Malden City Hall

215 Pleasant Street

Malden, MA 02148

City of Malden

Meeting Minutes - Final

City Council

Council President Amanda Linehan

Councillor at Large Karen Colon Hayes

Councillor Paul Condon

Councillor Peg Crowe

Councillor at Large Michelle Luong

Councillor at Large Carey McDonald

Councillor Ryan O'Malley

Councillor Jadeane Sica

Councillor Chris Simonelli

Councillor Ari Taylor

Councillor Stephen Winslow

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

7:00 PM

City Council Chambers

215 Pleasant Street

Malden, MA 02148

Committee of the Whole

Watch the meeting with Teams: https://tinyurl.com/mh49cp4j

1. CALL TO ORDER

Council President Linehan called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM.

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & MOMENT OF SILENCE IN HONOR OF SERVICE

MEMBERS

3. ROLL CALL

Also in attendance was Prasanna Rajasekaran, Lisa Cagno, Rebekah McPheeters, and

Maria Luise.

11 -

Present - Councillors:

Karen Colon Hayes, Paul Condon, Peg Crowe, Amanda Linehan, Carey McDonald,

Ryan O'Malley, Jadeane Sica, Chris Simonelli, Ari Taylor, Stephen Winslow and

Michelle Luong

4. MOTIONS, ORDERS, AND RESOLUTIONS

The City Council will address the Open Meeting Law Complaint submitted on

104-26

February 5, 2026 by Bruce Friedman of 8 Marvin Street, Malden against the Council

related to redactions made to Executive Session minutes from the meeting of

January 20, 2026.

Sponsors: Amanda Linehan

Attachments: OML Complaint on ES Redactions 39-26

Final Paper 104-26 OML from Friedman on ES January 20 2026

A motion was made by Councillor Crowe, seconded by Councillor Simonelli, that

the Council Item be referred to the Legal Department for investigation. The

motion carried by a unanimous vote.

5. COMMUNICATIONS

Communication: During the meeting of February 10, 2026, the Council voted by a

10-1 roll call vote to enter into Executive Session with legal counsel for the City, in

accordance with Exemption Seven Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 30A Section

21(a)(7), to comply with, or act under the authority of, any general or special law or

federal grant-in-aid requirements, in order to act on the periodic review of those

executive session minutes listed herein to determine if release of records is

appropriate at this time.

105-26

April 29, 2025, Paper 222-25

March 11, 2025, Paper 142-25

March 4, 2025, 117-25

February 25, 2025, 116-25

February 11, 2025, 83-25

February 4, 2025, 61-25

September 26, 2023, 335-23

September 12, 2023, 316-23

October 25, 2022, 425-22

A motion was made by Councillor Sica, seconded by Councillor Simonelli, to retain

said meeting minutes in continued non-disclosure until the City Solicitor

determines the time frame for the appeal process has been exhausted, due to the

determination that publication would defeat the lawful purpose of the Executive

Session M.G.L. c. 30A, s. 22(f) as the time frame for appeal options has not yet

expired and attorney-client privilege remains. The motion was approved by the

following roll call vote:

Yea: Colón Hayes, Crowe, Condon, Linehan, Luong, McDonald, Sica, Simonelli,

Taylor, Winslow

Nea: O’Malley

Absent: Zero

Sponsors: Amanda Linehan

Attachments: Final Paper 105-26 Communication on ES February 10 2026

A motion was made by Councillor Sica, seconded by Councillor Simonelli, that

the Communication be placed on file. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

A representative from the Solicitor's Office will follow up on Paper 73-26 with an

update to the Council on the investigation into the Open Meeting Law Complaint

filed by Bruce Friedman of 8 Marvin Street on January 21, 2026, related to the

emergency meeting of January 20, 2026, which was posted under the

provisions of M.G.L. c. 30A, 20(b).

The basis of this OML complaint is that on January 19, 2026 the City Council posted an

emergency meeting to enter into Executive Session for the evening of January 20 to take

up such business that was unknown to the Body 48 business hours prior, under the

provisions of M.G.L. c. 30A s. 20(b).

Assistant City Solicitor Prasanna Rajasekaran appeared before the Council to report

back on the findings of the investigation, stating the meeting notice was posted as soon

as was reasonably possible therefore no violation exists. He further explained the

definition of emergency relative to this situation, the reasoning behind why the meeting

was necessary, and legal precedent to other rulings showing that settlement negotiations

may be considered emergencies.

The full report may be found attached to the history or Paper 73-26 and will also be

publicly accessible through the AGO's page of the Mass.gov website.

A motion was made by Councillor McDonald, seconded by Councillor Simonelli to

approve the Legal Department's response and release the report to the Attorney General's

Office. Motion passed by a 10-1 voice vote, Councillor O'Malley dissenting.

