MassVoter.com← Medford City CouncilMedford City Council · 2024–2025 Council · Regular meeting
April 16, 2024
18 recorded votes, 6 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 April 2, 2024
Councillor Tseng moved for approval (Councillor Callahan second)-approved on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Scarpelli opposed.
Yes: Bears, Callahan, Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, TsengNo: Scarpelli
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved for approval (Councillor Callahan second)-approved on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Scarpelli opposed..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Callahan)
Reports of Committees
Approval — Paper 24-074: April 9, 2024 Public Health and Community Safety Committee Report 24-074
Councillor Lazzaro moved for approval (Vice President Collins second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Lazzaro moved for approval (Vice President Collins second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Lazzaro, second: Collins)
Approval — Paper 24-033: April 10, 2024 Planning and Permitting Committee Report 24-033
Vice President Collins moved for approval (Councillor Callahan second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved for approval (Councillor Callahan second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Callahan)
Motions, Orders, and Resolutions
Suspend the rules to take Paper 24-082
At 7:05 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to suspend the rules to take Paper 24-082 (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“At 7:05 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to suspend the rules to take Paper 24-082 (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Approval — Paper 24-082: Offered from the Floor by President Bears
President Bears moved for approval (Councillor Callahan second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“President Bears moved for approval (Councillor Callahan second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Bears, second: Callahan)
Receive and place on file — Paper 24-075: Resolution: the City Council discuss concerns dealing with the Medford Water Department
Councillor Scarpelli moved to receive and place on file (Vice President Collins second)-received and placed and file on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved to receive and place on file (Vice President Collins second)-received and placed and file on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Collins)
Suspend the rules to take Public Participation
At 7:49 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to suspend the rules to take Public Participation (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“At 7:49 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to suspend the rules to take Public Participation (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Public Participation
Enter public comment e-mails into the record
Vice President Collins moved to enter public comment e-mails into the record (Councillor Callahan second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved to enter public comment e-mails into the record (Councillor Callahan second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Callahan)
Refer the paper to the Mayor, requesting answers to the questions in the amendments above, and further requesting a meeting in executive session — Paper 24-076: Resolution: the City Council...
Councillor Scarpelli moved to refer the paper to the Mayor, requesting answers to the questions in the amendments above, and further requesting a meeting in executive session (Councillor Callahan second)-referred, as amended, to the Mayor, on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Lazzaro opposed.
Yes: Bears, Callahan, Collins, Leming, Scarpelli, TsengNo: Lazzaro
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved to refer the paper to the Mayor, requesting answers to the questions in the amendments above, and further requesting a meeting in executive session (Councillor Callahan second)-referred, as amended, to the Mayor, on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Lazzaro opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Callahan)
Join Papers 24-077 and 24-081 — Paper 24-076: Resolution: the City Council request that the City Administration provide a full report involving the use of taxpayer dollars being used to fund...
At 8:31 p.m., Councillor Scarpelli moved to join Papers 24-077 and 24-081 (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“At 8:31 p.m., Councillor Scarpelli moved to join Papers 24-077 and 24-081 (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Tseng)
Approval as amended on the joined papers — Paper 24-081: Resolution: the Council President provide a verbal update on efforts by Council leadership, the Mayor, city staff, Representative...
Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval as amended on the joined papers (Councillor Lazzaro second)-approved as amended on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval as amended on the joined papers (Councillor Lazzaro second)-approved as amended on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Lazzaro)
Refer the paper to the Mayor as amended, requesting the reasoning on why we did not move forward with those four firefighters — Paper 24-078: Resolution: the City Council discuss the Mayor's...
