MassVoter.com← WalthamMunicipal votes · 2024–2025 Council
Waltham City Council
How the Waltham City Council voted, from the City Clerk's official minutes. 15 councillors: 6 at-large and 9 ward councillors, elected every two years. Elected November 7, 2023; term began in January 2024 (the City Charter starts council terms on the first Sunday in January of even years). Fifteen councillors: six elected at large (Colleen Bradley-MacArthur, Paul J. Brasco, Randall J. LeBlanc, Kathleen B. McMenimen, Thomas M. Stanley and Carlos A. Vidal) and nine by ward. The council elects its President each January for a one-year term, and the President appoints a Vice President, subject to the council’s confirmation. On January 13, 2025 the council elected John J. McLaughlin (Ward 4) President for 2025 (13 votes, two absent) and confirmed Joseph P. LaCava (Ward 5) as Vice President (13 votes). Only 2025 minutes of this term are online (the city’s Agenda Center starts in January 2025), so the 2024 officers are not shown. No seat changed hands in 2025. Covers 23 meetings, January 13 to December 22, 2025.
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
What does the City Council do? It is the city’s lawmaking body. It passes local laws (ordinances), votes on the yearly budget, and approves borrowing and zoning changes.
The mayor runs the city day to day and proposes the budget.
Sources: Mass. General Laws c. 44 § 32 (city budgets)Council sessions
Coming up
- Tue, Oct 13Waltham City Council Meeting Docket →
From the agendas Waltham posts on its official site. Agendas can change; the posted agenda is the official one.
Councilors
PresidentJohn J. McLaughlinPresident · Ward 4 · at 23 of 23 meetings
Vice PresidentJoseph P. LaCavaVice President · Ward 5 · at 21 of 23 meetings
Colleen Bradley-MacArthurCouncillor · At-large · at 23 of 23 meetings
Paul J. BrascoCouncillor · At-large · at 22 of 23 meetings
Caren DunnCouncillor · Ward 2 · at 21 of 23 meetings
Sean DurkeeCouncillor · Ward 6 · at 22 of 23 meetings
Bill HanleyCouncillor · Ward 3 · at 22 of 23 meetings
Cathyann HarrisCouncillor · Ward 8 · at 23 of 23 meetings
Paul S. KatzCouncillor · Ward 7 · at 21 of 23 meetings
Anthony LaFauciCouncillor · Ward 1 · at 21 of 23 meetings
Randall J. LeBlancCouncillor · At-large · at 21 of 23 meetings
Robert G. LoganCouncillor · Ward 9 · at 21 of 23 meetingsKathleen B. McMenimenCouncillor · At-large (2024-2025) · at 22 of 23 meetingsThomas M. StanleyCouncillor · At-large (2024-2025) · at 19 of 23 meetings
Carlos A. VidalCouncillor · At-large · at 21 of 23 meetings"At X of Y meetings" counts the roll call at the start of each meeting in this record. Councilors who step out are listed on each meeting page.
Meetings
About missing minutes
Only January 2025 onward is online: the city’s Agenda Center (the City Council category and every other board) starts in January 2025, and we found no older council minutes anywhere on the city’s website. Loaded: every full City Council meeting with minutes posted, from January 13, 2025 through September 14, 2026 (40 meetings: 35 regular, 4 special, including the January 4, 2026 inauguration, two budget sessions and a citizens’ input hearing, and 1 joint convention with the School Committee, where only councillors’ votes are shown) and 1,102 votes. The council has fifteen members, six elected at large and nine by ward, for two-year terms; it elects its President each January for one year, and the President appoints a Vice President, subject to the council’s confirmation. Committee of the Whole and other committee minutes, which the city files in the same Agenda Center list, are not loaded: committee votes are recommendations, and the council acts on them at its own meetings. Not here: the minutes of the December 8, 2025 council meeting (the council approved them on December 22, 2025, but they are not posted), and meetings after September 14, 2026 (the September 28, 2026 minutes are not posted yet). Waltham’s minutes record most actions as “The motion was approved by a voice vote.” A voice vote has no count or names, so MassVoter shows the result only and never assumes it was unanimous (942 votes). Loans, ordinances, special permits, appointments and other matters that need a roll call list every councillor by name (“In favor: … Opposed: … Recused: … Absent: … Presiding: …”, then a tally), so MassVoter shows each councillor’s vote. The Council President presides and does not vote on most roll calls (the minutes list him as “Presiding”); he is shown at the meeting but not in that vote. Councillors who recused or were listed absent for a roll call are left out of that vote. When a tally does not match the names listed, MassVoter shows the count only, with a note (10 votes). The 2026 President election (a choice between two councillors) shows the result only, with a note quoting each councillor’s choice. We will ask the City Clerk to confirm any noted vote.
