City of Malden
Malden City Hall · 215 Pleasant Street · Malden, MA 02148
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.
Present - Councillors: 9 - Karen Colon Hayes, Peg Crowe, Amanda Linehan, Carey McDonald, Ryan
O'Malley, Jadeane Sica, Ari Taylor, Stephen Winslow and Michelle Luong
Absent - Councillors: 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
284-26
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.
(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.
285-26
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)
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.
286-26
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.
(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.
233-26
Order: The Mayor will submit the Fiscal Year 2027 Annual Appropriation Orders for the General Fund.
- 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
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