MassVoter.com← Melrose City CouncilMelrose City Council · 2026–2027 Council · Regular meeting
February 2, 2026
9 recorded votes, 5 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 Cal Finocchiaro and Bradley Freeman absent.
Present: Jason Chen, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kimberly Vandiver, Ryan Williams
Absent: Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman
Every vote, in order
Minutes Approval
Approve the minutes by unanimous consent without reading — City Council Regular Meeting January 20, 2026 7:45 PM
Motion to Approve the minutes by unanimous consent without reading made by Councilor Jamaleddine
From the minutes
“RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman.” (Motion: Jamaleddine)
New Business
Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee — Reappointment of David Hoff, 46 Warwick Road, to the Commission on Disability for a three-year term, said term to expire on the last day of February 2029
Motion to Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee made by Councilor Jamaleddine.
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Boards & Commissions.” (Motion: Jamaleddine)
Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee — Reappointment of Garin Boyd, 463 Lebanon Street, to the Commission on Disability for a three-year term, said term to expire on the last day of February 2029
Motion to Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee made by Councilor Jamaleddine.
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Boards & Commissions.” (Motion: Jamaleddine)
Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee — Reappointment of Margaret Sheets, 53 Melrose Street to the Commission on Disability for a three-year term; said term to end on the last day of February 2029
Motion to Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee made by Councilor Jamaleddine.
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Boards & Commissions.” (Motion: Jamaleddine)
Refer to Appropriations & Oversight Committee — Authorizing a Bond under the Water Enterprise System through MWRA Local Water System Assistance Program bonds in the amount of Eight Hundred Forty...
Motion to Refer to Appropriations & Oversight Committee made by Councilor Jamaleddine.
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Appropriations & Oversight.” (Motion: Jamaleddine)
Refer to Appropriations & Oversight Committee — Appropriation in the amount of $340,000 from Capital Stabilization for DPW Refuse/Yard Waste Truck
Motion to Refer to Appropriations & Oversight Committee made by Councilor Jamaleddine.
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Appropriations & Oversight.” (Motion: Jamaleddine)
Unfinished Business
Passage/Approval — Reappointment of Helena Widtfeldt, 44 Briggs Street, Melrose MA to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, for a two year term, said term to expire on the last day of January, 2028
Motion for Passage/Approval made by Councilor Williams Seconded by Councilor Vandiver All were in favor and motion passed.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman.” (Motion: Williams, second: Vandiver)
Passage/Approval — Reappointment of Linda Reed, as Assistant City Clerk for a one year term, ending on the first Monday in February 2027
Motion for Passage/Approval made by Councilor Karamcheti Seconded by Councilor Romanul All were in favor and motion passed.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman.” (Motion: Karamcheti, second: Romanul)
Adjournment
Adjourn
Motion to Adjourn made by Councilor Karamcheti at 7:51 PM Seconded by Councilor Romanul All were in favor and meeting was adjourned
From the minutes
“Motion to Adjourn made by Councilor Karamcheti at 7:51 PM Seconded by Councilor Romanul All were in favor and meeting was adjourned.” (Motion: Karamcheti, second: Romanul)
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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