Votes where councilors disagreed
Most council votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one councilor voted no or abstained, newest first.
Dec 22Adopt the Ordinances and Rules Committee recommendation (approved for…Motion: Councillor Harris moved that the action of the Committee be the…Passed · see note
December 22, 2025: Adopt the Ordinances and Rules Committee recommendation (approved for a first reading): Noise Ordinance Amendment
Councillor Harris moved that the action of the Committee be the action of the Council. The motion was adopted by a voice vote and the matter was approved for a first reading.
The minutes say the motion was approved by a voice vote, with no count or names, so MassVoter shows the result only and does not show how each councillor voted.
From the minutes
“Councillor Harris moved that the action of the Committee be the action of the Council. The motion was adopted by a voice vote and the matter was approved for a first reading..” (Motion: Harris)
Dec 22Adopt the Finance Committee recommendation (approved): Acceptance of a…Motion: Councillor LaFauci moved that the action of the Committee be the…Passed · see note
December 22, 2025: Adopt the Finance Committee recommendation (approved): Acceptance of a gift in the amount of $5,000 from the Bird Precision Charitable Foundation...
Councillor LaFauci moved that the action of the Committee be the action of the Council. The motion was adopted by a voice vote and the matter was approved.
The minutes say the motion was approved by a voice vote, with no count or names, so MassVoter shows the result only and does not show how each councillor voted.
From the minutes
“Councillor LaFauci moved that the action of the Committee be the action of the Council. The motion was adopted by a voice vote and the matter was approved..” (Motion: LaFauci)
Dec 22Adopt the Finance Committee recommendation (approved): Acceptance of a…Motion: Councillor LaFauci moved that the action of the Committee be the…Passed · see note
December 22, 2025: Adopt the Finance Committee recommendation (approved): Acceptance of a donation in the amount of $250 from Connors and Connors LLP for the upkeep...
Councillor LaFauci moved that the action of the Committee be the action of the Council. The motion was adopted by a voice vote and the matter was approved.
The minutes say the motion was approved by a voice vote, with no count or names, so MassVoter shows the result only and does not show how each councillor voted.
From the minutes
“Councillor LaFauci moved that the action of the Committee be the action of the Council. The motion was adopted by a voice vote and the matter was approved..” (Motion: LaFauci)
Dec 22Adopt the Licenses and Franchises Committee recommendation (approved): Class…Motion: Councillor Vidal moved that the action of the Committee be the…Passed · see note
December 22, 2025: Adopt the Licenses and Franchises Committee recommendation (approved): Class II License renewal at 477 Main Street for Chrislins Auto Inc
Councillor Vidal moved that the action of the Committee be the action of the Council. The motion was adopted by a voice vote and the matter was approved.
The minutes say the motion was approved by a voice vote, with no count or names, so MassVoter shows the result only and does not show how each councillor voted.
From the minutes
“Councillor Vidal moved that the action of the Committee be the action of the Council. The motion was adopted by a voice vote and the matter was approved..” (Motion: Vidal)
Dec 22Adopt the Long Term Debt and Capital Planning Committee…Motion: Councillor McMenimen moved that the action of the Committee be the…Passed · see note
December 22, 2025: Adopt the Long Term Debt and Capital Planning Committee recommendation (approved): CPC Recommendation for an allocation of CPA Funds totaling...
Councillor McMenimen moved that the action of the Committee be the action of the Council. The motion was adopted by a voice vote and the matter was approved.
The minutes say the motion was approved by a voice vote, with no count or names, so MassVoter shows the result only and does not show how each councillor voted.
From the minutes
“Councillor McMenimen moved that the action of the Committee be the action of the Council. The motion was adopted by a voice vote and the matter was approved..” (Motion: McMenimen)
Dec 22Adopt the Long Term Debt and Capital Planning Committee…Motion: Councillor Vidal moved that the action of the Committee be the…Passed · see note
December 22, 2025: Adopt the Long Term Debt and Capital Planning Committee recommendation (approved for a first reading): Approval of a loan authorization in the...
