MassVoter.com← Medford City CouncilMedford City Council · 2024–2025 Council · Regular meeting
August 13, 2024
22 recorded votes, 4 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Attendance
Note on these minutes: The roll call marks Matt Leming absent, but Matt Leming made, seconded or voted on a motion later in the meeting, so Matt Leming is counted present from that point.
Present: Anna Callahan, Kit Collins, Emily Lazzaro, George A. Scarpelli, Justin Tseng, Zac Bears, Matt Leming
Absent: None
During the meeting:
- Matt Leming is not shown as present on the roll call but took part later in the meeting.
Every vote, in order
Announcements, Accolades, Remembrances, Reports, and Records
Approval — Records of the meeting of July 23, 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
Approve the report — Paper 24-033: Planning and Permitting Committee, July 24, 2024, Report 24-033
Vice President Collins moved to approve the report (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 report (Councillor Callahan second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Callahan)
Hearings
Continue the public hearing until September 10, 2024
Councillor Scarpelli moved to continue the public hearing until September 10, 2024 ( Councillor Tseng second)-hearing continued until September 10, 2024 on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved to continue the public hearing until September 10, 2024 ( Councillor Tseng second)-hearing continued until September 10, 2024 on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Tseng)
Table — Paper 24-439: Petition For a Special Permit For Hours - Panda Express LEGAL NOTICE MEDFORD CITY CLERK'S OFFICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The Medford City Council will hold a public hearing...
Councillor Scarpelli moved to table (Councillor Tseng second)-tabled on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved to table (Councillor Tseng second)-tabled on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Tseng)
Petitions, Presentations, and Similar Papers
Grant the license — Paper 24-456: Petition For a Common Victualler License - Shop N Go Business: Leeza Trading Inc
Councillor Scarpelli moved to grant the license (Councillor Tseng 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 Tseng second)-license granted on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Tseng)
Suspend the rules to take Papers 24-455, 24-453, and 24-454
At 7:21 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to suspend the rules to take Papers 24-455, 24-453, and 24-454 (Councillor Tseng second)-rules suspended on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“At 7:21 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to suspend the rules to take Papers 24-455, 24-453, and 24-454 (Councillor Tseng second)-rules suspended on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Enter executive session to discuss strategy with respect to litigation pursuant to the provisions of Massachusetts General Law cited in the Mayor's letter above
At 7:23 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to enter executive session to discuss strategy with respect to litigation pursuant to the provisions of Massachusetts General Law cited in the Mayor's letter above (Councillor Callahan second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“At 7:23 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to enter executive session to discuss strategy with respect to litigation pursuant to the provisions of Massachusetts General Law cited in the Mayor's letter above (Councillor Callahan second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Callahan)
Approval on the B-Paper, as amended — Paper 24-453: Resolution: that the Elections Commission be and is hereby authorized and directed to notify and warn such of the inhabitants of the City of...
Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval on the B-Paper, as amended (Vice President C ollins second)-B-Paper approved as amended on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval on the B-Paper, as amended (Vice President C ollins second)-B-Paper approved as amended on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli)
Approval on the main paper — Paper 24-453: Resolution: that the Elections Commission be and is hereby authorized and directed to notify and warn such of the inhabitants of the City of Medford, as...
Vice President Collins moved for approval on the main paper (Councillor Callahan second)-main paper approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved for approval on the main paper (Councillor Callahan second)-main paper approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Callahan)
Approval — Paper 24-454: Commission Medford Election Warrant September 2024
Councillor Tseng moved for approval (Vice President Collins second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved for approval (Vice President Collins second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Collins)
Motions, Orders, and Resolutions
Join and approve the papers — Paper 24-451: Resolution: the Health Department undertake additional efforts in partnership with TuftsMedicine and the City of Malden to provide significant...
Councillor Scarpelli moved to join and approve the papers (Councillor Lazzaro second)-papers joined and approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved to join and approve the papers (Councillor Lazzaro second)-papers joined and approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Lazzaro)
Approval as amended — Paper 24-450: Resolution: the Mayor provide the Council with a list of all such matters so resolved during fiscal years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 or 2025; and Further, for each...
