MassVoter.com← Medford City CouncilMedford City Council · 2024–2025 Council · Regular meeting
January 9, 2024
24 recorded votes, 21 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Attendance
Note on these minutes: The roll call in the records is blank; the records count all seven councillors voting, so all are shown present.
Present: George A. Scarpelli, Zac Bears, Kit Collins, Justin Tseng, Anna Callahan, Emily Lazzaro, Matt Leming
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
Election of Council Leadership
Close nominations
Councillor Collins moved to close nominations (Councillor Tseng second)-nominations closed.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Collins moved to close nominations (Councillor Tseng second)-nominations closed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Elect Zac Bears Council President for 2024
On a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Councillor Bears voting present
Yes: Callahan, Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, Scarpelli, TsengAbstained: BearsCouncillor Collins nominated Councillor Bears (Councillor Tseng seconded the nomination); he voted present.
From the minutes
“On a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Councillor Bears voting present.” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Close nominations
Councillor Tseng moved to close nominations (Councillor Councillor Leming second)-nominations closed.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved to close nominations (Councillor Councillor Leming second)-nominations closed..” (Motion: Tseng)
Elect Kit Collins Council Vice President for 2024
On a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Councillor Collins voting present
Yes: Bears, Callahan, Lazzaro, Leming, Scarpelli, TsengAbstained: CollinsCouncillor Tseng nominated Councillor Collins (Councillor Callahan seconded the nomination); she voted present.
From the minutes
“On a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Councillor Collins voting present.” (Motion: Tseng, second: Callahan)
Close nominations
Councillor Tseng moved to close nominations (Councillor Callahan second)-nominations closed.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved to close nominations (Councillor Callahan second)-nominations closed..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Callahan)
Appoint Lawrence Lepore City Messenger for 2024 and 2025
On a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed, the Council appointed Lawrence Lepore City Messenger for 2024 and 2025.
Vice President Collins nominated Lawrence Lepore (Councillor Scarpelli seconded the nomination).
From the minutes
“On a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed, the Council appointed Lawrence Lepore City Messenger for 2024 and 2025..” (Motion: Collins, second: Scarpelli)
Approval — Paper 24-004: Resolution: the Standing Committee Rules be adopted as the Standing Rules of the City Council insofar as they are applicable
Vice President Collins moved for approval (Councillor Scarpelli second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved for approval (Councillor Scarpelli second)-approved..” (Motion: Collins, second: Scarpelli)
Approval — Paper 24-005: Resolution: the City Council transfer all Papers in Committees or on the Table from the 2023 Council to the 2024 Council
Vice President Collins moved for approval (Councillor Scarpelli second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved for approval (Councillor Scarpelli second)-approved..” (Motion: Collins, second: Scarpelli)
Announcements, Accolades, Remembrances, Reports, and Records
Approval — Records of the meeting of December 19, 2023
Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval (Councillor Tseng second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval (Councillor Tseng second)-approved..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Tseng)
Reports of Committees
Approve the report — Paper 22-494: Offered by Isaac Bears, Council President Subcommittee on Ordinances and Rules Committee Report, December 20, 2023. 22-494
Councillor Collins moved to approve the report (Councillor Tseng second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Collins moved to approve the report (Councillor Tseng second)-approved..” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Suspend the rules to take Papers 24-012, 24-013, and 24-014 under suspension
At 7:21 p.m., Councillor Scarpelli moved to suspend the rules to take Papers 24-012, 24-013, and 24-014 under suspension (Vice President Collins second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“At 7:21 p.m., Councillor Scarpelli moved to suspend the rules to take Papers 24-012, 24-013, and 24-014 under suspension (Vice President Collins second)-approved..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Collins)
Join and approve all three papers — Paper 24-014: Resolution: the Medford City Council send the family of Ernest "Ernie" Ardolino our deepest condolences on his recent passing
Councillor Scarpelli moved to join and approve all three papers (Councillor Tseng second)-joined and approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved to join and approve all three papers (Councillor Tseng second)-joined and approved..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Tseng)
Revert to the regular order of business
At 7:28 p.m., Councillor Scarpelli moved to revert to the regular order of business (Vice President Collins second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“At 7:28 p.m., Councillor Scarpelli moved to revert to the regular order of business (Vice President Collins second)-approved..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Collins)
Hearings
Grant the special permit, with 30-and 60-day reviews — Paper 23-460: Hearing on a petition from Hua Li Enterprises dba Mei Ling's
Councillor Scarpelli moved to grant the special permit, with 30-and 60-day reviews (Vice President Collins second)-permit granted, with 30-and 60-day reviews, on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved to grant the special permit, with 30-and 60-day reviews (Vice President Collins second)-permit granted, with 30-and 60-day reviews, on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Collins)
Motions, Orders, and Resolutions
Approval — Paper 24-006: Resolution: Councilors submit items to be included in a 2024-2025 Medford City Council Governing Agenda document (draft template attached in packet) that will guide the...
Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval (Councillor Tseng second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval (Councillor Tseng second)-approved..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Tseng)
Approval — Paper 24-007: Resolution: "Rule 33 - Committees" of the Rules of the Medford City Council be amended to the following: "After the organization of the Council, the President of the...
Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval (Councillor Tseng second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval (Councillor Tseng second)-approved..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Tseng)
Refer the paper to the Planning and Permitting Committee — Paper 24-008: Resolution: the Fee Schedule of the City of Medford (Appendix A to the City Ordinances) be reviewed and updated
President Bears moved to refer the paper to the Planning and Permitting Committee (Councillor Scarpelli second)-referred to the Planning and Permitting Committee.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“President Bears moved to refer the paper to the Planning and Permitting Committee (Councillor Scarpelli second)-referred to the Planning and Permitting Committee..” (Motion: Bears, second: Scarpelli)
Refer the paper to the Board of Health — Paper 24-009: Resolution: we request that the Board of Health declare an annual state of emergency and implement an eviction moratorium each winter to...
President Bears moved to refer the paper to the Board of Health (Councillor Tseng second)-referred to the Board of Health.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“President Bears moved to refer the paper to the Board of Health (Councillor Tseng second)-referred to the Board of Health..” (Motion: Bears, second: Tseng)
Leave the paper on the table without a date certain attached
Vice President Bears moved to leave the paper on the table without a date certain attached (Councillor Tseng second)-tabled.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Vice President Bears moved to leave the paper on the table without a date certain attached (Councillor Tseng second)-tabled..” (Motion: Bears, second: Tseng)
Refer the paper to the Administration and Finance Committee for discussion with the Finance Director and the Chief Assessor — Paper 24-010: Resolution: the Medford City Council explore the...
Vice President Collins moved to refer the paper to the Administration and Finance Committee for discussion with the Finance Director and the Chief Assessor (Councillor Tseng second)-referred to the Administration and Finance Committee.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved to refer the paper to the Administration and Finance Committee for discussion with the Finance Director and the Chief Assessor (Councillor Tseng second)-referred to the Administration and Finance Committee..” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Refer the Paper to Traffic and Transportation Director Blake — Paper 24-011: Resolution: the Traffic and Transportation Director provide an update on when the City of Medford in partnership with...
President Bears moved to refer the Paper to Traffic and Transportation Director Blake (Councillor Lazzaro second)-referred to the Traffic and Transportation Director.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“President Bears moved to refer the Paper to Traffic and Transportation Director Blake (Councillor Lazzaro second)-referred to the Traffic and Transportation Director..” (Motion: Bears, second: Lazzaro)
Public Participation
Approval for third reading to be ordained — Paper 23-463: Loan Order - City Water System Bonds
Vice President Collins moved for approval for third reading to be ordained (Councillor Lazzaro second)-approved for third reading to be ordained on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved for approval for third reading to be ordained (Councillor Lazzaro second)-approved for third reading to be ordained on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Lazzaro)
Approval for third reading to be ordained — Paper 70-105: Reserved
Vice President Collins moved for approval for third reading to be ordained (Councillor Tseng second)-approved for third reading to be ordained on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved for approval for third reading to be ordained (Councillor Tseng second)-approved for third reading to be ordained on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Adjournment
Adjourn at 9:21 p.m
Vice President Collins moved to adjourn at 9:21 p.m. (Councillor Callahan second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved to adjourn at 9:21 p.m. (Councillor Callahan second)-approved..” (Motion: Collins, second: Callahan)
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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