MassVoter.com← Medford City CouncilMedford City Council · 2024–2025 Council · Regular meeting
September 17, 2024
13 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 — Paper 24-469: Resolution: the City Council celebrate the importance of the Chevalier Theater and commend the Friends of the Chevalier Theater and Gene Mack Gym for their hard work in...
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)
Suspend the rules to take Paper 24-471
At 7:21 p.m., Vice President Collins moved to suspend the rules to take Paper 24-471 ( Councillor Callahan second)-approved 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 Paper 24-471 ( Councillor Callahan second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Callahan)
Approval — Paper 24-471: Offered Under Suspension by Councilor Tseng and Vice President Collins The City of Medford stands in unconditional support of our Haitian brothers and sisters a
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)
Records
Approval — Records of the meeting of September 10, 2024
Councillor Lazzaro moved for approval (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Lazzaro moved for approval (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Lazzaro, second: Tseng)
Reports of Committees
Approve the report — Paper 24-033: Planning and Permitting Committee, September 11, 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)
Refer the paper to the Governance Committee — Paper 24-468: Resolution: the Governance Committee discuss updates to the City Charter, including creating a timeline for action and reviewing...
Councillor Tseng moved to refer the paper to the Governance Committee (Councillor Callahan second)-referred to the Governance Committee on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved to refer the paper to the Governance Committee (Councillor Callahan second)-referred to the Governance Committee on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Callahan)
Petitions, Presentations, and Similar Papers
Approve the amended petition, to operate until 12:00 a.m. Monday through Thursday and until 1:00 a.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with the further condition of 30-, 60-, and 90-day reviews,...
Vice President Collins moved to approve the amended petition, to operate until 12:00 a.m. Monday through Thursday and until 1:00 a.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with the further condition of 30-, 60-, and 90-day reviews, pending the six-day public comment period (Councillor Tseng second)-approved, as amended and with conditions (and including that the petitioner added in hosting a community day, which President Bears noted as a further amendment), 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 approve the amended petition, to operate until 12:00 a.m. Monday through Thursday and until 1:00 a.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with the further condition of 30-, 60-, and 90-day reviews, pending the six-day public comment period (Councillor Tseng second)-approved, as amended and with conditions (and including that the petitioner added in hosting a community day, which President Bears noted as a further amendment), on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Scarpelli opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Motions, Orders, and Resolutions
Approval, and further moved to refer the paper to the Committee on Public Health and Community Safety — Paper 24-470: Resolution: the Committee on Public Health and Community Safety discuss the...
Vice President Collins moved for approval, and further moved to refer the paper to the Committee on Public Health and Community Safety (Councillor Lazzaro second)-approved and referred to the Committee on Public Health and Community Safety on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved for approval, and further moved to refer the paper to the Committee on Public Health and Community Safety (Councillor Lazzaro second)-approved and referred to the Committee on Public Health and Community Safety on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Lazzaro)
Communications from the Mayor
Sever the two appropriations — Paper 24-467: Capital Stabilization Fund Appropriation Requests
Councillor Scarpelli moved to sever the two appropriations (Councillor Callahan second) -appropriations severed 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 sever the two appropriations (Councillor Callahan second) -appropriations severed on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Leming opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Callahan)
Reconsider the vote to sever — Paper 24-467: Capital Stabilization Fund Appropriation Requests
Vice President Collins moved to reconsider the vote to sever (Councillor Leming second)-vote to sever reconsidered 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 reconsider the vote to sever (Councillor Leming second)-vote to sever reconsidered on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Scarpelli opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Leming)
On second consideration of Councillor Scarpelli's motion to sever
On second consideration of Councillor Scarpelli's motion to sever (Councillor Callahan second)-motion to sever failed on a roll call vote of two in favor (Councillor Callahan and Councillor Scarpelli) and five opposed.
Yes: Callahan, ScarpelliNo: Bears, Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, Tseng
From the minutes
“On second consideration of Councillor Scarpelli's motion to sever (Councillor Callahan second)-motion to sever failed on a roll call vote of two in favor (Councillor Callahan and Councillor Scarpelli) and five opposed..” (second: Callahan)
Approve the appropriation requests — Paper 24-467: Capital Stabilization Fund Appropriation Requests
Vice President Collins moved to approve the appropriation requests (Councillor Leming second)-appropriations 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
“Vice President Collins moved to approve the appropriation requests (Councillor Leming second)-appropriations approved on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Scarpelli opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Leming)
Public Participation
Adjourn at 8:38 p.m
Vice President Collins moved to adjourn at 8:38 p.m. (Councillor Leming second)-approved on a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Councillor Scarpelli absent.
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 adjourn at 8:38 p.m. (Councillor Leming second)-approved on a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Councillor Scarpelli absent..” (Motion: Collins, second: Leming)
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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