MassVoter.com← Medford City CouncilMedford City Council · 2024–2025 Council · Regular meeting
May 14, 2024
20 recorded votes, 16 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 30, 2024
Vice President Collins moved for approval (Councillor Callahan second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved for approval (Councillor Callahan second)-approved..” (Motion: Collins, second: Callahan)
Reports of Committees
Approval — Paper 24-045: Committee of the Whole (Budget), April 30, 2024, Report 24-045
Councillor Tseng moved for approval (Councillor Leming second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved for approval (Councillor Leming second)-approved..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Leming)
Approval — Paper 24-045: Committee of the Whole (Budget), May 1, 2024, Report 24-045
Councillor Callahan moved for approval (Councillor Tseng second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Callahan moved for approval (Councillor Tseng second)-approved..” (Motion: Callahan, second: Tseng)
Approval — Paper 24-099: Committee of the Whole (CDBG), May 7, 2024, Report 24-099
Councillor Tseng moved for approval (Councillor Leming second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved for approval (Councillor Leming second)-approved..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Leming)
Approval — Paper 24-015, 24-069, and 24-073: Resident Services and Public Engagement Committee, May 7, 2024, Report 24-015, 24-069, & 24-073
Councillor Leming moved for approval (Councillor Tseng second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Leming moved for approval (Councillor Tseng second)-approved..” (Motion: Leming, second: Tseng)
Approval — Paper 24-033: Planning and Permitting Committee, May 8, 2024, Report 24-033
Vice President Collins moved for approval (Councillor Tseng second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved for approval (Councillor Tseng second)-approved..” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Refer the paper to the Resident Services and Public Engagement Committee — Paper 24-351: Resolution: the Veterans' Services Director shall have the authority to offer available funds to entities...
Councillor Leming moved to refer the paper to the Resident Services and Public Engagement Committee (Councillor Tseng second)-referred to the Resident Services and Public Engagement Committee.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Leming moved to refer the paper to the Resident Services and Public Engagement Committee (Councillor Tseng second)-referred to the Resident Services and Public Engagement Committee..” (Motion: Leming, second: Tseng)
Work with Attorney Austin to finalize the response to be submitted to the Division of Open Government
President Bears to work with Attorney Austin to finalize the response to be submitted to the Division of Open Government (Councillor Tseng second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“President Bears to work with Attorney Austin to finalize the response to be submitted to the Division of Open Government (Councillor Tseng second)-approved..” (Motion: Bears, second: Tseng)
Communications from the Mayor
Enter executive session pursuant to MGL c. 30A, §21(a)(3) to discuss strategy with respect to litigation
Councillor Tseng moved to enter executive session pursuant to MGL c. 30A, §21(a)(3) to discuss strategy with respect to litigation (Councillor Callahan second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved to enter executive session pursuant to MGL c. 30A, §21(a)(3) to discuss strategy with respect to litigation (Councillor Callahan second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Callahan)
Reconvene in open session
At 8:38 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to reconvene in open session (Councillor Tseng second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“At 8:38 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to reconvene in open session (Councillor Tseng second)-approved..” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Suspend the rules to take Paper 24-352
At 8:38 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to suspend the rules to take Paper 24-352 ( Councillor Tseng second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“At 8:38 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to suspend the rules to take Paper 24-352 ( Councillor Tseng second)-approved..” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Petitions, Presentations, and Similar Papers
Table the paper until June 11 — Paper 24-352: Petition for a Class II Auto Body License by Cristian Garcia of Finest Auto Body Inc., 26 R Mystic Avenue, Medford, MA 02155
Councillor Scarpelli moved to table the paper until June 11 (Vice President Collins second)-tabled until June 11.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved to table the paper until June 11 (Vice President Collins second)-tabled until June 11..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Collins)
Revert to the regular order of business
At 8:49 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to revert to the regular order of business ( Councillor Tseng second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“At 8:49 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to revert to the regular order of business ( Councillor Tseng second)-approved..” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Hearings
Approve the motion to authorize the action plan — Paper 24-099: Legal notice city of medford community development block grant program program year
Vice President Collins moved to approve the motion to authorize the action plan ( Councillor Scarpelli second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved to approve the motion to authorize the action plan ( Councillor Scarpelli second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Scarpelli)
30- and 60-day reviews, and a report back from Code Enforcement on October 1st , after school resumes, of any complaints from neighbors on the extended hours
Councillor Scarpelli further moved for 30- and 60-day reviews, and a report back from Code Enforcement on October 1st , after school resumes, of any complaints from neighbors on the extended hours (Vice President Collins second)-approved, with conditions as amended, on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli further moved for 30- and 60-day reviews, and a report back from Code Enforcement on October 1st , after school resumes, of any complaints from neighbors on the extended hours (Vice President Collins second)-approved, with conditions as amended, on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Collins)
Approve the petition — Paper 24-353: Petition for a Lodging House License for Tufts University, located at 28 Winthrop Street, Medford, MA 02155
Vice President Collins moved to approve the petition (Councillor Scarpelli second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved to approve the petition (Councillor Scarpelli second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Scarpelli)
Motions, Orders, and Resolutions
Receive and place on file — Paper 24-074: Resolution: the Medford City Council Review the Annual Surveillance Report
Vice President Collins moved to receive and place on file (Councillor Tseng second)-received and placed on file.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved to receive and place on file (Councillor Tseng second)-received and placed on file..” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Approval as amended — Paper 24-356: Resolution: the City Council send a letter of support to our State Legislators for their work being done to protect homeowners from unfair tax lien practices by...
Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval as amended (Vice President Collins second)-approved as amended.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval as amended (Vice President Collins second)-approved as amended..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Collins)
Approval, and further moved to refer the paper to the Resident Services and Public Engagement Committee — Paper 24-354: Resolution: the Resident Services and Public Engagement Committee shall have...
Councillor Leming moved for approval, and further moved to refer the paper to the Resident Services and Public Engagement Committee (Councillor Tseng second)-approved and referred, with
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Leming moved for approval, and further moved to refer the paper to the Resident Services and Public Engagement Committee (Councillor Tseng second)-approved and referred, with.” (Motion: Leming, second: Tseng)
Unfinished Business
Adjourn at 9:43 p.m
Councillor Callahan moved to adjourn at 9:43 p.m. (Councillor Tseng second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Callahan moved to adjourn at 9:43 p.m. (Councillor Tseng second)-approved..” (Motion: Callahan, second: Tseng)
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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