MassVoter.com← Medford City CouncilMedford City Council · 2024–2025 Council · Regular meeting
January 28, 2025
19 recorded votes, 16 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
During the meeting:
- Zac Bears left the meeting or the Chamber for part of the meeting.
Every vote, in order
Announcements, Accolades, Remembrances, Reports, and Records
Approval with those amendments — Records of the meeting of January 14, 2025
Councillor Callahan moved for approval with those amendments (Vice President Collins second)-approved as amended.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Callahan moved for approval with those amendments (Vice President Collins second)-approved as amended..” (Motion: Callahan, second: Collins)
Reports of Committees
Approve the report — Paper 24-510: Committee of the Whole Report, January 14, 2025 24-510
Vice President Collins moved to approve the report (Councillor Tseng 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 Tseng second)-approved..” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Approve the report — Paper 24-033: Planning and Permitting Committee Report, January 15, 2025 24-033
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 25-014: Committee of the Whole Report, January 21, 2025 25-014
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)
Approve the report — Paper 24-492 and 24-493: Public Works and Facilities Committee Report, January 21, 2025 24-492 & 24-493
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 Report, January 22, 2025 24-468
Councillor Tseng moved to approve the report (Councillor Callahan second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved to approve the report (Councillor Callahan second)-approved..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Callahan)
Suspend the rules to take papers under suspension and in the hands of the Clerk
At 7:16 p.m., Councillor Tseng moved to suspend the rules to take papers under suspension and in the hands of the Clerk (Councillor Leming second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“At 7:16 p.m., Councillor Tseng moved to suspend the rules to take papers under suspension and in the hands of the Clerk (Councillor Leming second)-approved..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Leming)
Approval — Paper 25-021: Resolution: the Medford City Council celebrate Lunar New Year and wish our Asian residents a happy and prosperous new year; Be it Further Resolved that the Medford City...
Councillor Tseng moved for approval (Vice President Collins second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved for approval (Vice President Collins second)-approved..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Collins)
Motions, Orders, and Resolutions
Approval on the B-Paper — Paper 25-011: Whereas we have received multiple phone calls and emails with the misunderstanding and confusion and fear of the Tax increases in their recent Tax Bill, and
Vice President Collins moved for approval on the B-Paper (Councillor Lazzaro second)-approved.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved for approval on the B-Paper (Councillor Lazzaro second)-approved..” (Motion: Collins, second: Lazzaro)
Approval on the main paper, as amended — Paper 25-011: Whereas we have received multiple phone calls and emails with the misunderstanding and confusion and fear of the Tax increases in their...
Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval on the main paper, as amended (Councillor Callahan second)-motion failed on a roll call vote of three in favor (Councillor Callahan, Councillor Scarpelli, and President Bears) and four opposed (Vice President Collins, Councillor Lazzaro, Councillor Leming, and Councillor Tseng).
Yes: Bears, Callahan, ScarpelliNo: Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, Tseng
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval on the main paper, as amended (Councillor Callahan second)-motion failed on a roll call vote of three in favor (Councillor Callahan, Councillor Scarpelli, and President Bears) and four opposed (Vice President Collins, Councillor Lazzaro, Councillor Leming, and Councillor Tseng)..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Callahan)
Approval as amended — Paper 25-012: Resolution: the Medford City Council get an update on the status of the Parking Department
Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval as amended (Councillor Tseng 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 Tseng second)-approved as amended..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Tseng)
Refer the paper to the Governance Committee as amended — Paper 25-015: Resolution: Rule 19 of the Medford City Council be amended as follows: "The filing of petitions shall be reserved only for...
Councillor Leming moved to refer the paper to the Governance Committee as amended (Councillor Callahan second)-referred to the Governance Committee as amended.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Leming moved to refer the paper to the Governance Committee as amended (Councillor Callahan second)-referred to the Governance Committee as amended..” (Motion: Leming, second: Callahan)
Approval — Paper 25-016: Resolution: the City Council President, City Council Vice President, and City Clerk conduct a process to recruit a new City Messenger and make a recommendation of a...
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)
Acknowledge receipt of the Open Meeting Law complaint and further moved to adopt the response as drafted by counsel
Vice President Collins moved to acknowledge receipt of the Open Meeting Law complaint and further moved to adopt the response as drafted by counsel (Councillor Leming second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved to acknowledge receipt of the Open Meeting Law complaint and further moved to adopt the response as drafted by counsel (Councillor Leming second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Leming)
Communications from the Mayor
Approve the appropriations — Paper 25-014: Community Preservation Committee Appropriation Requests
Vice President Collins moved to approve the appropriations (Councillor Lazzaro second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved to approve the appropriations (Councillor Lazzaro second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Lazzaro)
Rescind the Capital Stabilization Fund appropriation in the amount of $322,500.00 and further moved to approve the appropriation of $197,012.95 from the Capital Stabilization Fund
Vice President Collins moved to rescind the Capital Stabilization Fund appropriation in the amount of $322,500.00 and further moved to approve the appropriation of $197,012.95 from the Capital Stabilization Fund (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins moved to rescind the Capital Stabilization Fund appropriation in the amount of $322,500.00 and further moved to approve the appropriation of $197,012.95 from the Capital Stabilization Fund (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Approve the settlement — Paper 25-019: Date: January 22, 2025 To: President Isaac B. Bears and Honorable Members of the Medford City Council Fr: Breanna Lungo-Koehn, Mayor Claimant Name: Cara and Giu
Councillor Scarpelli moved to approve the settlement (Councillor Leming second)-approved on a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and President Bears absent.
Yes: Callahan, Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, Scarpelli, TsengThe records list Zac Bears as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved to approve the settlement (Councillor Leming second)-approved on a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and President Bears absent..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Leming)
Table discussion, and moved to refer the paper to the Committee of the Whole for a meeting with members of the Affordable Housing Trust, other stakeholders, and a representative from the Mayor's...
Councillor Tseng moved to table discussion, and moved to refer the paper to the Committee of the Whole for a meeting with members of the Affordable Housing Trust, other stakeholders, and a representative from the Mayor's Office (Councillor Callahan second)-discussion tabled and paper referred to the Committee of the Whole.
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved to table discussion, and moved to refer the paper to the Committee of the Whole for a meeting with members of the Affordable Housing Trust, other stakeholders, and a representative from the Mayor's Office (Councillor Callahan second)-discussion tabled and paper referred to the Committee of the Whole..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Callahan)
Unfinished Business
Adjourn at 9:38 p.m
Councillor Lazzaro moved to adjourn at 9:38 p.m. (Councillor Tseng second)-approved .
The records give the result only, with no count or names.
From the minutes
“Councillor Lazzaro moved to adjourn at 9:38 p.m. (Councillor Tseng second)-approved ..” (Motion: Lazzaro, 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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