MassVoter.com← Medford City CouncilMedford City Council · 2024–2025 Council · Regular meeting
December 16, 2025
24 recorded votes, 1 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Attendance
Note on these minutes: The roll call does not include George A. Scarpelli, who is counted absent.
Present: Anna Callahan, Kit Collins, Emily Lazzaro, Matt Leming, Justin Tseng, Zac Bears
Absent: George A. Scarpelli
Every vote, in order
Announcements, Accolades, Remembrances, Reports, and Records
Take Resolution Under suspension (2nd by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved
Councilor Leming Motioned to take Resolution Under suspension (2nd by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a voice vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli absent)
From the minutes
“Councilor Leming Motioned to take Resolution Under suspension (2nd by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a voice vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli absent).” (Motion: Leming)
Approve — Paper 25-197: Resolution to commend the crew of Ladder 2 for their heroic actions on November 7th, 2025 Offered by Councilor Leming
Councilor Leming Motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a Voice vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent)
From the minutes
“Councilor Leming Motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a Voice vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent).” (Motion: Leming, second: Lazzaro)
Approve — Paper 25-187: Resolution: we celebrate the West Medford Community Center on its 90th Anniversary and its role as a cornerstone of resilience, service, and community building for our city
Councilor Tseng motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a Voice vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent)
From the minutes
“Councilor Tseng motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a Voice vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent).” (Motion: Tseng, second: Lazzaro)
Approve — Paper 25-188: Resolution: we commend Vice President Collins for her outstanding service on the Medford City Council from 2022 to 2026
Councilor Tseng Motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Callhan) - Approved on a Voice Vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent)
From the minutes
“Councilor Tseng Motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Callhan) - Approved on a Voice Vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent).” (Motion: Tseng, second: Callahan)
Approve — Records of the meeting of December 2nd
Vice President Collins motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Tseng) - Approved on a voice vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent)
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Tseng) - Approved on a voice vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent).” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Reports of Committees
Approve — Paper 25-186: Offered by Isaac Bears, Council President 25-186
Vice President Collins motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Tseng) - Approved on a Voice vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent)
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Tseng) - Approved on a Voice vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent).” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Approve — Paper 24-073 and 24-354: Offered by Matt Leming, City Councilor
Councilor Leming motioned to Approve (seconded by councilor Tseng) - Approved on a voice vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent)
From the minutes
“Councilor Leming motioned to Approve (seconded by councilor Tseng) - Approved on a voice vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent).” (Motion: Leming, second: Tseng)
Approve — Paper 24-036 and 24-461: Offered by Emily Lazzaro, City Councilor PUBLIC HEALTH and
Councilor Lazzaro Motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Tseng) - Approve on a Voice vote of Six in Favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent)
From the minutes
“Councilor Lazzaro Motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Tseng) - Approve on a Voice vote of Six in Favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent).” (Motion: Lazzaro, second: Tseng)
Motions, Orders, and Resolutions
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)
Approve as amended — Paper 25-190: Acceptance of MGL Chapter 40, Section 71 (Chapter 399 of Acts of 2024) - School Bus Safety Enforcement Be it Order that the City of Medford hereby accepts MGL C
President Bears Motioned to Approve as amended (seconded by Councilor Tseng) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Six in Favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent) President Bears resumed the Chair from Vice President Collins.
