MassVoter.com← Medford City CouncilMedford City Council · 2022–2023 Council · Regular meeting
January 31, 2023
26 recorded votes, 22 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
Regular meeting
Suspend the rules to take Public Participation
At 7:03 p.m., Councillor Knight moved to suspend the rules to take Public Participation (Councillor Scarpelli second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“At 7:03 p.m., Councillor Knight moved to suspend the rules to take Public Participation (Councillor Scarpelli second)-approved..” (Motion: Knight, second: Scarpelli)
Public Participation
Revert to the regular order of business
At 7:57 p.m., Councillor Scarpelli moved to revert to the regular order of business (Vice President Bears second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“At 7:57 p.m., Councillor Scarpelli moved to revert to the regular order of business (Vice President Bears second)-approved..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Bears)
Announcements, Accolades, Remembrances, Reports, and Records
Approval — Paper 23-019: Resolution: the Medford City Council hold a moment of silence in memory of Governor's Councilor Michael J
Councillor Knight moved for approval (Vice President Bears second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved for approval (Vice President Bears second)-approved..” (Motion: Knight, second: Bears)
Approval — Paper 23-020: Resolution: the Medford City Council wish John Granara a happy 80th Birthday
Councillor Knight moved for approval (Councillor Tseng second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved for approval (Councillor Tseng second)-approved..” (Motion: Knight, second: Tseng)
Approval — Paper 23-021: Resolution: the Medford City hold a moment of silence in honor of the late former Senate President Thomas Birmingham
Councillor Knight moved for approval (Vice President Bears second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved for approval (Vice President Bears second)-approved..” (Motion: Knight, second: Bears)
Approval — Paper 23-022: Resolution: the Medford City Council send its deepest and sincere condolences to the family of Tom Analetto on his recent passing
Councillor Caraviello moved for approval (Councillor Knight second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Caraviello moved for approval (Councillor Knight second)-approved..” (Motion: Caraviello, second: Knight)
Records
Table until the next meeting — Records of the meeting of January 17, 2023
Councillor Knight moved to table until the next meeting (Councillor Scarpelli second)-tabled until the next meeting.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved to table until the next meeting (Councillor Scarpelli second)-tabled until the next meeting..” (Motion: Knight, second: Scarpelli)
Reports of Committees
Approve all three Committee of the Whole Reports — Paper 23-018: January 24, 2023 Committee of the Whole Report. 23-018
Councillor Knight moved to approve all three Committee of the Whole Reports (Councillor Tseng second)-all three reports approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved to approve all three Committee of the Whole Reports (Councillor Tseng second)-all three reports approved..” (Motion: Knight, second: Tseng)
Hearings
Approve the license with the conditions presented to the Council in the written letter provided by Attorney Janelle Austin, based on the Council's previous meeting (President Morell read the...
Vice President Bears moved to approve the license with the conditions presented to the Council in the written letter provided by Attorney Janelle Austin, based on the Council's previous meeting (President Morell read the conditions into the record; they are attached here as a pdf and a hard copy is also attached after the last page of these records) (Councillor Knight second)-approved, with conditions as outlined above, on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Bears moved to approve the license with the conditions presented to the Council in the written letter provided by Attorney Janelle Austin, based on the Council's previous meeting (President Morell read the conditions into the record; they are attached here as a pdf and a hard copy is also attached after the last page of these records) (Councillor Knight second)-approved, with conditions as outlined above, on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Bears, second: Knight)
Petitions, Presentations, and Similar Papers
Approval — Paper 23-029: Petition for Common Victualler License by Vimal Patel, 265 Oakland Avenue, Methuen, MA 01844, for Daily Mart at 267 Spring Street, Medford, MA 02155
Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval (Councillor Knight second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval (Councillor Knight second)-approved..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Knight)
Revert to the regular order of business
At 9:06 p.m., Councillor Knight 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 9:06 p.m., Councillor Knight moved to revert to the regular order of business (Councillor Tseng second)-approved..” (Motion: Knight, second: Tseng)
Approve the special permit with the condition that the permit go with the business and not with the property — Paper 22-412: petition from Starbucks Coffee, (Daniel Brennan, Permit Agent), 177...
