MassVoter.com← Melrose City CouncilMelrose City Council · 2024–2025 Council · Regular meeting
December 1, 2025
20 recorded votes, 19 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 John Obremski absent.
Present: Cal Finocchiaro, Mark Garipay, Ward Hamilton, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Devin Romanul, Robb Stewart, Kimberly Vandiver, Ryan Williams, Leila Migliorelli
Absent: John Obremski
During the meeting:
- Maya Jamaleddine left the meeting early (8:08 PM).
Every vote, in order
Minutes Approval
Approve the minutes by unanimous consent without reading — City Council Special Meeting November 24, 2025 7:00 PM
Motion to Approve the minutes by unanimous consent without reading made by President Migliorelli
From the minutes
“RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Cal Finocchiaro, Mark Garipay, Ward Hamilton, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Devin Romanul, Robb Stewart, Kim Vandiver, Leila Migliorelli, Ryan Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: John Obremski.” (Motion: Migliorelli)
New Business
Refer to Appropriations & Oversight — Appropriation from the Peg Access Fund in the amount of $282,640.36 to MMTV and Melrose Public Schools
Motion to Refer to Appropriations & Oversight made by President Migliorelli
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULTS: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Appropriations & Oversight.” (Motion: Migliorelli)
Refer to Appropriations & Oversight — FY26 Earmark for Playing Fields
Motion to Refer to Appropriations & Oversight made by President Migliorelli
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Appropriations & Oversight.” (Motion: Migliorelli)
Refer to Appropriations & Oversight — Field Demonstration Grant- Senior Center Modernization for the amount of $9500 to replace aging toilets at the Milano Center with chair height models for...
Motion to Refer to Appropriations & Oversight made by President Migliorelli
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Appropriations & Oversight.” (Motion: Migliorelli)
Refer to Appropriations & Oversight — Field Demonstration Grant - Memory Cafe for the amount of $4860. Funds will be used to provide a monthly Memory Cafe which would provide respite programming...
Motion to Refer to Appropriations & Oversight made by President Migliorelli
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Appropriations & Oversight.” (Motion: Migliorelli)
Refer to Appropriations & Oversight — Title III B FY26 Grant for $5000. The funds will be used for funding Milano Center social programming
Motion to Refer to Appropriations & Oversight made by President Migliorelli
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Appopriations & Oversight.” (Motion: Migliorelli)
Refer to Appropriations & Oversight — State 911 EMD Grant - MPD has been awarded $18,000.00 to defray the cost of 1 year of emergency service from the Armstrong Ambulance Services
Motion to Refer to Appropriations & Oversight made by President Migliorelli
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Appropriations & Oversight.” (Motion: Migliorelli)
Refer to Appropriations & Oversight — State 911 Support & Incentive Grant - MPD has been awarded $90,505.00 to defray the cost of the dispatch specific equipment (new and existing) and the...
Motion to Refer to Appropriations & Oversight made by President Migliorelli
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Appropriations & Oversight.” (Motion: Migliorelli)
Refer to Appropriations & Oversight — State 911 Training Grant - MPD has been awarded $82,903.80 for 16 hours of dispatch specific continuing education as well as the training class fees for all...
Motion to Refer to Appropriations & Oversight made by President Migliorelli
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Appropriations & Oversight.” (Motion: Migliorelli)
Refer to Appropriations & Oversight — FFY26 Municipal Road Safety Program - MPD has been awarded $19,290.00 to enable additional traffic enforcement and equipment. This includes extra officers for...
Motion to Refer to Appropriations & Oversight made by President Migliorelli
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Appropriations & Oversight.” (Motion: Migliorelli)
Refer to Appropriations & Oversight — Acceptance of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection RDP Grant plus Additional Award for Organics Collection Carts
Motion to Refer to Appropriations & Oversight made by President Migliorelli
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Appropriations & Oversight.” (Motion: Migliorelli)
Refer to Appropriations & Oversight — Police_State Earmark 25K Equipment
Motion to Refer to Appropriations & Oversight made by President Migliorelli
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Appropriations & Oversight.” (Motion: Migliorelli)
Refer to Appropriations & Oversight — Police_State Earmark 50K Police Cruiser
Motion to Refer to Appropriations & Oversight made by President Migliorelli
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Appropriations & Oversight.” (Motion: Migliorelli)
Refer to Appropriations & Oversight — Acceptance of FEMA/MEMA Grant for Lebanon/Sylvan Drainage Design
Motion to Refer to Appropriations & Oversight made by President Migliorelli
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Appropriations & Oversight.” (Motion: Migliorelli)
Refer to Appropriations & Oversight — Intermunicipal Agreement for Regional Emergency Planning Services with the Mystic Regional Emergency Planning Committee
Motion to Refer to Appropriations & Oversight made by President Migliorelli
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Appropriations & Oversight.” (Motion: Migliorelli)
Refer to Legal & Legislative — Revise the existing Animal Leash Law to REMOVE this language : The Animal Control Officer may, at his/her discretion, waive the provisions of Subsection A if a...
