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Melrose City Council
How the Melrose City Council voted, from the City Clerk's official minutes. 11 councilors: one from each of the city’s 7 wards and 4 elected at large. Elected November 2021 and sworn in January 2022 (organizational meeting January 10, 2022). Council President: Christopher Cinella (2022; elected January 10, 2022, unanimously) and Jen Grigoraitis (2023; elected January 3, 2023, nine votes, two members absent). Jen Grigoraitis was elected Mayor in November 2023. Manjula Karamcheti (Ward 1), John Obremski (Ward 2) and Ryan Williams (Ward 7) joined the council, succeeding John N. Tramontozzi, Jeff McNaught and Cory Thomas. Covers 56 meetings, January 10 to December 18, 2023.
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
What does the City Council do? It is the city’s lawmaking body. It passes local laws (ordinances), votes on the yearly budget, and approves borrowing and zoning changes.
The mayor runs the city day to day and proposes the budget.
Sources: Mass. General Laws c. 44 § 32 (city budgets)Council sessions
Coming up
MassVoter can’t read Melrose’s meeting calendar automatically yet. See upcoming meetings on the official site →
Councilors
Jack EcclesMember · At-large · at 49 of 56 meetingsMark GaripayMember · Ward 4 · at 56 of 56 meetingsJen GrigoraitisPresident · Ward 6 · at 53 of 56 meetings
Maya JamaleddineMember · At-large · at 48 of 56 meetings
Manjula KaramchetiMember · Ward 1 · at 49 of 56 meetingsShawn M. MacMasterMember · Ward 5 · at 43 of 56 meetingsLeila MigliorelliMember · At-large · at 52 of 56 meetings
John ObremskiMember · Ward 2 · at 38 of 56 meetingsRobb StewartMember · Ward 3 · at 52 of 56 meetings
Ryan WilliamsMember · At-large · at 52 of 56 meetings"At X of Y meetings" counts the roll call at the start of each meeting in this record. Councilors who step out are listed on each meeting page.
Meetings
About missing minutes
Loaded: every full Melrose City Council meeting with posted minutes from January 8, 2018 through September 28, 2026: 223 meetings (regular, special and organizational meetings, and six joint meetings with the School Committee at which the council took a roll-call vote) and 3,082 votes. Council committee meetings and the council’s December nominating caucuses are not loaded. The city’s portal has council minutes back to 2001; MassVoter has loaded 2018 on. Until October 2019 the council was the Board of Aldermen; a charter change signed on October 1, 2019 renamed it the City Council. Minutes from 2018 to September 2025 were moved into the city’s current portal in December 2025; for each of those meetings the portal holds a one-page “bulletin” listing each item’s outcome and, under “Other,” the full minutes followed by the meeting packet. MassVoter used the full minutes. For four meetings only the bulletin is posted (April 27, 2020; July 17, September 5 and October 2, 2023), so those votes show the result only. Not here: the October 6, 2025 meeting (its minutes were approved on October 20, 2025 but are not posted) and the September 15, 2025 meeting (agenda posted, no minutes); MassVoter is asking the City Clerk. The minutes of October 5, 2026 and later meetings are not posted yet. Melrose’s minutes record most votes in a vote box: “RESULT: PASSED [10 TO 0] MOVER: … SECONDER: … AYES: … NAYS: … ABSENT: …”, naming each councilor. We show each councilor’s vote as listed; councilors listed as absent or recused for a vote are left out of it, and those who voted “present” or abstained are shown as abstaining. When the box says “[UNANIMOUS]” without names, or the text says “All were in favor,” every councilor present is shown voting yes, leaving out anyone the minutes show arriving late or leaving early at that point. Motions the minutes describe only as “motion carried,” “so voted” or “no objection” show the result only, never assumed unanimous; before 2025 these were mostly procedural motions (opening and closing public comment, immediate consideration, suspending the rules, adjourning), and since 2025 most are motions referring items to committee. Items the President sent to a committee with no motion or vote recorded are not listed as votes. When a vote box lists a councilor the attendance table marks absent (or a person not then on the council), we show the count only, with a note (37 votes); 751 votes show the result only. Votes choosing between people (the 2018 Board President ballots and the 2018 Ward 5 vacancy) show the result only, with a note listing who voted for whom. We will ask the City Clerk to confirm any noted vote.
Votes where councilors disagreed
Most council votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one councilor voted no or abstained, newest first.