Councillor Scarpelli moved to refer the paper to the Mayor as amended, requesting the reasoning on why we did not move forward with those four firefighters (Councillor Tseng second)-referred to the Mayor, as amended, on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved to refer the paper to the Mayor as amended, requesting the reasoning on why we did not move forward with those four firefighters (Councillor Tseng second)-referred to the Mayor, as amended, on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Tseng)
Refer the paper to the DPW Commissioner — Paper 24-079: Resolution: the City Council get an update on the Krystle Campbell Peace Garden
Councillor Scarpelli moved to refer the paper to the DPW Commissioner (Councillor Lazzaro second)-referred to the DPW Commissioner on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved to refer the paper to the DPW Commissioner (Councillor Lazzaro second)-referred to the DPW Commissioner on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Lazzaro)
Communications from the Mayor
Table the paper until the next meeting so that the Council could get legal advice about voting on a matter that is in arbitration — Paper 24-080: Personnel Ordinance
Councillor Scarpelli moved to table the paper until the next meeting so that the Council could get legal advice about voting on a matter that is in arbitration (Councillor Callahan second)-motion failed on a roll call vote of three in favor (Councillor Callahan, Councillor Scarpelli, and Councillor Tseng) and four opposed (Vice President Collins, Councillor Lazzaro, Councillor Leming, and President Bears).
Yes: Callahan, Scarpelli, TsengNo: Bears, Collins, Lazzaro, Leming
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved to table the paper until the next meeting so that the Council could get legal advice about voting on a matter that is in arbitration (Councillor Callahan second)-motion failed on a roll call vote of three in favor (Councillor Callahan, Councillor Scarpelli, and Councillor Tseng) and four opposed (Vice President Collins, Councillor Lazzaro, Councillor Leming, and President Bears)..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Callahan)
Request an answer from counsel to Councillor Scarpelli's questions about voting on this matter while the position is in arbitration and to request a representative from the Administration at the...
Councillor Tseng moved to request an answer from counsel to Councillor Scarpelli's questions about voting on this matter while the position is in arbitration and to request a representative from the Administration at the next meeting, and to table until the next meeting on April 30 (Councillor Callahan second)-requests approved and paper tabled until the next meeting on a roll call vote of six in favor and Vice President Collins opposed.
Yes: Bears, Callahan, Lazzaro, Leming, Scarpelli, TsengNo: Collins
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved to request an answer from counsel to Councillor Scarpelli's questions about voting on this matter while the position is in arbitration and to request a representative from the Administration at the next meeting, and to table until the next meeting on April 30 (Councillor Callahan second)-requests approved and paper tabled until the next meeting on a roll call vote of six in favor and Vice President Collins opposed..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Callahan)
Take Paper 21-057 from the table so the Council and to approve for third reading to be ordained
At 9:50 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to take Paper 21-057 from the table so the Council and to approve for third reading to be ordained (Councillor Tseng second)- taken from the table and approved for third reading to be ordained on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Scarpelli opposed.
Yes: Bears, Callahan, Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, TsengNo: Scarpelli
From the minutes
“At 9:50 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to take Paper 21-057 from the table so the Council and to approve for third reading to be ordained (Councillor Tseng second)- taken from the table and approved for third reading to be ordained on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Scarpelli opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Receive and place on file Papers 17-606, 20-086, 22-007, 22-009, and 22-039 — Paper 21-057: CHAPTER 38 - ENVIRONMENT ARTICLE V
At 9:58 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to receive and place on file Papers 17-606, 20-086, 22-007, 22-009, and 22-039 (Councillor Scarpelli second)-received and placed on file on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“At 9:58 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to receive and place on file Papers 17-606, 20-086, 22-007, 22-009, and 22-039 (Councillor Scarpelli second)-received and placed on file on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Scarpelli)
Unfinished Business
Adjourn at 10:10 p.m
Councillor Callahan moved to adjourn at 10:10 p.m. (Councillor Lazzaro second)-approved on a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Councillor Leming voting present.
Yes: Bears, Callahan, Collins, Lazzaro, Scarpelli, TsengAbstained: Leming
From the minutes
“Councillor Callahan moved to adjourn at 10:10 p.m. (Councillor Lazzaro second)-approved on a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Councillor Leming voting present..” (Motion: Callahan, second: Lazzaro)
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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