Vice President Bears moved to approve the special permit with the condition that the permit go with the business and not with the property (Councillor Caraviello second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Bears moved to approve the special permit with the condition that the permit go with the business and not with the property (Councillor Caraviello second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Bears, second: Caraviello)
Motions, Orders, and Resolutions
Approval — Paper 23-023: Resolution: the Office of Planning, Development, and Sustainability provide language to the City Council to adopt the Specialized Municipal Opt-in Code option of the...
Vice President Bears moved for approval (Councillor Collins second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Vice President Bears moved for approval (Councillor Collins second)-approved..” (Motion: Bears, second: Collins)
Approval as amended — Paper 23-024: Resolution: the City Administration inform residents about the MBTA policy change to allow two bus trips and one subway trip on a single fare
Vice President Bears moved for approval as amended (Councillor Collins second)-approved as amended.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Vice President Bears moved for approval as amended (Councillor Collins second)-approved as amended..” (Motion: Bears, second: Collins)
Approval as amended, with a further request that this resolution appear on the next agenda — Paper 23-025: Resolution: the City Council invite a member of the City Administration, Neil Osborne,...
Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval as amended, with a further request that this resolution appear on the next agenda (Vice President Bears second)-approved as amended.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval as amended, with a further request that this resolution appear on the next agenda (Vice President Bears second)-approved as amended..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Bears)
Approval as amended — Paper 23-026: Resolution: the Elections Department and local US Postal Service communicate with residents about when they can expect to receive their census forms given...
Vice President Bears 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
“Vice President Bears moved for approval as amended (Councillor Tseng second)-approved as amended..” (Motion: Bears, second: Tseng)
Approval — Paper 23-027: Resolution: Up to $1,200 in credit each year for adding insulation or installing efficient windows and doors Up to 30% of the cost of installing battery storage Up to $600...
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)
Approval as amended — Paper 22-028: Resolution: Medford City Council, DPW, and Engineering Departments have Eversource re paint the lines on Winthrop Street that have faded in less than 3 months...
Councillor Caraviello moved for approval as amended (Councillor Knight 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 Knight second)-approved as amended..” (Motion: Caraviello, second: Knight)
Waive reading of the paper in lieu of a summary
Vice President Bears moved to waive reading of the paper in lieu of a summary (Councillor Tseng second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Vice President Bears moved to waive reading of the paper in lieu of a summary (Councillor Tseng second)-approved..” (Motion: Bears, second: Tseng)
Approve the paper for first reading — Paper 22-519: Amendment to Community Preservation Act Ordinance
Councillor Collins moved to approve the paper for first reading (Vice President Bears second)-approved for first reading on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Collins moved to approve the paper for first reading (Vice President Bears second)-approved for first reading on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Bears)
Communications from the Mayor
Approve the appropriations — Paper 23-018: Community Preservation Committee Appropriation Requests
Councillor Knight moved to approve the appropriations (Councillor Collins second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved to approve the appropriations (Councillor Collins second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Knight, second: Collins)
Take papers under suspension and in the hands of the Clerk
At 10:01 p.m., Councillor Scarpelli moved to take papers under suspension and in the hands of the Clerk (Councillor Tseng second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“At 10:01 p.m., Councillor Scarpelli moved to take papers under suspension and in the hands of the Clerk (Councillor Tseng second)-approved..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Tseng)
Approval — Paper 23-031: Resolution: the City Council address safety concerns in public parks dealing with dogs off-leash
Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval (Councillor Knight second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval (Councillor Knight second)-approved..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Knight)
Approval as amended — Paper 23-030: Resolution: has been closed for two years? Where are the funds that were allocated for that park? a) Councillor Caraviello offered an amendment requesting a...
Councillor Caraviello moved for approval as amended (Councillor Knight 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 Knight second)-approved as amended..” (Motion: Caraviello, second: Knight)
Approval — Paper 23-017: Home Rule Petition - Institutional Master Plans
Vice President Bears moved for approval (Councillor Scarpelli second)-approved 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 for approval (Councillor Scarpelli second)-approved on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Knight opposed..” (Motion: Bears, second: Scarpelli)
Adjournment
Adjourn at 10:08 p.m
Vice President Bears moved to adjourn at 10:08 p.m. (Councillor Collins second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Vice President Bears moved to adjourn at 10:08 p.m. (Councillor Collins second)-approved..” (Motion: Bears, second: Collins)
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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