MassVoter.com← Medford City CouncilMedford City Council · 2024–2025 Council · Regular meeting
April 30, 2024
24 recorded votes, 7 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
Join this paper with Paper 24-095 — Paper 24-085: Resolution: we congratulate the Center for Citizenship and Social Responsibility (CCSR) students at the Brooks Elementary School for their...
Councillor Scarpelli moved to join this paper with Paper 24-095 (Councillor Callahan second)-joined on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved to join this paper with Paper 24-095 (Councillor Callahan second)-joined on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Callahan)
Approval of the joined papers — Paper 24-095: Be it Resolved the City Council recognize the amazing work of Savanah McLaughlin and Adam Costello members of The CCSR and 5th Grade students from the...
Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval of the joined papers (Councillor Callahan second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval of the joined papers (Councillor Callahan second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Callahan)
Approval — Paper 24-086: Resolution: we congratulate Former Councilor Rick Caraviello on the honor of being named the 2024 Citizen of the Year by the Medford Chamber of Commerce and thank Rick for...
Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval (Councillor Lazzaro second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval (Councillor Lazzaro second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Lazzaro)
Approval as amended — Paper 24-098: Resolution: the Medford City Council congratulate the Medford High School Orchestra on winning a Gold Medal and the Medford Middle School String Ensemble on...
Councillor Tseng moved for approval as amended (Councillor Scarpelli 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 Scarpelli second)-approved as amended on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Scarpelli)
Records
Approval — Records of the meeting of April 16, 2024
Councillor Callahan moved for approval (Vice President Collins second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Callahan moved for approval (Vice President Collins second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Callahan, second: Collins)
Reports of Committees
Join the Reports of Committees — Records of the meeting of April 16, 2024
Vice President Collins moved to join the Reports of Committees (Councillor Leming second)-joined on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved to join the Reports of Committees (Councillor Leming second)-joined on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Leming)
Sever the Resident Services and Public Engagement Committee Report from the joined reports
Councillor Scarpelli moved to sever the Resident Services and Public Engagement Committee Report from the joined reports (Councillor Leming second)-report severed from the joined reports on a roll call vote of six in favor and President Bears opposed.
Yes: Callahan, Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, Scarpelli, TsengNo: Bears
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved to sever the Resident Services and Public Engagement Committee Report from the joined reports (Councillor Leming second)-report severed from the joined reports on a roll call vote of six in favor and President Bears opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Leming)
Approve the four joined reports — Paper 24-084: Public Works and Facilities Committee, April 24, 2024, Report 24-084
Vice President Collins moved to approve the four joined reports (Councillor Callahan second)-joined reports approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved to approve the four joined reports (Councillor Callahan second)-joined reports approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Callahan)
Approve the Resident Services and Public Engagement Committee Report — Paper 24-084: Public Works and Facilities Committee, April 24, 2024, Report 24-084
Councillor Leming moved to approve the Resident Services and Public Engagement Committee Report (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 Leming moved to approve the Resident Services and Public Engagement Committee Report (Councillor Callahan second)-approved on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Scarpelli opposed..” (Motion: Leming, second: Callahan)
Hearings
Grant the special permit with 30- and 60-day reviews — Paper 24-067: Hearing on a petition from West Medford LLC dba Snappy Patty's 454 High Street
Councillor Scarpelli moved to grant the special permit with 30- and 60-day reviews (Councillor Callahan second)-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 (Councillor Callahan second)-granted with 30- and 60-day reviews on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Callahan)
Continue the public hearing until the next regular meeting of May 14
Councillor Scarpelli moved to continue the public hearing until the next regular meeting of May 14 (Vice President Collins second)-continued to May 14 on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved to continue the public hearing until the next regular meeting of May 14 (Vice President Collins second)-continued to May 14 on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Collins)
Motions, Orders, and Resolutions
Table until the meeting of May 14 — Paper 24-074: Resolution: the Medford City Council Review the Annual Surveillance Report
Vice President Collins moved to table until the meeting of May 14 (Councillor Callahan second)-tabled until May 14 on a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Councillor Scarpelli temporarily absent from the Chamber.
Yes: Bears, Callahan, Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, TsengThe records list George A. Scarpelli as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved to table until the meeting of May 14 (Councillor Callahan second)-tabled until May 14 on a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Councillor Scarpelli temporarily absent from the Chamber..” (Motion: Collins, second: Callahan)
Approve as amended — Paper 24-093: Resolution: the Medford City Council express its support of S.1836 and H.2963, "An Act Relative to Payment in Lieu of Organizations Exempt from Property Tax." Be...
