MassVoter.com← Medford City CouncilMedford City Council · 2026–2027 Council · Regular meeting
January 6, 2026
17 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: Zac Bears, Anna Callahan, Emily Lazzaro, Matt Leming, Liz Mullane, George A. Scarpelli, Justin Tseng
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
Council Organization and Election of Leadership
Elect Zac Bears Council President for 2026
Councilor Lazzaro nominated Councilor Issaac B "Zac" Bears (seconded by Councilor Callhan) - Approved on a roll call vote of Six in favor and one Present (Councilor Bears)
Yes: Callahan, Lazzaro, Leming, Mullane, Scarpelli, TsengAbstained: BearsCouncilor Lazzaro nominated Councilor Bears (Councilor Callahan second); he voted present.
From the minutes
“Councilor Lazzaro nominated Councilor Issaac B "Zac" Bears (seconded by Councilor Callhan) - Approved on a roll call vote of Six in favor and one Present (Councilor Bears).” (Motion: Lazzaro, second: Callahan)
Elect Emily Lazzaro Council Vice President for 2026
Councilor Callhan nominated Councilor Emily Lazzaro (seconded by Councilor Tseng) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Six in favor and one present (Councilor Lazzaro)
Yes: Bears, Callahan, Leming, Mullane, Scarpelli, TsengAbstained: LazzaroCouncilor Callahan nominated Councilor Lazzaro (Councilor Tseng second); she voted present.
From the minutes
“Councilor Callhan nominated Councilor Emily Lazzaro (seconded by Councilor Tseng) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Six in favor and one present (Councilor Lazzaro).” (Motion: Callahan, second: Tseng)
Table — Paper 26-003: Appointment of a City Messenger for 2026 and 2027
Councilor Tseng Motioned to Table (seconded by Vice President Lazzaro) - Approved on a Voice Vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed
From the minutes
“Councilor Tseng Motioned to Table (seconded by Vice President Lazzaro) - Approved on a Voice Vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed.” (Motion: Tseng, second: Lazzaro)
Approve — Paper 26-004: Offered by Isaac Bears, Council President
Councilor Tsend motioned to Approve (seconded by Vice President Lazzaro) - Approved on a Voice vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed
From the minutes
“Councilor Tsend motioned to Approve (seconded by Vice President Lazzaro) - Approved on a Voice vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed.” (Motion: Tseng, second: Lazzaro)
Approve as amended — Paper 26-005: Resolution: the City Council transfer all Papers in Committees or on the Table from the 2025 Council to the 2026 Council
Councilor Tseng Motioned to Approve as amended (seconded by Vice President Lazzaro) - Approved on a Voice vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed
From the minutes
“Councilor Tseng Motioned to Approve as amended (seconded by Vice President Lazzaro) - Approved on a Voice vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed.” (Motion: Tseng, second: Lazzaro)
Announcements, Accolades, Remembrances, Reports, and Records
Approve — Records of the meeting of December 16, 2025
Vice President Lazzaro Motioned to Approve (seconded by Tseng) - Approved on a voice vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed
From the minutes
“Vice President Lazzaro Motioned to Approve (seconded by Tseng) - Approved on a voice vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed.” (Motion: Lazzaro, second: Tseng)
Approve — Paper 22-231: Offered by Matt Leming, City Councilor
Councilor Leming Motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Tseng) - Approved on a voice vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed
From the minutes
“Councilor Leming Motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Tseng) - Approved on a voice vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed.” (Motion: Leming, second: Tseng)
Suspend the rules and take paper 26-011
Councilor Scarpelli Motioned to Suspend the rules and take paper 26-011 (seconded by Councilor Leming) - Approved on a Voice vote or Seven in favor, Zero opposed
From the minutes
“Councilor Scarpelli Motioned to Suspend the rules and take paper 26-011 (seconded by Councilor Leming) - Approved on a Voice vote or Seven in favor, Zero opposed.” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Leming)
Motions, Orders, and Resolutions
Refer to Committee of the Whole and invite all parties involved — Paper 26-011: Resolution: the Medford City Council hold a Committee of the Whole Meeting to conduct a comprehensive review of the...
Councilor Scarpelli motioned to refer to Committee of the Whole and invite all parties involved (seconded by Tseng) - Approved on a Voice vote or Seven in favor, Zero opposed
From the minutes
“Councilor Scarpelli motioned to refer to Committee of the Whole and invite all parties involved (seconded by Tseng) - Approved on a Voice vote or Seven in favor, Zero opposed.” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Tseng)
Petitions, Presentations, and Similar Papers
Approve — Paper 26-006: Petition for a Common Victualler License - Wonder HDR Holdings
Councilor Scarpelli Motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Tseng) - Approved on a Voice vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed
From the minutes
“Councilor Scarpelli Motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Tseng) - Approved on a Voice vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed.” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Tseng)
Approve — Paper 26-007: Petition for a Common Victualler's License - Colwen Management dba Medford Hyatt Place
Councilor Scarpelli motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Tseng) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed
From the minutes
“Councilor Scarpelli motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Tseng) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed.” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Tseng)
Motions, Orders, and Resolutions
Approve as Amended — Paper 26-008: Resolution: we confirm that Assistant City Clerk Richard Eliseo Jr
Councilor Scarpelli to Motioned to Approve as Amended (seconded by Councilor Callhan) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in Favor, Zero opposed
From the minutes
“Councilor Scarpelli to Motioned to Approve as Amended (seconded by Councilor Callhan) - Approved on a roll call vote of Seven in Favor, Zero opposed.” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Callahan)
Approve — Paper 26-009: Matt Leming, City Councilor, Isaac Bears, Council President Resolution to Support SMFA Professors at Tufts Pursuing a Fair Contract
Councilor Leming Motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Callhan) - Approved on a Voice vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed
From the minutes
“Councilor Leming Motioned to Approve (seconded by Councilor Callhan) - Approved on a Voice vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed.” (Motion: Leming, second: Callahan)
Leming — Paper 26-010: Resolution: the City Council address the disparity in services provided to residents of Private Ways in public forum with the necessary Department Heads and Policy Makers,...
Leming (seconded by Councilor Mullane) - Approved on a Voice vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed
From the minutes
“Leming (seconded by Councilor Mullane) - Approved on a Voice vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed.” (Motion: Leming, second: Mullane)
Communications from the Mayor
Waive Three readings and Approve to be ordained
Councilor Scarpelli Motioned to waive Three readings and Approve to be ordained (seconded by Councilor Tseng) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed
From the minutes
“Councilor Scarpelli Motioned to waive Three readings and Approve to be ordained (seconded by Councilor Tseng) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed.” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Tseng)
Motion on the paper — Paper 26-013: Addressing the Council: Tim McGivern Commissioner of Public works Owen Wartella City Engineer Sue Eddleman 7 Bussel Rd
Vice President Lazzaro (seconded by Councilor Leming) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed.
From the minutes
“Vice President Lazzaro (seconded by Councilor Leming) - Approved on a Roll call vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed..” (Motion: Lazzaro, second: Leming)
Public Participation
Motion on the paper — Paper 26-013: Addressing the Council: Tim McGivern Commissioner of Public works Owen Wartella City Engineer Sue Eddleman 7 Bussel Rd Vice President Lazzaro (seconded by Counc
Councilor Scarpelli (seconded by Vice President Lazzaro) - Approved on a voice vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed
From the minutes
“Councilor Scarpelli (seconded by Vice President Lazzaro) - Approved on a voice vote of Seven in favor, Zero opposed.” (Motion: Scarpelli, second: Lazzaro)
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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