Dec 4Requesting the adoption of the Specialized Energy Code as…Motion: RESULT: ADOPTED [10 TO 1] MOVER: Leila Migliorelli, At-Large SECONDER: Christopher…Passed 10–1 · No: Garipay
December 4, 2023: Requesting the adoption of the Specialized Energy Code as found in 225 CMR §§ 22 and 23, including Appendices RC and CC, as the minimum energy code for the City…
RESULT: ADOPTED [10 TO 1] MOVER: Leila Migliorelli, At-Large SECONDER: Christopher Cinella, At-Large AYES: Cinella, Eccles, Jamaleddine, Karamcheti, MacMaster, Migliorelli, Obremski, Stewart, Williams, Grigoraitis NAYS: Mark Garipay
Yes: Cinella, Eccles, Grigoraitis, Jamaleddine, Karamcheti, MacMaster, Migliorelli, Obremski, Stewart, WilliamsNo: Garipay
From the minutes
“RESULT: ADOPTED [10 TO 1] MOVER: Leila Migliorelli, At-Large SECONDER: Christopher Cinella, At-Large AYES: Cinella, Eccles, Jamaleddine, Karamcheti, MacMaster, Migliorelli, Obremski, Stewart, Williams, Grigoraitis NAYS: Mark Garipay.” (Motion: Migliorelli, second: Cinella)
Nov 13An Appropriation from Ambulance Retained Earnings in the amount…Motion: RESULT: PASSED [9 TO 0] MOVER: Leila Migliorelli, At-Large SECONDER: Jack…Passed 9–0 · see note
November 13, 2023: An Appropriation from Ambulance Retained Earnings in the amount of $7,416.83
RESULT: PASSED [9 TO 0] MOVER: Leila Migliorelli, At-Large SECONDER: Jack Eccles, At-Large AYES: Eccles, Garipay, Jamaleddine, Karamcheti, MacMaster, Migliorelli, Obremski, Williams, Grigoraitis ABSENT: Christopher Cinella RECUSED: Robb Stewart
Yes: Eccles, Garipay, Grigoraitis, Jamaleddine, Karamcheti, MacMaster, Migliorelli, Obremski, WilliamsThe roll call lists Robb Stewart as recused for this vote.
From the minutes
“RESULT: PASSED [9 TO 0] MOVER: Leila Migliorelli, At-Large SECONDER: Jack Eccles, At-Large AYES: Eccles, Garipay, Jamaleddine, Karamcheti, MacMaster, Migliorelli, Obremski, Williams, Grigoraitis ABSENT: Christopher Cinella RECUSED: Robb Stewart.” (Motion: Migliorelli, second: Eccles)
Oct 2Proclaiming the month of October 2023 as Domestic Violence…Motion: ORDER-2024-10 Proclamation Proclaiming the month of October 2023 as Domestic Violence…Passed · see note
October 2, 2023: Proclaiming the month of October 2023 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month
ORDER-2024-10 Proclamation Proclaiming the month of October 2023 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month Placed on File
Only the meeting’s bulletin is posted (no full minutes); it records the result (“Placed on File”) but no motion, count or names.
From the minutes
“ORDER-2024-10 Proclamation Proclaiming the month of October 2023 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month Placed on File.”
Oct 2Appointment of Erica Brown as Council of Aging (COA)…Motion: APPT-2024-5 Appointment Appointment of Erica Brown as Council of Aging (COA)…Passed · see note
October 2, 2023: Appointment of Erica Brown as Council of Aging (COA) Director effective August 31, 2023
APPT-2024-5 Appointment Appointment of Erica Brown as Council of Aging (COA) Director effective August 31, 2023 Adopted
Only the meeting’s bulletin is posted (no full minutes); it records the result (“Adopted”) but no motion, count or names.
From the minutes
“APPT-2024-5 Appointment Appointment of Erica Brown as Council of Aging (COA) Director effective August 31, 2023 Adopted.”
Oct 2Appointment of Rebecca Blumenthal, 50 Stillman Road, to the…Motion: APPT-2024-6 Appointment Appointment of Rebecca Blumenthal, 50 Stillman Road, to the…Passed · see note
October 2, 2023: Appointment of Rebecca Blumenthal, 50 Stillman Road, to the Historical Commission for a term to expire on the last day of February 2025
APPT-2024-6 Appointment Appointment of Rebecca Blumenthal, 50 Stillman Road, to the Historical Commission for a term to expire on the last day of February 2025 Adopted
Only the meeting’s bulletin is posted (no full minutes); it records the result (“Adopted”) but no motion, count or names.
From the minutes
“APPT-2024-6 Appointment Appointment of Rebecca Blumenthal, 50 Stillman Road, to the Historical Commission for a term to expire on the last day of February 2025 Adopted.”
Oct 2Appointment of Darren Brown, 43 School Street, to the…Motion: APPT-2024-7 Appointment Appointment of Darren Brown, 43 School Street, to the…Passed · see note
October 2, 2023: Appointment of Darren Brown, 43 School Street, to the Historical Commission for a term to expire on the last day of February 2026
APPT-2024-7 Appointment Appointment of Darren Brown, 43 School Street, to the Historical Commission for a term to expire on the last day of February 2026 Adopted
Only the meeting’s bulletin is posted (no full minutes); it records the result (“Adopted”) but no motion, count or names.