Motion to Refer to Legal & Legislative made by President Migliorelli
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITEE TO: Legal & Legislative.” (Motion: Migliorelli)
Public Hearing
Adopt a Shift of 1.73 and Residential Factor of .9617 — FY2026 Property Tax Classification Public Hearing
Motion to adopt a Shift of 1.73 and Residential Factor of .9617 made by Councilor Garipay Seconded by Councilor Stewart Most were in favor and motion passed
Yes: Finocchiaro, Garipay, Hamilton, Karamcheti, Migliorelli, Romanul, Stewart, WilliamsNo: VandiverThe roll call does not list Maya Jamaleddine (who left the meeting at 8:08 PM), so that member is not shown on this vote.
From the minutes
“RESULT: PASSED AYES: Cal Finocchiaro, Mark Garipay, Ward Hamilton, Manjula Karamcheti, Devin Romanul, Robb Stewart, Leila Migliorelli, Ryan Williams NAYS: Kim Vandiver ABSENT: John Obremski.” (Motion: Garipay, second: Stewart)
Unfinished Business
Passage — Acceptance of vote language for Appropriation of Feasibility Study for MSBA Accelerated Repair projects
Motion for Passage made by Councilor Garipay Seconded by Councilor Stewart All were in favor and motion passed
Yes: Finocchiaro, Garipay, Hamilton, Karamcheti, Migliorelli, Romanul, Stewart, Vandiver, WilliamsThe roll call does not list Maya Jamaleddine (who left the meeting at 8:08 PM), so that member is not shown on this vote.
From the minutes
“RESULT: PASSED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Cal Finocchiaro, Mark Garipay, Ward Hamilton, Manjula Karamcheti, Devin Romanul, Robb Stewart, Kim Vandiver, Leila Migliorelli, Ryan Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: John Obremski.” (Motion: Garipay, second: Stewart)
Amend Section 10D for first sentence to read:"This section shall take effect upon final vote of council approving a new regulatory authority of a... — That the City Council adopt a Demolition...
Motion to Amend Section 10D for first sentence to read:"This section shall take effect upon final vote of council approving a new regulatory authority of a Historical Commission as submitted" made by Councilor Finocchiaro Seconded by Councilor Hamilton All were in favor and motion passed as amended Comments during the meeting:
Yes: Finocchiaro, Garipay, Hamilton, Karamcheti, Migliorelli, Romanul, Stewart, Vandiver, WilliamsMaya Jamaleddine left the meeting at 8:08 PM; the minutes do not show that member taking part at this point, so that member is not shown on this vote.
From the minutes
“Motion to Amend Section 10D for first sentence to read:"This section shall take effect upon final vote of council approving a new regulatory authority of a Historical Commission as submitted" made by Councilor Finocchiaro Seconded by Councilor Hamilton All were in favor and motion passed as amended Comments during the meeting:.” (Motion: Finocchiaro, second: Hamilton)
Passage as Amended and final vote was called — That the City Council adopt a Demolition Review Ordinance as set forth herein, to preserve and protect buildings of historical significance in the...
Motion for Passage as Amended and final vote was called by President Migliorelli All were in favor and motion passed as amended.
Yes: Finocchiaro, Garipay, Hamilton, Karamcheti, Migliorelli, Romanul, Stewart, Vandiver, WilliamsThe roll call does not list Maya Jamaleddine (who left the meeting at 8:08 PM), so that member is not shown on this vote.
From the minutes
“RESULT: PASSED AS AMENDED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Cal Finocchiaro, Mark Garipay, Ward Hamilton, Manjula Karamcheti, Devin Romanul, Robb Stewart, Kim Vandiver, Leila Migliorelli, Ryan Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: John Obremski.” (Motion: Migliorelli)
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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