MassVoter.com← Medford City CouncilMedford City Council · 2020–2021 Council · Regular meeting
August 25, 2020
26 recorded votes, 3 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF)
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Attendance
Present: Zac Bears, Richard F. Caraviello, Adam Knight, Michael J. Marks, Nicole Morell, George A. Scarpelli, John C. Falco
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
Records
Suspend the rules to take paper 20-521
At 7:04 p.m., Councillor Marks moved to suspend the rules to take paper 20-521 (Vice President Caraviello second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“At 7:04 p.m., Councillor Marks moved to suspend the rules to take paper 20-521 (Vice President Caraviello second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Marks, second: Caraviello)
Motions, Orders and Resolutions
Approval — Paper 20-521: Resolution: the sidewalks on Dutton Circle be replaced in the interest of public safety
Councillor Knight moved for approval (Vice President Caraviello second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved for approval (Vice President Caraviello second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Knight, second: Caraviello)
Merge all the papers — Paper 20-519: Resolution: SECTION ONE: The Revised Ordinances, City of Medford, Massachusetts, is hereby amended by adding the following Chapter, to be numbered "Chapter...
Councillor Knight moved to merge all the papers (Councillor Scarpelli second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved to merge all the papers (Councillor Scarpelli second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Knight, second: Scarpelli)
Refer the merged papers to the Committee of the Whole for further action — Paper 20-519: Resolution: SECTION ONE: The Revised Ordinances, City of Medford, Massachusetts, is hereby amended by...
Councillor Knight moved to refer the merged papers to the Committee of the Whole for further action (Councillor Scarpelli second)-referred to the Committee of the Whole on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved to refer the merged papers to the Committee of the Whole for further action (Councillor Scarpelli second)-referred to the Committee of the Whole on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Knight, second: Scarpelli)
Revert to the regular order of business
At 7:25 p.m., Councillor Knight moved to revert to the regular order of business (Councillor Bears second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“At 7:25 p.m., Councillor Knight moved to revert to the regular order of business (Councillor Bears second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Knight, second: Bears)
Approval as amended — Paper 20-503: Resolution: the Medford City Council request that the City Administration implement beautification standards for establishments granted preliminary outdoor...
Councillor Knight moved for approval as amended (Vice President Caraviello second)-passed as amended on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved for approval as amended (Vice President Caraviello second)-passed as amended on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Knight, second: Caraviello)
Approval on the B-Paper — Paper 20-505: Resolution: the Medford City Council request that the City Solicitor provide a draft zoning amendment authorizing the construction of accessory dwelling...
Councillor Bears moved for approval on the B-Paper (Vice President Caraviello second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Bears moved for approval on the B-Paper (Vice President Caraviello second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Bears, second: Caraviello)
Approval on the main paper — Paper 20-505: Resolution: the Medford City Council request that the City Solicitor provide a draft zoning amendment authorizing the construction of accessory dwelling...
Councillor Knight moved for approval on the main paper (Councillor Bears second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved for approval on the main paper (Councillor Bears second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Knight, second: Bears)
Consolidate the paper with paper 20-518 — Paper 20-506: Resolution: the City Administration provide an update on the impact of the state budget process on the city budget and how the funding...
Councillor Knight moved to consolidate the paper with paper 20-518 (Councillor Bears second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved to consolidate the paper with paper 20-518 (Councillor Bears second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Knight, second: Bears)
Approval as amended — Paper 20-518: Mayor’s request: approves to amend the school budget for fiscal 2021 from $61,250,000 to $62,339,537 which is an increase of $1,089,537
Councillor Knight moved for approval as amended (Councillor Bears second)-passed as amended on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved for approval as amended (Councillor Bears second)-passed as amended on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Knight, second: Bears)
Suspend the rules to take Communications from the Mayor
At 8:17 p.m., Councillor Bears moved to suspend the rules to take Communications from the Mayor (Vice President Caraviello second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“At 8:17 p.m., Councillor Bears moved to suspend the rules to take Communications from the Mayor (Vice President Caraviello second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Bears, second: Caraviello)
Communications from the Mayor
Table until the Council receives a communication from the School Committee on how this money will be spent — Paper 20-516: To The Honorable President and Members of the Medford City Council City...
Councillor Marks moved to table until the Council receives a communication from the School Committee on how this money will be spent (Councillor Scarpelli second)-tabled on a roll call vote of five in favor and two (Councillors Bears and Morell) opposed.
Yes: Caraviello, Falco, Knight, Marks, ScarpelliNo: Bears, Morell
From the minutes
“Councillor Marks moved to table until the Council receives a communication from the School Committee on how this money will be spent (Councillor Scarpelli second)-tabled on a roll call vote of five in favor and two (Councillors Bears and Morell) opposed..” (Motion: Marks, second: Scarpelli)
Table — Paper 20-517: To The Honorable President and Members of the Medford City Council City Hall Medford, MA 02155
Councillor Knight moved to table (Councillor Scarpelli second)-tabled on a roll call vote of five in favor and two (Councillors Bears and Morell) opposed.
