MassVoter.com← Medford City CouncilMedford City Council · 2024–2025 Council · Regular meeting
February 20, 2024
16 recorded votes, 5 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Attendance
Present: Anna Callahan, Kit Collins, Emily Lazzaro, Matt Leming, George A. Scarpelli, Justin Tseng, Zac Bears
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
Announcements, Accolades, Remembrances, Reports, and Records
Approval — Records of the meeting of February 6th, 2024
Vice President Collins moved for approval (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved for approval (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Suspend the rules to take Papers 24-044, 24-040, 24-039, 24-046, 23-411, 23-081, and 24-043 out of order
At 7:03 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to suspend the rules to take Papers 24-044, 24-040, 24-039, 24-046, 23-411, 23-081, and 24-043 out of order (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“At 7:03 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to suspend the rules to take Papers 24-044, 24-040, 24-039, 24-046, 23-411, 23-081, and 24-043 out of order (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Petitions, Presentations, and Similar Papers
Grant the license — Paper 24-044: Petition for Cleaning & Dyeing License by Antoine Vo, DUK Laundromat LLC, DBA Le's Laundry, 281 Boston Avenue, Medford, MA 02155
Councillor Scarpelli moved to grant the license (Councillor Lazzaro second)-license granted on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved to grant the license (Councillor Lazzaro second)-license granted on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Lazzaro)
Accept the election warrant — Paper 24-040: Commission Election Warrant - March 5, 2024 Presidential Preferential Primary
Councillor Scarpelli moved to accept the election warrant (Councillor Leming second)-warrant accepted on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved to accept the election warrant (Councillor Leming second)-warrant accepted on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Leming)
Communications from the Mayor
Approval — Paper 24-039: Local Option - Veteran's Exemption
Vice President Collins moved for approval (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved for approval (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Refer the paper to the Committee of the Whole for further discussion, with legal counsel present for that discussion — Paper 24-046: Removal of Fire Chief Position from Civil Service
Vice President Collins moved to refer the paper to the Committee of the Whole for further discussion, with legal counsel present for that discussion (Councillor Leming second)-referred to the Committee of the Whole for further discussion, with legal counsel, on a roll call vote of five in favor and Councillors Callahan and Scarpelli opposed.
Yes: Bears, Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, TsengNo: Callahan, Scarpelli
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved to refer the paper to the Committee of the Whole for further discussion, with legal counsel present for that discussion (Councillor Leming second)-referred to the Committee of the Whole for further discussion, with legal counsel, on a roll call vote of five in favor and Councillors Callahan and Scarpelli opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Leming)
Deny the motion to take the Chief's position out of civil service
Councillor Scarpelli moved to deny the motion to take the Chief's position out of civil service (Councillor Callahan second)-no vote taken because the action on the first motion referred the paper to the Committee of the Whole.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved to deny the motion to take the Chief's position out of civil service (Councillor Callahan second)-no vote taken because the action on the first motion referred the paper to the Committee of the Whole..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Callahan)
A brief recess — Paper 24-046: Removal of Fire Chief Position from Civil Service
At 10:03 p.m. Councillor Scarpelli moved for a brief recess (Councillor Lazzaro second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“At 10:03 p.m. Councillor Scarpelli moved for a brief recess (Councillor Lazzaro second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Lazzaro)
Approve the funding requests — Paper 24-043: Community Preservation Fund Annual Application Appropriations On behalf of the Community Preservation Committee,
Councillor Scarpelli moved to approve the funding requests (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved to approve the funding requests (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Tseng)
Hearings
Approve, and to adopt the conditions recommended by the Community Development Board, and to adopt the language recommended by Trees Medford, including a $50,000 mitigation payment to the City of...
Vice President Collins moved to approve, and to adopt the conditions recommended by the Community Development Board, and to adopt the language recommended by Trees Medford, including a $50,000 mitigation payment to the City of Medford by the Medford Housing Authority, exclusively for the cost of purchasing and planting additional trees at the direction of the Tree Warden (Councillor Leming second)-approved, with conditions from the Community Development Board adopted for site plan review, and including the language recommended by Trees Medford, on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved to approve, and to adopt the conditions recommended by the Community Development Board, and to adopt the language recommended by Trees Medford, including a $50,000 mitigation payment to the City of Medford by the Medford Housing Authority, exclusively for the cost of purchasing and planting additional trees at the direction of the Tree Warden (Councillor Leming second)-approved, with conditions from the Community Development Board adopted for site plan review, and including the language recommended by Trees Medford, on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Leming)
Revert to the regular order of business
At 11:29 p.m., Councillor Tseng moved to revert to the regular order of business (Vice President Collins second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“At 11:29 p.m., Councillor Tseng moved to revert to the regular order of business (Vice President Collins second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Collins)
Reports of Committees
Join and approve all Reports of Committees
Councillor Tseng moved to join and approve all Reports of Committees (Vice President Collins second)-joined and approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved to join and approve all Reports of Committees (Vice President Collins second)-joined and approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Collins)
Motions, Orders, and Resolutions
Refer the paper to the Public Health and Community Safety Committee — Paper 24-036: Resolution: the Public Health and Community Safety Committee discuss an Overgrowth Ordinance
Vice President Collins moved to refer the paper to the Public Health and Community Safety Committee (Councillor Tseng second)-referred to the Public Health and Community Safety Committee on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved to refer the paper to the Public Health and Community Safety Committee (Councillor Tseng second)-referred to the Public Health and Community Safety Committee on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Refer the paper to the Planning and Permitting Committee — Paper 24-042: Resolution: the Planning and Permitting Committee meet with relevant City staff to discuss and evaluate the implementation...
Vice President Collins moved to refer the paper to the Planning and Permitting Committee (Councillor Tseng second)-referred to the Planning and Permitting Committee on a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Councillor Callahan absent because of technological issues with her Zoom feed.
Yes: Bears, Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, Scarpelli, TsengThe records list Anna Callahan as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved to refer the paper to the Planning and Permitting Committee (Councillor Tseng second)-referred to the Planning and Permitting Committee on a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Councillor Callahan absent because of technological issues with her Zoom feed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Approval as amended — Paper 24-045: Resolution: the Council President requests City Councilors submit individual budget recommendations to the City Clerk by Friday, March 1, 2024 for consideration...
President Bears moved for approval as amended (Councillor Tseng second)-approved as amended on a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Councillor Callahan absent because of technological issues with her Zoom feed.
Yes: Bears, Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, Scarpelli, TsengThe records list Anna Callahan as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“President Bears moved for approval as amended (Councillor Tseng second)-approved as amended on a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Councillor Callahan absent because of technological issues with her Zoom feed..” (Motion: Bears, second: Tseng)
Unfinished Business
Adjourn at 12:02 a.m
Vice President Collins moved to adjourn at 12:02 a.m. (Councillor Leming second) approved on a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Councillor Callahan absent because of technological issues with her Zoom feed.
Yes: Bears, Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, Scarpelli, TsengThe records list Anna Callahan as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved to adjourn at 12:02 a.m. (Councillor Leming second) approved on a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Councillor Callahan absent because of technological issues with her Zoom feed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Leming)
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.
How to read these pagesWhere the votes come from, how we check them against the official minutes, what isn't included yet, and how to report a mistake.About city pages →