Melrose Council Search

City Council — 2025-03-17

City Council Regular Meeting

This meeting starts at 38:41 in a recording that covers several meetings.

Attendance

Cal Finocchiaro present · Ward 6; Mark Garipay present · Ward 4; Ward Hamilton present · At-Large; Maya Jamaleddine absent · At-Large; Manjula Karamcheti present · Ward 1; Leila Migliorelli present · At-Large; John Obremski present · Ward 2; Devin Romanul present · Ward 7; Robb Stewart present · Ward 3; Kimberly Vandiver present · Ward 5; Ryan Williams present · At-Large

Agenda

  1. Call to Order (38:44)
  2. Public Comment (40:20)
  3. Reading of the Minutes (39:53)
  4. Communications from Her Honor, The Mayor And Other City Officials (41:03)
  5. New Business (41:10)
  6. Reappointment of Brian Gregory, 146 W. Wyoming Avenue, to the Melrose Planning Board for a five-year term; said term to expire on the last day of February 2030. (41:14)
  7. Appointment of Christopher J. Gregg, 28 Cumner Ave., Melrose to the Melrose Scholarship Fund Committee for a term of three years, said term to expire the last day of March, 2028. (41:22)
  8. Appointment of Alison Boone, 171 Trenton Street, to the Board of Registrars of Voters (41:35)
  9. GRANT-2025-11 : Requesting the acceptance of State Earmark for the Melrose Council on Aging in the amount of $50,000 (41:48)
  10. Requesting the acceptance of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 22J for Veteran Tax Relief Available Under the HERO Act (42:02)
  11. Unfinished Business (42:20)
  12. Appointment of John Orlandella, 72 Hawes Avenue, to the Melrose Scholarship Fund Committee for a term of three years, said term set to expire last day of March, 2028. (42:26)
  13. Appointment of Peter T. Bowman, 24 Arlington Road, to the Cable Television Commission (43:03)
  14. Appointment of Jackie Hoover, 80 Sheffield Road, to the Melrose Scholarship Fund Committee for a term of three years, said term set to expire last day of March, 2028. (43:32)
  15. Appointment of Daniel R. Kowalczyk, 51 1st Street, Apt 4, to the Cable Television Commission (44:06)
  16. Loan Order – LWSAP CY2025 Water Main Improvements (44:38)
  17. Expiries (45:30)
  18. Rule 53 Reports (45:36)
  19. Adjournment (47:22)

Minutes

CITY OF MELROSE CITY COUNCIL BULLETIN● MARCH 17, 2025 Council Chamber, First Floor, Melrose City Hall Regular Meeting 7:45 PM 562 Main Street, Melrose, MA 02176 Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Cal Finocchiaro Ward 6 Present Mark Garipay Ward 4 Present Ward Hamilton At-Large Present Maya Jamaleddine At-Large Absent Manjula Karamcheti Ward 1 Present John Obremski Ward 2 Present Devin Romanul Ward 7 Present Robb Stewart Ward 3 Present Kimberly Vandiver Ward 5 Present Ryan Williams At-Large Present Leila Migliorelli At-Large Present

(ID # 12482) Appointment/Reappointment Reappointment of Brian Gregory, 146 W. Wyoming Avenue, to the Melrose Planning Board for a five-year term; said term to expire on the last day of February 2030. Assign to Committee Boards & Commission

(ID # 12505) Appointment/Reappointment Appointment of Christopher J. Gregg, 28 Cumner Ave., Melrose to the Melrose Scholarship Fund Committee for a term of three years, said term to expire the last day of March, 2028. Assign to Committee Boards & Commission

(ID # 12521) Appointment/Reappointment Appointment of Alison Boone, 171 Trenton Street, to the Board of Registrars of Voters Assign to Committee Boards & Commission

(ID # 12509) Grant Requesting the acceptance of State Earmark for the Melrose Council on Aging in the amount of $50,000 Assign to Committee Appropriations & Oversight Committee

(ID # 12522) Acceptance of general law; decision; fund City of Melrose Page 1 3/18/2025 1:33 PM Minutes City Council March 17, 2025 Requesting the acceptance of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 22J for Veteran Tax Relief Available Under the HERO Act Assigned to Committee Legal & Legislative Committee

