Malden City Hall

215 Pleasant Street

Malden, MA 02148

City of Malden

Meeting Agenda - 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 24, 2026

7:00 PM

City Council Chambers

215 Pleasant Street

Malden, MA 02148

Watch the meeting with Teams: https://tinyurl.com/3mxbetzc

1. CALL TO ORDER

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

MEMBERS

3. ROLL CALL

4. PUBLIC COMMENT

5. CONSENT AGENDA

Minutes for the meeting of January 27, 2026

Minutes of the meeting of February 3, 2026

Minutes from the meeting of February 10, 2026

Minutes from the meeting of February 17, 2026

Recommendation is the previous Council minutes be approved

Council Reappointment: Sheila Fermano of 140 West Street, Malden, as Cemetery

Trustee, said term to expire March 1, 2031. (Confirmation not required)

Recommendation is the previous Appointment be placed on file

Petition: Class II: Friends Auto Group LLC, 225 Eastern Avenue, Malden, 17 vehicles

(Renewal)

115-26

Petition: Taxi Driver: John A. Danca, 26 Highland Court, Malden (Renewal)

116-26

117-26

Petition: Taxi Driver: Sophia Pepper, 290 Stephenson Aman Street Apt. 307,

Somerville (Renewal)

Recommendation is the previous three petitions be referred to the License Committee

Communication: Per the requirements of MCC 2.04.030 the Malden Housing

Authority respectfully submits their board approved FY2026 Annual Report.

118-26

Attachments:

Malden Housing Authority Annual Report FY2026

Communication: During the meeting of February 17, 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.

119-26

February 3, 2026, 77-26

A motion was made by Councillor Sica, seconded by Councillor O’Malley, to release

the February 3, 2026 Executive Session minutes whole and unredacted upon the

court’s acceptance of the proposed settlement agreement between Tufts

Construction and the City of Malden. The motion passed by a unanimous roll call

vote.

Yea: Colón Hayes, Crowe, Condon, Linehan, Luong, McDonald, O’Malley, Sica,

Simonelli, Taylor, Winslow

Nea: zero

Absent: zero

Sponsors:

Amanda Linehan

Recommendation is the previous two Communications be placed on file

6. APPOINTMENTS & ELECTIONS

Mayoral Reappointment: Diego Barricelli of 33 Glen Street, Malden, as member of

120-26

the Public Works Commission, said term to commence upon confirmation by the

City Council and expire on March 1, 2029.

Attachments:

Mayor's Reappointment Letter - Diego Barricelli

Mayoral Reappointment: Diane Chuha of 19 Marion Street, Malden, as member of

the Planning Board, said term to commence upon confirmation by the City Council

and expire on March 1, 2031.

121-26

Attachments:

Mayor's Reappointment Letter - Diane Chuha

Mayoral Reappointment: Maria D’Esposito of 81 Floral Avenue, Malden, as an

associate member of the Board of Appeal, said term to commence upon

confirmation by the City Council and expire on March 1, 2029.

122-26

Attachments:

Mayor's Reappointment Letter - Maria D'Esposito

Mayoral Reappointment: Yem Lip of 28 Constitution Road, Boston, as City

Engineer/Director of the Engineering Department, said term to commence upon

confirmation by the City Council and expire on March 1, 2029.

123-26

Attachments:

Mayor's Reappointment Letter - Yem Lip

Mayoral Reappointment: Barbara Murphy of 28 Forest Street, Malden, as the Police

Commissioner, said term to commence upon confirmation by the City Council and

expire on March 1, 2029.

124-26

Attachments:

Mayor's Reappointment Letter - Barbara Murphy

Mayoral Reappointment: Anthony Rodrigues of 100 Tremont Street, Malden, as

Director of Information Technology, said term to commence upon confirmation by

the City Council and expire on March 1, 2029.

125-26

Attachments:

Mayor's Reappointment Letter - Anthony Rodrigues

Mayoral Reappointment: Stephanie Stone of 19 Pine Street, Malden, as a member

of the Planning Board, said term to commence upon confirmation by the City

Council and expire on March 1, 2031.

126-26

Attachments:

Mayor's Reappointment Letter - Stephanie Stone

7. HEARINGS, PETITIONS, MEMORIALS, AND REMONSTRANCES

Council will hold a public hearing on a National Grid petition to install

underground conduits

Petition: Massachusetts Electric Company dba National Grid

Plan No. 30967378 - National Grid to install underground

facilities on Newland Street. Work in the city right of way

includes two 4” steel risers on existing pole #3812 and

approximately 51 ft of two 4” concrete encased Sch 40 PVC

conduits from eastern side of existing pole #3812 in front of 46

Newland Street continuing in a northern direction towards the

36-54 Broadway Plaza parking lot to feed the proposed

pad-mounted transformer (XRFM) for a new EV charging station.

Malden, MA.

