MassVoter.com← Medford City CouncilMedford City Council · 2024–2025 Council · Regular meeting
November 18, 2025
16 recorded votes, 2 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
Approve — Records of the meeting of November 12, 2025
Councilor Tseng motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Leming) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councilor Tseng motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Leming) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Leming)
Suspend the rules take 25-180 out of order
Councilor Tseng motioned to suspend the rules take 25-180 out of order (seconded by Councilor Scarpelli) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councilor Tseng motioned to suspend the rules take 25-180 out of order (seconded by Councilor Scarpelli) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed..” (Motion: Tseng, second: Scarpelli)
Approve — Paper 25-180: Resolution: the City Council send our deepest condolences to the family of George Sacco
Councilor Scarpelli motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Callahan) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed
From the minutes
“Councilor Scarpelli motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Callahan) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed.” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Callahan)
Communications from the Mayor
Waive the three readings and Approve — Paper 25-177: Addressing the Council: Lisa Crowley Director of Human Resources
Councilor Scarpelli motioned to waive the three readings and Approve (seconded by Councilor Leming) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in Favor, Zero Opposed
From the minutes
“Councilor Scarpelli motioned to waive the three readings and Approve (seconded by Councilor Leming) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in Favor, Zero Opposed.” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Leming)
Petitions, Presentations, and Similar Papers
Approve with 30,60, 90 day — Paper 25-175: Addressing the Council: Richie Raso Owner Andrew Castinetti Cushing St
Councilor Scarpelli Motioned to Approve with 30,60, 90 day (seconded by Callahan) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed
From the minutes
“Councilor Scarpelli Motioned to Approve with 30,60, 90 day (seconded by Callahan) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed.” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Callahan)
Approve — Paper 25-170: Hearing on a petition from Massachusetts Electrical Company dba National Grid for permission to Install Bradbury Avenue & 4th Street Wherefore it requests that after due...
Councilor Scarpelli motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in favor and Zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councilor Scarpelli motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in favor and Zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Lazzaro)
Approve — Paper 25-171: petition by Massachusetts Electrical Company dba National Grid, for permission to Install a new Regulator Station Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) cabinet...
Councilor Scarpelli motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Tseng) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in favor and Zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councilor Scarpelli motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Tseng) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in favor and Zero opposed..” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Tseng)
Hearings
Continue Public Hearing to December 2nd — Paper 25-160: Legal notice
Vice President Collins Motioned to Continue Public Hearing to December 2nd (seconded by Councilor Callahan) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Seven in Favor, Zero Opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins Motioned to Continue Public Hearing to December 2nd (seconded by Councilor Callahan) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Seven in Favor, Zero Opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Callahan)
Take 25-105 off the Table — Paper 25-160: Legal notice
Vice President Collins Motioned to take 25-105 off the Table (seconded by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Seven in Favor, Zero Opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins Motioned to take 25-105 off the Table (seconded by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Seven in Favor, Zero Opposed..” (Motion: Collins, second: Lazzaro)
Send B paper to COW to meet with City Administration & Assessor by January to discuss funding for the Assessor's office and research needed for Residential Exemption
Councilor Callahan Motioned to send B paper to COW to meet with City Administration & Assessor by January to discuss funding for the Assessor's office and research needed for Residential Exemption (seconded by Councilor Tseng) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed
From the minutes
“Councilor Callahan Motioned to send B paper to COW to meet with City Administration & Assessor by January to discuss funding for the Assessor's office and research needed for Residential Exemption (seconded by Councilor Tseng) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed.” (Motion: Callahan, second: Tseng)
Approve tax rate .905494 — Paper 25-159: Legal notice
Councilor Scarpelli Motioned to Approve tax rate .905494 (seconded by Councilor Tseng) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed
From the minutes
“Councilor Scarpelli Motioned to Approve tax rate .905494 (seconded by Councilor Tseng) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed.” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Tseng)
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)
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)
Motions, Orders, and Resolutions
Motion on the paper — Paper 25-176: Resolution: the Mayor and City Adm
Councilor Tseng (seconded by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed
From the minutes
“Councilor Tseng (seconded by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed.” (Motion: Tseng, second: Lazzaro)
Waive the Readings and Approve as amended
Councilor Callahan Motioned to Waive the Readings and Approve as amended (seconded by Councilor Tseng) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed
From the minutes
“Councilor Callahan Motioned to Waive the Readings and Approve as amended (seconded by Councilor Tseng) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed.” (Motion: Callahan, second: Tseng)
Public Participation
Adjourn
Councilor Lazzaro motioned to Adjourn (seconded by Councilor Callahan) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Councilor Lazzaro motioned to Adjourn (seconded by Councilor Callahan) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed..” (Motion: Lazzaro, second: Callahan)
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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