MassVoter.com← Medford City CouncilMedford City Council · 2024–2025 Council · Regular meeting
May 28, 2024
17 recorded votes, 14 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 — Paper 24-365: Resolution: the City Council recognize and celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month
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)
Approval — Paper 24-368: Resolution: the City Council recognize and celebrate Asian American and Pacific Island Heritage Month
Councillor Tseng moved for approval (Councillor Callahan second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved for approval (Councillor Callahan second)-approved..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Callahan)
Suspend the rules to take Paper 24-372
At 7:17 p.m., Councillor Tseng moved to suspend the rules to take Paper 24-372 (Vice President Collins second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“At 7:17 p.m., Councillor Tseng moved to suspend the rules to take Paper 24-372 (Vice President Collins second)-approved..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Collins)
Approval — Paper 24-372: Resolution: the Medford City Council acknowledge our U.S
Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval (Councillor Collins second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval (Councillor Collins second)-approved..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Collins)
Records
Approval — Records of the meeting of May 14th, 2024
Councillor Lazzaro moved for approval (Vice President Collins second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Lazzaro moved for approval (Vice President Collins second)-approved..” (Motion: Lazzaro, second: Collins)
Reports of Committees
Join, describe, and approve all seven committee reports below
Councillor Callahan moved to join, describe, and approve all seven committee reports below (Councillor Tseng second)-committee reports joined, described, and approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Callahan moved to join, describe, and approve all seven committee reports below (Councillor Tseng second)-committee reports joined, described, and approved..” (Motion: Callahan, second: Tseng)
Approve the joined reports — Paper 24-033: Planning and Permitting Committee, May 22, 2024, Report 24-033
Councillor Tseng moved to approve the joined reports (Vice President Collins second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved to approve the joined reports (Vice President Collins second)-approved..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Collins)
Refer the paper to the Resident Services and Public Engagement Committee — Paper 24-370: Resolution: the Resident Services and Public Engagement Committee create and publish a short guide in...
Councillor Tseng moved to refer the paper to the Resident Services and Public Engagement Committee (Vice President Collins 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 Tseng moved to refer the paper to the Resident Services and Public Engagement Committee (Vice President Collins second)-referred to the Resident Services and Public Engagement Committee..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Collins)
Communications from the Mayor
Approve the appropriation of $5,000.00 — Paper 24-366: Community Preservation Committee Appropriation Request On behalf of the Community Preservation Committee,
Vice President Collins moved to approve the appropriation of $5,000.00 (Councillor Callahan second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved to approve the appropriation of $5,000.00 (Councillor Callahan second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Callahan)
Petitions, Presentations, and Similar Papers
Approval of a conditional Common Victualler License, pending approval by all required authorities and pending issuance of an occupancy permit, with the further condition of 30- and 60-day reviews...
Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval of a conditional Common Victualler License, pending approval by all required authorities and pending issuance of an occupancy permit, with the further condition of 30- and 60-day reviews (Vice President Collins second)-conditional Common Victualler License granted, pending necessary approvals, and with conditions noted above, on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval of a conditional Common Victualler License, pending approval by all required authorities and pending issuance of an occupancy permit, with the further condition of 30- and 60-day reviews (Vice President Collins second)-conditional Common Victualler License granted, pending necessary approvals, and with conditions noted above, on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Collins)
Motions, Orders, and Resolutions
Send a letter to Charles Gate asking that Charles Gate and the property owner negotiate with the tenants association
Councillor Leming moved to send a letter to Charles Gate asking that Charles Gate and the property owner negotiate with the tenants association (Councillor Callahan second, with Amendment (b) above from Councillor Scarpelli)-approved, with Amendment (b) included.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Leming moved to send a letter to Charles Gate asking that Charles Gate and the property owner negotiate with the tenants association (Councillor Callahan second, with Amendment (b) above from Councillor Scarpelli)-approved, with Amendment (b) included..” (Motion: Leming, second: Callahan)
Refer the paper to the Community Development Board — Paper 24-367: Resolution: we refer the following recommendations for amendments to the Medford Zoning Ordinance to the Community Development...
Vice President Collins moved to refer the paper to the Community Development Board ( Councillor Callahan second)-referred to the Community Development Board 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 Community Development Board ( Councillor Callahan second)-referred to the Community Development Board on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Callahan)
Approval — Paper 24-369: Resolution: the City Council ask the City Administration for updates on plans or possibilities to create a community liaison position for the Asian American community in...
Councillor Tseng moved for approval (Councillor Callahan second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved for approval (Councillor Callahan second)-approved..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Callahan)
Table the paper until the next regular meeting — Paper 24-371: Resolution: the City Council review all options in supporting the School Committee budget
Councillor Leming moved to table the paper until the next regular meeting (Vice President Collins second)-failed on a roll call vote of three in favor (Vice President Collins, Councillor Lazzaro, and Councillor Leming) and four opposed (Councillor Callahan, Councillor Scarpelli, Councillor Tseng, and President Bears).
Yes: Collins, Lazzaro, LemingNo: Bears, Callahan, Scarpelli, Tseng
From the minutes
“Councillor Leming moved to table the paper until the next regular meeting (Vice President Collins second)-failed on a roll call vote of three in favor (Vice President Collins, Councillor Lazzaro, and Councillor Leming) and four opposed (Councillor Callahan, Councillor Scarpelli, Councillor Tseng, and President Bears)..” (Motion: Leming, second: Collins)
A recess — Paper 24-371: Resolution: the City Council review all options in supporting the School Committee budget
At 9:00 p.m., Councillor Leming moved for a recess (Councillor Tseng second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“At 9:00 p.m., Councillor Leming moved for a recess (Councillor Tseng second)-approved..” (Motion: Leming, second: Tseng)
Reconvene at 9:12 p.m
Vice President Collins moved to reconvene at 9:12 p.m. (Councillor Leming second)-approved, and
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved to reconvene at 9:12 p.m. (Councillor Leming second)-approved, and.” (Motion: Collins, second: Leming)
Unfinished Business
Adjourn at 9:23 p.m
Councillor Tseng moved to adjourn at 9:23 p.m. (Councillor Callahan second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved to adjourn at 9:23 p.m. (Councillor Callahan second)-approved..” (Motion: Tseng, 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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