(ID # 12472) Appointment/Reappointment Appointment of John Orlandella, 72 Hawes Avenue, to the Melrose Scholarship Fund Committee for a term of three years, said term set to expire last day of March, 2028. Passed

(ID # 12473) Appointment/Reappointment Appointment of Peter T. Bowman, 24 Arlington Road, to the Cable Television Commission Passed City Council

(ID # 12480) Appointment/Reappointment Appointment of Jackie Hoover, 80 Sheffield Road, to the Melrose Scholarship Fund Committee for a term of three years, said term set to expire last day of March, 2028. Passed City Council

(ID # 12481) Appointment/Reappointment Appointment of Daniel R. Kowalczyk, 51 1st Street, Apt 4, to the Cable Television Commission Passed City Council

(ID # 12478) Bond Loan Order – LWSAP CY2025 Water Main Improvements Passed City Council City of Melrose Page 2 3/18/2025 1:33 PM

Transcript

▶ 38:44 Leila Migliorelli: The time is 7 45 on Monday, March 17th. Morning In progress. Happy St. Patrick's Day. This is a meeting the Melrose City Council. I am President Melli calling it to order in accordance with Massachusetts Open Meeting Law. This meeting is being broadcast and recorded by Melrose Cable Access tv and will be available for reviewing in its entirety on MMTV and through the city website link. Madam Clerk, will you please call the role? I will. Councilor Ro. Here. Councilor Gareg. Here. Councillor Hamilton. Here. Councilor Jamal Ledine. Councilor Carrum Chetty. Here. Cremsky. Here. Councilor Romanul. Here. Councillor Stewart? Here. Councilor Vandiver? Here. Councilor Williams. Here. President Melissa. Here. Okay.

▶ 39:32 Leila Migliorelli: It's a quorum. Now at this time, please rise if you're able to join To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God into the visible with liberty and justice for all. At this time, I will motion to approve without reading. Um, and by unanimous consent, the minutes from, um, January 6th, 2025. February 5th, 2025. February 18th, 2025. And March 6th, 2025. Seeing no objection, these minutes are now approved. Um, moving on to, oops, I skipped public comment. So let's go back to that public comment. Um, I will motion by Unanim consent to open the floor for public comment. Seeing no objections, we are now open for public comment. This is a portion of the meeting

▶ 40:39 Leila Migliorelli: where the public may speak on any item on tonight's agenda. Comments expressing any viewpoints on other matters are also welcome. Seeing that there's no one here. Madam Clerk, is there anyone online? There is Not. All right. Um, if there's no objection, I will motion to close public comment By unanimous consent, seeing no objection, public comment is now closed. Now communications from our Honor, the mayors not here sole. Moving on to new BU business filings by the Honorable Mayor. Appointments. Okay. Sorry. That's okay. Id Number one. 2 4 8 2 Reappointment of Brian Gregory, 1 46 West Wyoming Avenue to the Melrose Planning Board for a five year term. Said turn to expire on the last day of February, 2030.

▶ 41:21 This will go to boards and commissions ID. Number 1 2 5 0 5. Appointment of Christopher j Greg. 28 Governor Avenue, Melrose to the Melrose Scholarship Fund Committee for a term of three years. Said term to expire the last day of March, 2028. This will also go to boards and commissions ID number 1, 2 5 2 1. Appointment of Allison Boone. 1 71 Trenton Street To the Board of Registers. To the registers of voters. I apologize. This Will go to Boards and commissions. Next up for grants. Grants ID number 1 2 5 0 9. Requesting the acceptance of state earmark for the Melrose Council on Aging and the amount of 50,000. This will go to a and o Appropriations and oversight, uh, orders, orders ID number 1 2 5 2 2.

