← Medford City Council

Medford Former City Councilor

Michael J. Marks

At-large · 2 terms in this record

Michael Marks

A monthly email on how they voted, starting in November.

Council terms

2020–2021 Council2018–2019 Council
Election Day · Tuesday, Nov 3

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Record at a glance · 2020–2021 Council

79 of 80meetings attended (99%) · whole council 98%
759votes cast by name (yes, no or abstain)
23no votes (3% of votes cast) · whole council 2%
16 of 42split votes where Marks was in the minority (38%) · whole council 29%
0abstained
2terms in this record

On split votes, Marks voted the same way as…

How these numbers work
  • Counted from the official minutes, for 2020–2021 Council only. Committee meetings and routine votes (adjourning, approving minutes) are not counted.
  • Attendance counts the meetings where the minutes list Marks as present or absent at the start.
  • Only votes the minutes record member by member are counted. Voice votes and votes given only as a count (for example 6-3 with no names) are not.
  • Percentages are shown only when there are at least 10 meetings or votes to count.
  • A split vote is one where at least one member voted yes and another voted no. “In the minority” means on the side with fewer votes; ties are not counted.
  • “Whole council” combines every member’s record for the same term.

These numbers describe the record; they are not a grade. A no vote, an abstention or a minority vote is neither good nor bad. MassVoter never rates officials.

Attendance

At the start of 79 of 80 City Council meetings in 2020–2021 Council.

Missed

Every meeting (80)

Votes where councilors disagreed · 2020–2021 Council

Dec 21Approval, with a request that DCR hold a pre-…Motion: Vice President Knight moved for approval, with a request that DCR…Passed 6–0 · Marks: Yes

December 21, 2021: Approval, with a request that DCR hold a pre- construction meeting with abutters — Paper 21-634: Clippership Drive, Medford, Massachusetts Approval of Easement

ApprovePassed · 6–0

Vice President Knight moved for approval, with a request that DCR hold a pre- construction meeting with abutters (Councillor Bears second)-approved on a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Councillor Morell briefly absent from the Chamber.

Voted: Yes

Yes: Bears, Caraviello, Falco, Knight, Marks, ScarpelliThe records list Nicole Morell as absent for this vote.

From the minutes

“Vice President Knight moved for approval, with a request that DCR hold a pre- construction meeting with abutters (Councillor Bears second)-approved on a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Councillor Morell briefly absent from the Chamber..” (Motion: Knight, second: Bears)

Read it in the official minutes, page 16 (PDF)

Dec 14NOT to adopt a small commercial exemptionMotion: Vice President Knight moved NOT to adopt a small commercial exemption…Passed Unanimous, 7 present · Marks: Yes

December 14, 2021: NOT to adopt a small commercial exemption

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 7 present

Vice President Knight moved NOT to adopt a small commercial exemption (Councillor Falco second)-small commercial exemption NOT adopted on a roll call vote of seven in favor of not adopting and zero opposed to not adopting.

Voted: Yes

The motion was not to adopt; a yes vote was a vote not to adopt, and the motion carried.

From the minutes

“Vice President Knight moved NOT to adopt a small commercial exemption (Councillor Falco second)-small commercial exemption NOT adopted on a roll call vote of seven in favor of not adopting and zero opposed to not adopting..” (Motion: Knight, second: Falco)

Read it in the official minutes, page 3 (PDF)

Dec 14NOT to adopt an open space discount — Paper…Motion: Vice President Knight moved NOT to adopt an open space discount…Passed Unanimous, 7 present · Marks: Yes

December 14, 2021: NOT to adopt an open space discount — Paper 21-625: Tax hearing

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 7 present

Vice President Knight moved NOT to adopt an open space discount (Councillor Scarpelli second)-open space discount NOT adopted on a roll call vote of seven in favor of not adopting and zero opposed to not adopting.

Voted: Yes

The motion was not to adopt; a yes vote was a vote not to adopt, and the motion carried.

