MassVoter.com← Melrose City CouncilMelrose City Council · 2024–2025 Council · Regular meeting
July 21, 2025
22 recorded votes, 12 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 attendance table marks Robb Stewart, Leila Migliorelli and John Obremski absent.
Present: Cal Finocchiaro, Mark Garipay, Ward Hamilton, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Devin Romanul, Kimberly Vandiver, Ryan Williams
Absent: Robb Stewart, Leila Migliorelli, John Obremski
Every vote, in order
Reading of the Minutes
Approve minutes without reading — Minutes of the regular meeting of June 2, 2025
Motion to Approve minutes without reading made by Councilor Garipay
From the minutes
“RESULT: ACCEPTED [8 TO 0] AYES: Finocchiaro, Garipay, Hamilton, Jamaleddine, Karamcheti, Romanul, Vandiver, Williams ABSENT: John Obremski, Robb Stewart, Leila Migliorelli.” (Motion: Garipay)
New Business
Refer to Boards & Commissions — Reappointment of Gail Infurna, 12 Mt. Vernon St., #41, to the Traffic Commission, for a five year term; said term to expire on the last day of May 2030
Motion to Refer to Boards & Commissions made by Councilor Garipay
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Boards & Commission.” (Motion: Garipay)
Refer to Boards & Commissions — Reappointment of Jeffrey Parenti, 29 Trenton Street, to the Traffic Commission, said term to expire on the last day of May 2030
Motion to Refer to Boards & Commissions made by Councilor Garipay
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Boards & Commission.” (Motion: Garipay)
Refer to Boards & Commissions — Appointment of Gentry Andrews, 15 Orient Place, to the Melrose Commission on Women
Motion to Refer to Boards & Commissions made by Councilor Garipay
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Boards & Commission.” (Motion: Garipay)
Refer to Boards & Commissions — Appointment of Gentry Andrews, 15 Orient Place, to the Melrose Historical Commission
Motion to Refer to Boards & Commissions made by Councilor Garipay
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Boards & Commission.” (Motion: Garipay)
Refer to Appropriations & Oversight — Requesting the Appropriation of $124,500,000 to pay costs for design, engineering, construction, site improvements, equipping, and furnishing of a renovated...
Motion to Refer to Appropriations & Oversight made by Councilor Garipay
The minutes record the result (“assigned to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGNED TO COMMITTEE TO: Appropriations & Oversight Committee.” (Motion: Garipay)
Refer to Protection & License — Bangkok Bar Shi new Common Victualler License
Motion to Refer to Protection & License made by Councilor Garipay
The minutes record the result (“assigned to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGNED TO COMMITEE TO: Protection and License Committee.” (Motion: Garipay)
Refer to Legal & Legislative — Amending Chapter 198 of the Revised Ordinances of the City of Melrose Solid Waste and Recycling to update language to reflect current programs
Motion to Refer to Legal & Legislative made by Councilor Garipay
The minutes record the result (“assigned to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGNED TO COMMITTEE TO: Legal & Legislative Committee.” (Motion: Garipay)
Refer to Legal & Legislative — Amending Chapter 202 of the Revised Ordinances of the City of Melrose Streets and Sidewalks
Motion to Refer to Legal & Legislative made by Councilor Garipay
The minutes record the result (“assigned to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGNED TO COMMITTEE TO: Legal & Legislative Committee.” (Motion: Garipay)
Refer to Legal & Legislative — Amending Chapter 228 of the Revised Ordinances of the City of Melrose Water, Sewers, and Drains
Motion to Refer to Legal & Legislative made by Councilor Garipay
The minutes record the result (“assigned to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGNED TO COMMITTEE TO: Legal & Legislative Committee.” (Motion: Garipay)
Refer to Finance — Calling the Local Election for Tuesday, November 4th 2025 from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm at the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School gymnasium complex
Motion to Refer to Finance made by Councilor Garipay
The minutes record the result (“assigned to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGNED TO COMMITTEE TO: Finance Committee.” (Motion: Garipay)
Refer to Finance — Requesting City Council approval of the Board of Registrars of Voters Recommendations relative to In Person Early Voting and Mail In Voting for the November 4, 2025 Local Election
Motion to Refer to Finance made by Councilor Garipay
The minutes record the result (“assigned to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGNED TO COMMITTEE TO: Finance Committee.” (Motion: Garipay)
Public Hearing-national Grid Petitions
Close the Public Hearing
Motion to Close the Public Hearing made by Councilor Jamaleddine at 8:23 PM Seconded by Councilor Vandiver All were in favor and Public Hearing was closed
From the minutes
“Motion to Close the Public Hearing made by Councilor Jamaleddine at 8:23 PM Seconded by Councilor Vandiver All were in favor and Public Hearing was closed.” (Motion: Jamaleddine, second: Vandiver)
Hold — Petition to install 1 JO Pole on Emerson Pl Order #31108543
Motion to Hold made by Councilor Karamcheti Seconded by Councilor Hamilton All were in favor and motion passed
From the minutes
“Motion to Hold made by Councilor Karamcheti Seconded by Councilor Hamilton All were in favor and motion passed.” (Motion: Karamcheti, second: Hamilton)
Table — Petition to install 1 JO Pole on Emerson Pl Order #31108543
RESULT: TABLE [8 TO 0] Next: 8/18/2025 7:45 PM TO: City Council AYES: Finocchiaro, Garipay, Hamilton, Jamaleddine, Karamcheti, Romanul, Vandiver, Williams ABSENT: John Obremski, Robb Stewart, Leila Migliorelli
From the minutes
“RESULT: TABLE [8 TO 0] Next: 8/18/2025 7:45 PM TO: City Council AYES: Finocchiaro, Garipay, Hamilton, Jamaleddine, Karamcheti, Romanul, Vandiver, Williams ABSENT: John Obremski, Robb Stewart, Leila Migliorelli.”
