To consider the continued lease of 53 parking spaces near St. Mary’s Church located at 41 Myrtle Street in Melrose, from the Archdiocese of Boston, and to discuss ongoing negotiations and proposals for a successor lease, with the current lease set to expire June 30, 2026, as an open discussion may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the City.

Transcript (~2 min @ 20:40)

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▶ 20:31 Speaker 1: To consider the continued lease of 53 parking spaces near St. Mary's Church, located at 41 Myrtle Street in Melrose, from the Archdiocese of Boston, and to discuss ongoing negotiations and proposals for a successor lease with the current lease set to expire June 30th, 2026, as an open discussion may have a detrimental effect on the negotiation position of the city.

▶ 20:57 Bradley Freeman: Thank you. Given the ongoing negotiations over successor lease with the archdiocese, a discussion in open session would have a detrimental effect on the city's negotiating position related to the lease of the property. Is there a motion to enter into executive session for these purposes?

▶ 21:12 Speaker 3: So moved.

▶ 21:13 Bradley Freeman: Second. Motion made by Councilor Vanderberg, seconded by Councilor Finocchiaro. On discussion.

▶ 21:19 Speaker 4: Councilor Chen?

▶ 21:21 Jason Chen: Could we do this towards the end, so we have a lot of people waiting from the public?

▶ 21:26 Bradley Freeman: We cannot. We've done public comment. We are now moving on to this stage of the agenda to do executive session.

▶ 21:30 Jason Chen: But even though people are here probably to watch some of the other proceedings- ... on other issues? Yes.

▶ 21:37 Speaker 4: Any further discussion?

▶ 21:38 Kimberly Vandiver: Just for clarification, for anyone watching, so the executive session would mean that the public would have to leave while we have this discussion, and then come back into the room.

▶ 21:47 Speaker 4: Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

▶ 21:52 Speaker 1: Councilor Chen? No. Councilor Finocchiaro? Yes. Councilor Jamaleddine? Yes. Councilor Kowal? Yes. Councilor Obremski? Yes. Councilor Park? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Vanderberg? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. President Freeman? Yes. Okay, that motion passes.

▶ 22:11 Bradley Freeman: So that motion pass carries with a nine to one vote. The public portion of this meeting is now paused, and the room will be cleared of all non-essential personnel. We will now move into executive session. Council will reconvene in open session following the executive session.