Protection & License Committee — 2025-07-21
Attendance
Cal Finocchiaro ; Mark Garipay ; Ward Hamilton ; Leila Migliorelli ; Devin Romanul ; Kimberly Vandiver
Agenda
- Call to Order
- Minutes Approval
- Public Comment
- Appointments/Reappointments
- Appointment of Chief John White, 40 Youle Street, Melrose, MA as Emergency Management Director
- Adjournment
Minutes
CITY OF MELROSE PROTECTION AND LICENSE COMMITTEE CALENDAR● JULY 21, 2025 Council Chamber, First Floor, Melrose City Hall Committee Meeting 7:03 PM 562 Main Street, Melrose, MA 02176 The public should take notice that the Melrose City Council may, on certain occasions, have a quorum in attendance due to standing committees of the City Council consisting of both voting and non-voting members. Members attending this duly posted meeting are participating and deliberating only in conjunction with the business of the standing committee. Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Cal Finocchiaro Vice Chair Present Mark Garipay Present Ward Hamilton Present Kimberly Vandiver Present Leila Migliorelli President, Ex Oficio Absent Devin Romanul Chair Present
(ID # 12793) Appointment/Reappointment Appointment of Chief John White, 40 Youle Street, Melrose, MA as Emergency Management Director Recommend City Council City of Melrose Page 1 8/7/2025 12:48 PM
Transcript
▶ 0:01 Devin Romanul: Good evening. The time is seven o'clock in progress on Monday, July 21st, 2025. This is a meeting of the Protection and License Committee. My name is Devin Roman. I'm the chair. Also joining me tonight, our, uh, vice Chair Guiro and councilors, ger and Hamilton, as well as, uh, councilor Jamal Dean. Uh, this serves as a notice of a quorum for the record in accordance with the open meeting law. This meeting is being recorded and broadcast live on MMTV. I'll motion by unanimous consent to open the floor for public comment. Seeing no objection, we are now open for public comment. This is the portion of the meeting where anyone can speak on any item on our agenda. And, uh, do we have anybody online?
▶ 0:45 Devin Romanul: There is no one online. Anyone wish to speak? No. Alright. Well, if there is no objection, I will motion to close for public comment. Seeing none, we are closed for public comment. Um, since we have members of the administration here tonight, I'll, uh, uh, here to speak on items before us. I'd like to entertain a motion by unanimous consent to suspend Rule 37 B before we proceed. Seeing no objection, rule 37 B is now suspended. Um, the only order on tonight's agenda is ID number 1 2 7, 9 3. Uh, appointment of Chief John White for ELL Street, Melrose, Massachusetts as Emergency Management Director. Good evening chair and committee members. Thank you for having us tonight. Um, I'm here seeking your approval of
▶ 1:41 Jen Grigoraitis: Fire Chief John White in the role of Melrose Emergency Management Director. Um, just by way of a little background, all municipalities are required by state law to designate an emergency management director. For the past six years, we had had Alan Alpert, who many of you knew in that role. It was a part-time non benefitted, non-union position. Um, Mr. Alpert decided to fully retire, um, at the conclusion of last fiscal year. And then as part of our budget reductions, we reduced that position from being its own standalone position to being a stipended role, which is, um, something that many communities do. I had asked Chief White if he would be willing to take on this additional responsibility,
▶ 2:18 Jen Grigoraitis: and he very graciously agreed. Many communities use fire department personnel in this role, given the, um, large overlap in trainings that happens for both emergency management response and fire response. Um, as I think many of you know, chief White has been a member of the Melrose Fire Department for nearly 40 years. He's been serving as chief just about a year now, and he brings extensive professional certifications, including as an EMT, A Fire Investigator and a fire prevention officer. I'm really grateful to his willingness to take this on in addition to all of his other responsibilities and think he will serve the city very well. Thank you. Thank you. Um, asked to please. Uh, the question would make me the Emergency Medical
▶ 3:04 Emergency Management Director, um, to carry on the fine work of my predecessor, Alan Alper. I've talked with him many times over the years and, um, to carry on all the work, he started to get, um, all the emergency plans, um, especially in light of what's happened last weekend down in, uh, fall River. Um, we see the importance of the work that he's done, um, to keep, make sure these foot places have their plans set up. Well, thank you so much. Do any counselors have any questions for either of the mayor or Chief Councillor Hamilton? Thanks. No questions. Uh, thank you Chief for stepping up and, uh, make a motion to recommend second Motion to recommend by Councillor Hamilton Motion, uh, seconded by Councillor Occhio on discussion.
▶ 3:50 Ryan Williams: All those in favor? Aye. All those opposed? Alright. The ayes have it. Thank you. Thank Chief. Thank you Madam Mayor. Thank you. Um, with that, um, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. Motion to adjourn. Second. Second. Motion to adjourn. Uh, made by Council Guiro. Second by Councilor Hamilton. All those in favor? Aye. All this opposed the ayes Have it. We are now adjourned. Thanks so much, everybody. Good evening everybody. Today is Monday, July 21st, 2025. This is a meeting of the Finance Committee of the City Council of Melrose. I'm the Vice chair of the committee, Ryan Williams. I'm filling in for chair Rob Stewart. Uh, and joining me today are voting members, councilors of Aldine, counselor, Devin Ramal, uh,