Quincy — The Ordinance Committee opened a formal hearing to question contractors about a serious on‑site injury that occurred Oct. 22 but did not hear testimony from the companies involved after both declined to attend while investigations are active.

The committee chair described the incident to members: "an employee of Riley Brothers who was doing work on a city contract ... received extensive extensive bodily injury, due to the lack of, frankly, just care by his supervisors that were on‑site," and said the council had unanimously voted to call Riley Brothers before the committee to answer questions and be held to city standards. The chair added it was "extremely disappointing" to learn it was not Riley Brothers' first on‑site incident in Quincy.

Councillor de Vona noted the Laborers Union was present and identified Paul Goodrich as an on‑site labor representative who could provide oversight or future testimony. The committee chair said both Riley Brothers and National Grid had sent letters stating they would not appear "because it's an ongoing investigation" but that they had offered to provide information after the investigations conclude. "They just said not right now," the chair said, and the letters were placed in the public packet.

The committee adjourned at 6:42 p.m. and the chair urged that once investigations conclude, the companies be invited to return and answer questions in public.