MassVoter.com← Medford City CouncilMedford City Council · 2022–2023 Council · Regular meeting
September 5, 2023
22 recorded votes, 2 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 — Paper 23-390: Resolution: the Medford City Council send its deepest and sincere condolences to the family of John Garrity on his recent passing
Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval (Councillor Caraviello second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval (Councillor Caraviello second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Caraviello)
Approval — Paper 23-406: Resolution: the Medford City Council commend and congratulate Scott and Gary Farber on celebrating 134 years in business
Councillor Caraviello moved for approval (Councillor Knight second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Caraviello moved for approval (Councillor Knight second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Caraviello, second: Knight)
Records
Approval — Records of the meeting of August 15, 2023
Vice President Bears moved for approval (Councillor Caraviello second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Bears moved for approval (Councillor Caraviello second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Bears, second: Caraviello)
Reports of Committees
Approval — Paper 22-605: August 15, 2023 Committee of the Whole Report (Waste Hauler). 22-605
Vice President Bears moved for approval (Councillor Collins 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 (Councillor Collins second)-approved on a roll call vote of five in favor and two (Councillor Knight and Councillor Scarpelli) opposed..” (Motion: Bears, second: Collins)
Hearings
Approval, pending the 6-day public comment period — Paper 23-323: and Vice President Bears Proposed Amendments to the Medford Zoning Ordinance for June 2023 #1. Amend Table of Use and Parking...
Vice President Bears moved for approval, pending the 6-day public comment period (Councillor Tseng second)-approved, pending the 6-day public comment period, on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Bears moved for approval, pending the 6-day public comment period (Councillor Tseng second)-approved, pending the 6-day public comment period, on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Bears, second: Tseng)
Suspend the rules to take Papers 23-401, 23-402, 23-403, 23-404, 23-395, the Public Participation Petition, 23-400, and 23-405
At 7:49 p.m., Vice President Bears moved to suspend the rules to take Papers 23-401, 23-402, 23-403, 23-404, 23-395, the Public Participation Petition, 23-400, and 23-405 (Councillor Caraviello 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
“At 7:49 p.m., Vice President Bears moved to suspend the rules to take Papers 23-401, 23-402, 23-403, 23-404, 23-395, the Public Participation Petition, 23-400, and 23-405 (Councillor Caraviello second)-approved on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Knight opposed..” (Motion: Bears, second: Caraviello)
Communications from the Mayor
Approve the paper, and also moved to waive any further readings of the paper, so that the paper could be ordained — Paper 23-401: Proposed Wage Adjustment for Clerical Union
Councillor Knight further moved to approve the paper, and also moved to waive any further readings of the paper, so that the paper could be ordained (Councillor Scarpelli second)-all further readings waived, and paper approved to be ordained, on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight further moved to approve the paper, and also moved to waive any further readings of the paper, so that the paper could be ordained (Councillor Scarpelli second)-all further readings waived, and paper approved to be ordained, on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Knight, second: Scarpelli)
Approval — Paper 23-402: Community Preservation Committee Appropriation Requests On behalf of the Community Preservation Committee,
Councillor Knight moved for approval (Councillor Scarpelli second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved for approval (Councillor Scarpelli second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Knight, second: Scarpelli)
Waive reading, and further moved for approval
Councillor Caraviello moved to waive reading, and further moved for approval (Councillor Scarpelli second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Caraviello moved to waive reading, and further moved for approval (Councillor Scarpelli second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Caraviello, second: Scarpelli)
Motions, Orders, and Resolutions
Approval — Paper 23-395: Resolution: we request that the Mayor require the Building Department and Code Enforcement to proactively address the rampant violation of the Short Term Rental provisions...
Vice President Bears moved for approval (Councillor Collins second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Bears moved for approval (Councillor Collins second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Bears, second: Collins)
Public Participation
Approval as amended — Paper 23-393: Resolution: the Medford City Council have the T, Medford Disability Commission, Parking Commission address the issue of lack of Handicapped Parking at the Tufts...
