAR {WZ} WE WERE JUST
TALKING ABOUT ASKING UNIONS TO
FORGIVE THAT.
>> THE EQUIVALENT.
>> I HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL
IN GETTING GIVEBACKS FROM
UNIONS.
THE UNION NEGOTIATION THAT WENT
ON, THE 13%, THAT INCLUDED
RETROACTIVE PAY WHICH OBVIOUSLY
THEY WERE WITHOUT A CONTRACT.
THEY COULDN'T GET A CONTRACT
PASSED.
THIS YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO
NEGOTIATE, GET THE GIC PASSED
WHICH IS SAVING THE CITY $10
MILLION.
WE ARE BACK TO THE STATE UNIONS
WHO HAVE A 0% RAISES FOR THIS
YEAR SO WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL
NEGOTIATING.
>> Rooney: DO YOU SUPPORT THE
QUINN BILL WHICH WOULD TAKE THE
PAY RAISES AWAY FROM POLICE
OFFICERS FOR GETTING HIGHER
DEGREES.
>> THE PROBLEM IS AND I DIDN'T
HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT
CONTRACT.
BUT THE POLICE CONTRACT, IN THE
CONTRACT LANGUAGE.
>> Rooney: THE CITY CONTRACT.
>> CORRECT, FA THEY GET THAT.
>> Rooney: YOU COULD CHANGE
THAT IN THE NEXT CONTRACT.
>> CORRECT, IN NEGOTIATIONS.
>> I WOULD ONLY SAY THAT THE
AGREEMENT THAT THIS MAYOR
ENTERED INTO WITH THE
FIREFIGHTERS WHO BACKED HIS
UNION WAS A 13% RAISE, NOT
INCLUDING THE RETROACTIVE THAT
IS PROBABLY HIGHER THAN ANY
MUNICIPAL EMPLOY UNION RECEIVES
IN THE COUNTRY LAST YEAR.
>> Rooney: WHAT IS THE AVERAGE
FIREFIGHTER MAKE?
>> HE EARNS SIGNIFICANT -- OVER
50,000 A YEAR.
THE BASE SALARY IS A LITTLE
UNDER $50,000 A YEAR DEPENDING
UPON HOW MANY YEARS YOU HAVE
IN.
BUT IN FACT WITH OVERNAME TIME
AND DECENT INCENTIVES,
EDUCATION --.
>> Rooney: YOU HEARD MICHAEL
WIDMER SAY THERE IS PROBABLY
GOING TO BE MORE LOCAL AID CUTS
COMING.
YOU HAVE TO BE RELIEVED RIGHT
NOW THEY ARE CERTAINLY NOT
GOING TO HAPPEN BEFORE THE
ELECTION NEXT TUESDAY BUT --
WHAT WOULD YOU TAKE A WHACK AT
IF YOU.
>> WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN A
LOT OF AREAS.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
WE HAVE REGIONAL APPROACH IN
TRASH CONTRACT WILL SAVE A
MILLION DOLLARS OVER TWO YEARS.

ADDING TO THE WASTE DEFERRALS
AND ADDING TO THE GIC CHANGES
THAT IS SIGNIFICANT.
WE HAVE TAKEN AWAY TAKE-HOME
VEHICLES.
WE CUT BACK ON OVERTIME.
WE HAVEN'T FILLED A NUMBER OF
POSITIONS SO WE CONTINUE DOWN
THAT ROAD.
WE HAVE A SOLID CONSERVATIVE
BUDGET THAT WE BUILT THIS YEAR
SO WE WILL BE READY FOR IT.
>> WHAT WOULD YOU TAKE GOING
FORWARD.
>> I PROPOSE A DETAILED PLAN,
ONE OF WHICH YOU TALK ABOUT
REGIONALIZATION HERE IN
QUINCEY, WE HAVE A DUAL 911
SYSTEM WHERE WE SOMEWHERE STATE
OF THE ART 911 SYSTEM AT THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THEN TWO
BLOCKS DOWN.
>> YOU TRIED TO GET RID OF THAT
ONCE BEFORE AND IT DIDN'T WORK.

>> I TOOK THE MONEY OUT OF THE
BUDGET AT THAT TIME AND I WILL
TAKE IT OUT AGAIN.
>> HERT WILL, WE WILL BE
WATCHING THIS RACE NEXT
TUESDAY.
GOOD LUCK TO BOTH OF YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Rooney: ALL RIGHT.