Vice President Collins moved for approval as amended (Councillor Tseng second)-approved as amended on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved for approval as amended (Councillor Tseng second)-approved as amended on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Suspend the rules to take Papers 24-447, 24- 448, and 24-459
At 9:56 p.m., Councillor Tseng moved to suspend the rules to take Papers 24-447, 24- 448, and 24-459 (Vice President Collins second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“At 9:56 p.m., Councillor Tseng moved to suspend the rules to take Papers 24-447, 24- 448, and 24-459 (Vice President Collins second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Collins)
Confirm the appointment — Paper 24-459: Board of Election Commission Appointment
Vice President Collins moved to confirm the appointment (Vice President Collins second)-appointment confirmed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved to confirm the appointment (Vice President Collins second)-appointment confirmed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins)
Confirm the re-appointment — Paper 24-447: Medford Housing Authority Appointment
Councillor Lazzaro moved to confirm the re-appointment (Vice President Collins second)-re-appointment confirmed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Lazzaro moved to confirm the re-appointment (Vice President Collins second)-re-appointment confirmed on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Lazzaro, second: Collins)
Confirm the appointment — Paper 24-448: Medford Housing Authority Appointment
Vice President Collins moved to confirm the appointment (Councillor Callahan second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved to confirm the appointment (Councillor Callahan second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Callahan)
Approval — Paper 24-452: Resolution: we support Question 4, Limited Legalization and Regulation of Certain Natural Psychedelic Substances, on the November 5, 2024 general election ballot
President Bears moved for approval (Councillor Tseng 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
“President Bears moved for approval (Councillor Tseng second )-approved on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Scarpelli opposed..” (Motion: Bears, second: Tseng)
Communications from the Mayor
Approval — Paper 24-446: Food Truck Permitting
Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval (Vice President Collins second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval (Vice President Collins second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Collins)
Approve the paper for all three readings — Paper 24-458: Personnel Ordinance
Vice President Collins then moved to approve the paper for all three readings ( Councillor Lazzaro second)-approved for all three readings, 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
“Vice President Collins then moved to approve the paper for all three readings ( Councillor Lazzaro second)-approved for all three readings, to be ordained, on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Scarpelli opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Lazzaro)
Public Participation
Take Paper 24-421 from the table and further moved to approve the paper for third reading
At 10:18 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to take Paper 24-421 from the table and further moved to approve the paper for third reading (Councillor Tseng second)-paper taken from the table and approved for third reading to be ordained on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“At 10:18 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to take Paper 24-421 from the table and further moved to approve the paper for third reading (Councillor Tseng second)-paper taken from the table and approved for third reading to be ordained on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Take Paper 24-434 from the table, and further moved to approve the paper for third reading to be ordained
At 10:22 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to take Paper 24-434 from the table, and further moved to approve the paper for third reading to be ordained (Councillor Lazzaro second)-paper taken from the table and approved for third reading to be ordained on a roll call vote of four in favor (Vice President Collins, Councillor Lazzaro, Councillor Tseng, and President Bears) and three opposed (Councillor Callahan, Councillor Leming, and Councillor Scarpelli).
Yes: Bears, Collins, Lazzaro, TsengNo: Callahan, Leming, Scarpelli
From the minutes
“At 10:22 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to take Paper 24-434 from the table, and further moved to approve the paper for third reading to be ordained (Councillor Lazzaro second)-paper taken from the table and approved for third reading to be ordained on a roll call vote of four in favor (Vice President Collins, Councillor Lazzaro, Councillor Tseng, and President Bears) and three opposed (Councillor Callahan, Councillor Leming, and Councillor Scarpelli)..” (Motion: Collins, second: Lazzaro)
Unfinished Business
Adjourn at 10:23 p.m
Vice President Collins moved to adjourn at 10:23 p.m. (Councillor Lazzaro second)-approved on a roll call vote of five in favor, Councillor Scarpelli opposed, and Councillor Leming voting present.
Yes: Bears, Callahan, Collins, Lazzaro, TsengNo: ScarpelliAbstained: Leming
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved to adjourn at 10:23 p.m. (Councillor Lazzaro second)-approved on a roll call vote of five in favor, Councillor Scarpelli opposed, and Councillor Leming voting present..” (Motion: Collins, 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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