MassVoter.com← Melrose City CouncilMelrose City Council · 2026–2027 Council · Regular meeting
September 28, 2026
14 recorded votes, 6 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 Kimberly Vandiver absent.
Present: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Ryan Williams, Bradley Freeman
Absent: Kimberly Vandiver
Every vote, in order
Minutes Approval
Approve the minutes by unanimous consent without reading — City Council Regular Meeting September 8, 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
“RESULTS: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Ryan Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Kim Vandiver.” (Motion: Freeman)
New Business
Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee — Appointment of Dan Doherty, 19 Elliott Street, as an Associate Member of the Conservation Commission, said term to expire the last day of February 2027....
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 Committee.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee — Appointment of Kim LaFontana, 11 Pilgrim Road, to the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building Trustees, to fulfill the term of Mary Sexton; said term to...
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 Committee.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Boards & Commissions Committee — Reappointment of Michael Margolis, 22 Stowecroft Road, to the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Building Trustees for a three-year term; said term to expire on...
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 Committee.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Protection & License Committee — Lydia Limo LLC is applying for a New Livery License
Motion to Refer to Protection & License 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: Protection & License Committee.” (Motion: Freeman)
Immediate Consideration — That the Mayor produce before City Council any city officer, member of a city agency or city employee who shall provide information and answer questions relative to the...
Motion for Immediate Consideration made by Councilor Williams Seconded by Councilor Romanul All were in favor and motion passed
From the minutes
“Motion for Immediate Consideration made by Councilor Williams Seconded by Councilor Romanul All were in favor and motion passed.” (Motion: Williams, second: Romanul)
Hold in City Council for special meeting — That the Mayor produce before City Council any city officer, member of a city agency or city employee who shall provide information and answer questions...
Motion to Hold in City Council for special meeting made by Councilor Williams Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro All were in favor and motion passed
From the minutes
“RESULTS: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] TO: Hold in City Council AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Ryan Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Kim Vandiver.” (Motion: Williams, second: Finocchiaro)
Refer to Finance Committee — Early In-Person Voting Hours to be approved for November 3rd, 2026 State Election
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 Committee.” (Motion: Freeman)
Refer to Finance Committee — Notification to residents of Melrose that there will be a State Election held on November 3, 2026 at the Melrose Middle/High School Gymnasium from 7am to 8pm
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 Committee.” (Motion: Freeman)
Public Hearing-national Grid Petitions
Open public hearing by unanimous consent — Petitions
Motion to Open public hearing by unanimous consent made by President Freeman at 8:00 PM All were in favor and motion passed
From the minutes
“Motion to Open public hearing by unanimous consent made by President Freeman at 8:00 PM All were in favor and motion passed.” (Motion: Freeman)
Recommend — No# 31198560 Vine Street - National Grid to install 1 JO pole on Vine Street beginning at a point approximately 0 feet of the centerline of the intersection of Vine St and Essex Street...
Motion to Recommend made by Councilor Kowal Seconded by Councilor Romanul All were in favor and motion passed
From the minutes
“RESULTS: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Ryan Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Kim Vandiver.” (Motion: Kowal, second: Romanul)
Unfinished Business
Passage — Appointment of Megan Britt, 79 Burrell Street, to the Liquor Licensing Commission for a six-year term, said term to expire the first Monday of June 2032
Motion for Passage made by Councilor Williams Seconded by Councilor Romanul 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, Ryan Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Kim Vandiver.” (Motion: Williams, second: Romanul)
Passage — Appointment of Liz Ryan, 17 East Highland Avenue, to the Zoning Board of Appeals as an Associate Member, for a two-year term set to expire on the last day of February 2028
Motion for Passage made by Councilor Williams 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, Ryan Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: Kim Vandiver.” (Motion: Williams, second: Finocchiaro)
Adjournment
Adjourn
Motion to Adjourn made by Councilor Romanul at 8:03 PM Seconded by Councilor Kowal All were in favor and meeting was adjourned
From the minutes
“Motion to Adjourn made by Councilor Romanul at 8:03 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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