Recommend/Approve — Utility Petition for National Grid to install 1 JO pole N Cedar Park No 31067326
Motion to Recommend/Approve made by Councilor Williams Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro All were in favor and motion passed
From the minutes
“RESULT: PLACE ON FILE [8 TO 0] TO: City Council AYES: Finocchiaro, Garipay, Hamilton, Jamaleddine, Karamcheti, Romanul, Vandiver, Williams ABSENT: John Obremski, Robb Stewart, Leila Migliorelli.” (Motion: Williams, second: Finocchiaro)
Unfinished Business
Recommend — Appointment of Chief John White, 40 Youle Street, Melrose, MA as Emergency Management Director
Motion to Recommend made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro All were in favor and motion passed
From the minutes
“RESULT: PASSED [8 TO 0] TO: City Council AYES: Finocchiaro, Garipay, Hamilton, Jamaleddine, Karamcheti, Romanul, Vandiver, Williams ABSENT: John Obremski, Robb Stewart, Leila Migliorelli.” (Motion: Romanul, second: Finocchiaro)
Send back to Full Council — Amending Chapter 4 of the Revised Ordinances of the City of Melrose, to Insert a New Section 4-15, Payment of Taxes as Condition of City Facility Rental
Motion to Send back to Full Council made by Councilor Jamaleddine Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro All were in favor and motion passed
From the minutes
“Motion to Send back to Full Council made by Councilor Jamaleddine Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro All were in favor and motion passed.” (Motion: Jamaleddine, second: Finocchiaro)
Refer to Legal & Legislative — Amending Chapter 4 of the Revised Ordinances of the City of Melrose, to Insert a New Section 4-15, Payment of Taxes as Condition of City Facility Rental
Motion to Refer to Legal & Legislative made by Councilor Garipay
The minutes record the result (“assigned to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGNED TO COMMITTEE TO: Legal & Legislative Committee.” (Motion: Garipay)
Passage — Acceptance of M.G.L. chapter 200A, Section 9A, relating to the disposition of unclaimed property by a city or town
Motion for Passage made by Councilor Jamaleddine Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro All were in favor and motion passed
From the minutes
“RESULT: PASSED [8 TO 0] TO: City Council AYES: Finocchiaro, Garipay, Hamilton, Jamaleddine, Karamcheti, Romanul, Vandiver, Williams ABSENT: John Obremski, Robb Stewart, Leila Migliorelli.” (Motion: Jamaleddine, second: Finocchiaro)
Rule 37 Reports
Recess in order to start the Public Hearing
Motion to Recess in order to start the Public Hearing made by Councilor Hamilton at 7:55 PM Seconded by Councilor Vandiver All were in favor and meeting was recessed
From the minutes
“Motion to Recess in order to start the Public Hearing made by Councilor Hamilton at 7:55 PM Seconded by Councilor Vandiver All were in favor and meeting was recessed.” (Motion: Hamilton, second: Vandiver)
Adjournment
Adjourn
Motion to Adjourn made by Councilor Williams at 8:24 PM Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro All were in favor and meeting was adjourned
From the minutes
“Motion to Adjourn made by Councilor Williams at 8:24 PM Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro All were in favor and meeting was adjourned.” (Motion: Williams, second: Finocchiaro)
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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