127-26

(Hearing Required)

Attachments:

46 Newland Street Petition

Abutters 46 Newland Street

Hearing Notice 46 Newland Street

8. MOTIONS, ORDERS, AND RESOLUTIONS

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

128-26

February 17, 2026 (revised February 19) by Ryan O’Malley of 706A Main Street,

Malden against the Council related to accusations made involving the Executive

Session of February 10, 2026

Sponsors:

Amanda Linehan

Resolved: That it is the sense of the Malden City Council that during this time of

budgetary constraints the Council is committed to the principles of fiscal

responsibility and the efficient management of public funds that prioritize

essential services and long-term financial stability.

129-26

The Council wishes to demonstrate a pledge of shared sacrifice and budgetary

discipline and therefore requests the Honorable Mayor Gary Christenson cut

specific discretionary monies and reallocate for use in the general fund in the

following ways which will result in savings of $180,500 for the upcoming fiscal year:

1. The elimination of the line items associated with Ward Improvement Funds;

2. The elimination of the line items associated with Fourth of July Funds;

3. The elimination of the Council President annual stipend; an action that will be

supported by the Body with a proposed amendment to MCC 2.20.020.

4. The reduction of annual base compensation for each member of the City Council

by $7,500.00, an action that will be supported by the Body with a proposed

amendment to MCC 2.20.020.

Sponsors:

Jadeane Sica and Peg Crowe

Resolved: That it is the sense of the Malden City Council that no resources of the

City of Malden should be used to assist with the Federal government's

responsibility for civil (non-criminal) immigration enforcement in any manner not

required by law, court order, or subpoena. This includes not assisting Immigration

and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, or other Federal

agencies charged with this responsibility.

130-26

The City Council asks that all city staff and representatives comply with this intent

to the best of their ability and within the limits of the law. This resolution is not

intended to violate any Federal law, nor shall it be interpreted to do so.

We support the protections in the US Constitution for due process and condemn

aggressive and inhumane tactics of ICE agents in Malden and other communities

across the country. As a diverse and immigrant-rich community, we dedicate our

resources to creating a safe, livable, and welcoming community for all.

Sponsors:

Carey McDonald and Stephen Winslow

9. COMMUNICATIONS

A representative from the Solicitor's Office will follow up on Paper 104-26 with

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

Complaint filed by Bruce Friedman of 8 Marvin Street on February 5, 2026,

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

January 20, 2026.

10. COMMITTEE REPORTS

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

referred Paper 471 Series of 2025 having considered the same make the following

report: Committee recommends this paper out to the Full Council favorably for the

Treasurer to be authorized to sell the property when and if so approved by land

court.

131-26

Order: The Council will vote on whether to sell or retain the property known as 33

Tufts Street, and by City Assessor’s parcel identification number 078 358 819, as in

accordance with tax title litigation and foreclosure action with the Massachusetts

Land Court, Case Number 22 TL 000313

471-25

Sponsors:

Craig Spadafora

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

referred Paper 72 Series of 2026 having considered the same make the following

report: Committee refers this paper out to the Full Council without

recommendation.

132-26

Order: That, as a diverse and immigrant-rich community, the limited resources of

the City of Malden shall be fully dedicated to address the local needs and priorities

of Malden’s residents, businesses and visitors. The goal of this order is to provide

for a safe, livable and welcoming community for all. No city employees,

departments, appointees, processes or representatives shall assist in fulfilling the

unique and separate responsibilities of the Federal government, including

immigration enforcement, or cooperate with any Federal agencies or policies

contrary to the stated goal of this Order. This Order shall be followed to the

maximum extent permitted by law, provided that it shall not require the City to

break pre-existing contracts or agreements with Federal entities.

72-26

Sponsors:

Carey McDonald and Stephen Winslow

Chief Cronin's Statement on 72-26

Attachments:

Public Comment Paper 72-26 January 27 2026

Paper 72-26 Proposed Amendment

Response to OML Allegation John Saia - January 27 2026

Committee Report: The Standing Committee on License to whom was referred

Papers 45, 47 through 51 and 85 through 96 Series of 2026 having considered the

same make the following report: Committee recommends these petitions out

favorably to the Full Council.

133-26

Committee further recommends Paper 84 Series of 2026 out favorably with a

conditional 90 day Class II license.

Petition: Class II: Frank’s Auto Sales, 189 Highland Avenue, Malden, 5 cars

(Renewal)

45-26

47-26

Petition: Livery Company: Bella Luxury Transportation, 19 Mt. Vernon Street,

Malden, 1 vehicle (Renewal)

Petition: Livery Driver: Michael Checca, 19 Mt. Vernon Street, Malden (Renewal)

48-26

49-26

Petition: Livery Company: RubyLynn Transportation LLC, 259 Mountain Avenue,

Malden, 1 vehicle (Renewal)

Petition: Livery Driver: Linda DelloIacono, 259 Mountain Avenue, Malden (Renewal)

50-26

51-26

Petition: Taxi Company: Malden Transportation Inc., 290 Eastern Avenue, Malden,

10 cabs (Renewal)

Petition: Class II: Malden Auto Center LLC, 189 Eastern Avenue, Malden, 31 vehicles

(New)

84-26

85-26

Petition: Livery Company: JML Luxury, 500 Broadway Apt. 5158, Malden, 1 vehicle

(Renewal)