MassVoter.com← Medford City CouncilMedford City Council · 2024–2025 Council · Regular meeting
January 14, 2025
25 recorded votes, 21 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Attendance
Present: Zac Bears, Anna Callahan, Kit Collins, Emily Lazzaro, Matt Leming, George A. Scarpelli, Justin Tseng
Absent: None
During the meeting:
- Emily Lazzaro left the meeting or the Chamber for part of the meeting.
Every vote, in order
Council Organization and Election of Leadership
Close nominations
Councillor Tseng moved to close nominations (Councillor Collins second)-nominations closed.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved to close nominations (Councillor Collins second)-nominations closed..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Collins)
Elect Zac Bears Council President for 2025
On a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Councillor Bears voting present
Yes: Callahan, Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, Scarpelli, TsengAbstained: BearsCouncillor Collins nominated Councillor Bears (Councillor Tseng second); he voted present.
From the minutes
“On a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Councillor Bears voting present.” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Close nominations
Councillor Tseng moved to close nominations (Councillor Callahan second)-nominations closed.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved to close nominations (Councillor Callahan second)-nominations closed..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Callahan)
Elect Kit Collins Council Vice President for 2025
On a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Councillor Collins voting present
Yes: Bears, Callahan, Lazzaro, Leming, Scarpelli, TsengAbstained: CollinsCouncillor Callahan nominated Councillor Collins (Councillor Tseng second); she voted present.
From the minutes
“On a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Councillor Collins voting present.” (Motion: Callahan, second: Tseng)
Approval — Paper 25-003: Resolution: the Standing Committee Rules be adopted as the Standing Rules of the City Council insofar as they are applicable
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 25-004: Resolution: the City Council transfer all Papers in Committees or on the Table from the 2024 Council to the 2025 Council
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)
Announcements, Accolades, Remembrances, Reports, and Records
Approval as amended — Paper 25-008: Resolution: the Medford City Council send our deepest condolences to the family of John Granara
Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval as amended (Councillor Callahan 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 (Councillor Callahan second)-approved as amended..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Callahan)
Approval — Paper 25-009: Resolution: the Medford City Council send our deepest condolences to the family of Ralph Evangelista
Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval (Councillor Tseng second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval (Councillor Tseng second)-approved..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Tseng)
Records
Approval — Records of the meeting of December 17, 2024
Councillor Tseng moved for approval (Councillor Lazzaro second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved for approval (Councillor Lazzaro second)-approved..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Lazzaro)
Reports of Committees
Approve the report — Paper 24-511: Offered from the Podium by President Bears Committee of the Whole, December 17, 2024, Report 24-511
Vice President Collins moved to approve the report (Councillor Callahan second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved to approve the report (Councillor Callahan second)-approved..” (Motion: Collins, second: Callahan)
Approve the report — Paper 24-006: Offered from the Podium by President Bears Committee of the Whole, December 18, 2024, Report 24-006
Councillor Callahan moved to approve the report (Vice President Collins second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Callahan moved to approve the report (Vice President Collins second)-approved..” (Motion: Callahan, second: Collins)
Approve the report — Paper 24-468: Governance committee meeting report tuesday, january
Councillor Tseng moved to approve the report (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 report (Vice President Collins second)-approved..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Collins)
Refer the Paper to the Resident Services and Public Engagement Committee — Paper 25-005: Resolution: Medford create a system for residents to engage with data collected by the City of Medford and...
Councillor Tseng moved to refer the Paper to the Resident Services and Public Engagement Committee (Councillor Leming 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 (Councillor Leming second)-referred to the Resident Services and Public Engagement Committee..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Leming)
Motions, Orders, and Resolutions
Approval as amended — Paper 25-006: Resolution: the Medford City Council strongly encourage the administration to prioritize these members of our community by finding a way to quickly set up...
Councillors Leming and Callahan 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
“Councillors Leming and Callahan moved for approval as amended (Vice President Collins second)-approved as amended..” (Motion: Leming, second: Collins)
Communications from the Mayor
Approve the paper for third reading to be ordained — Paper 24-510: Loan Order Opinion $5,000,000 School HVAC Infrastructure and Roof Bonds
Vice President Collins moved to approve the paper for third reading to be ordained ( Councillor Lazzaro second)-approved for third reading 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 moved to approve the paper for third reading to be ordained ( Councillor Lazzaro second)-approved for third reading to be ordained on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Scarpelli opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Lazzaro)
Approval for third reading to be ordained — Paper 24-502: Amendments to the Community Control Over Public Surveillance Ordinance Section 50, Article III - An Ordinance to Promote Transparency and...