From the minutes
“APPT-2024-7 Appointment Appointment of Darren Brown, 43 School Street, to the Historical Commission for a term to expire on the last day of February 2026 Adopted.”
Oct 2An Appropriation from Capital Stabilization (#8405) in the amount…Motion: APPRO-2024-4 Appropriation An Appropriation from Capital Stabilization (#8405) in the amount…Passed · see note
October 2, 2023: An Appropriation from Capital Stabilization (#8405) in the amount of $40,000 (Forty Thousand Dollars) to DPW Facilities (#402) for the purposes of replacing the asphalt roof shingles at the East...
APPRO-2024-4 Appropriation An Appropriation from Capital Stabilization (#8405) in the amount of $40,000 (Forty Thousand Dollars) to DPW Facilities (#402) for the purposes of replacing the asphalt roof shingles at the East Foster Fire Station. The current balance in the Capital Stabilization fund as of 9/18/23 is $997,947.34. Passed
Only the meeting’s bulletin is posted (no full minutes); it records the result (“Passed”) but no motion, count or names.
From the minutes
“APPRO-2024-4 Appropriation An Appropriation from Capital Stabilization (#8405) in the amount of $40,000 (Forty Thousand Dollars) to DPW Facilities (#402) for the purposes of replacing the asphalt roof shingles at the East Foster Fire Station. The current balance in the Capital Stabilization fund as of 9/18/23 is $997,947.34. Passed.”
Oct 2An Appropriation from Capital Stabilization (#8405) in the amount…Motion: APPRO-2024-5 Appropriation An Appropriation from Capital Stabilization (#8405) in the amount…Passed · see note
October 2, 2023: An Appropriation from Capital Stabilization (#8405) in the amount of $298,000 (Two Hundred Ninety Eight Thousand Dollars) to DPW Sanitation (#433) for the purposes of purchasing electric vehicle...
APPRO-2024-5 Appropriation An Appropriation from Capital Stabilization (#8405) in the amount of $298,000 (Two Hundred Ninety Eight Thousand Dollars) to DPW Sanitation (#433) for the purposes of purchasing electric vehicle charging infrastructure and an electric refuse service vehicle. The current balance in the Capital Stabilization Fund as of 9/18/23 is $997,947.34. Passed
Only the meeting’s bulletin is posted (no full minutes); it records the result (“Passed”) but no motion, count or names.
From the minutes
“APPRO-2024-5 Appropriation An Appropriation from Capital Stabilization (#8405) in the amount of $298,000 (Two Hundred Ninety Eight Thousand Dollars) to DPW Sanitation (#433) for the purposes of purchasing electric vehicle charging infrastructure and an electric refuse service vehicle. The current balance in the Capital Stabilization Fund as of 9/18/23 is $997,947.34. Passed.”
Sep 5A Resolution Honoring Melrose Little League's Massachusetts U10 Baseball…Motion: RES-2024-1 Resolution A Resolution Honoring Melrose Little League's Massachusetts U10 Baseball…Passed · see note
September 5, 2023: A Resolution Honoring Melrose Little League's Massachusetts U10 Baseball State Champions
RES-2024-1 Resolution A Resolution Honoring Melrose Little League's Massachusetts U10 Baseball State Champions Place on File
Only the meeting’s bulletin is posted (no full minutes); it records the result (“Place on File”) but no motion, count or names.
From the minutes
“RES-2024-1 Resolution A Resolution Honoring Melrose Little League's Massachusetts U10 Baseball State Champions Place on File.”
Sep 5Appointment of Kevin Cronin, 18 Birch Hill Road, to…Motion: APPT-2024-4 Appointment Appointment of Kevin Cronin, 18 Birch Hill Road, to…Passed · see note
September 5, 2023: Appointment of Kevin Cronin, 18 Birch Hill Road, to the Liquor Licensing Commission for a six-year term; said term to expire on the first Monday in June 2029
APPT-2024-4 Appointment Appointment of Kevin Cronin, 18 Birch Hill Road, to the Liquor Licensing Commission for a six-year term; said term to expire on the first Monday in June 2029. Adopted
Only the meeting’s bulletin is posted (no full minutes); it records the result (“Adopted”) but no motion, count or names.
From the minutes
“APPT-2024-4 Appointment Appointment of Kevin Cronin, 18 Birch Hill Road, to the Liquor Licensing Commission for a six-year term; said term to expire on the first Monday in June 2029. Adopted.”
From the Melrose City Council’s official minutes (the Board of Aldermen’s until October 2019), posted on the city’s Agendas & Minutes page (its CivicClerk portal, City Council). We check every vote against the councilors present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Councilor photos: City of Melrose (cityofmelrose.org), from the official City Council page. Cal Finocchiaro: Melrose Weekly News. Former councilors show initials.
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