MassVoter.com← Medford City CouncilMedford City Council · 2024–2025 Council · Regular meeting
March 25, 2025
18 recorded votes, 9 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:
- Kit Collins left the meeting or the Chamber for part of the meeting.
Every vote, in order
Announcements, Accolades, Remembrances, Reports, and Records
Approval — Paper 25-046: In recognition of the 50th Wedding Anniversary of Richard and Cheryl Montecalvo, the warmest congratulations and best wishes on this joyous occasion are offered
Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Tseng)
Suspend the rules to take papers in the hands of the Clerk
At 7:16 p.m., Councillor Tseng moved to suspend the rules to take papers in the hands of the Clerk (Councillor Scarpelli second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“At 7:16 p.m., Councillor Tseng moved to suspend the rules to take papers in the hands of the Clerk (Councillor Scarpelli second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Scarpelli)
Approval as amended — Paper 25-049: Offered Under Suspension by Councillor Scarpelli
Councillor Scarpelli 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
“Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval as amended (Councillor Tseng second) -approved as amended on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Tseng)
Approval — Paper 25-048: Resolution: the City Council meet on April 8th in the Committee of the Whole to go over Parking Department related matters: Use of surveillance technology pursuant to...
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)
Records
Join and approve all records — Records of the meeting of March 11, 2025
Councillor Scarpelli moved to join and approve all records (Councillor Tseng second)-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 all records (Councillor Tseng second)-joined and approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Tseng)
Reports of Committees
Join and approve all committee reports — Paper 25-039: Committee of the Whole Report, March 18, 2025 25-039
Councillor Lazzaro moved to join and approve all committee reports (Councillor Callahan second)-committee reports joined and approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Lazzaro moved to join and approve all committee reports (Councillor Callahan second)-committee reports joined and approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Lazzaro, second: Callahan)
Hearings
Approve the zoning amendment with the recommendations proposed by the Community Development Board — Paper 25-039: Committee of the Whole Report, March 18, 2025 25-039
Councillor Callahan moved to approve the zoning amendment with the recommendations proposed by the Community Development Board (Councillor Tseng second)-zoning amendment approved, with the recommendations proposed by the Community Development Board, 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 Callahan moved to approve the zoning amendment with the recommendations proposed by the Community Development Board (Councillor Tseng second)-zoning amendment approved, with the recommendations proposed by the Community Development Board, on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Scarpelli opposed..” (Motion: Callahan, second: Tseng)
Petitions, Presentations, and Similar Papers
Table and refer for legal review — Paper 25-045: Appeal of Sign Permit Refusal - 42 Fulbright Street All additional records on file in the office of the City Clerk
Councillor Scarpelli moved to table and refer for legal review (Councillor Lazzaro second)-tabled and referred for legal review on a roll call vote of four in favor (Vice President Collins, Councillor Lazzaro, Councillor Leming, and Councillor Scarpelli) and three opposed (Councillor Callahan, Councillor Tseng, and President Bears).
Yes: Collins, Lazzaro, Leming, ScarpelliNo: Bears, Callahan, Tseng
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved to table and refer for legal review (Councillor Lazzaro second)-tabled and referred for legal review on a roll call vote of four in favor (Vice President Collins, Councillor Lazzaro, Councillor Leming, and Councillor Scarpelli) and three opposed (Councillor Callahan, Councillor Tseng, and President Bears)..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Lazzaro)
Motions, Orders, and Resolutions
Approval on the B-Paper — Paper 25-040: Whereas, the 125 Full-Time Lecturers (FTLs) in the School of Arts and Sciences at Tufts have been unionized with SEIU 509 since 2016 and have been bargaining fo
Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval on the B-Paper (Councillor Tseng second)-B- Paper approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Scarpelli moved for approval on the B-Paper (Councillor Tseng second)-B- Paper approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Tseng)
Approval on the main paper — Paper 25-040: Whereas, the 125 Full-Time Lecturers (FTLs) in the School of Arts and Sciences at Tufts have been unionized with SEIU 509 since 2016 and have been...
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)
Refer the paper to the Resident Services and Public Engagement Committee — Paper 25-041: Resolution: the Resident Services and Public Engagement Committee design and implement a public engagement...