From the minutes
“President Bears Motioned to Approve as amended (seconded by Councilor Tseng) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Six in Favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent) President Bears resumed the Chair from Vice President Collins..” (Motion: Bears, second: Tseng)
Suspend the rule and take 24-069 of the table
Councilor Tseng Motioned to suspend the rule and take 24-069 of the table (seconded by Councilor Leming) - Approved on a Voice vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent)
From the minutes
“Councilor Tseng Motioned to suspend the rule and take 24-069 of the table (seconded by Councilor Leming) - Approved on a Voice vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent).” (Motion: Tseng, second: Leming)
Unfinished Business
Motion to Approve as amended for 3rd reading to be ordained
Motion to Approve as amended for 3rd reading to be ordained (seconded by Councilor Collins) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Six in Favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent)
From the minutes
“Motion to Approve as amended for 3rd reading to be ordained (seconded by Councilor Collins) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Six in Favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent).” (second: Collins)
Suspend the rules and take communications from the mayors
Vice President Collins Motioned to suspend the rules and take communications from the mayors (seconded by Councilor Tseng) - Approve on a Voice vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent)
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins Motioned to suspend the rules and take communications from the mayors (seconded by Councilor Tseng) - Approve on a Voice vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent).” (Motion: Collins, second: Tseng)
Communications from the Mayor
Approve — Paper 25-186: Addressing the Council: Brenda Pike City Planner
Vice President Collins Motioned to approve (seconded by Councilor Leming) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent)
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins Motioned to approve (seconded by Councilor Leming) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent).” (Motion: Collins, second: Leming)
Waive the 3 reading and Approve — Paper 25-185: Breanna Lungo-Koehn
Vice President Collins Motioned to waive the 3 reading and Approve (seconded by Councilor Callahan) - Approved on a roll call vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent)
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins Motioned to waive the 3 reading and Approve (seconded by Councilor Callahan) - Approved on a roll call vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent).” (Motion: Collins, second: Callahan)
Approve — Paper 25-193: Addressing the Council: Theresa Dupont CPC Amanda Centrella City Planner
Vice President Collins motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent)
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent).” (Motion: Collins, second: Lazzaro)
Approve — Paper 25-194: Addressing the Council: Nick Gurileo 40 Robinson Rd
Vice President Collins Motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Leming) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent)
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins Motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Leming) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent).” (Motion: Collins, second: Leming)
Motions, Orders, and Resolutions
Approve — Paper 25-191: Resolution: the City Council withdraw this zoning amendment proposal; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we notify the Community Development Board that they do not need to...
Councilor Leming Motioned to approve (seconded by Vice President Collins) - Approved on a Voice vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent)
From the minutes
“Councilor Leming Motioned to approve (seconded by Vice President Collins) - Approved on a Voice vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent).” (Motion: Leming, second: Collins)
Approve — Paper 25-192: Resolution: the proposal be received and placed on file BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the proposal be replaced by the two separate zoning proposals for Medford Squ
Councilor Leming Motioned to approve (seconded by Councilor Callahan) - Approved on a Voice vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent)
From the minutes
“Councilor Leming Motioned to approve (seconded by Councilor Callahan) - Approved on a Voice vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent).” (Motion: Leming, second: Callahan)
Approve — Paper 25-195: Addressing the Council: Jared Yagjian Chief Assessor
Vice President Collins motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Callhan) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent)
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Callhan) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent).” (Motion: Collins, second: Callahan)
Waive 3 reading and approve — Paper 25-196: Addressing The Council: Owen Wartella City Engineer Tim McGivern Commissioner of Public Works
Vice President Collins Motioned to waive 3 reading and approve (seconded by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent)
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins Motioned to waive 3 reading and approve (seconded by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent).” (Motion: Collins, second: Lazzaro)
Waive 3 readings and be ordained — Paper 24-036: Offered by Kit Collins, Council Vice President
Councilor Lazzaro Motioned to waive 3 readings and be ordained (seconded by Vice President Collins) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Six in Favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent) 24-461 - Offered by Kit Collins, Council Vice President Addressing the Council: Paulette Vartabedian Central Av Patrick Clerkin 14 Bennett Pl.
From the minutes
“Councilor Lazzaro Motioned to waive 3 readings and be ordained (seconded by Vice President Collins) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Six in Favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent) 24-461 - Offered by Kit Collins, Council Vice President Addressing the Council: Paulette Vartabedian Central Av Patrick Clerkin 14 Bennett Pl..” (Motion: Lazzaro, second: Collins)
Waive 3 readings and be ordained — Paper 24-461: Offered by Kit Collins, Council Vice President
Vice President Collins Motioned to waive 3 readings and be ordained (seconded by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli absent)
From the minutes
“Vice President Collins Motioned to waive 3 readings and be ordained (seconded by Councilor Lazzaro) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli absent).” (Motion: Collins, second: Lazzaro)
Adjourn
Councilor Callhan Motioned to Adjourn (seconded by Councilor Tseng) Approved on a Voice vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent)
From the minutes
“Councilor Callhan Motioned to Adjourn (seconded by Councilor Tseng) Approved on a Voice vote of Six in favor, Zero opposed (Councilor Scarpelli Absent).” (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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