Quincy Quarry News Weekly Fish Wrap: The Quarry is on fire!

Image via Coopers Fire

– News about Quincy Massachusetts from Quincy Quarry News with commentary added.

Wildfire scene in the Blue Hills
Still image from a CBS Boston/WBZ 4 YouTube

First up, Quincy Quarry News’ exclusive scoop that at least some of the recent spate of local wildfires are suspected to have been arson fires has been duly corroborated.

How so?

Many among the Quarry’s regional media brethren have subsequently covered the announcement by the Friends of the Blue Hills that is offering a reward for information that leads to the identification of the suspected firebug(s) along with word that the State Police is investigating at least certain of the fires.

Public Building’s Mr. Snippy
A City of Quincy head shot

Next up concurrently close enough, given the Memorial Day long holiday weekend providing a glorious start to the summer season, Quincy Quarry News fired up its grill.

First up for a grilling was the City of Quincy’s Public Building Commissioner for a variety of reasons even if not this time over his St. Patrick’s Day partying.

One reason for his grilling: his forced admission at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting that his longest running late as well as also running over budget project:to complete the renovation of a manse on Greenleaf Street for use as a (but, ed.) transitional headquarters for the Public Buildings Department is continuing to run even later.

One would think that self-interest would kick in to see this project completed, but apparently not.

Free garage parking for a patronage hack hire?!?!?!
A Quincy Quarry News exclusive file photo

Then again, rumor has it that the commissioner continues to park his old Ford Mustang Sunday ride in the manse’s garage that was originally stated to be demolished so as to develop more off street parking.for work-related rides tied to the Public Buildings Department.

In any event, how late is this project running?

The building was bought by the City of Quincy in 2017 and at the time the Public Buildings Commissioner asserted that the building would be made ready for use for his department as a headquarters no later than after the start of the year. 

See the de rigueur water feature for a city project, right foreground.
A Quincy Quarry News exclusive file photo

What year, however, remains to be actually seen.

Granted, while perhaps the renovation might actually finally be completely relatively soon, one can only reasonably assume with far greater certitude whenever it is completed it will be at a cost at least several times the original budget — if, that is, a proper project cost accounting were to ever be provided to the public who are footing the bill.

The commissioner was also pressed to acknowledge that the only somewhat less longer delayed plans for a new and permanent Quincy Animal Shelter are also yet again running late. 

The reason for this latest delay? 

The discovery of asbestos at the permanent animal shelter’s construction site.

A City on the move …
An iconic Quarry Quarry News file photo image

So what, apparently, for duly considering a forehand this possibility given that the site is amidst a former dumpsite.

Needless to conversely only have to add, no word of how much of a delay was offered, much less merely but a hint of a glint as to how much in additional costs will be caused by the discovery of asbestos.

And for the projects delayed trifecta, the running late and thus costs are soaring to at least $30 million special education facility, roughly twice the Koch Maladministration’s original cost projection, on Old Colony Street behind Central Middle School.

Further, this facility was originally projected to be ready to go as early as in the fall of 2020.

So much for promises made …
Image via Excalibur

Now, however, the opening date is slated for the start of a new school year in the fall of 2024.

Pending approval of the facility by the Massachusetts Dependent of Elementary and Secondary Education, that is.

And yes, all but needless to say, COVID was yet again recycled as the go to excuse posed by the commissioner rather than his owning up to merely but one of his own shortcomings.

QQ disclaimer