Councillor Caraviello moved for approval as amended (Councillor Tseng second)-approved as amended on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Caraviello moved for approval as amended (Councillor Tseng second)-approved as amended on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Caraviello, second: Tseng)
Approval — Paper 23-400: Resolution: the City Administration provide a plan to increase civil code enforcement and inspectional services staffing, either with new funding or by reallocating...
Vice President Bears moved for approval (Councillor Knight second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Bears moved for approval (Councillor Knight second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Bears, second: Knight)
Approval on the B-Paper — Paper 23-405: Resolution: the City Administration provide a written explanation as to why the City Attorney defaulted on a court appearance related to 41 Emery Street...
Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval on the B-Paper (Vice President Bears second)-B-Paper approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval on the B-Paper (Vice President Bears second)-B-Paper approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Bears)
Approval, as amended, on the main paper — Paper 23-405: Resolution: the City Administration provide a written explanation as to why the City Attorney defaulted on a court appearance related to 41...
Councillor Caraviello moved for approval, as amended, on the main paper (Councillor Scarpelli second)-main paper approved as amended on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Caraviello moved for approval, as amended, on the main paper (Councillor Scarpelli second)-main paper approved as amended on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Caraviello, second: Scarpelli)
Revert to the regular order of business
At 9:38 p.m., Vice President Bears moved to revert to the regular order of business (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“At 9:38 p.m., Vice President Bears moved to revert to the regular order of business (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Bears, second: Tseng)
Petitions, Presentations, and Similar Papers
Waive reading in lieu of a synopsis from the sponsor
Councillor Knight moved to waive reading in lieu of a synopsis from the sponsor (Councillor Tseng second)-reading waived on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Knight moved to waive reading in lieu of a synopsis from the sponsor (Councillor Tseng second)-reading waived on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Knight, second: Tseng)
Refer the paper to the Subcommittee on Ordinances and Rules — Paper 23-391: Be it so Ordained: Ch. 78 Traffic and Vehicles NEW SECTION: 12 In the interest of public safety, liability,...
Vice President Bears moved to refer the paper to the Subcommittee on Ordinances and Rules (Councillor Caraviello second)-referred to the Subcommittee on Ordinances and Rules on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Bears moved to refer the paper to the Subcommittee on Ordinances and Rules (Councillor Caraviello second)-referred to the Subcommittee on Ordinances and Rules on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Bears, second: Caraviello)
Approval — Paper 23-392: Resolution: we stand in solidarity with ULTRA workers on strike and call on Tufts University leadership to return to the bargaining table and provide these workers with...
Councillor Collins moved for approval (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Collins moved for approval (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Approval — Paper 23-394: Resolution: the Medford City Council have the DPW repaint the crosswalk in front of 190 High Street in the interest of public safety
Councillor Caraviello moved for approval (Councillor Scarpelli second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Caraviello moved for approval (Councillor Scarpelli second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Caraviello, second: Scarpelli)
Refer the paper to the Subcommittee on Ordinances and Rules — Paper 23-398: Resolution: the Subcommittee on Ordinances and Rules meet to discuss ordinances creating a Gender Equity Commission and...
Councillor Tseng moved to refer the paper to the Subcommittee on Ordinances and Rules (Vice President Bears second)-referred to the Subcommittee on Ordinances and Rules on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved to refer the paper to the Subcommittee on Ordinances and Rules (Vice President Bears second)-referred to the Subcommittee on Ordinances and Rules on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Bears)
Approval as amended — Paper 23-399: Resolution: the City Council ask the Administration to place more waste disposals by the Mystic River to reduce trash by Medford Square and prepare for the...
Councillor Tseng moved for approval as amended (Councillor Collins second)-approved as amended on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved for approval as amended (Councillor Collins second)-approved as amended on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Collins)
Adjournment
Adjourn at 10:11 p.m
Councillor Tseng moved to adjourn at 10:11 p.m. (Councillor Knight second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved to adjourn at 10:11 p.m. (Councillor Knight second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Knight)
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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