▶ 42:09 Requesting the acceptance of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 59, section five, clause 22 J for Veteran Tax Relief available under the Hero Act. This will go to Legal and legislative. Next, there's nothing under filings for members of the Honorable City Council. Next up, unfinished business appointments and reappointments ID. Number 1, 2 4 7 2. Appointment of John Orlando Orlando, 72 H House Avenue to the Melrose Scholarship Fund Committee for a term of three years. Head term set to expire last day of March, 2028. Madam President, this comes from the Boards and Commissions Committee with a recommendation for passage. And at this time I motion for passage. Second. Motion for passage made by Councillor Vandiver, seconded

▶ 42:56 Leila Migliorelli: by Councillor Carrum Jie on discussion. Seeing none. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? That passes. Okay, ID Number 1, 2, 4, 7 3. Appointment of Peter j Peter T. Bowman, 24 Arlington Road to the Cable Television Commission And President. This also comes from the Boards and Commissions Committee with a recommendation for passage. And at this time I motion for passage. Second. Motion for passage made by Councillor Vandiver, seconded by Councilor Crime Shady. On discussion. Seeing none. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? That order passes ID. Number 1, 2 4 8 0. Appointment of JA Jackie Hoover. 80 Sheffield Road to the Melrose Scholarship Fund Committee for a term of three years. Said term set to expire last day of March, 2028.

▶ 43:49 Leila Migliorelli: Madam President, this also comes from the Boards and Commissions Committee and with a recommendation for passage. And at this time I motion for passage. Second. Motion for passage made by Councilor Vandiver. Second by Councillor Carrum Chay. On discussion. Seeing none. All in favor? A. Aye. Any opposed? That passes ID number one. 2 4 8. One Appointment of Daniel R Al Kawell, gosh, sorry. Wallick Wallick Al. 51 First Street, apartment four to the Cable Television Commission. Uh, Madam President. This also comes from the Board's and Commissions Committee with a recommendation for passage. And at this time I motion for passage. Second. Motion for passage made by Councillor Vandiver by Councillor Ka.

▶ 44:32 Shady. On discussion. Seeing none. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? That passes. Um, accept Grants Grant ID Number 1 2 4 7 8 loan order L-W-S-A-P-C-Y 2025. Water Main Improvements. Madam President. Uh, this comes from the Appropriation and Oversight Committee with a recommendation for passage. At this time I will make a motion for passage. Second. Motion for passage made by Councillor Repe, seconded by Councillor Stewart. On discussion. Seeing none, Madam Clerk, will you please call the role? Yes. Councilor Ro? Yes. Councilor Garipay? Yes. Councilor Hamilton? Yes. Councilor Carrum Chetty. Yes. Cremsky? Yes. Councilor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Stewart? Yes. Councilor Vandiver? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes.

▶ 45:26 Ward Hamilton: President Melissa? Yes. Motion passes. Alright. Nothing under expires. Anything under Rule 53. Councillor Hamilton. Thank you. Uh, on March 7th, the public, the Mayor's Public Safety Facilities Advisory Committee met and, uh, we are tracking right now for the new police station to go out to bid in October with a December construction start. Construction duration is estimated at 20 months. The West Side Fire Station, uh, we're tracking to go out to bid in July with a September start. Duration is estimated at 16 months. Uh, members of this body will recall on June 3rd of last year, we appropriated $5.5 million for the, uh, initial design phase to bring us right up to the point where we go out to bid.

▶ 46:13 Devin Romanul: And as of today, uh, CFO Kerry Golden informed me that we have spent approximately 1.7 of that 5.5 with 3.8 remaining. And um, I think that's a testimony till, um, the good, good work that's taking place. We're in good shape. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Alright. Yes, councilor Romanul. Um, I just wanted say I, um, was in Washington DC last week attending at the National League of Cities Conference as part of my day job, but obviously there's some connected tissue here. And, and one of the things that, uh, came up is there's, um, uh, some talk in Congress about potentially, um, as a pay for, uh, of a significant magnitude removing the tax exemption on municipal bonds that would obviously have some serious ramifications.

▶ 46:57 Devin Romanul: I think it's a low probability, but high impact event. Just something to, uh, I spoke with members of our Congressional and Senatorial staff, uh, when I was in town, just to get a sense of, um, what the, um, you know, aperture, what the possibility might be. And, um, just wanted to you all to be aware that it was something that was being discussed and, and just to keep your eyes peeled, um, on the off chance that that chatter increases. Alright. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? All right. I will. Motion by unanimous consent to adjourn. We are now adjourned. That's.

Original documents