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, April 28, 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/ycx4fjxm

1. CALL TO ORDER

Council President called the meeting to order at 7:06 PM.

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

MEMBERS

3. ROLL CALL

Also in attendance was Alicia McNeil, Maria Luise, and Lisa Cagno.

10 -

Present - Councillors:

Absent - Councillors:

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

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

1 - Michelle Luong

Typically, Public Comment is not done during Committee of the Whole

meetings. However, in consideration of all the members of the public who were

in attendance to speak regarding the FY'27 budget, Councillor O'Malley made a

motion to suspend Council Rules for the purpose of hearing public comment,

seconded by Councillor Colon Hayes. Motion passed unanimously.

Steven South, representing Teamsters Local 25, Denise Balboni-Cowie of 81

Newland Street, and Michelle Connolly of 258 Lebanon Street all spoke in

regards to Paper 233-26.

Later in the meeting, a motion was made by Councillor Sica, seconded by

Crowe to suspend Council rules for the remainder of the meeting for the

purpose of receiving communications and grant the previously tabled National

Grid petitions. Motion passed unanimously.

4. 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. 31239416 -

National Grid to install underground facilities on Main Street. Trench and install

(6) 4” concrete encased conduit from MH A/1 18 to switchgear located on 1100

Main Street approximately 60’ on public right of way. Malden, MA.

(Hearing Required)

153-26

Attachments: 1100 Main Street Petition

Abutters 1100 Main Street

Hearing Notice 1100 Main Street - Updated March 25, 2026

Updated Plan

With the exception of a representative from National Grid, no one came forward to speak

either in favor or opposition of this petition during the public hearing.

Councillor O'Malley is working with National Grid on the design aspect of this install. The

equipment is to be moved further back on the property as to be less of an eyesore on

the front of the building. There is also some discussion on putting a fence around the

equipment. The movement of the electrical equipment is triggering a need to move the

company's dumpster, which also brings up issues of pest control.

Councillor O'Malley and National Grid are in agreement on how best to proceed but they

are still in discussions with the property owner. A little more time to work out complete

details was requested prior to granting this petition.

A motion was made by Councillor O'Malley, seconded by Councillor Sica,

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

5. MOTIONS, ORDERS, AND RESOLUTIONS

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

Clerk Desiderio read Mayor Christenson's memo into the budget then distributed copies

of the appropriation order to the members of the Body.

Councillor O'Malley noted that he had requested from Controller Ranaghan, an Excel

sheet containing account numbers, descriptions, and historical budget data to aid in

analysis.

Councillor McDonald outlined the budget review period, with an overview meeting

scheduled with the Mayor's finance team, followed by departmental budget discussions

and a public hearing planned for June 2nd. The Council has 45 days from this meeting to

take action on the appropriation order. A final vote is expected by June 9th. They also

explained how members of the public may find the budget online for their own review.

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

the Order be referred to the Finance Committee. The motion carried by a

unanimous vote.

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

16, 2026 by Bruce Friedman of 8 Marvin Street, Malden against the Council related

to the release of Executive Session minutes on April 14, 2026.

234-26

Sponsors: Amanda Linehan

Attachments: OML Complaint by Friedman on April 16 2026 ES Minutes

Response to April 16 2026 OML Complaint - Friedman 234-26

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

Council Item be referred to the Legal Department. The motion carried by a 9-0

vote. Councillor O'Malley voted present.

6. COMMUNICATIONS

Communication: The Fiscal Year 2027 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

Budget has been sent by the Mayor’s Office directly to the Finance Committee to

avoid delays on the City Council’s review and adoption thereof. The CDBG Budget

will come back before the Full Council with recommendations for a final vote after

review by the Finance Committee

235-26

Prior to discussion on this paper, Councillor Crowe announced that although she does not

benefit from any of the monies distributed from this grant, she is employed by a

non-profit organization that does. She recused herself from this conversation revolving

around the CDBG budget.

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

Hayes, that the Communication be received and filed. The motion carried by a

unanimous vote.

