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At-large · 1 term in this record
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On split votes, Hamilton voted the same way as…
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At the start of 43 of 48 City Council meetings in 2024–2025 Council.
Missed
December 1, 2025: Adopt a Shift of 1.73 and Residential Factor of .9617 — FY2026 Property Tax Classification Public Hearing
Motion to adopt a Shift of 1.73 and Residential Factor of .9617 made by Councilor Garipay Seconded by Councilor Stewart Most were in favor and motion passed
Voted: Yes
Yes: Finocchiaro, Garipay, Hamilton, Karamcheti, Migliorelli, Romanul, Stewart, WilliamsNo: VandiverThe roll call does not list Maya Jamaleddine (who left the meeting at 8:08 PM), so that member is not shown on this vote.
“RESULT: PASSED AYES: Cal Finocchiaro, Mark Garipay, Ward Hamilton, Manjula Karamcheti, Devin Romanul, Robb Stewart, Leila Migliorelli, Ryan Williams NAYS: Kim Vandiver ABSENT: John Obremski.” (Motion: Garipay, second: Stewart)
December 1, 2025: Passage — Acceptance of vote language for Appropriation of Feasibility Study for MSBA Accelerated Repair projects
Motion for Passage made by Councilor Garipay Seconded by Councilor Stewart All were in favor and motion passed
Voted: Yes
Yes: Finocchiaro, Garipay, Hamilton, Karamcheti, Migliorelli, Romanul, Stewart, Vandiver, WilliamsThe roll call does not list Maya Jamaleddine (who left the meeting at 8:08 PM), so that member is not shown on this vote.
“RESULT: PASSED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Cal Finocchiaro, Mark Garipay, Ward Hamilton, Manjula Karamcheti, Devin Romanul, Robb Stewart, Kim Vandiver, Leila Migliorelli, Ryan Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: John Obremski.” (Motion: Garipay, second: Stewart)
December 1, 2025: Amend Section 10D for first sentence to read:"This section shall take effect upon final vote of council approving a new regulatory authority of a... — That the City Council adopt…
Motion to Amend Section 10D for first sentence to read:"This section shall take effect upon final vote of council approving a new regulatory authority of a Historical Commission as submitted" made by Councilor Finocchiaro Seconded by Councilor Hamilton All were in favor and motion passed as amended Comments during the meeting:
Voted: Yes
Yes: Finocchiaro, Garipay, Hamilton, Karamcheti, Migliorelli, Romanul, Stewart, Vandiver, WilliamsMaya Jamaleddine left the meeting at 8:08 PM; the minutes do not show that member taking part at this point, so that member is not shown on this vote.
“Motion to Amend Section 10D for first sentence to read:"This section shall take effect upon final vote of council approving a new regulatory authority of a Historical Commission as submitted" made by Councilor Finocchiaro Seconded by Councilor Hamilton All were in favor and motion passed as amended Comments during the meeting:.” (Motion: Finocchiaro, second: Hamilton)
December 1, 2025: Passage as Amended and final vote was called — That the City Council adopt a Demolition Review Ordinance as set forth herein, to preserve and protect buildings of historical significance…
Motion for Passage as Amended and final vote was called by President Migliorelli All were in favor and motion passed as amended.
Voted: Yes
Yes: Finocchiaro, Garipay, Hamilton, Karamcheti, Migliorelli, Romanul, Stewart, Vandiver, WilliamsThe roll call does not list Maya Jamaleddine (who left the meeting at 8:08 PM), so that member is not shown on this vote.
“RESULT: PASSED AS AMENDED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Cal Finocchiaro, Mark Garipay, Ward Hamilton, Manjula Karamcheti, Devin Romanul, Robb Stewart, Kim Vandiver, Leila Migliorelli, Ryan Williams NAYS: None ABSENT: John Obremski.” (Motion: Migliorelli)
August 18, 2025: National Grid install 1 JO Pole on Mt Zion Road NO 31114550
RESULT: MOVE WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION [9 TO 0] Next: 9/2/2025
Voted: Yes
The minutes give the count as 9 to 0 without names; it matches the nine members present, so each is shown voting yes.
“RESULT: MOVE WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION [9 TO 0] Next: 9/2/2025.”
June 16, 2025: Petition to install 1 JO Pole on Emerson Pl Order #31108543
RESULT: OUGHT TO PASS [8 TO 0] TO: City Council AYES: Garipay, Hamilton, Jamaleddine, Karamcheti, Obremski, Romanul, Stewart, Migliorelli ABSENT: Cal Finocchiaro, Ryan Williams RECUSED: Kimberly Vandiver
Voted: Yes
Yes: Garipay, Hamilton, Jamaleddine, Karamcheti, Migliorelli, Obremski, Romanul, StewartThe roll call lists Kimberly Vandiver as recused for this vote.