From the minutes

“Vice President Knight moved NOT to adopt an open space discount (Councillor Scarpelli second)-open space discount NOT adopted on a roll call vote of seven in favor of not adopting and zero opposed to not adopting..” (Motion: Knight, second: Scarpelli)

Read it in the official minutes, page 3 (PDF)

Dec 7Approval on Agreement 1 — Paper 21-630: Contract OrdinanceMotion: Vice President Knight moved for approval on Agreement 1 (Councillor Bears…Passed 4–3 · Marks: No

December 7, 2021: Approval on Agreement 1 — Paper 21-630: Contract Ordinance

ApprovePassed · 4–3

Vice President Knight moved for approval on Agreement 1 (Councillor Bears second)-approved on a roll call vote of four in favor (Councillor Bears, Vice President Knight, Councillor Morell, and President Caraviello) and three opposed (Councillor Falco, Councillor Marks, and Councillor Scarpelli).

Voted: No

Yes: Bears, Caraviello, Knight, MorellNo: Falco, Marks, Scarpelli

From the minutes

“Vice President Knight moved for approval on Agreement 1 (Councillor Bears second)-approved on a roll call vote of four in favor (Councillor Bears, Vice President Knight, Councillor Morell, and President Caraviello) and three opposed (Councillor Falco, Councillor Marks, and Councillor Scarpelli)..” (Motion: Knight, second: Bears)

Read it in the official minutes, page 3 (PDF)

Dec 7Approval on Agreement 2 — Paper 21-630: Contract OrdinanceMotion: Councillor Bears moved for approval on Agreement 2 (Vice President Knight…Passed 4–3 · Marks: No

December 7, 2021: Approval on Agreement 2 — Paper 21-630: Contract Ordinance

ApprovePassed · 4–3

Councillor Bears moved for approval on Agreement 2 (Vice President Knight second)-approved on a roll call vote of four in favor (Councillor Bears, Vice President Knight, Councillor Morell, and President Caraviello) and three opposed (Councillor Falco, Councillor Marks, and Councillor Scarpelli).

Voted: No

Yes: Bears, Caraviello, Knight, MorellNo: Falco, Marks, Scarpelli

From the minutes

“Councillor Bears moved for approval on Agreement 2 (Vice President Knight second)-approved on a roll call vote of four in favor (Councillor Bears, Vice President Knight, Councillor Morell, and President Caraviello) and three opposed (Councillor Falco, Councillor Marks, and Councillor Scarpelli)..” (Motion: Bears, second: Knight)

Read it in the official minutes, page 3 (PDF)

Nov 23Approval as amendedMotion: Councillor Bears amended by Councillor Bears motioned for approval. Councillor Marks…Failed 3–3 · Marks: No

November 23, 2021: Approval as amended

ApproveFailed · 3–3

Councillor Bears amended by Councillor Bears motioned for approval. Councillor Marks Roll Call Vote requested. Three Councillors -Yes (Bears, Falco, Morell) Three Councillors - No (Knight, Marks, Caraviello) one absent (Scarpelli) motion failed

Voted: No

Yes: Bears, Falco, MorellNo: Caraviello, Knight, MarksA tie vote; the motion failed.

From the minutes

“Councillor Bears amended by Councillor Bears motioned for approval. Councillor Marks Roll Call Vote requested. Three Councillors -Yes (Bears, Falco, Morell) Three Councillors - No (Knight, Marks, Caraviello) one absent (Scarpelli) motion failed.” (Motion: Bears)

Read it in the official minutes, page 4 (PDF)

Oct 19Adopt Plan A — Paper 21-551: MEMORANDUM TO: President…Motion: Vice President Knight moved to adopt Plan A (Councillor Bears second)-approved…Passed 4–3 · Marks: No

October 19, 2021: Adopt Plan A — Paper 21-551: MEMORANDUM TO: President Richard Caraviello and Members of the Medford City Council FR: Adam Hurtubise, City Clerk; Sandra Gale, Acting Election Coordinator RE

ApprovePassed · 4–3

Vice President Knight moved to adopt Plan A (Councillor Bears second)-approved on a roll call vote of four in favor (Councillor Bears, Councillor Falco, Vice President Knight, and Councillor Morell) and three opposed (Councillor Marks, Councillor Scarpelli, and President Caraviello).

