MassVoter.com← Medford City CouncilMedford City Council · 2022–2023 Council · Regular meeting
June 20, 2023
18 recorded votes, 18 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, George A. Scarpelli, Justin Tseng, Nicole Morell
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
Announcements, Accolades, Remembrances, Reports, and Records
Approval — Records of the meeting of June 6, 2023
Councillor Caraviello moved for approval (Councillor Collins second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Caraviello moved for approval (Councillor Collins second)-approved..” (Motion: Caraviello, second: Collins)
Councillor Collins moved for approval (Vice President Bears second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Collins moved for approval (Vice President Bears second)-approved..” (Motion: Collins, second: Bears)
Reports of Committees
Approval on all committee reports — Paper 23-320: June 13, 2023 Committee of the Whole Report (FY 24 Budget). 23-320
Vice President Bears moved for approval on all committee reports (Councillor Collins second)-all committee reports approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Vice President Bears moved for approval on all committee reports (Councillor Collins second)-all committee reports approved..” (Motion: Bears, second: Collins)
Suspend the rules to take Public Participation
At 7:04 p.m., Vice President Bears moved to suspend the rules to take Public Participation (Councillor Tseng second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“At 7:04 p.m., Vice President Bears moved to suspend the rules to take Public Participation (Councillor Tseng second)-approved..” (Motion: Bears, second: Tseng)
Public Participation
Approval — Paper 23-337: Resolution: the Medford City Council send its deepest condolences to the family of Fred Reda, a long-time Medford resident and volunteer for the Medford Youth and United...
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 — Paper 23-336: Offered Under Suspension by Councillor Tseng, Vice President Bears, and Councillor Collins
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)
Hearings
Approve the special permit for drive-through, with the conditions recommended by the Community Development Board, with the condition that the permit go with the business and not with the address,...
Vice President Bears moved to approve the special permit for drive-through, with the conditions recommended by the Community Development Board, with the condition that the permit go with the business and not with the address, and with the condition including a 30-, 60-, and 90-day review from the date of opening (Councillor Collins second)-approved, with conditions, on a roll call vote of five in favor and two (Councillor Knight and Councillor Scarpelli) opposed.
Yes: Bears, Caraviello, Collins, Morell, TsengNo: Knight, Scarpelli
From the minutes
“Vice President Bears moved to approve the special permit for drive-through, with the conditions recommended by the Community Development Board, with the condition that the permit go with the business and not with the address, and with the condition including a 30-, 60-, and 90-day review from the date of opening (Councillor Collins second)-approved, with conditions, on a roll call vote of five in favor and two (Councillor Knight and Councillor Scarpelli) opposed..” (Motion: Bears, second: Collins)
Approval on the special permit for hours, with the conditions that the permit go with the business and not the address, and with the condition including a 30-, 60-, and 90-day review from the date...
Vice President Bears moved for approval on the special permit for hours, with the conditions that the permit go with the business and not the address, and with the condition including a 30-, 60-, and 90-day review from the date of opening (Councillor Collins second)-failed on a roll call vote of three (Vice President Bears, Councillor Collins and Councillor Tseng) in favor and four (Councillor Caraviello, Councillor Knight, Councillor Scarpelli, and President Morell) opposed.
Yes: Bears, Collins, TsengNo: Caraviello, Knight, Morell, Scarpelli
From the minutes
“Vice President Bears moved for approval on the special permit for hours, with the conditions that the permit go with the business and not the address, and with the condition including a 30-, 60-, and 90-day review from the date of opening (Councillor Collins second)-failed on a roll call vote of three (Vice President Bears, Councillor Collins and Councillor Tseng) in favor and four (Councillor Caraviello, Councillor Knight, Councillor Scarpelli, and President Morell) opposed..” (Motion: Bears, second: Collins)
Approve the special permit waiving the off-street loading requirements — Paper 23-319: Legal notice medford city clerk's office
Councillor Collins moved to approve the special permit waiving the off-street loading requirements (Vice President Bears second)-failed on a roll call vote of four (Vice President Bears, Councillor Collins, Councillor Tseng, and President Morell) in favor and three (Councillor Caraviello, Councillor Knight, and Councillor Scarpelli) opposed.
Yes: Bears, Collins, Morell, TsengNo: Caraviello, Knight, ScarpelliThe records record the motion as failing although the yes votes (4) outnumber the no votes (3); some council votes need a two-thirds majority.
From the minutes
“Councillor Collins moved to approve the special permit waiving the off-street loading requirements (Vice President Bears second)-failed on a roll call vote of four (Vice President Bears, Councillor Collins, Councillor Tseng, and President Morell) in favor and three (Councillor Caraviello, Councillor Knight, and Councillor Scarpelli) opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Bears)
Approve the site plan review, including the four conditions from the Community Development Board (see above); and with an additional condition requiring sealed trash receptacles for customer use;...