“RESULT: OUGHT TO PASS [8 TO 0] TO: City Council AYES: Garipay, Hamilton, Jamaleddine, Karamcheti, Obremski, Romanul, Stewart, Migliorelli ABSENT: Cal Finocchiaro, Ryan Williams RECUSED: Kimberly Vandiver.”
June 16, 2025: Amend: cut the Affordable Housing Trust appropriation from $150,000 to $75,000
Motion to Amend the amount to $75,000 instead of $150,000 made by Councilor Vandiver Seconded by Councilor Stewart Comments from the council members: -Councilor Jamaleddine stated that now that the budget hearings are done and the free cash requests are complete, she wants to keep the appropriation at the original amount of $150,000. -A vote was taken on the amended order and it failed. Councilors Stewart and Vandiver voted Yes on the amended order and the other councilors voted No, so the No's had it.
Voted: No
Yes: Stewart, VandiverNo: Garipay, Hamilton, Jamaleddine, Karamcheti, Migliorelli, Obremski, RomanulThe minutes say Councilors Stewart and Vandiver voted yes on the amended order “and the other councilors voted No”; the other councilors present are shown voting no.
“Motion to Amend the amount to $75,000 instead of $150,000 made by Councilor Vandiver Seconded by Councilor Stewart Comments from the council members: -Councilor Jamaleddine stated that now that the budget hearings are done and the free cash requests are complete, she wants to keep the appropriation at the original amount of $150,000. -A vote was taken on the amended order and it failed. Councilors Stewart and Vandiver voted Yes on the amended order and the other councilors voted No, so the No's had it..” (Motion: Vandiver, second: Stewart)
June 16, 2025: Pass the $150,000 Free Cash appropriation to the Affordable Housing Trust (as filed)
RESULT: DEFEATED [6 TO 3] AYES: Jamaleddine, Karamcheti, Obremski, Romanul, Vandiver, Migliorelli NAYS: Mark Garipay, Ward Hamilton, Robb Stewart ABSENT: Cal Finocchiaro, Ryan Williams
Voted: No
Yes: Jamaleddine, Karamcheti, Migliorelli, Obremski, Romanul, VandiverNo: Garipay, Hamilton, StewartThe minutes say President Migliorelli “went back to the original motion for a vote and the vote failed since there was not a majority Yes vote” (six yes, three no, two councilors absent); shown as failed, as recorded. Some council votes need more than a simple majority (for example, two-thirds).
“RESULT: DEFEATED [6 TO 3] AYES: Jamaleddine, Karamcheti, Obremski, Romanul, Vandiver, Migliorelli NAYS: Mark Garipay, Ward Hamilton, Robb Stewart ABSENT: Cal Finocchiaro, Ryan Williams.” (Motion: Garipay, second: Stewart)
June 16, 2025: Passage — Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget in the amount of $107,575,802
Motion for Passage made by Councilor Garipay Seconded by Councilor Jamaleddine Ayes have it and motion passed, with Councilor Hamilton voting No
Voted: No
Yes: Garipay, Jamaleddine, Karamcheti, Migliorelli, Obremski, Romanul, Stewart, VandiverNo: Hamilton
“RESULT: PASSED [8 TO 1] AYES: Garipay, Jamaleddine, Karamcheti, Obremski, Romanul, Stewart, Vandiver, Migliorelli NAYS: Ward Hamilton ABSENT: Cal Finocchiaro, Ryan Williams.” (Motion: Garipay, second: Jamaleddine)
June 2, 2025: Ought not to pass — National Grid petition to install a pole on East Emerson Street (petition denied)
Motion for Ought Not to Pass Seconded by Councilor Hamilton All were in favor except for Councilor Stewart who voted Nay Motion passed -Councilor Stewart supports the original petition contingent on project approval. He wants to encourage development of the area. -Councilor Williams agrees with encouraging development in the area. If this is voted down now by the council, can NG resurrect this for approval quickly. Yes they can redesign this easily. -Chair Garipay asked why this is being discussed now. NG put forth the petition.
Voted: Yes
Yes: Garipay, Hamilton, Jamaleddine, Karamcheti, Migliorelli, Obremski, Romanul, Vandiver, WilliamsNo: StewartThe motion that the petition “ought not to pass” carried 9-1 (“All were in favor except for Councilor Stewart who voted Nay”); the minutes record the petition itself as “defeated”.
“RESULT: DEFEATED [9 TO 1] TO: City Council AYES: Garipay, Hamilton, Jamaleddine, Karamcheti, Obremski, Romanul, Vandiver, Williams, Migliorelli NAYS: Robb Stewart ABSENT: Cal Finocchiaro.” (Motion: Hamilton)
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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