Voted: No

Yes: Bears, Falco, Knight, MorellNo: Caraviello, Marks, Scarpelli

From the minutes

“Vice President Knight moved to adopt Plan A (Councillor Bears second)-approved on a roll call vote of four in favor (Councillor Bears, Councillor Falco, Vice President Knight, and Councillor Morell) and three opposed (Councillor Marks, Councillor Scarpelli, and President Caraviello)..” (Motion: Knight, second: Bears)

Read it in the official minutes, page 2 (PDF)

Oct 12Approve the report — Paper 21-551: Committee of the…Motion: Councillor Bears moved to approve the report (Councillor Falco second)-approved on…Passed 6–0 · Marks: Yes

October 12, 2021: Approve the report — Paper 21-551: Committee of the whole meeting report tuesday, october

ApprovePassed · 6–0

Councillor Bears moved to approve the report (Councillor Falco second)-approved on a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Councillor Morell briefly absent from the Chamber.

Voted: Yes

Yes: Bears, Caraviello, Falco, Knight, Marks, ScarpelliThe records list Nicole Morell as absent for this vote.

From the minutes

“Councillor Bears moved to approve the report (Councillor Falco second)-approved on a roll call vote of six in favor, zero opposed, and Councillor Morell briefly absent from the Chamber..” (Motion: Bears, second: Falco)

Read it in the official minutes, page 7 (PDF)

Oct 12Adopt Plan C, which creates eight wards with three…Motion: Vice President Knight moved to adopt Plan C, which creates eight…Passed 4–3 · Marks: No

October 12, 2021: Adopt Plan C, which creates eight wards with three precincts per ward — Paper 21-551: Committee of the whole meeting report tuesday, october

ApprovePassed · 4–3

Vice President Knight moved to adopt Plan C, which creates eight wards with three precincts per ward (Councillor Morell second)-approved on a roll call vote of four in favor (Councillor Bears, Vice President Knight, Councillor Morell, and Councillor Scarpelli) and three opposed (Councillor Falco, Councillor Marks, and President Caraviello).

Voted: No

Yes: Bears, Knight, Morell, ScarpelliNo: Caraviello, Falco, Marks

From the minutes

“Vice President Knight moved to adopt Plan C, which creates eight wards with three precincts per ward (Councillor Morell second)-approved on a roll call vote of four in favor (Councillor Bears, Vice President Knight, Councillor Morell, and Councillor Scarpelli) and three opposed (Councillor Falco, Councillor Marks, and President Caraviello)..” (Motion: Knight, second: Morell)

Read it in the official minutes, page 7 (PDF)

Oct 5Approval as amended — Paper 21-572: Resolution: the Medford…Motion: Councillor Marks moved for approval as amended (Vice President Knight second)-…Passed 4–2 · Marks: Yes

October 5, 2021: Approval as amended — Paper 21-572: Resolution: the Medford City Council denounce the anonymous, hate-filled website "Racists of Medford" for its defamation, slander, malicious representation, and...

ApprovePassed · 4–2

Councillor Marks moved for approval as amended (Vice President Knight second)- approved as amended on a roll call vote of four in favor (Councillor Falco, Vice President Knight, Councillor Marks, and President Caraviello), two opposed (Councillor Bears and Councillor Morell), and Councillor Scarpelli absent.

Voted: Yes

Yes: Caraviello, Falco, Knight, MarksNo: Bears, Morell

From the minutes

“Councillor Marks moved for approval as amended (Vice President Knight second)- approved as amended on a roll call vote of four in favor (Councillor Falco, Vice President Knight, Councillor Marks, and President Caraviello), two opposed (Councillor Bears and Councillor Morell), and Councillor Scarpelli absent..” (Motion: Marks, second: Knight)

Read it in the official minutes, page 3 (PDF)

Votes with no disagreement (681)

    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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