Minutes - City Council

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, June 2, 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/56f2c8m2

1. CALL TO ORDER

Council President Linehan called the meeting to order at 7:21 PM.

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

MEMBERS

3. ROLL CALL

Also in attendance was Mayor Gary Christenson, Maria Luise, Zaheer Samee, Lisa

Cagno, and several members of the community.

9 -

Present - Councillors:

Absent - Councillors:

Karen Colon Hayes, Peg Crowe, Amanda Linehan, Carey McDonald, Ryan

O'Malley, Jadeane Sica, Ari Taylor, Stephen Winslow and Michelle Luong

2 - Paul Condon and Chris Simonelli

4. HEARINGS, PETITIONS, MEMORIALS, AND REMONSTRANCES

Council will hold public hearings on National Grid petitions to install new poles and

underground conduits

Petition: Massachusetts Electric Company dba National Grid and Verizon New

England, Inc. Plan No. 31115123 - National Grid to install 1 JO pole on Forest

Street beginning at a point approximately 0 feet northwest of the centerline of

the intersection of Forest Street and Nevada Avenue and continuing

approximately 28 feet in a northwest direction. National Grid is petitioning to

install new pole (P2501-84) approximately 38 feet northwest of existing pole

(P2501) Malden, MA.

284-26

(Hearing Required)

Attachments: Forest Street Petition

Abutters 10 Nevada Avenue (Forest St)

Hearing Notice Forest Street

This petition is to install a new pole at the corner of Forest Street and Nevada Avenue.

The anchor for this pole and the associated guy wire needs to be installed on the

cemetery side of the rock wall on Forest Street to avoid non-compliance with ADA

requirements of the sidewalk. As such, this job will have to be included in the easement

agreement currently being negotiated between the City's Solicitor's Office and National

Grid.

This petition was granted pending the following conditions be met: 1) That the engineer

be called when Dig Safe is notified; 2) That the streets and sidewalks be restored to the

satisfaction of the Director of Public Works; 3) That this work permit be included in the

pending easement agreement; and 4) That National Grid will work in conjunction with the

Cemetery Superintendent to avoid disruptions to any funerals that may be scheduled at

the time the project takes place.

A motion was made by Councillor Taylor, seconded by Councillor Luong, that

the Petition be granted with conditions. The motion carried by a unanimous

vote.

Petition: Massachusetts Electric Company dba National Grid and Verizon New

England, Inc. Plan No. 31115123 - National Grid to install 1 JO pole on Floral

Avenue beginning at a point approximately 0 feet northeast of the centerline of

the intersection of Floral Avenue and Gordon Street and continuing

approximately 20 feet in a northeast direction. National Grid is petitioning to

install new pole (P4799-84) and sidewalk guy wire fixture approximately 29 feet

southeast off existing pole (P4799) on Floral Avenue Malden, MA.

(Hearing Required)

285-26

Attachments: 88 Floral Avenue Petition

Abutters 88 Floral Avenue

Hearing Notice 88 Floral Avenue

Public Hearing Comment Agenda item 285-26

This petition is to install a new pole at the corner of Floral Avenue and Gordon Street to

support an existing pole that is beginning to lean towards Gordon Street. Councillor

Taylor asked if there are plans in general to fix other existing poles that are deteriorating.

Zein Jumaa from National Grid responded that National Grid has "hundreds, if not

thousands of poles just in Malden that we have designs to fix". But when pressed for a

list of those poles by both Councillors Taylor and Crowe, he was unable to provide further

information.

Councillor Taylor explained that a number of times she has emailed a list of poles that

are in significant need of repair to the point that there are growing safety concerns that

are more dire than this pole on Gordon Street. One in particular is very close to a school

and poses a potential hazard to students. She is concerned for the lack of response

from National Grid to have these poles replaced before they create a safety hazard.

Councillor Winslow inquired about obtaining pole analysis. Mr. Jumaa explained the

company does pole analysis calculation internally but does not provide that information

externally.

There was one letter of opposition read into the record regarding this petition. Councillor

Taylor asked that Mr. Jumaa take into consideration the neighborhood's concerns.