Councillor Vidal moved that the action of the Committee be the action of the Council. The motion was adopted by a voice vote and the matter was approved for a first reading.
The minutes say the motion was approved by a voice vote, with no count or names, so MassVoter shows the result only and does not show how each councillor voted. Kathleen B. McMenimen recused from this item.
From the minutes
“Councillor Vidal moved that the action of the Committee be the action of the Council. The motion was adopted by a voice vote and the matter was approved for a first reading..” (Motion: Vidal)
Dec 22Adopt the Veterans Services Committee recommendation (approved): All Committee…Motion: Councillor Durkee moved that the action of the Committee be the…Passed · see note
December 22, 2025: Adopt the Veterans Services Committee recommendation (approved): All Committee Docket items from 2025 be carried over to 2026 Committee Docket
Councillor Durkee moved that the action of the Committee be the action of the Council. The motion was adopted by a voice vote and the matter was approved.
The minutes say the motion was approved by a voice vote, with no count or names, so MassVoter shows the result only and does not show how each councillor voted.
From the minutes
“Councillor Durkee moved that the action of the Committee be the action of the Council. The motion was adopted by a voice vote and the matter was approved..” (Motion: Durkee)
Dec 22Adopt the Economic and Community Development Committee recommendation (approved):…Motion: Councillor Brasco moved that the action of the Committee be the…Passed · see note
December 22, 2025: Adopt the Economic and Community Development Committee recommendation (approved): All Committee Docket items from 2025 be carried over to 2026...
Councillor Brasco moved that the action of the Committee be the action of the Council. The motion was adopted by a voice vote and the matter was approved.
The minutes say the motion was approved by a voice vote, with no count or names, so MassVoter shows the result only and does not show how each councillor voted.
From the minutes
“Councillor Brasco moved that the action of the Committee be the action of the Council. The motion was adopted by a voice vote and the matter was approved..” (Motion: Brasco)
Dec 22Adopt the Licenses and Franchises Committee recommendation (approved): Class…Motion: Councillor Vidal moved that the action of the Committee be the…Passed · see note
December 22, 2025: Adopt the Licenses and Franchises Committee recommendation (approved): Class II license renewal at 251 Lexington Street for Boston Brake and...
Councillor Vidal moved that the action of the Committee be the action of the Council. The motion was adopted by a voice vote and the matter was approved.
The minutes say the motion was approved by a voice vote, with no count or names, so MassVoter shows the result only and does not show how each councillor voted.
From the minutes
“Councillor Vidal moved that the action of the Committee be the action of the Council. The motion was adopted by a voice vote and the matter was approved..” (Motion: Vidal)
Dec 22Adopt the Licenses and Franchises Committee recommendation (approved): Class…Motion: Councillor Vidal moved that the action of the Committee be the…Passed · see note
December 22, 2025: Adopt the Licenses and Franchises Committee recommendation (approved): Class II license renewal at 265 Bear Hill Road for Specialty Auto Sales dba...
Councillor Vidal moved that the action of the Committee be the action of the Council. The motion was adopted by a voice vote and the matter was approved.
The minutes say the motion was approved by a voice vote, with no count or names, so MassVoter shows the result only and does not show how each councillor voted.
From the minutes
“Councillor Vidal moved that the action of the Committee be the action of the Council. The motion was adopted by a voice vote and the matter was approved..” (Motion: Vidal)
From the Waltham City Council’s official minutes, posted by the City Clerk in the city’s Agenda Center (City Council). We check every vote against the councillors present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos (the city’s website has no City Council photos): The Waltham Times candidate profiles, October–November 2025 — Paul Brasco, Tim King (Artie Kronenfeld), Randall LeBlanc, Emma Tzioumis, Carlos Vidal, Anthony LaFauci, Caren Dunn, John McLaughlin (Isabella Lapriore), Joey LaCava (courtesy WCAC), Paul Katz (courtesy LWV) and Robert Logan; League of Women Voters of Waltham candidate pages — Colleen Bradley-MacArthur and Bill Hanley (2023), Sean Durkee and Cathyann Harris (2021). Cropped by MassVoter. Former members show initials.
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