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Medford City Council
How the Medford City Council voted, from the City Clerk's official minutes. 7 councilors, all elected at large. Elected November 2023. First council meeting with posted records: January 9, 2024. Anna Callahan, Emily Lazzaro and Matt Leming joined the council, succeeding Richard F. Caraviello, Adam Knight and Nicole Morell. Council President: Zac Bears in 2024 and 2025 (Vice President Kit Collins both years). From about September 2025 the records spell the title “Councilor” instead of “Councillor.” Covers 49 meetings, January 9 to December 16, 2025.
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
What does the City Council do? It is the city’s lawmaking body. It passes local laws (ordinances), votes on the yearly budget, and approves borrowing and zoning changes.
The mayor runs the city day to day and proposes the budget.
Sources: Mass. General Laws c. 44 § 32 (city budgets)Council sessions
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Councilors
PresidentZac BearsPresident · At-large · at 49 of 49 meetingsVice PresidentKit CollinsVice President · At-large · at 48 of 49 meetings
Anna CallahanMember · At-large · at 47 of 49 meetings
Emily LazzaroMember · At-large · at 49 of 49 meetings
Matt LemingMember · At-large · at 46 of 49 meetings
George A. ScarpelliMember · At-large · at 46 of 49 meetings
Justin TsengMember · At-large · at 49 of 49 meetings"At X of Y meetings" counts the roll call at the start of each meeting in this record. Councilors who step out are listed on each meeting page.
Meetings
About missing minutes
Loaded: every full Medford City Council meeting with posted records (the council’s official minutes) from January 2, 2018 through August 4, 2026: 281 meetings (regular meetings and special meetings) and 5,311 votes. Committee of the Whole and other council committee meetings are not loaded; committee reports printed inside the council records are not counted as council votes, and neither are earlier votes the records reprint with a paper. The city’s Municode library has council records back to 2003; MassVoter has loaded 2018 on. Not here: regular meetings with no posted records (June 19, September 18 and October 16, 2018; March 10, 2020; March 8, 2022), two 2020 records the library lists but will not open (February 25 and April 28, 2020), special and joint meetings in 2026 with an agenda but no posted minutes (January 21, March 31, April 8, April 14, May 13, May 27, June 3, June 11 and June 24, 2026), and meetings after August 4, 2026 (the September 15 and September 29, 2026 minutes are not posted yet); MassVoter is asking the City Clerk. Two 2018 records were posted with fonts that do not copy as text, and eight records from 2019–2021 were posted as scans (some sideways); MassVoter recovered the text and read them. Medford’s records state most votes as a count, naming any councilor who voted no or was absent (“approved on a roll call vote of six in favor and one opposed (Councilor Scarpelli)”), and the roll call at the top lists who was present. When the count adds up with the roll call, we show each councilor’s vote: those named as voting no or abstaining as recorded, those named as absent left out, and the other councilors present voting yes. When the records name the councilors on one side and give only a number for the other, and the numbers add up, the other councilors present are shown on the other side, with a note. Councilors the records say were out of the room, arrived late or left early are left out of the votes taken while they were out, with a note. When a count does not add up with the roll call, we show the count only, with a note (7 votes). Many votes, mostly before 2021, were recorded only as “passed” or “approved” with no count; those 2,352 votes show the result only and are never assumed unanimous. The records usually say who made and seconded each motion; we show both. Elections of the Council President and Vice President are shown as votes for the person elected. The records spelled the title “Councillor” until 2025 and “Councilor” since. We will ask the city to confirm any noted vote.
Votes where councilors disagreed
Most council votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one councilor voted no or abstained, newest first.
Dec 16Move to Committee of Whole & receive legal advice…Motion: Councilor Callhan Motioned to Move to Committee of Whole & receive…Passed 5–1 · No: Lazzaro
December 16, 2025: Move to Committee of Whole & receive legal advice from Counsel
Councilor Callhan Motioned to Move to Committee of Whole & receive legal advice from Counsel (seconded by President Bears) - Approved non unanimously on a Voice vote Five in Favor, One opposed Councilor Lazzaro (Councilor Scarpelli absent)
Yes: Bears, Callahan, Collins, Leming, TsengNo: Lazzaro
From the minutes
“Councilor Callhan Motioned to Move to Committee of Whole & receive legal advice from Counsel (seconded by President Bears) - Approved non unanimously on a Voice vote Five in Favor, One opposed Councilor Lazzaro (Councilor Scarpelli absent).” (Motion: Callahan, second: Bears)
Nov 18Not adopt Residential Exemption — Paper 25-159: Legal noticeMotion: Councilor Scarpelli Motioned to not adopt Residential Exemption (seconded by Councilor…Passed 6–1 · No: Bears
November 18, 2025: Not adopt Residential Exemption — Paper 25-159: Legal notice
Councilor Scarpelli Motioned to not adopt Residential Exemption (seconded by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a roll call vote of Six in favor, One Opposed (President Bears).
Yes: Callahan, Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, Scarpelli, TsengNo: BearsThe motion was not to adopt; a yes vote was a vote not to adopt, and the motion carried.
From the minutes
“Councilor Scarpelli Motioned to not adopt Residential Exemption (seconded by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a roll call vote of Six in favor, One Opposed (President Bears)..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Lazzaro)
Nov 18Not adopt Commercial exemption — Paper 25-159: Legal noticeMotion: Councilor Scarpelli Motioned to not adopt Commercial exemption (seconded by Tseng)…Passed Unanimous, 7 present · see note
November 18, 2025: Not adopt Commercial exemption — Paper 25-159: Legal notice
Councilor Scarpelli Motioned to not adopt Commercial exemption (seconded by Tseng) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed
The motion was not to adopt; a yes vote was a vote not to adopt, and the motion carried.
