MassVoter.com← Melrose City CouncilMelrose City Council · 2026–2027 Council · Regular meeting
April 27, 2026
18 recorded votes, 11 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
Every vote, in order
Minutes Approval
Unanimously approve the minutes without reading — City Council Regular Meeting April 6, 2026 7:45 PM
Motion to unanimously approve the minutes without reading made by President Freeman
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: Freeman)
New Business
Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee — Reappointment of Peter Bowman, 24 Arlington Road, to the Library Board of Trustees for a three-year term, said term to expire 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 — Appointment of Mark McKinnon, 585 Franklin Street, to the Melrose Housing Authority for a five-year term, said term to expire first Monday of March, 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 Appropriations & Oversight Committee — Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) in the amount of $170,000 to Capital Outlay (#931) to purchase a sidewalk plow
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: Appropriations & Oversight.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Appropriations & Oversight Committee — Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) in the amount of $880,000 to Capital Outlay (#931) to purchase DPW Vehicles
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: Appropriations & Oversight.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Appropriations & Oversight Committee — Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) in the amount of $865,000 to DPW-Snow (#431) to close the snow and ice deficit for FY26
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: Appropriations & Oversight.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Appropriations & Oversight Committee — Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) in the amount of $244,944 to the School Department (#1620) for medicaid reimbursement received in FY25
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: Appropriations & Oversight.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Appropriations & Oversight Committee — Appropriation from Free Cash (account 01-324001) in the amount of $10,000 to DPW-Highway (#422) to purchase bike racks
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: Appropriations & Oversight.” (Motion: Freeman)
Immediate consideration — A Resolution recognizing and supporting ALS, often known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, in Melrose for the Month of May 2026
Motion for Immediate consideration made by Councilor Jamaleddine Seconded by Councilor Romanul All were in favor and motion passed
From the minutes
“Motion for Immediate consideration made by Councilor Jamaleddine Seconded by Councilor Romanul All were in favor and motion passed.” (Motion: Jamaleddine, second: Romanul)
Place on File — A Resolution recognizing and supporting ALS, often known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, in Melrose for the Month of May 2026
Motion to Place on File made by Councilor Jamaleddine Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro 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: Jamaleddine, second: Finocchiaro)
Refer to Protection & License Committee — Renewal of Livery Service License for 2026
Motion to Refer to Protection & License 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: Protection & License.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Protection & License Committee — Renewal of Junk Dealer and Second Hand Dealer License for 2026
Motion to Refer to Protection & License 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: Protection & License.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Protection & License Committee — Renewal of Gasoline and Storage Licenses for 2026
Motion to Refer to Protection & License 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: Protection & License.” (Motion: Freeman)
Unfinished Business
Passage — Acceptance of a FY26 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant in the amount of $12,375.87
Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro All were in favor and Motion passed Councilor Karamcheti was absent for this vote
Yes: Chen, Finocchiaro, Freeman, Jamaleddine, Kowal, Obremski, Park, Romanul, Vandiver, WilliamsThe roll call lists Manjula Karamcheti as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Manjula Karamcheti.” (Motion: Romanul, second: Finocchiaro)
Passage — Acceptance of a Climate Leaders Technical Assistance Grant in the amount of $139,000
Motion for Passage made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Jamaleddine 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: Jamaleddine)
Postpone until May 4 meeting — That the City Council authorize the Mayor to enter into an Intermunicipal Agreement (IMA) for establishing a regional Animal Control Officer position in partnership...
Motion to Postpone until May 4 meeting made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Williams 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: Williams)
Place on File — Informational order - Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board Update
Motion to Place on File made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro 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: Finocchiaro)
Adjournment
Adjourn
Motion to Adjourn made by Councilor Williams at 8:15 PM Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro All were in favor and meeting was adjourned
From the minutes
“Motion to Adjourn made by Councilor Williams at 8:15 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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