Vice President Collins moved for approval for third reading to be ordained (Councillor Tseng second)-approved for third reading 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 moved for approval for third reading to be ordained (Councillor Tseng second)-approved for third reading to be ordained on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Scarpelli opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Approve the paper for third reading to be ordained, as amended — Paper 50-106: Compliance with Federal Law Nothing in this Welcoming City Ordinance shall be construed to preempt or violate any...
Councillor Tseng moved to approve the paper for third reading to be ordained, as amended (Councillor Leming second)-approved for third reading to be ordained, as amended, on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Scarpelli opposed.
Yes: Bears, Callahan, Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, TsengNo: Scarpelli
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved to approve the paper for third reading to be ordained, as amended (Councillor Leming second)-approved for third reading to be ordained, as amended, on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Scarpelli opposed..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Leming)
Approval — Paper 25-007: Community Preservation Committee Appropriation Request
Vice President Collins moved for approval (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved for approval (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Motions, Orders, and Resolutions
Waive all three readings, and further moved to approve the paper to be ordained
Councillor Leming moved to waive all three readings, and further moved to approve the paper to be ordained (Vice President Collins second)-with no objection to waiving the readings, further readings were waived and the paper was approved to be ordained on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Leming moved to waive all three readings, and further moved to approve the paper to be ordained (Vice President Collins second)-with no objection to waiving the readings, further readings were waived and the paper was approved to be ordained on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Leming, second: Collins)
Approval on the B-Paper, as amended — Paper 25-013: Resolution: the City Council call for an emergency meeting with the Mayor and her administration dealing with the halt of overtime for the...
Vice President Collins moved for approval on the B-Paper, as amended (Councillor Tseng second)-B-Paper approved as amended on a roll call vote of five in favor two opposed (Councillor Lazzaro and Councillor Scarpelli).
Yes: Bears, Callahan, Collins, Leming, TsengNo: Lazzaro, Scarpelli
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved for approval on the B-Paper, as amended (Councillor Tseng second)-B-Paper approved as amended on a roll call vote of five in favor two opposed (Councillor Lazzaro and Councillor Scarpelli)..” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Approval on the main paper, as amended — Paper 25-013: Resolution: the City Council call for an emergency meeting with the Mayor and her administration dealing with the halt of overtime for the...
Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval on the main paper, as amended (Vice President Collins second)-motion failed, and the main paper was not approved, as amended, on a roll call vote of Councillor Scarpelli in favor and six opposed.
Yes: ScarpelliNo: Bears, Callahan, Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, Tseng
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval on the main paper, as amended (Vice President Collins second)-motion failed, and the main paper was not approved, as amended, on a roll call vote of Councillor Scarpelli in favor and six opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Collins)
Hearings
Approve the amendment to the Special Permit — Paper 24-514: Continued Public Hearing: Amendment to Special Permit for Signs - 3850 Mystic Valley Parkway (Meadow Glen)
Councillor Scarpelli moved to approve the amendment to the Special Permit (Vice President Collins second)-amendment approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved to approve the amendment to the Special Permit (Vice President Collins second)-amendment approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Collins)
Petitions, Presentations, and Similar Papers
Grant the license — Paper 25-010: Petition for a Common Victualler License - The Establishment Petition and all relevant paperwork
Councillor Scarpelli moved to grant the license (Vice President Collins 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 (Vice President Collins second)-license granted on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Collins)
Table Papers 25-011 and 25-012 until the next regular meeting (papers tabled — Paper 25-011: Whereas we have received multiple phone calls and emails with the misunderstanding and confusion and...
Councillor Scarpelli moved to table Papers 25-011 and 25-012 until the next regular meeting (papers tabled on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Tseng opposed.
Yes: Bears, Callahan, Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, ScarpelliNo: Tseng
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved to table Papers 25-011 and 25-012 until the next regular meeting (papers tabled on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Tseng opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli)
Unfinished Business
Adjourn at 11:22 p.m
Councillor Leming moved to adjourn at 11:22 p.m. (Councillor Tseng second)-approved 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 Leming moved to adjourn at 11:22 p.m. (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Leming opposed..” (Motion: Leming, 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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