← City Council · 2026-03-16 · City Council Meeting 3/16/26
Amending Chapter A, Article II, Section 210 of the Administrative Code of the City of Melrose to expand the authority of the Historical Commission to include regulatory authority as necessary for demolition review.
Agenda original PDF
Minutes original PDF
A. (ID # 2026-10): Amending Chapter A, Article II, Section 210 of the Administrative Code of the City of Melrose to expand the authority of the Historical Commission to include regulatory authority as necessary for demolition review. Motion to Open public hearing made by Councilor Finocchiaro at 8:02 PM Seconded by Councilor Karamcheti All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: PASSED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver NAYS: None ABSENT: Ryan Williams There were no comments on the floor or via Zoom Motion to Close public hearing made by Councilor Karamcheti at 8:06 PM Seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: PASSED [UNANIMOUS] 5 AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver NAYS: None ABSENT: Ryan Williams Motion to Recommend made by Councilor Finocchiaro Seconded by Councilor Karamcheti All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: PASSED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver NAYS: None ABSENT: Ryan Williams Comments and Discussion: The council discussed and approved an order from the Mayor to expand the Historical Commission's authority to serve as a regulatory body for demolition reviews, as required by the recently passed Demolition Review Ordinance. City Solicitor Phillips explained that the proposed changes would allow the Commission to conduct demolition reviews per city ordinance while limiting their regulatory authority to this specific function. Motion for recess until 8:15 PM made by Councilor Karmcheti Seconded by Councilor Vandiver All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: PASSED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Jason Chen, Cal Finocchiaro, Bradley Freeman, Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti, Elizabeth Kowal, John Obremski, Christopher Park, Devin Romanul, Kim Vandiver NAYS: None ABSENT: Ryan Williams VII. PUBLIC HEARING-PROTECTION & LICENSE
Transcript
▶ 14:01 Speaker 2: we had a list of projects that we had submitted, and I'm pleased to say that all of them, the top 15 that were classified as Group A, the highest tier, were in fact, completed. I put some, annotations to the ones that were still outstanding. Uh, you can see that the public safety buildings, was funded by the debt exclusion that recently passed back in 2024. The high school bathroom upgrades, that was a supplemental override, supplemental budget that we passed in the appropriations recently. And finally, we have put the, the new fire truck, item number 13 ranked there, as, something that we prioritized for, the 2027, 2000... up to 2032 CIP list. So, overall, it was a good process. I think, this gives the city a, a great vision in terms of what we are looking to accomplish, especially with the override passing. So stay tuned, for the mayor and her administration to, to, unveil the list of, prioritized items for our CIP. Thank you very much, Councilor Park. Mm-hmm. Seeing as it's now eight o'clock, I will now seek a motion to open public hearing ID 2026-10.
▶ 15:33 Cal Finocchiaro: I'd like to make a motion to open public hearing for ID 2026-10.
▶ 15:38 Bradley Freeman: Second. Uh, there's a motion to open public hearing made by Councilor Finocchiaro, second by Councilor Karamcheti. Madam Clerk?
▶ 15:44 Speaker 3: Councilor Chen? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Karamcheti? Yes. Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Brembsky? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vanderberg? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes.
▶ 16:01 Bradley Freeman: Thank you very much. Mm-hmm. At this time, we'd like to welcome City Solicitor Phillips, to join us tonight. Good evening, Ms. Phillips, and, and thank you very much for, for taking the time.
▶ 16:12 Speaker 4: Thank you. Good evening, everyone. Thanks for having me here. Um, so this order tonight is before you from the mayor, and this is in response to the passage of the demolition review ordinance by council this past December. That ordinance, as you all know, contains a number of changes and responsibilities for the Historical Commission. Um, they're now going to have increased authority and be responsible for the review of any demolitions in the city, any permits that are being sought. Our administrative code does describe the various duties, authorities, responsibilities of appointed bodies within the city, so that includes the Historical Commission. Currently under the code, they only have the authority as an advisory body, so they have no legal authority to make rules or regulations or decide cases. So in order to affect the processes that council has set out in the new ordinance, they need to now, be given the expanded authority to be a regulatory body. So that's what this order is before you tonight. The proposal before you tonight changes the language of the responsibilities currently of the Historical Commission to address all these issues. Um, so what we're asking of you tonight is the changes that, I have written to you in the memo that's been attached to this order, that those be passed by council. Specifically, we're proposing adding under Section B, under Historical Commission, language that the board is responsible for conducting demolition review as set forth by city ordinance. And second, that the language under Section C, be changed to reflect that the commission is now a regulatory body, but only insofar as necessary to conduct demolition review per city ordinance. So you'll notice with that language, we're not expanding their authority to encompass other types of regulatory activity, such as boards like, the Board of Health, for example, that can set fees, issue fines, things like that, that sort. Um, this authority is only going to be related specifically to demolition review and the ordinance that was passed by council. Um, so I'm happy to take any questions council might have on this. Otherwise, the mayor respectfully asks that you pass this, change so that the ordinance can start being administered by the commission.
▶ 18:10 Bradley Freeman: Thank you, Ms. Phillips. Do any councilors have any questions? Councilor Finocchiaro?
▶ 18:16 Cal Finocchiaro: Uh, no questions. Uh, just make a motion to recommend.
▶ 18:20 Bradley Freeman: Uh, before we do that, we do need to, invite the public up for- Oh, yes. Sorry ... for public comment as well. Mm-hmm. All right, seeing no questions for Ms. Phillips, thank you very much. At this time, is there anyone in the public who wishes to comment on this, public hearing ordinance? Seeing none. At this time, I'm gonna entertain a motion to close this public hearing so we can then deliberate and vote on it. Motion to close the public hearing. Motion to close the public hearing by Councilor Karamcheti, seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro. Madam Clerk.
▶ 18:50 Speaker 3: Councilor Chen? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Karamcheti? Yes. Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Obremski? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes.
▶ 19:09 Bradley Freeman: Because the public hearing's now closed, so now we have ID number 2610 before us. Is there any
▶ 19:18 Speaker 2: discussion? If not, what is the will of the council?
▶ 19:21 Cal Finocchiaro: I'd like to make a motion to recommend.
▶ 19:23 Bradley Freeman: I'll second. Motion to recommend made by Councilor Finocchiaro, seconded by Councilor Karamcheti. Madam Clerk.
▶ 19:33 Speaker 3: Councilor Chen? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Karamcheti? Yes. Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Obremski? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes.
▶ 19:52 Bradley Freeman: Thank you very much. Mm-hmm. At this time, we have another public hearing at eight fifteen. We have no other items on our agenda until then, so I'll entertain a motion for a brief recess until eight fifteen PM. Motion for a brief recess. Second. Second. Motion made by Councilor Karamcheti, seconded by Councilor Vandiver.
▶ 20:10 Speaker 1: Madam Clerk.
▶ 20:11 Speaker 3: Councilor Chen? Yes. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Karamcheti? Yes. Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Obremski? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. That motion passes.
▶ 20:27 Bradley Freeman: Thank you. We are in recess until the hour of eight fifteen.