MassVoter.com← Medford City CouncilMedford City Council · 2020–2021 Council · Regular meeting
January 7, 2020
29 recorded votes, 27 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF)
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Attendance
Present: Zac Bears, Richard F. Caraviello, John C. Falco, Adam Knight, Michael J. Marks, Nicole Morell, George A. Scarpelli
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
Motions, Order and Resolutions
Close nominations for Council President
Councillor Knight moved to close nominations for Council President (Councillor Bears second)-passed.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved to close nominations for Council President (Councillor Bears second)-passed..” (Motion: Knight, second: Bears)
Elect John C. Falco, Jr. Council President for 2020
On a roll call vote of six voting for Councillor Falco and Councillor Falco voting present, the Council elected John C. Falco, Jr. as President for 2020.
Yes: Bears, Caraviello, Knight, Marks, Morell, ScarpelliAbstained: FalcoCouncillor Knight nominated John C. Falco, Jr. (Councillor Bears second). Six councillors voted for Councillor Falco; he voted present.
From the minutes
“On a roll call vote of six voting for Councillor Falco and Councillor Falco voting present, the Council elected John C. Falco, Jr. as President for 2020..” (Motion: Knight, second: Bears)
Close nominations for Council Vice President
Councillor Marks moved to close nominations for Council Vice President (Councillor Scarpelli second)-passed.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Marks moved to close nominations for Council Vice President (Councillor Scarpelli second)-passed..” (Motion: Marks, second: Scarpelli)
Elect Richard F. Caraviello Council Vice President for 2020
On a roll call vote of six voting for Councillor Caraviello and Councillor Caraviello voting present, the Council elected Richard F. Caraviello as Vice President for 2020.
Yes: Bears, Falco, Knight, Marks, Morell, ScarpelliAbstained: CaravielloCouncillor Scarpelli nominated Richard F. Caraviello (Councillor Knight second). Six councillors voted for Councillor Caraviello; he voted present.
From the minutes
“On a roll call vote of six voting for Councillor Caraviello and Councillor Caraviello voting present, the Council elected Richard F. Caraviello as Vice President for 2020..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Knight)
Appoint Lawrence Lepore City Messenger
Vice President Caraviello nominated Lawrence Lepore to serve as City Messenger (Councillor Knight second)-passed.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Vice President Caraviello nominated Lawrence Lepore to serve as City Messenger (Councillor Knight second)-passed..” (Motion: Caraviello, second: Knight)
Approval — Paper 20-004: Resolution: the Standing Committee Rules be adopted as the Standing Rules of the City Council insofar as they are applicable
Vice President Caraviello moved for approval (Councillor Scarpelli second)-passed.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Vice President Caraviello moved for approval (Councillor Scarpelli second)-passed..” (Motion: Caraviello, second: Scarpelli)
Approval — Paper 20-005: Resolution: the City Council transfer all Papers in Committees or on the Table from the 2019 Council to the 2020 Council
Councillor Knight moved for approval (Councillor Scarpelli second)-passed.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved for approval (Councillor Scarpelli second)-passed..” (Motion: Knight, second: Scarpelli)
Approval — Paper 20-006: Resolution: the Medford City Council request that the City Solicitor provide the framework of a draft ordinance enabling the establishment of a City Beautification and...
Councillor Knight moved for approval (Vice President Caraviello second)-passed.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved for approval (Vice President Caraviello second)-passed..” (Motion: Knight, second: Caraviello)
Approval — Paper 20-007: Resolution: the Medford City Council request that representatives from the Eversource Pipeline Project appear before the City Council, on a no less than quarterly basis,...
Councillor Knight moved for approval (Councillor Bears second)-passed.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved for approval (Councillor Bears second)-passed..” (Motion: Knight, second: Bears)
Approval on the B-Paper — Paper 20-008: Resolution: the Medford City Council request that the City Traffic Engineer take the necessary steps to address the signal timing issues on Harvard Street...
Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval on the B-Paper (Vice President Caraviello second)-passed.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval on the B-Paper (Vice President Caraviello second)-passed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Caraviello)
Approval of the main paper as amended — Paper 20-008: Resolution: the Medford City Council request that the City Traffic Engineer take the necessary steps to address the signal timing issues on...
Councillor Knight moved for approval of the main paper as amended (Vice President Caraviello second)-passed.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved for approval of the main paper as amended (Vice President Caraviello second)-passed..” (Motion: Knight, second: Caraviello)
Suspend the rules to take Communications from the Mayor
At 7:30 p.m., Vice President Caraviello moved to suspend the rules to take Communications from the Mayor (Councillor Morell second)-passed.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“At 7:30 p.m., Vice President Caraviello moved to suspend the rules to take Communications from the Mayor (Councillor Morell second)-passed..” (Motion: Caraviello, second: Morell)
Communications from the Mayor
Councillor Knight offered an amendment to Section 1, striking the words "without further" and replacing them with "subject to" and returning the document to the Mayor with a request that the...