Vice President Bears moved to approve the site plan review, including the four conditions from the Community Development Board (see above); and with an additional condition requiring sealed trash receptacles for customer use; an additional condition requiring baffles for the HVAC system to soundproof the system; an additional condition disallowing idling during any deliveries to the facility; an additional condition requiring quarterly reports to the Medford Health Department from the business's pest control vendor; and a condition requiring that the business explore different route options for delivery trucks, including Commercial Street (Councillor Collins second)-approved, with conditions, pending the six-day public comment period, on a roll call vote of five in favor and two (Councillor Knight and Councillor Scarpelli) opposed.
Yes: Bears, Caraviello, Collins, Morell, TsengNo: Knight, Scarpelli
From the minutes
“Vice President Bears moved to approve the site plan review, including the four conditions from the Community Development Board (see above); and with an additional condition requiring sealed trash receptacles for customer use; an additional condition requiring baffles for the HVAC system to soundproof the system; an additional condition disallowing idling during any deliveries to the facility; an additional condition requiring quarterly reports to the Medford Health Department from the business's pest control vendor; and a condition requiring that the business explore different route options for delivery trucks, including Commercial Street (Councillor Collins second)-approved, with conditions, pending the six-day public comment period, on a roll call vote of five in favor and two (Councillor Knight and Councillor Scarpelli) opposed..” (Motion: Bears, second: Collins)
Motions, Orders, and Resolutions
Approval — Paper 23-330: Resolution: the Medford City Council request a paper from the Mayor enabling the adoption of an additional 2% COLA for Medford Retirees prior to June 30th deadline for passage
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 23-331: Resolution: the City Council ask the Election Commission to present a corrected version of the 2023 Election Calendar that has to do with statements and time dealing with...
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)
Communications from the Mayor
End debate on the budget — Paper 23-320: Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Submission - Amended 6/14/2023
At 11:16 p.m., Vice President Bears moved to end debate on the budget (Councillor Knight second)-failed on a roll call vote of three (Vice President Bears, Councillor Knight, and Councillor Tseng) in favor and four (Councillor Caraviello, Councillor Collins, Councillor Scarpelli, and President Morell) opposed.
Yes: Bears, Knight, TsengNo: Caraviello, Collins, Morell, Scarpelli
From the minutes
“At 11:16 p.m., Vice President Bears moved to end debate on the budget (Councillor Knight second)-failed on a roll call vote of three (Vice President Bears, Councillor Knight, and Councillor Tseng) in favor and four (Councillor Caraviello, Councillor Collins, Councillor Scarpelli, and President Morell) opposed..” (Motion: Bears, second: Knight)
Approve the budget — Paper 23-320: Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Submission - Amended 6/14/2023
Councillor Collins moved to approve the budget (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of four (Vice President Bears, Councillor Collins, Councillor Tseng, and President Morell) in favor and three (Councillor Caraviello, Councillor Knight, and Councillor Scarpelli) opposed.
Yes: Bears, Collins, Morell, TsengNo: Caraviello, Knight, Scarpelli
From the minutes
“Councillor Collins moved to approve the budget (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of four (Vice President Bears, Councillor Collins, Councillor Tseng, and President Morell) in favor and three (Councillor Caraviello, Councillor Knight, and Councillor Scarpelli) opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Approval on the amended Water and Sewer Budget — Paper 23-333: Fiscal Year 2024 Water & Sewer Budget Submission - Amended 6/14/2023
Vice President Bears moved for approval on the amended Water and Sewer Budget (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of five in favor and two (Councillor Knight and Councillor Scarpelli) opposed.
Yes: Bears, Caraviello, Collins, Morell, TsengNo: Knight, Scarpelli
From the minutes
“Vice President Bears moved for approval on the amended Water and Sewer Budget (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of five in favor and two (Councillor Knight and Councillor Scarpelli) opposed..” (Motion: Bears, second: Tseng)
Approve the year-end transfers — Paper 23-334: Fiscal Year 2023 Year End Transfers
Vice President Bears moved to approve the year-end transfers (Councillor Collins second)-approved on a roll call vote of five in favor and two (Councillor Caraviello and Councillor Scarpelli) opposed.
Yes: Bears, Collins, Knight, Morell, TsengNo: Caraviello, Scarpelli
From the minutes
“Vice President Bears moved to approve the year-end transfers (Councillor Collins second)-approved on a roll call vote of five in favor and two (Councillor Caraviello and Councillor Scarpelli) opposed..” (Motion: Bears, second: Collins)
Refer the paper to the Committee of the Whole — Paper 23-335: Stabilization Fund Establishment and Funding
Councillor Knight moved to refer the paper to the Committee of the Whole (Councillor Scarpelli second)-referred to the Committee of the Whole.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved to refer the paper to the Committee of the Whole (Councillor Scarpelli second)-referred to the Committee of the Whole..” (Motion: Knight, second: Scarpelli)
Adjournment
Adjourn at 12:06 a.m
Councillor Knight moved to adjourn at 12:06 a.m. (Councillor Tseng second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved to adjourn at 12:06 a.m. (Councillor Tseng second)-approved..” (Motion: Knight, second: Tseng)
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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