From the minutes
“Councilor Scarpelli Motioned to not adopt Commercial exemption (seconded by Tseng) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed.” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Tseng)
Nov 12Override the Veto — Paper 25-105: Amended Values Aligned…Motion: Vice President Collins Motioned to Override the Veto (seconded by Councilor…Passed 6–1 · No: Scarpelli
November 12, 2025: Override the Veto — Paper 25-105: Amended Values Aligned Local Investments Ordinance The Proposed Medford Values-Aligned Local Investments Ordinance CHAPTER 2
Vice President Collins Motioned to Override the Veto (seconded by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Six in Favor, One opposed (Councilor Scarpelli).
Yes: Bears, Callahan, Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, TsengNo: Scarpelli
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins Motioned to Override the Veto (seconded by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Six in Favor, One opposed (Councilor Scarpelli)..” (Motion: Collins, second: Lazzaro)
Sep 30Approve for Third Reading — Paper 25-105: Values-Aligned Local…Motion: Vice President Collins motioned to approve for Third Reading (seconded by…Passed 6–1 · No: Scarpelli
September 30, 2025: Approve for Third Reading — Paper 25-105: Values-Aligned Local Investments Ordinance CHAPTER 2
Vice President Collins motioned to approve for Third Reading (seconded by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a roll call vote of Six in favor, one opposed (Councilor Scarpelli).
Yes: Bears, Callahan, Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, TsengNo: Scarpelli
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins motioned to approve for Third Reading (seconded by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a roll call vote of Six in favor, one opposed (Councilor Scarpelli)..” (Motion: Collins, second: Lazzaro)
Aug 5Approve the committee report — Paper 24-033: Planning and…Motion: Vice President Collins moved to approve the committee report (Councilor Leming…Passed 5–1 · No: Scarpelli
August 5, 2025: Approve the committee report — Paper 24-033: Planning and Permitting Committee, July 16, 2025, Report
Vice President Collins moved to approve the committee report (Councilor Leming second)-approved on a roll call vote of five in favor, one opposed (Scarpelli), and one absent (Callahan).
Yes: Bears, Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, TsengNo: Scarpelli
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved to approve the committee report (Councilor Leming second)-approved on a roll call vote of five in favor, one opposed (Scarpelli), and one absent (Callahan)..” (Motion: Collins, second: Leming)
Aug 5Approve — Paper 25-125: Offered by Isaac Bears, Council…Motion: Vice President Collins moved to approve (Councilor Leming second)-approved on a…Passed 5–1 · No: Scarpelli
August 5, 2025: Approve — Paper 25-125: Offered by Isaac Bears, Council President MBTA Bus Stop Improvements Presentation
Vice President Collins moved to approve (Councilor Leming second)-approved on a roll call vote of five in favor, one opposed (Scarpelli), and one absent (Callahan).
Yes: Bears, Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, TsengNo: Scarpelli
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved to approve (Councilor Leming second)-approved on a roll call vote of five in favor, one opposed (Scarpelli), and one absent (Callahan)..” (Motion: Collins, second: Leming)
Aug 5Approve for main paper — Paper 25-123: Whereas, on…Motion: President Bears moved to approve for main paper (Councilor Lazzaro second)-approved…Passed 5–1 · No: Scarpelli
August 5, 2025: Approve for main paper — Paper 25-123: Whereas, on July 16, 2025, the Council President outlined a shared path forward for Medford's Zoning Updates Project that outlined a clear and…
President Bears moved to approve for main paper (Councilor Lazzaro second)-approved on a roll call vote of five in favor, one opposed (Scarpelli) and one absent (Callahan).
Yes: Bears, Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, TsengNo: Scarpelli
From the minutes
“President Bears moved to approve for main paper (Councilor Lazzaro second)-approved on a roll call vote of five in favor, one opposed (Scarpelli) and one absent (Callahan)..” (Motion: Bears, second: Lazzaro)
Aug 5Approve for third reading — Paper 25-118: Personnel OrdinanceMotion: Vice President Collins moved to approve for third reading (Councilor Lazzaro…Passed 4–1 · No: Scarpelli
August 5, 2025: Approve for third reading — Paper 25-118: Personnel Ordinance
Vice President Collins moved to approve for third reading (Councilor Lazzaro second)-approved on a roll call vote of four in favor, one opposed (Scarpelli), and two absent (Callahan and Tseng).
Yes: Bears, Collins, Lazzaro, LemingNo: ScarpelliThe records list Justin Tseng as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved to approve for third reading (Councilor Lazzaro second)-approved on a roll call vote of four in favor, one opposed (Scarpelli), and two absent (Callahan and Tseng)..” (Motion: Collins, second: Lazzaro)
Jun 24Approval — Paper 25-106: Use of Free Cash and…Motion: Vice President Collins moved for approval (Councillor Leming second)-approved on a…Passed 4–2 · No: Lazzaro, Scarpelli
June 24, 2025: Approval — Paper 25-106: Use of Free Cash and Retained Earnings
Vice President Collins moved for approval (Councillor Leming second)-approved on a roll call vote of four in favor (Vice President Collins, Councillor Leming, Councillor Tseng, and President Bears), two opposed (Councillor Lazzaro and Councillor Scarpelli) and Councillor Callahan absent.
Yes: Bears, Collins, Leming, TsengNo: Lazzaro, Scarpelli
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved for approval (Councillor Leming second)-approved on a roll call vote of four in favor (Vice President Collins, Councillor Leming, Councillor Tseng, and President Bears), two opposed (Councillor Lazzaro and Councillor Scarpelli) and Councillor Callahan 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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