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Woburn City Council
How the Woburn City Council voted, from the City Clerk's official minutes. 9 councilors: one from each of the city’s 7 wards and 2 elected at large. Sworn in January 1, 2024. Council President: Jeffrey P. Dillon (elected January 1, 2024, nine votes). William J. Pappalardo (Ward 2) and Robert F. Toro, Jr. (at large) joined the council, succeeding Richard F. Gately, Jr. and Michael P. Concannon. Covers 43 meetings, January 1 to December 16, 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
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Councilors
Joanne E. CampbellMember · Ward 1 · at 40 of 43 meetings
Joseph E. DemersMember · Ward 4 · at 42 of 43 meetings
Lou DiMambroMember · Ward 6 · at 43 of 43 meetings
Robert J. FerulloMember · At-large · at 38 of 43 meetings
Darlene Mercer-BruenMember · Ward 5 · at 40 of 43 meetings
William J. PappalardoMember · Ward 2 · at 42 of 43 meetings
Robert F. ToroMember · At-large · at 40 of 43 meetings
Charles ViolaMember · Ward 7 · at 42 of 43 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
Loaded: every full Woburn City Council meeting with a posted journal (the council’s official minutes) from January 1, 2018 through July 21, 2026: 207 meetings (regular meetings, special and budget meetings, and the inaugural meetings) and 8,114 votes. Council committee meetings are not loaded. The city’s website has council journals back to 2006; MassVoter has loaded 2018 on. Three journals (October 2 and October 16, 2018, and October 7, 2025) are not listed on the city’s Minutes & Agendas page, and the June 16, 2020 journal is not linked from its meeting page; MassVoter found them in the city’s website file library. Not here: meetings with an agenda but no posted journal (the January 6, 2020 inaugural meeting; December 11, 2018; the June 10, 2019 and June 24, 2020 budget meetings, where the June 24, 2020 link is broken; May 2 and October 3, 2023; September 17, 2024; and November 18, 2025; MassVoter is asking the City Clerk), and meetings after July 21, 2026 (the August 18, September 15 and October 6, 2026 journals are not posted yet). Eight journals from 2019, 2023 and 2024 were posted as Word documents; all the journals are typed text. Woburn’s journals record nearly every vote as “Motion made and 2nd that …, all in favor, 9-0,” naming in parentheses any councilor who voted no, abstained or was absent (“all in favor, 6-2-1 (Demers and Toro Against; Ferullo Absent)”), and the roll call at the top lists the councilors present. When the count adds up with the roll call, we show each councilor’s vote: those named as voting no or abstaining as recorded, those named as absent left out, and the other councilors present voting yes. Many votes, especially in 2019–2021, were roll calls by name (“Campbell - Yes; Concannon - No; …”), shown as recorded; when a roll call leaves out a councilor who was present, that councilor is left out of the vote, with a note. Elections of the Council President and of members to fill vacant seats were roll calls naming a person: when every councilor named the same person we show each as voting yes; otherwise we show the result only and quote the names. Councilors who arrived late, or whom the journal says recused or left the chamber, are left out of the votes taken while they were out, with a note. When a count does not add up with the roll call (for example “9-0” when only eight councilors were seated, or a count that includes a councilor the journal says had recused and left the chamber), we show the count only, with a note (50 votes); 13 votes show the result only. The journals rarely say who made or seconded a motion. The members were called Aldermen until a 2021 state law changed the title to Councilor. We will ask the city 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 2A residential factor of 0.74724004 (which will be rounded…Motion: Motion made and 2nd that a RESIDENTIAL FACTOR OF 0.74724004 (which…Passed 1–0 · see note
December 2, 2025: A residential factor of 0.74724004 (which will be rounded to 0.747241) for the fiscal year 2026 be adopted
Motion made and 2nd that a RESIDENTIAL FACTOR OF 0.74724004 (which will be rounded to 0.747241) FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BE ADOPTED, ROLL CALL: Campbell - Yes; Demers - Yes; DiMambro - Yes; Ferullo - Absent; Mercer-Bruen - Against; Pappalardo - Yes; Toro - Yes; Viola - Yes; Dillon - Yes. Motion Passes.
Yes: Mercer-BruenEach member who voted named the same choice (Against).
From the minutes
“Motion made and 2nd that a RESIDENTIAL FACTOR OF 0.74724004 (which will be rounded to 0.747241) FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BE ADOPTED, ROLL CALL: Campbell - Yes; Demers - Yes; DiMambro - Yes; Ferullo - Absent; Mercer-Bruen - Against; Pappalardo - Yes; Toro - Yes; Viola - Yes; Dillon - Yes. Motion Passes..”
