MassVoter.com← Woburn City CouncilWoburn City Council · 2020–2021 Council · Special meeting
April 1, 2021
13 recorded votes, 2 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: Special meeting. Michael Lannan was elected by the council to the vacant Ward 7 seat at this special meeting (after 53 ballots), sworn in, and took his seat; the roll call at the top lists the eight members seated before then.
Present: Joanne E. Campbell, Robert J. Ferullo, Michael P. Concannon, Richard F. Gately, Joseph E. Demers, Darlene Mercer-Bruen, Jeffrey P. Dillon, Edward Tedesco, Michael Lannan
Absent: None
During the meeting:
- Michael Lannan was elected to the vacant Ward 7 seat and sworn in during the meeting.
Every vote, in order
Special meeting
Joyce M. Gray be named Clerk of the City Council, Pro-Tem, for the Special Meeting of April 1, 2021 and the Regular Meetings of April 6, 2021 and April 20, 2021
Voted that Joyce M. Gray be named Clerk of the City Council, Pro-Tem, for the Special Meeting of April 1, 2021 and the Regular Meetings of April 6, 2021 and April 20, 2021, all in favor, 9-0.
The journal gives the count as 9-0, which does not add up with the eight members on the roll call (Joanne E. Campbell, Robert J. Ferullo, Michael P. Concannon, Richard F. Gately, Joseph E. Demers, Darlene Mercer-Bruen, Jeffrey P. Dillon and Edward Tedesco). Showing the count only.
From the minutes
“Voted that Joyce M. Gray be named Clerk of the City Council, Pro-Tem, for the Special Meeting of April 1, 2021 and the Regular Meetings of April 6, 2021 and April 20, 2021, all in favor, 9-0..”
Dispense with the reading of the previous meeting's Journal and to approve
VOTED to dispense with the reading of the previous meeting's Journal and to APPROVE, all in favor, 8-0.
Yes: Campbell, Concannon, Demers, Dillon, Ferullo, Gately, Mercer-Bruen, Tedesco
From the minutes
“VOTED to dispense with the reading of the previous meeting's Journal and to APPROVE, all in favor, 8-0..”
The matter be laid on the table — On the election to fill the vacancy in the office of Ward Seven Alderman
Motion made and 2nd that the matter be laid on the table, all in favor 8-0.
Yes: Campbell, Concannon, Demers, Dillon, Ferullo, Gately, Mercer-Bruen, Tedesco
From the minutes
“motion made and 2nd that the matter be laid on the table, all in favor 8-0..”
Take the next two matters out of order
Motion made and 2nd take the next two matters out of order, all in favor, 8-0.
Yes: Campbell, Concannon, Demers, Dillon, Ferullo, Gately, Mercer-Bruen, Tedesco
From the minutes
“Motion made and 2nd take the next two matters out of order, all in favor, 8-0..”
The order be adopted — Order: Pursuant to City Council Rule 34(B)(1), the City Council hereby appoints Joyce M. Gray as Acting City Clerk effective April 12, 2021 at 9:00 a.m
Motion made and 2nd that the ORDER be ADOPTED, all in favor, 8-0.
Yes: Campbell, Concannon, Demers, Dillon, Ferullo, Gately, Mercer-Bruen, Tedesco
From the minutes
“Motion made and 2nd that the ORDER be ADOPTED, all in favor, 8-0..”
The order be adopted — Order: City Council Rule 22 be waived to allow the Committee on Personnel to meet on April 19, 2021 regarding the process for the selection of City Clerk
Motion made and 2nd that the ORDER be ADOPTED, all in favor, 8-0.
Yes: Campbell, Concannon, Demers, Dillon, Ferullo, Gately, Mercer-Bruen, Tedesco
From the minutes
“Motion made and 2nd that the ORDER be ADOPTED, all in favor, 8-0..”
Return to the regular order of business
Motion made and 2nd to return to the regular order of business, all in favor 8-0.
Yes: Campbell, Concannon, Demers, Dillon, Ferullo, Gately, Mercer-Bruen, Tedesco
From the minutes
“Motion made and 2nd to return to the regular order of business, all in favor 8-0..”
The election of Ward Seven Alderman be taken from the table
Motion made and 2nd that the election of Ward Seven Alderman be taken from the table, all in favor, 8-0.
Yes: Campbell, Concannon, Demers, Dillon, Ferullo, Gately, Mercer-Bruen, Tedesco
From the minutes
“Motion made and 2nd that the election of Ward Seven Alderman be taken from the table, all in favor, 8-0..”
Take a five-minute recess
Motion made and 2nd to take a five-minute recess, all in favor, 8-0.
Yes: Campbell, Concannon, Demers, Dillon, Ferullo, Gately, Mercer-Bruen, Tedesco
From the minutes
“motion made and 2nd to take a five-minute recess, all in favor, 8-0..”
Return to the regular order of business
Motion made and 2nd to return to the regular order of business, all in favor, 8-0.
Yes: Campbell, Concannon, Demers, Dillon, Ferullo, Gately, Mercer-Bruen, Tedesco
From the minutes
“Motion made and 2nd to return to the regular order of business, all in favor, 8-0..”
Appointments and Elections
Election to fill the vacant Ward 7 seat: Michael Lannan elected after 53 ballots
The City Council proceeded to the election of a Ward Seven Alderman by roll call vote and after 53 ballots the vote was as follows: Michael Lannan, having received the necessary majority of five (5) votes, was declared by the President elected to the office of Ward Seven Alderman.
The journal says the vote was by roll call and that Michael Lannan received the necessary majority of five votes after 53 ballots, but it does not list how each member voted (an earlier round of eleven ballots that night ended with no majority). Showing the result only.
From the minutes
“The City Council proceeded to the election of a Ward Seven Alderman by roll call vote and after 53 ballots the vote was as follows: Michael Lannan, having received the necessary majority of five (5) votes, was declared by the President elected to the office of Ward Seven Alderman..”
Special meeting
The election of Michael Lannan as Ward Seven Alderman be made unanimous
Motion made and 2nd that the election of Michael Lannan as Ward Seven Alderman be made unanimous, ROLL CALL: Campbell - Yes; Concannon - Yes; Demers - Yes; Dillon - Yes; Ferullo - Yes; Gately - Yes; Mercer-Bruen - Yes; Tedesco - Yes.
Yes: Campbell, Concannon, Demers, Dillon, Ferullo, Gately, Mercer-Bruen, Tedesco
From the minutes
“Motion made and 2nd that the election of Michael Lannan as Ward Seven Alderman be made unanimous, ROLL CALL: Campbell - Yes; Concannon - Yes; Demers - Yes; Dillon - Yes; Ferullo - Yes; Gately - Yes; Mercer-Bruen - Yes; Tedesco - Yes..”
Adjourn
Motion made and 2nd to ADJOURN, all in favor, 9-0.
From the minutes
“Motion made and 2nd to ADJOURN, all in favor, 9-0..”
From the Woburn City Council’s official journals (its minutes), posted on the city’s Minutes & Agendas page (City Council). We check every vote against the councilors present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos (the city’s website has no councilor photos): Robert Toro, Joseph Demers (courtesy of each), Jeffrey Dillon, Lou DiMambro and Charles Viola from Woburn Patch (2019–2023); Yano Amara (December 31, 2025) and Darlene Mercer-Bruen (July 23, 2021, captioned group photo, cropped) from the Daily Times Chronicle; William Pappalardo and Robert Ferullo cropped from the Daily Times Chronicle’s captioned 2026 City Council photo (January 7, 2026). Former councilors show initials.
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