MassVoter.com← Medford City CouncilMedford City Council · 2022–2023 Council · Regular meeting
January 17, 2023
15 recorded votes, 14 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF)
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Attendance
Present: Zac Bears, Richard F. Caraviello, Kit Collins, Adam Knight, Nicole Morell, George A. Scarpelli, Justin Tseng
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
Announcements, Accolades, Remembrances, Reports, and Records
Approval — Paper 23-011: Resolution: the City Council recognize Lunar New Year and wish our residents who celebrate a happy new year and joyous holiday season
Councillor Tseng moved for approval (Councillor Caraviello second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved for approval (Councillor Caraviello second)-approved..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Caraviello)
Records
Approval — Records of the meeting of January 10, 2023
Councillor Collins moved for approval (Councillor Knight second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Collins moved for approval (Councillor Knight second)-approved..” (Motion: Collins, second: Knight)
Hearings
Keep the public hearing open until January 31, 2023
Vice President Bears moved to keep the public hearing open until January 31, 2023 (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote with seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Bears moved to keep the public hearing open until January 31, 2023 (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote with seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Bears, second: Tseng)
Have the City Council President, the City Clerk, and legal counsel assigned to the City Council by the Administration compile the list of conditions that have been discussed tonight into a single...
Vice President Bears moved to have the City Council President, the City Clerk, and legal counsel assigned to the City Council by the Administration compile the list of conditions that have been discussed tonight into a single document, and that that document be shared with all parties involved prior to the continuation of the public hearing on January 31 (Councillor Tseng second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Vice President Bears moved to have the City Council President, the City Clerk, and legal counsel assigned to the City Council by the Administration compile the list of conditions that have been discussed tonight into a single document, and that that document be shared with all parties involved prior to the continuation of the public hearing on January 31 (Councillor Tseng second)-approved..” (Motion: Bears, second: Tseng)
Approval on the special permit, pending the six-day comment period — Paper 22-412: petition from Starbucks Coffee, (Daniel Brennan, Permit Agent), 177 College Ave
Councillor Caraviello moved for approval on the special permit, pending the six-day comment period (Councillor Knight second)-President Morell declared the paper approved, pending the six-day comment period on a roll call vote of four in favor (Councillor Caraviello, Councillor Scarpelli, Councillor Tseng and President Morell) and three opposed (Vice President Bears, Councillor Collins, and Councillor Knight).
Yes: Caraviello, Morell, Scarpelli, TsengNo: Bears, Collins, Knight
From the minutes
“Councillor Caraviello moved for approval on the special permit, pending the six-day comment period (Councillor Knight second)-President Morell declared the paper approved, pending the six-day comment period on a roll call vote of four in favor (Councillor Caraviello, Councillor Scarpelli, Councillor Tseng and President Morell) and three opposed (Vice President Bears, Councillor Collins, and Councillor Knight)..” (Motion: Caraviello, second: Knight)
Motions, Orders, and Resolutions
Approval as amended — Paper 23-012: Resolution: we request that DCR share its plan to fix the issues this Spring with empty dirt pits and patches of weeds that have gone unfilled on the Fellsway...
Councillor Caraviello moved for approval as amended (Councillor Tseng second)-approved as amended.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Caraviello moved for approval as amended (Councillor Tseng second)-approved as amended..” (Motion: Caraviello, second: Tseng)
Approval — Paper 23-013: Resolution: the City Council ask the City Administration to look into creating an expanded list of sites around the City where City-sponsored events can be held in order...
Councillor Knight moved for approval (Councillor Caraviello second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved for approval (Councillor Caraviello second)-approved..” (Motion: Knight, second: Caraviello)
Approval — Paper 23-014: Resolution: the City Council ask the City Administration to increase access to sharps disposal in our city, focusing on accessibility, convenience, and cleaning up refuse...
Councillor Caraviello moved for approval (Vice President Bears second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Caraviello moved for approval (Vice President Bears second)-approved..” (Motion: Caraviello, second: Bears)
Reconsider Paper 22-412 — Paper 23-014: Resolution: the City Council ask the City Administration to increase access to sharps disposal in our city, focusing on accessibility, convenience, and...
Councillor Caraviello moved to reconsider Paper 22-412 (Vice President Bears second)-approved, and the paper was reconsidered.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Caraviello moved to reconsider Paper 22-412 (Vice President Bears second)-approved, and the paper was reconsidered..” (Motion: Caraviello, second: Bears)
Table the paper until the January 31 meeting, with a further request that legal counsel be present at the meeting — Paper 23-014: Resolution: the City Council ask the City Administration to...
Vice President Bears moved to table the paper until the January 31 meeting, with a further request that legal counsel be present at the meeting (Councillor Tseng second)-tabled until January 31 with a further request that legal counsel be present, on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Knight opposed.
Yes: Bears, Caraviello, Collins, Morell, Scarpelli, TsengNo: Knight
From the minutes
“Vice President Bears moved to table the paper until the January 31 meeting, with a further request that legal counsel be present at the meeting (Councillor Tseng second)-tabled until January 31 with a further request that legal counsel be present, on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Knight opposed..” (Motion: Bears, second: Tseng)
Revert to the regular order of business
At 9:20 p.m., Vice President Bears moved to revert to the regular order of business (Councillor Tseng second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“At 9:20 p.m., Vice President Bears moved to revert to the regular order of business (Councillor Tseng second)-approved..” (Motion: Bears, second: Tseng)
Refer the paper to the Subcommittee on Business, Cultural Arts, and Economic Development for further discussion with legal counsel, package store owners, the Liquor Commission, and the Chamber of...
Councillor Caraviello moved to refer the paper to the Subcommittee on Business, Cultural Arts, and Economic Development for further discussion with legal counsel, package store owners, the Liquor Commission, and the Chamber of Commerce (Councillor Tseng second)-referred to the Subcommittee on Business, Cultural Arts, and Economic Development.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Caraviello moved to refer the paper to the Subcommittee on Business, Cultural Arts, and Economic Development for further discussion with legal counsel, package store owners, the Liquor Commission, and the Chamber of Commerce (Councillor Tseng second)-referred to the Subcommittee on Business, Cultural Arts, and Economic Development..” (Motion: Caraviello, second: Tseng)
Communications from the Mayor
Receive and place on file — Paper 23-016: Proposed ARPA Project in Excess of $250k
Councillor Caraviello moved to receive and place on file (Vice President Bears second)-received and placed on file.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Caraviello moved to receive and place on file (Vice President Bears second)-received and placed on file..” (Motion: Caraviello, second: Bears)
Table — Paper 23-017: Home Rule Petition - Institutional Master Plans
Councillor Knight moved to table (Councillor Scarpelli second)-tabled.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved to table (Councillor Scarpelli second)-tabled..” (Motion: Knight, second: Scarpelli)
Adjournment
Adjourn at 9:39 p.m
Councillor Tseng moved to adjourn at 9:39 p.m. (Councillor Caraviello second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved to adjourn at 9:39 p.m. (Councillor Caraviello second)-approved..” (Motion: Tseng, 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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