Vice President Collins moved to approve as amended (Councillor Callahan second)-approved as amended on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved to approve as amended (Councillor Callahan second)-approved as amended on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Callahan)
Suspend the rules to take Paper 24-092 out of order
At 8:39 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to suspend the rules to take Paper 24-092 out of order (Councillor Leming second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“At 8:39 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to suspend the rules to take Paper 24-092 out of order (Councillor Leming second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Leming)
Communications from the Mayor
Approval — Paper 24-093: Resolution: the Medford City Council express its support of S.1836 and H.2963, "An Act Relative to Payment in Lieu of Organizations Exempt from Property Tax." Be it...
Vice President Collins moved for approval (Councillor Lazzaro second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved for approval (Councillor Lazzaro second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Lazzaro)
Revert to the regular order of business
At 8:45 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to revert to the regular order of business (Councillor Leming second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“At 8:45 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to revert to the regular order of business (Councillor Leming second)-approved..” (Motion: Collins, second: Leming)
Call the question — Paper 24-094: Resolution: the City Council discuss the City Council Subcommittee processes
Vice President Collins moved to call the question (Councillor Leming second)-question called on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Scarpelli opposed.
Yes: Bears, Callahan, Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, TsengNo: Scarpelli
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved to call the question (Councillor Leming second)-question called on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Scarpelli opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Leming)
Approval as amended — Paper 24-094: Resolution: the City Council discuss the City Council Subcommittee processes
Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval as amended (Vice President Collins second)-failed on a roll call vote of three in favor (Vice President Collins, Councillor Scarpelli, and Councillor Tseng) and four opposed (Councillor Callahan, Councillor Lazzaro, Councillor Leming, and President Bears).
Yes: Collins, Scarpelli, TsengNo: Bears, Callahan, Lazzaro, Leming
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval as amended (Vice President Collins second)-failed on a roll call vote of three in favor (Vice President Collins, Councillor Scarpelli, and Councillor Tseng) and four opposed (Councillor Callahan, Councillor Lazzaro, Councillor Leming, and President Bears)..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Collins)
Receive and place on file — Paper 24-097: Be it Resolved the City Council discuss processes dealing with possible Home Rule Petitions
Vice President Collins moved to receive and place on file (Councillor Leming second)-received and placed on file on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved to receive and place on file (Councillor Leming second)-received and placed on file on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Leming)
Join and approve Papers 24-086 through 24-091, all requests for food truck permits for Boston Glory home games at Hormel Stadium
At 10:28 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to join and approve Papers 24-086 through 24-091, all requests for food truck permits for Boston Glory home games at Hormel Stadium (Councillor second)-food truck permit requests joined and approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“At 10:28 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to join and approve Papers 24-086 through 24-091, all requests for food truck permits for Boston Glory home games at Hormel Stadium (Councillor second)-food truck permit requests joined and approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins)
Take Papers 22-494 and 24-080 from the table
At 10:30 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to take Papers 22-494 and 24-080 from the table (Councillor Scarpelli second)-papers taken from the table on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“At 10:30 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to take Papers 22-494 and 24-080 from the table (Councillor Scarpelli second)-papers taken from the table on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Scarpelli)
Approve the paper for third reading to be ordained — Paper 22-494: CHAPTER 3 - FINANCE ARTICLE I. - GENERALLY Sec. 3-1. - Purpose and intent. The purpose and intent of this article is to define,...
Vice President Collins moved to approve the paper for third reading to be ordained (Councillor Scarpelli 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 to approve the paper for third reading to be ordained (Councillor Scarpelli second)-approved for third reading to be ordained on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Scarpelli)
Waive the three readings and further moved to approve the paper to be ordained
Councillor Scarpelli moved to waive the three readings and further moved to approve the paper to be ordained (Councillor Callahan second, with no objection from any Councillor on waiver of the three readings)-additional readings waived and paper approved to be ordained on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved to waive the three readings and further moved to approve the paper to be ordained (Councillor Callahan second, with no objection from any Councillor on waiver of the three readings)-additional readings waived and paper approved to be ordained on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Callahan)
Unfinished Business
Adjourn at 10:44 p.m
Councillor Scarpelli moved to adjourn at 10:44 p.m. (Councillor Callahan second)-approved on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Leming opposed.
Yes: Bears, Callahan, Collins, Lazzaro, Scarpelli, TsengNo: Leming
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved to adjourn at 10:44 p.m. (Councillor Callahan second)-approved on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Leming opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, 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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