Councillor Knight offered an amendment to Section 1, striking the words "without further" and replacing them with "subject to" and returning the document to the Mayor with a request that the Administration make the amendment and resubmit the petition to the Council with the amended language (Councillor Bears second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight offered an amendment to Section 1, striking the words "without further" and replacing them with "subject to" and returning the document to the Mayor with a request that the Administration make the amendment and resubmit the petition to the Council with the amended language (Councillor Bears second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Knight, second: Bears)
Revert to the regular order of business
At 7:54 p.m., Vice President Caraviello moved to revert to the regular order of business (Councillor Bears second)-passed.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“At 7:54 p.m., Vice President Caraviello moved to revert to the regular order of business (Councillor Bears second)-passed..” (Motion: Caraviello, second: Bears)
Approval as amended — Paper 20-009: Resolution: the Medford City Council move forward on the Brewery Ordinance
Councillor Knight moved for approval as amended (Councillor Bears second)-passed.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved for approval as amended (Councillor Bears second)-passed..” (Motion: Knight, second: Bears)
Approval — Paper 20-010: Resolution: the Medford City Council hold a moment of silence in memory of Governor's Councilor Michael J
Councillor Knight moved for approval (Councillor Bears second)-passed.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved for approval (Councillor Bears second)-passed..” (Motion: Knight, second: Bears)
Approval — Paper 20-011: Resolution: the Medford City Council commend and congratulate Max Stephens, a member of the American Deaf Olympic Team for winning the Gold Medal in Italy
Vice President Caraviello moved for approval (Councillor Scarpelli second)-passed.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Vice President Caraviello moved for approval (Councillor Scarpelli second)-passed..” (Motion: Caraviello, second: Scarpelli)
Approval — Paper 20-012: Resolution: the Medford City Council request that the Green Bike that has been at the corner of Harvard Avenue and Mystic River Road be removed from the street
Vice President Caraviello moved for approval (Councillor Morell second)-passed.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Vice President Caraviello moved for approval (Councillor Morell second)-passed..” (Motion: Caraviello, second: Morell)
Waive reading of the paper in lieu of a summary from its sponsor
Councillor Marks moved to waive reading of the paper in lieu of a summary from its sponsor (Vice President Caraviello second)-passed.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Marks moved to waive reading of the paper in lieu of a summary from its sponsor (Vice President Caraviello second)-passed..” (Motion: Marks, second: Caraviello)
Approval — Paper 19-667: Whereas, Medford City Hall closes on Wednesday evening at 7:30pm, and on Friday afternoon at 12:30pm, and
Councillor Knight moved for approval (Councillor Scarpelli second)-failed on a roll call vote of Councillor Knight in favor and six opposed.
Yes: KnightNo: Bears, Caraviello, Falco, Marks, Morell, Scarpelli
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved for approval (Councillor Scarpelli second)-failed on a roll call vote of Councillor Knight in favor and six opposed..” (Motion: Knight, second: Scarpelli)
Take paper 19-483 for third reading
At 8:28 p.m., Councillor Knight moved to take paper 19-483 for third reading (Vice President Caraviello second)-passed.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“At 8:28 p.m., Councillor Knight moved to take paper 19-483 for third reading (Vice President Caraviello second)-passed..” (Motion: Knight, second: Caraviello)
Approval for third reading to be ordained — Paper 19-667: Whereas, Medford City Hall closes on Wednesday evening at 7:30pm, and on Friday afternoon at 12:30pm, and
Councillor Knight moved for approval for third reading to be ordained (Councillor Bears second)-approved for third reading to be ordained on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved for approval for third reading to be ordained (Councillor Bears second)-approved for third reading to be ordained on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Knight, second: Bears)
Take papers under suspension and in the hands of the Clerk
At 8:30 p.m., Councillor Marks moved to take papers under suspension and in the hands of the Clerk (Councillor Knight second)-passed.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“At 8:30 p.m., Councillor Marks moved to take papers under suspension and in the hands of the Clerk (Councillor Knight second)-passed..” (Motion: Marks, second: Knight)
Approval — Paper 20-014: Resolution: Mark Rumley be recognized for his many years of service to the City of Medford and its residents
Councillor Marks moved for approval (Councillor Bears second)-passed.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Marks moved for approval (Councillor Bears second)-passed..” (Motion: Marks, second: Bears)
Approval — Paper 20-015: Resolution: the Medford City Council congratulate the Honorable Sumbul Siddiqui on her election as Mayor of Cambridge and becoming the first Muslim Mayor in the history of...
Councillor Bears moved for approval (Councillor Scarpelli second)-passed.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Bears moved for approval (Councillor Scarpelli second)-passed..” (Motion: Bears, second: Scarpelli)
Allow a citizen to address the Council
At 8:45 p.m., while under suspension, Councillor Scarpelli moved to allow a citizen to address the Council (Councillor Marks second)-passed.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“At 8:45 p.m., while under suspension, Councillor Scarpelli moved to allow a citizen to address the Council (Councillor Marks second)-passed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Marks)
Approval as amended — Paper 20-016: Resolution: the Building Commissioner come before the Council and present an update on the 551 Winthrop Street/Winthrop Estates project
Vice President Caraviello moved for approval as amended (Councillor Morell second)-passed.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Vice President Caraviello moved for approval as amended (Councillor Morell second)-passed..” (Motion: Caraviello, second: Morell)
Records
Approval — Records of the meeting of December 17, 2019
Vice President Caraviello moved for approval (Councillor Marks second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Vice President Caraviello moved for approval (Councillor Marks second)-approved..” (Motion: Caraviello, second: Marks)
Adjournment
Adjourn
At 8:59 p.m., Vice President Caraviello moved to adjourn (Councillor Bears second)-passed.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“At 8:59 p.m., Vice President Caraviello moved to adjourn (Councillor Bears second)-passed..” (Motion: Caraviello, second: Bears)
From the Medford City Council’s official records (its minutes), posted in the city’s Municode document library (Council Records) and on its CivicClerk meeting portal. We check every vote against the councilors present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Councilor photos: City of Medford (medfordma.org), cropped from the captioned 2026 City Council photo on the official City Council page (Gotta Know Media). Justin Tseng: Harvard Law School. Former councilors show initials.
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