6. COMMITTEE REPORTS

A motion was made by Councillor Simonelli, seconded by Councillor Winslow, to

suspend Council Rules for the purpose of taking up Papers 479 and 480 Series of 2025.

The motion passed by an 11-0 roll call vote.

Committee Report: The Standing Committee on Public Property to whom was

referred papers 479 and 480 Series of 2025, having considered the same make

the following report: Committee recommends these papers out favorably to

the full Council.

107-26

A motion was made by Councillor Luong, seconded by Councillor McDonald,

that the Committee Report be received and filed. The motion carried by a

unanimous vote.

Order: That the Mayor is authorized to exercise the City’s option to acquire, for

consideration of $1,155,000 and by purchase, gift and/or eminent domain,

approximately 6.79 acres of the former Malden Hospital property described in a

deed recorded with the Middlesex South District Registry of Deeds in Book

53096, Page 507, which funds are provided by grants under the Community

Preservation Act and a Parklands Acquisitions and Renovations for

Communities (PARC) grant and which parcel shall be held for and dedicated to

recreational purposes under the provisions of MGL c. 45, §3 in perpetuity, and,

further, to grant a conservation restriction on said parcel, as required by MGL c.

44B, §12(a)

479-25

Sponsors:

Craig Spadafora, Karen Colon Hayes, Paul Condon, Peg Crowe, Amanda Linehan,

Michelle Luong, Carey McDonald, Ryan O'Malley, Jadeane Sica, Chris Simonelli, Ari

Taylor and Stephen Winslow

Attachments: Final Paper 479-25 Acquire Malden Hospital Property

Rebekah McPheeters, Sustainability & Grants Manager from OSPCD appeared before

the Council to discuss the acquisition of 6.79 acres of land at the former Malden Hospital

site that will be used for recreational use with the protection of becoming conservation

land. The Friends of Fellsmere Heights (501c3) will hold the conservation restriction and

those final details are still being negotiated. The acquisition of this land is being funded

via local and state grants. A companion paper, 480-25 is also required by the State for

the City to participate in the PARC Grant Program. Both papers had full support of the

Council.

A motion was made by Councillor Luong, seconded by Councillor Winslow,

that the Order be adopted. The motion carried by the following vote:

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Yea:

Colon Hayes, Condon, Crowe, Linehan, McDonald, O'Malley, Sica, Simonelli,

Taylor, Winslow and Luong

Resolve: To apply for, accept, and expend a grant from the Commonwealth of

Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Division of

Conservation Services’ Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities

480-25

(PARC) Grant Program

Sponsors:

Craig Spadafora, Karen Colon Hayes, Paul Condon, Peg Crowe, Amanda Linehan,

Michelle Luong, Carey McDonald, Ryan O'Malley, Jadeane Sica, Chris Simonelli, Ari

Taylor and Stephen Winslow

Attachments: 480-25 Resolve for PARC Grant for Malden Hospital

A motion was made by Councillor Simonelli, seconded by Councillor Luong,

that the Resolution be passed. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

7. EXECUTIVE SESSION

Order: That the City Council will vote whether to go into Executive Session with

legal counsel for the City, in accordance with Exemption Seven Massachusetts

General Laws Chapter 30A Section 21(a)(7), to comply with, or act under the

authority of, any general or special law or federal grant-in-aid requirements, in

order to act on the periodic review of those Executive Session minutes listed

herein to determine if release of records is appropriate at this time or if continued

non-disclosure is warranted.

108-26

Council vote is required prior to release of the Executive Session minutes of the

following dates:

February 3, 2026

Additionally, draft Executive Session minutes from February 3 and February 10,

2026 will be reviewed for final approval.

(Roll Call Required)

Sponsors: Amanda Linehan

Attachments:

Final Paper 108-26 Executive Session Review of ES Minutes February

A motion was made by Councillor Sica, seconded by Councillor Simonelli, that

the Council Item be adopted. The motion carried by the following vote:

10 -

Yea:

Colon Hayes, Condon, Crowe, Linehan, McDonald, Sica, Simonelli, Taylor, Winslow

and Luong

1 - O'Malley

Nay:

8. ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made by Councillor Sica, seconded by Councillor Simonelli, that

the meeting be adjourned to Executive Session. Council President Linehan

announced the Body would not be reconvening for any further business. The

motion carried by a 10-1 vote. The open session concluded at 7:43 PM.

CAROL ANN DESIDERIO, CITY CLERK

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact Maria Luise, ADA

Compliance Coordinator at mluise@cityofmalden.org or 781-397-7000 Ext. 2005

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