Councillor Tseng moved to refer the paper to the Resident Services and Public Engagement Committee (Councillor Callahan second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved to refer the paper to the Resident Services and Public Engagement Committee (Councillor Callahan second)-approved on a roll call vote of seven in favor and zero opposed..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Callahan)
Refer the paper to the Community Development Board — Paper 25-044: Proposed Amendments to the Medford Zoning Ordinance - Neighborhood Residential and Urban Residential Districts (for referral to...
Vice President Collins moved to refer the paper to the Community Development Board ( Councillor Tseng second)-referred to the Community Development Board 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 refer the paper to the Community Development Board ( Councillor Tseng second)-referred to the Community Development Board on a roll call vote of six in favor and Councillor Scarpelli opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Approve and refer to the Mayor — Paper 25-039: Resolution: the Council President requests City Councilors submit individual budget recommendations to the City Clerk by Thursday, March 13, 2025 for...
Councillor Tseng moved to approve and refer to the Mayor (Councillor Callahan second)-approved and referred to the Mayor on a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Vice President Collins absent because of technical issues with her Zoom connection.
Yes: Bears, Callahan, Lazzaro, Leming, Scarpelli, TsengThe records list Kit Collins as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved to approve and refer to the Mayor (Councillor Callahan second)-approved and referred to the Mayor on a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Vice President Collins absent because of technical issues with her Zoom connection..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Callahan)
Communications from the Mayor
Approve the appropriation — Paper 25-047: Use of Free Cash and Retained Earnings
Councillor Callahan moved to approve the appropriation (Councillor Lazzaro second)-appropriation approved on a roll call vote of five in favor, Councillor Scarpelli opposed, and Vice President Collins absent because of technical issues with her Zoom connection.
Yes: Bears, Callahan, Lazzaro, Leming, TsengNo: ScarpelliThe records list Kit Collins as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“Councillor Callahan moved to approve the appropriation (Councillor Lazzaro second)-appropriation approved on a roll call vote of five in favor, Councillor Scarpelli opposed, and Vice President Collins absent because of technical issues with her Zoom connection..” (Motion: Callahan, second: Lazzaro)
Take Papers 25-020 and 25-028 from the table
At 8:41 p.m., Councillor Tseng moved to take Papers 25-020 and 25-028 from the table (Councillor Leming second)-approved on a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Vice President Collins absent because of technical issues with her Zoom connection.
Yes: Bears, Callahan, Lazzaro, Leming, Scarpelli, TsengThe records list Kit Collins as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“At 8:41 p.m., Councillor Tseng moved to take Papers 25-020 and 25-028 from the table (Councillor Leming second)-approved on a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Vice President Collins absent because of technical issues with her Zoom connection..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Leming)
Table the paper — Paper 25-020: Transfer and Conveyance of McCormack Avenue Parcels
Councillor Tseng moved to table the paper (Councillor Callahan second)-tabled on a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Vice President Collins absent because of technical issues with her Zoom connection.
Yes: Bears, Callahan, Lazzaro, Leming, Scarpelli, TsengThe records list Kit Collins as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved to table the paper (Councillor Callahan second)-tabled on a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Vice President Collins absent because of technical issues with her Zoom connection..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Callahan)
Approve the paper for third reading — Paper 25-028: Loan Order Opinion $8,000,000 City Water System Bonds
Councillor Tseng moved to approve the paper for third reading (Councillor Callahan second)-approved for third reading on a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Vice President Collins absent because of technical issues with her Zoom connection.
Yes: Bears, Callahan, Lazzaro, Leming, Scarpelli, TsengThe records list Kit Collins as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“Councillor Tseng moved to approve the paper for third reading (Councillor Callahan second)-approved for third reading on a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Vice President Collins absent because of technical issues with her Zoom connection..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Callahan)
Unfinished Business
Adjourn at 9:15 p.m
Councillor Callahan moved to adjourn at 9:15 p.m. (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Vice President Collins absent because of technical issues with her Zoom feed.
Yes: Bears, Callahan, Lazzaro, Leming, Scarpelli, TsengThe records list Kit Collins as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“Councillor Callahan moved to adjourn at 9:15 p.m. (Councillor Tseng second)-approved on a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Vice President Collins absent because of technical issues with her Zoom feed..” (Motion: Callahan, 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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