Dec 2A residential factor of 0.74724004 (which will be rounded…Motion: Motion made and 2nd that a RESIDENTIAL FACTOR OF 0.74724004 (which…Passed 1–0 · see note
December 2, 2025: A residential factor of 0.74724004 (which will be rounded to 0.747241) for the fiscal year 2026 be adopted
Motion made and 2nd that a RESIDENTIAL FACTOR OF 0.74724004 (which will be rounded to 0.747241) FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BE ADOPTED, ROLL CALL: Campbell - Yes; Demers - Yes; DiMambro - Yes; Ferullo - Absent; Mercer-Bruen - Against; Pappalardo - Yes; Toro - Yes; Viola - Yes; Dillon - Yes. Motion Passes.
Yes: Mercer-BruenEach member who voted named the same choice (Against).
From the minutes
“Motion made and 2nd that a RESIDENTIAL FACTOR OF 0.74724004 (which will be rounded to 0.747241) FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BE ADOPTED, ROLL CALL: Campbell - Yes; Demers - Yes; DiMambro - Yes; Ferullo - Absent; Mercer-Bruen - Against; Pappalardo - Yes; Toro - Yes; Viola - Yes; Dillon - Yes. Motion Passes..”
Sep 16The special permit be granted, subject to the conditions,…Motion: Motion made and 2nd that the SPECIAL PERMIT BE GRANTED, subject…Passed 8–0 · Abstained: Mercer-Bruen
September 16, 2025: The special permit be granted, subject to the conditions, as amended, as follows: 1, The plans of record shall be the plans submitted July 24, 2025 prepared by Bohler Engineering…
Motion made and 2nd that the SPECIAL PERMIT BE GRANTED, subject to the conditions, as amended, as follows: 1, The plans of record shall be the plans submitted July 24, 2025 prepared by Bohler Engineering dated October 11, 2018 being Sheet C-4 (Site Plan) and C-11 (Lighting Plan); 2. All conditions of the prior special permits shall remain in full force and effect; 3. The Applicant shall install a bicycle rack near the restaurant entrance in a location that is reasonable, accessible to patrons, and does not interfere with building egress; 4. The Applicant shall revise and implement its pest management plan to require that all exterior rodent control stations located on the property utilize Terad³ rodenticide. The Applicant shall provide written confirmation from its licensed pest control contractor to the Building Department and Board of Health, verifying that the exterior stations have been updated accordingly. Ongoing compliance with this requirement shall be a continuing condition of this Special Permit; 5. The Applicant shall provide additional exterior trash receptacles on the property, in locations reasonably accessible to patrons and staff, in order to reduce litter and promote proper waste disposal. The number, size, and placement of receptacles shall be subject to the ongoing review and approval of the Building Commissioner (or other enforcing authority); 6. The Applicant shall monitor and empty exterior trash receptacles on a regular and intermittent basis throughout
Yes: Campbell, Demers, DiMambro, Dillon, Ferullo, Pappalardo, Toro, ViolaAbstained: Mercer-Bruen
From the minutes
“Motion made and 2nd that the SPECIAL PERMIT BE GRANTED, subject to the conditions, as amended, as follows: 1, The plans of record shall be the plans submitted July 24, 2025 prepared by Bohler Engineering dated October 11, 2018 being Sheet C-4 (Site Plan) and C-11 (Lighting Plan); 2. All conditions of the prior special permits shall remain in full force and effect; 3. The Applicant shall install a bicycle rack near the restaurant entrance in a location that is reasonable, accessible to patrons, and does not interfere with building egress; 4. The Applicant shall revise and implement its pest management plan to require that all exterior rodent control stations located on the property utilize Terad³ rodenticide. The Applicant shall provide written confirmation from its licensed pest control contractor to the Building Department and Board of Health, verifying that the exterior stations have been updated accordingly. Ongoing compliance with this requirement shall be a continuing condition of this Special Permit; 5. The Applicant shall provide additional exterior trash receptacles on the property, in locations reasonably accessible to patrons and staff, in order to reduce litter and promote proper waste disposal. The number, size, and placement of receptacles shall be subject to the ongoing review and approval of the Building Commissioner (or other enforcing authority); 6. The Applicant shall monitor and empty exterior trash receptacles on a regular and intermittent basis throughout operating hours to prevent overflow. The Applicant shall also ensure that the property grounds remain free of litter and debris and are maintained in a clean and orderly condition at all times; and 7. Hours of operation for the interior of the restaurant shall be from 5am - 11pm all seven days a week. Hours of operation for the drive thru of the restaurant shall be from 5am - 2am all seven days a week, all in favor, 8-0-1 (Mercer-Bruen Abstained)..”
Jun 9Page 8 Law Department be approvedMotion: Motion made and 2nd that Page 8 Law Department be approved,…Passed 8–0 · Abstained: Ferullo
June 9, 2025 (Special meeting): Page 8 Law Department be approved
Motion made and 2nd that Page 8 Law Department be approved, 8 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstained (Ferullo Abstained).
Yes: Campbell, Demers, DiMambro, Dillon, Mercer-Bruen, Pappalardo, Toro, ViolaAbstained: Ferullo
From the minutes
“Motion made and 2nd that Page 8 Law Department be approved, 8 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstained (Ferullo Abstained)..”
