MassVoter.com← Melrose City CouncilMelrose City Council · 2026–2027 Council · Regular meeting
February 26, 2026
27 recorded votes, 18 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Attendance
Present: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kimberly Vandiver, Ryan Williams, Bradley Freeman
Absent: None
During the meeting:
- Maya Jamaleddine took part remotely.
Every vote, in order
Minutes Approval
Approve the minutes — City Council Regular Meeting February 2, 2026 7:45 PM
Motion to Approve the minutes made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Vandiver All were in favor and motion passed
From the minutes
“RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams.” (Motion: Romanul, second: Vandiver)
Public Comment
Open public comment
Motion to Open public comment made by Councilor Williams at 7:48 PM Seconded by Councilor Karamcheti All were in favor and motion passed
From the minutes
“RESULT: PASSED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams.” (Motion: Williams, second: Karamcheti)
Close public comment
Motion to Close public comment made by Councilor Karamcheti at 7:48 PM Seconded by Councilor Romanul All were in favor and motion passed
From the minutes
“RESULT: PASSED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams.” (Motion: Karamcheti, second: Romanul)
New Business
Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee — Reappointment of George Bibilos, 264 Grove Street, Melrose to the Melrose Historical Commission, for a term of three years, said term to expire the last...
Motion to Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee made by President Freeman.
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Boards & Commissions.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee — Reappointment of William Butler, 102 Crescent Road, to the Beebe Estate Board of Trustees for a three-year term, said term set to expire on the last day...
Motion to Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee made by President Freeman.
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Boards & Commissions.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee — Reappointment of Jessica Rowcroft McKenna, 5 Marmion Road, Melrose to the Beebe Estate Board of Trustees for a three-year term, said term to expire on the...
Motion to Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee made by President Freeman.
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Boards & Commissions.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee — Reappointment of Cathie Mercier, 466 Pleasant Street, to the Melrose Library Board of Trustees for a three-year term, said term to expire the last day of...
Motion to Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee made by President Freeman.
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Boards & Commissions.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee — Reappointment of Joe Viola, 134 Howard Street, Melrose MA to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, for a term of one year, said term set to expire on the...
Motion to Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee made by President Freeman.
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Boards & Commissions.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee — Reappointment of Cathy Gulino, 25 Apple Hill Road, to the Melrose Board of Assessors for a three-year term set to expire on the last day of February 2029
Motion to Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee made by President Freeman.
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Boards & Commissions.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee — Reappointment of Darren Brown, 43 School Street, Melrose to the Historical Commission for a term of three years, said term to expire on the last February 2029
Motion to Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee made by President Freeman.
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Boards & Commissions.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee — Appointment of Diana Weinburg, 94 Maple Street, Melrose to the Commission on Women for a term of three-years, said term to expire the last day of...
Motion to Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee made by President Freeman.
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Boards & Commissions.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee — Reappointment of Bryan Thorp, 77 Wentworth Road, to a five-year term as a Regular Member on the Zoning Board of Appeals; said term to expire the last day...
Motion to Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee made by President Freeman.
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Boards & Commissions.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee — Reappointment of Robert Tullis, 8 Thurston Road, to the Historic District Commission (HDC), for a three-year term, said term to expire on the last day of...
Motion to Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee made by President Freeman.
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Boards & Commissions.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee — Reappointment of Joseph Hunt, 132 Mount Vernon Avenue, to the Melrose Historical Commission for a three-year term set to expire on the last day of...
Motion to Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee made by President Freeman.
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Boards & Commissions.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee — Appointment of Joseph Swithin Shortlidge, 132 Bay State Road, Melrose, to the Melrose Human Rights Commission for a term of three years, said term to...
Motion to Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee made by President Freeman.
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Boards & Commissions.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee — Appointment of Laurie Chomko, 14 Botolph Street, Melrose, to the Melrose Human Rights Commission, for a term of three years, said term to expire on or...
Motion to Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee made by President Freeman.
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Boards & Commissions.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee — Appointment of Paul Cusolito, 63 Stratford Road, Melrose to the Cemetery Commission for a term of three years, said term to expire the last day of...
Motion to Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee made by President Freeman.
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Boards & Commissions.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee — Appointment of Dawn Jacobs, 462 East Foster Street, Melrose to the Board of Health for a term of three years, said term to expire on or before the last...
Motion to Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee made by President Freeman.
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Boards & Commissions.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Legal & Legislative Committee — Amending Melrose Revised Ordinance 93-6 Leashing Requirements to Provide Exceptions for K-9 dogs and Service Animals
Motion to Refer to Legal & Legislative Committee made by President Freeman.
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Legal & Legislative.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Appropriations & Ovesight Committee — Acceptance of EOEEA Cooling Corridors Grant for $48,000
Motion to Refer to Appropriations & Ovesight Committee made by President Freeman.
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Appropriations & Oversight.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Appropriations & Oversight Committee — Acceptance of the BSAS MassCALL3B Grant by the Health & Human Services Department
Motion to Refer to Appropriations & Oversight Committee made by President Freeman.
The minutes record the result (“assign to committee”) but no count or names.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ASSIGN TO COMMITTEE TO: Apprpriations & Oversight.” (Motion: Freeman)
Unfinished Business
Approve — 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 Approve made by Councilor Williams Seconded by Councilor Karamcheti All were in favor and motion passed
From the minutes
“RESULT: PASSED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None.” (Motion: Williams, second: Karamcheti)
Approve — 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 Approve made by Councilor Williams Seconded by Councilor Karamcheti All were in favor and motion passed
From the minutes
“RESULT: PASSED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None.” (Motion: Williams, second: Karamcheti)
Approve — 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 Approve made by Councilor Williams Seconded by Councilor Karamcheti All were in favor and motion passed
From the minutes
“RESULT: PASSED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None.” (Motion: Williams, second: Karamcheti)
Passage — Authorizing a Bond under the Water Enterprise System through MWRA Local Water System Assistance Program bonds in the amount of Eight Hundred Forty Eight Thousand Six Hundred dollars...
Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro All were in favor and motion passed
From the minutes
“RESULT: PASSED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None.” (Motion: Romanul, second: Finocchiaro)
Passage — Appropriation in the amount of $340,000 from Capital Stabilization for DPW Refuse/Yard Waste Truck
Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Karamcheti All were in favor and motion passed
From the minutes
“RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None.” (Motion: Romanul, second: Karamcheti)
Adjournment
Adjourn
Motion to Adjourn made by Councilor Karamcheti at 8:05 PM Seconded by Councilor Romanul All were in favor and motion passed
From the minutes
“RESULT: ADJOURNED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None.” (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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