Yes: Caraviello, Falco, Knight, Marks, ScarpelliNo: Bears, Morell
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved to table (Councillor Scarpelli second)-tabled on a roll call vote of five in favor and two (Councillors Bears and Morell) opposed..” (Motion: Knight, second: Scarpelli)
Revert to the regular order of business
At 8:48 p.m., Councillor Marks moved to revert to the regular order of business (Vice President Caraviello second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“At 8:48 p.m., Councillor Marks moved to revert to the regular order of business (Vice President Caraviello second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Marks, second: Caraviello)
Councillor Knight questioned the ruling of the chair
Councillor Knight questioned the ruling of the chair (Vice President Caraviello second)-the appeal stood and the paper was voted out of order on a roll call vote of four in favor (Vice President Caraviello, Councillor Knight, Councillor Marks, Councillor Scarpelli) and three opposed (Councillor Bears, Councillor Morell, President Falco).
Yes: Caraviello, Knight, Marks, ScarpelliNo: Bears, Falco, Morell
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight questioned the ruling of the chair (Vice President Caraviello second)-the appeal stood and the paper was voted out of order on a roll call vote of four in favor (Vice President Caraviello, Councillor Knight, Councillor Marks, Councillor Scarpelli) and three opposed (Councillor Bears, Councillor Morell, President Falco)..” (Motion: Knight, second: Caraviello)
Approval as amended — Paper 20-510: Resolution: the Medford City Council request that Chief Buckley examine the hiring of using recently retired police officers for details the go unamed in the...
Vice President Caraviello moved for approval as amended (Councillor Bears second)-passed as amended on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Caraviello moved for approval as amended (Councillor Bears second)-passed as amended on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Caraviello, second: Bears)
Approval — Paper 20-511: Resolution: Medford Public Library Foundation Vice Chairman Caraviello give a brief update on the Medford Public Library Foundation happenings
Vice President Caraviello moved for approval (Councillor Bears second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Caraviello moved for approval (Councillor Bears second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Caraviello, second: Bears)
Approval — Paper 20-512: Resolution: the Medford City Council request the City Administration have the DPW immediately repair the 2 sidewalk panels at Saint Raphael's Church in the interest of...
Councillor Knight moved for approval (Councillor Bears second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved for approval (Councillor Bears second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Knight, second: Bears)
Refer the paper to the Subcommittee on Cultural Arts and History — Paper 20-513: Resolution: the Medford City Council hold a hearing and invite the Director of Diversity, Director of Public...
Councillor Morell moved to refer the paper to the Subcommittee on Cultural Arts and History (Councillor Bears second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Morell moved to refer the paper to the Subcommittee on Cultural Arts and History (Councillor Bears second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Morell, second: Bears)
Refer the paper to the Subcommittee on Cultural Arts and History — Paper 20-515: Resolution: the possibility of a Percent for Art program for the City of Medford be discussed
Councillor Morell moved to refer the paper to the Subcommittee on Cultural Arts and History (Vice President Caraviello second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Morell moved to refer the paper to the Subcommittee on Cultural Arts and History (Vice President Caraviello second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Morell, second: Caraviello)
Approval — Paper 20-520: Whereas, the U.S. Census Bureau is required by the U.S. Constitution to conduct a count of the population every ten years, and this count provides a historic op
Councillor Bears moved for approval (Councillor Knight second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Bears moved for approval (Councillor Knight second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Bears, second: Knight)
Public Participation
Approval — Paper 20-482: July 27, 2020 Committee of the Whole Report. 20-482
Councillor Bears moved for approval (Vice President Caraviello second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Bears moved for approval (Vice President Caraviello second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Bears, second: Caraviello)
Table until completion of the ordinance — Paper 19-659 & 20-042: July 27, 2020 Committee of the Whole Report
Councillor Knight moved to table until completion of the ordinance (Councillor Bears second)-tabled on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved to table until completion of the ordinance (Councillor Bears second)-tabled on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Knight, second: Bears)
Table until completion of the ordinance — Paper 19-659 & 20-042: August 19, 2020 Committee of the Whole Report
Councillor Knight moved to table until completion of the ordinance (Councillor Bears second)-tabled on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved to table until completion of the ordinance (Councillor Bears second)-tabled on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Knight, second: Bears)
Records
Table until the next meeting — Records of the meeting of July 28, 2020
Vice President Caraviello moved to table until the next meeting (Councillor Bears second)-tabled on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Caraviello moved to table until the next meeting (Councillor Bears second)-tabled on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Caraviello, second: Bears)
Adjournment
Adjourn at 10:03 p.m
Councillor Bears moved to adjourn at 10:03 p.m. (Vice President Caraviello second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Bears moved to adjourn at 10:03 p.m. (Vice President Caraviello second)-passed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Bears, second: Caraviello)
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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