Communication: From Council President Linehan regarding the approval of draft

executive session minutes under the provisions of M.G.L. c. 30A, s. 22(g)(1)

236-26

Sponsors: Amanda Linehan

Clerk Desiderio read the entire communication into the record, which may be found in the

body of the paper. Councillor O'Malley requested that in the future, when reporting on

review of Executive Session minutes, it would be helpful to refer to the subject of each

meeting instead of just notating the meeting dates.

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

the Communication be received and filed. The motion carried by a unanimous

vote.

A representative from the Solicitor's Office will follow up on Paper 203-26 with

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

Complaint filed by Bruce Friedman of 8 Marvin Street on April 7, 2026 against

the Council related to the Executive Session posted on April 7 under the

provisions of M.G.L. c. 30A, s. 21(a)(3) and 21(b)(3).

City Solicitor McNeil explained that in response to this OML complaint, the Legal

Department's investigation has found the wording of the paper seeking a vote to enter

into Executive Session was reasonable and not in violation of open meeting law. The

agenda did state the reason for entering into Executive Session with as much specificity

as was possible without defeating the purpose of the Executive Session, as is required.

A motion was made by Councillor Sica, seconded by Councillor Winslow, to authorize the

Legal Department to submit the response to the complainant and the Attorney General's

office. The motion passed by a 9-1 vote. Councillor O'Malley dissenting.

A representative from the Solicitor's Office will offer an update to the Council on

the proceedings held in open court on the afternoon of April 28 regarding the

matter of Dris Corporation et al v. City of Malden.

City Solicitor McNeil reported that in court earlier this afternoon, although the docket read

the hearing was regarding both Dris Corporation and Benevolent Botanicals, Judge Rubin

had announced they would only be discussing the motion for clarification filed by

Benevolent Botanicals (BB). In their motion, BB argued the court should order the City of

Malden to issue a special permit without them having to go through the process. Judge

Rubin seemed unaware that BB needed to apply for a special permit as part of the

marijuana licensing process. Solicitor McNeil argued that BB requesting the court order

on this topic, shows they were aware of the requirement.

The court wants to see Malden stipulate a pathway for BB to follow in order to get their

business up and running. Additionally, the possibility of sending both parties into

mediation was discussed again.

The court has instructed BB to provide by May 8 their ideas of how they would like to see

this process move forward. The City was instructed to enter into ES to review their

proposed plan to discuss if BB's proposed path forward is feasible and then provide the

court a response by May 20.

Judge Rubin acknowledged her previous decision was not clear and stated she will be

providing a clarifying decision.

7. TABLED PAPERS

Petition: Massachusetts Electric Company dba National Grid Plan No. 31200905 -

National Grid to install underground facilities on Main Street. Customer to trench

and install (6) 4” conduit from MH A/34 on Main Street to proposed switching

module, approximately 55 feet on public right of way. 204 Main Street, Malden, MA.

(Hearing Required)

150-26

Attachments: 204 Main Street Petition

Abutters 204 Main Street

Hearing Notice 204 Main Street

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

Petition be taken from the table. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

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

the Petition be granted with the following conditions: (1) That the Engineer be

called when Dig Safe is notified and (2) That the streets and sidewalks be

restored to the satisfaction of the Director of Public Works. The motion carried by

a unanimous vote.

Petition: Massachusetts Electric Company dba National Grid Plan No. 31186713 -

National Grid to install underground facilities on Main Street. Trench and install (2)

4” concrete encased conduit from MH A/34 on Main Street to pad located on 213

Main Street approximately 220’. Malden, MA.

151-26

(Hearing Required)

Attachments: 213 Main Street Petition

Abutters 213 Main Street

Hearing Notice 213 Main Street

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

Petition be taken from the table. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

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

the Petition be granted with the following conditions: (1) That the Engineer be

called when Dig Safe is notified and (2) That the streets and sidewalks be

restored to the satisfaction of the Director of Public Works. The motion carried by

a unanimous vote.

8. ADJOURNMENT

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

this meeting be adjourned. The motion carried unanimously.

Meeting adjourned at 8:22 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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