MassVoter.com← Melrose City CouncilMelrose City Council · 2026–2027 Council · Regular meeting
July 20, 2026
16 recorded votes, 8 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
Approve the minutes by unanimous consent without reading — City Council Meeting June 15, 2026 7:45 PM Special City Council Meeting June 29, 2026 7:45 PM
Motion to Approve the minutes by unanimous consent without reading made by President Freeman 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.” (Motion: Freeman)
Public Comment
Close public comment
Motion to Close public comment made by President Freeman at 8:18 PM All were in favor and motion passed
From the minutes
“Motion to Close public comment made by President Freeman at 8:18 PM All were in favor and motion passed.” (Motion: Freeman)
New Business
Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee — Appointment of Dionysios Kaskarelis, 116 Walton Park, to the Human Rights Commission 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 All were in favor and motion passed
The minutes label the vote “unanimous” without listing names; every councilor present is shown voting yes.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] TO: Boards & Commissions.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Appropriations & Oversight Committee — Acceptance of the FY2025 Emergency Management Performance Grant in the amount of $5,850.00
Motion to Refer to Appropriations & Oversight Committee made by President Freeman All were in favor and motion passed
The minutes label the vote “unanimous” without listing names; every councilor present is shown voting yes.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] TO: Appropriations & Oversight.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Legal & Legislative Committee — Amending Article II, Section 93 of the Melose Code of Ordinances to allow for a licensing and inspection process for kennel licensing in Melrose
Motion to Refer to Legal & Legislative Committee made by President Freeman All were in favor and motion passed
The minutes label the vote “unanimous” without listing names; every councilor present is shown voting yes.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] TO: Legal & Legislative.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Appropriations & Oversight Committee — Acceptance of Revised Easement at 105 Walton Park in Melrose
Motion to Refer to Appropriations & Oversight Committee made by President Freeman All were in favor and motion passed
The minutes label the vote “unanimous” without listing names; every councilor present is shown voting yes.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] TO: Appropriations & Oversight.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Appropriations & Oversight Committee — Grant of Easement for 204 Tremont Street
Motion to Refer to Appropriations & Oversight Committee made by President Freeman All were in favor and motion passed
The minutes label the vote “unanimous” without listing names; every councilor present is shown voting yes.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] TO: Appropriations & Oversight.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Finance Committee — Informational Order - Warrant for 2026 State Primary to be held at Melrose Middle School Gymnasium on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 from 7:00am to 8:00pm for Ward 1,...
Motion to Refer to Finance Committee made by President Freeman All were in favor and motion passed
The minutes label the vote “unanimous” without listing names; every councilor present is shown voting yes.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] TO: Finance.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Finance Committee — Informational Order - The Board of Registrars has agreed to the following dates, times and location for the State Primary In Person Early Voting: Saturday, 8/22...
Motion to Refer to Finance Committee made by President Freeman All were in favor and motion passed
The minutes label the vote “unanimous” without listing names; every councilor present is shown voting yes.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] TO: Finance.” (Motion: Freeman)
Unfinished Business
Passage — Appropriation from Peg Access Fund #2922 in the amount of $167,277.80 to MMTV and $55,759.27 to Melrose Public Schools (#1803)
Motion for Passage 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)
Place on File — Report on results of the Municipal Surplus Buildings Study for the Police Station and Ripley School Sites
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)
Passage — Authorization to Amend Solid Waste Facility Operating Agreement by and between the City of Melrose and Waste Management of Massachusetts
Motion for Passage 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)
Approve the revised lease statement as submitted on July 14th, 2026
Motion to Approve the revised lease statement as submitted on July 14th, 2026 made by Councilor Romanul Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro Motion Passed 9 to 2, with Councilors Vandiver and Williams voting No
Yes: Chen, Finocchiaro, Freeman, Jamaleddine, Karamcheti, Kowal, Obremski, Park, RomanulNo: Vandiver, Williams
From the minutes
“RESULT: ACCEPTED [9-2) AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul NAYS: Kim Vandiver, Ryan Williams.” (Motion: Romanul, second: Finocchiaro)
Approve the order in the revised amount of $4,000 as amended by the current mayor's request — Appropriation in the amount of $7,000.00 from contract stabilization (#8404) to Account #012962-527950...
Motion to approve the order in the revised amount of $4,000 as amended by the current mayor's request 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)
Approve the revised written discrimination for this order submitted on July 14th, 2026
Motion to approve the revised written discrimination for this order submitted on July 14th, 2026 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 Romanul at 8:57 PM Seconded by Councilor Kowal All were in favor and meeting was adjourned
From the minutes
“Motion to Adjourn made by Councilor Romanul at 8:57 PM Seconded by Councilor Kowal All were in favor and meeting was adjourned.” (Motion: Romanul, second: Kowal)
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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