Jun 9Page 11 Human Resources Department be approvedMotion: Motion made and 2nd that Page 11 Human Resources Department be…Passed 8–0 · Abstained: Ferullo
June 9, 2025 (Special meeting): Page 11 Human Resources Department be approved
Motion made and 2nd that Page 11 Human Resources Department be approved, 8 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstained (Ferullo Abstained).
Yes: Campbell, Demers, DiMambro, Dillon, Mercer-Bruen, Pappalardo, Toro, ViolaAbstained: Ferullo
From the minutes
“Motion made and 2nd that Page 11 Human Resources Department be approved, 8 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstained (Ferullo Abstained)..”
Jun 9Page 15 Planning Board/Community Development Department be approvedMotion: Motion made and 2nd that Page 15 Planning Board/Community Development Department…Passed 8–0 · Abstained: Ferullo
June 9, 2025 (Special meeting): Page 15 Planning Board/Community Development Department be approved
Motion made and 2nd that Page 15 Planning Board/Community Development Department be approved, 8 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstained (Ferullo Abstained).
Yes: Campbell, Demers, DiMambro, Dillon, Mercer-Bruen, Pappalardo, Toro, ViolaAbstained: Ferullo
From the minutes
“Motion made and 2nd that Page 15 Planning Board/Community Development Department be approved, 8 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstained (Ferullo Abstained)..”
Jun 9Pages 18-23 Woburn Police Department be approvedMotion: Motion made and 2nd that Pages 18-23 Woburn Police Department be…Passed 8–0 · Abstained: Dillon
June 9, 2025 (Special meeting): Pages 18-23 Woburn Police Department be approved
Motion made and 2nd that Pages 18-23 Woburn Police Department be approved, 8 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstained (Dillon Abstained).
Yes: Campbell, Demers, DiMambro, Ferullo, Mercer-Bruen, Pappalardo, Toro, ViolaAbstained: Dillon
From the minutes
“Motion made and 2nd that Pages 18-23 Woburn Police Department be approved, 8 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstained (Dillon Abstained)..”
Jun 9Page 49 Board of Health - Rubbish Removal be…Motion: Motion made and 2nd that Page 49 Board of Health -…Passed 8–1 · No: Viola
June 9, 2025 (Special meeting): Page 49 Board of Health - Rubbish Removal be approved
Motion made and 2nd that Page 49 Board of Health - Rubbish Removal be approved, 8 in favor, 1 opposed (Viola Opposed).
Yes: Campbell, Demers, DiMambro, Dillon, Ferullo, Mercer-Bruen, Pappalardo, ToroNo: Viola
From the minutes
“Motion made and 2nd that Page 49 Board of Health - Rubbish Removal be approved, 8 in favor, 1 opposed (Viola Opposed)..”
May 20The order be adopted, as amended — On the…Motion: Motion made and 2nd that the ORDER BE ADOPTED, AS AMENDED,…Passed 5–2 · No: Campbell, Pappalardo
May 20, 2025: The order be adopted, as amended — On the petition by President Dillon, per request of the Mayor, to amend the 1985 Woburn Zoning Ordinances, as amended, by 1. adopting…
Motion made and 2nd that the ORDER BE ADOPTED, AS AMENDED, ROLL CALL: Campbell - No; Demers - Yes; DiMambro - Yes; Ferullo - Yes; Mercer-Bruen - Absent; Pappalardo - No; Toro - Absent; Viola - Yes; Dillon - Yes. Motion Passes.
Yes: Demers, DiMambro, Dillon, Ferullo, ViolaNo: Campbell, Pappalardo
From the minutes
“Motion made and 2nd that the ORDER BE ADOPTED, AS AMENDED, ROLL CALL: Campbell - No; Demers - Yes; DiMambro - Yes; Ferullo - Yes; Mercer-Bruen - Absent; Pappalardo - No; Toro - Absent; Viola - Yes; Dillon - Yes. Motion Passes..”
May 6The leave to withdraw without prejduce be grantedMotion: Motion made and 2nd that the LEAVE TO WITHDRAW WITHOUT PREJDUCE…Passed 5–4 · No: Dillon, Mercer-Bruen, Toro, Viola
May 6, 2025: The leave to withdraw without prejduce be granted
Motion made and 2nd that the LEAVE TO WITHDRAW WITHOUT PREJDUCE BE GRANTED, ROLL CALL: Campbell - Yes; Demers - Yes; DiMambro - Yes; Ferullo - Yes; Mercer-Bruen - No; Pappalardo - Yes; Toro - No; Viola - No; Dillon - No. Motion Passes.
Yes: Campbell, Demers, DiMambro, Ferullo, PappalardoNo: Dillon, Mercer-Bruen, Toro, Viola
From the minutes
“Motion made and 2nd that the LEAVE TO WITHDRAW WITHOUT PREJDUCE BE GRANTED, ROLL CALL: Campbell - Yes; Demers - Yes; DiMambro - Yes; Ferullo - Yes; Mercer-Bruen - No; Pappalardo - Yes; Toro - No; Viola - No; Dillon - No. Motion Passes..”
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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