Councillor Taylor made a motion to table this petition pending further investigation on

repairing or replacing the list of deteriorating poles.

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

that the Petition be tabled. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Petition: Massachusetts Electric Company dba National Grid Plan No. 31295951 -

National Grid to install underground facilities on Salem Street. National Grid to

install handhole 223 in front of 300 Salem Street. National Grid to trench and

install (1) 3-inch concrete encased conduit from existing manhole 223

approximately 110 feet west to proposed handhole 223 on public right of way.

Malden, MA.

286-26

(Hearing Required)

Attachments: 300 Salem Street Petition

Abutters 300 Salem Street

Hearing Notice 300 Salem Street

This petition is to install a line of underground electric conduits at the request of a private

customer. Councillor Taylor stated she has no concerns with this petition. Nobody spoke

in either favor or opposition of this paper.

This petition was granted pending the following conditions be met: 1) That the engineer

be called when Dig Safe is notified; 2) That the streets and sidewalks be restored to the

satisfaction of the Director of Public Works; and 3) National Grid will work in conjunction

with the Tree Warden to replace the trees that may be damaged or removed for the

purpose of this job.

A motion was made by Councillor Taylor, seconded by Councillor Colon

Hayes, that the Petition be granted with conditions. The motion carried by a

unanimous vote.

Council will hold a public hearing for the purpose of receiving public comment regarding the

proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Budget.

Order: The Mayor will submit the Fiscal Year 2027 Annual Appropriation Orders

for the General Fund.

233-26

Sponsors: Carey McDonald

Attachments: Mayor Christenson's Memo

Link to Proposed FY2027 Budget

FY 2027 Summary Report Expenditures by Department for DBB

Finance Schedule of Meetings

FY2027 Budget Overview May 4th 2026

FINAL FINANCE COMMITTEE SCHEDULE FOR DEPARTMENT

MEETINGS FY27 PROPOSED BUDGET

Please read this as my public comment at the June 2nd Public

Hearing 233-26

Comments for Open City Council Meeting Today 233-26

Finance Committee-Superintendent Presentation

Memo from CFO Reporting Error 6226

Mayor's Response to City Council Request to Amend the Budget

Revised Budget Appropriation FY27, as of June 4 2026

There is no plan for a vote this evening on the city budget. The paper is on the agenda

only for the purpose of receiving public input. Two people spoke out with suggestions of

how savings may be found within the line items. Six people spoke in opposition of cutting

language access services from the Elections Department. Councillor O'Malley

approached the podium to speak about motions he plans on suggesting to the Finance

Committee when they reconvene after this public hearing has completed. He suggested

cutting the overtime budgets of the police and fire departments to aid in rehiring some of

the employees who have been laid off. He also suggested cutting landscaping and legal

services to reinstate language access in the Clerk's Office for elections. Councillor Colon

Hayes approached the podium to speak in favor of Councillor O'Malley's suggestions.

Clerk Desiderio then read ten email comments into the record, all of which were also in

opposition of cutting language access services. The final email read into the record was

in overall opposition to the Mayor's budget in general. The emails have been attached to

the history of Paper 233-26.

Edwin Lucey of Daniel Street, Tong Ying of Mountain Avenue, Liang Lee of Quincy

Street, Annabelle Shu of Summer Street, Hua LiLi of Pleasant Street, Mina Kim of the

Greater Malden Asian American Community Coalition, Christopher Drayer of Mountain

Ave were the speakers.

5. COMMUNICATIONS

A representative from the Solicitor's Office will follow up on Paper 277-26 with an update to

the Council on the investigation into the Open Meeting Law Complaint filed by Bruce

Friedman of 8 Marvin Street on May 13, 2026 against the Council related to the Executive

Session held on May 12, 2026.

A motion was made by Councillor Luong, seconded by Councillor Colon Hayes, to

authorize the Legal Department to submit the response to the complaintant and the

Attorney General's Office. Motion was approved by an 8-0 vote. Councillor O'Malley voted

present.

6. ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made by Councillor Sica, seconded by Councillor Crowe, that this

meeting be adjourned. The motion carried unanimously.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:53 PM.

CAROL ANN DESIDERIO, CITY CLERK