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, July 28, 2026 · 7:00 PM · City Council Chambers · 215 Pleasant Street · Malden, MA 02148 · Watch the meeting with Teams: https://tinyurl.com/City-Council-July-28
1. CALL TO ORDER
Council President Linehan called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & MOMENT OF SILENCE IN HONOR OF SERVICE MEMBERS
Councillor Condon offered an additional moment of silence for his sister in law, Rose Tomasello, who passed away on July 11, 2026 at the age of 69 after a brief illness.
3. ROLL CALL
Also in attendance was City Solicitor Alicia McNeil, Maria Luise, Lisa Cagno, and several members of the public.
Present - Councillors: 9 - Karen Colon Hayes, Paul Condon, Peg Crowe, Amanda Linehan, Ryan O'Malley, Jadeane Sica, Ari Taylor, Stephen Winslow and Michelle Luong
Absent - Councillors: 2 - Carey McDonald and Chris Simonelli
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
Two public comments were submitted in writing and read into the record by Clerk Desiderio.
- Bonnie Galayda of 98 Beltran Street and Mayor Gary Christenson. Both
- communications are attached to the history of Paper 345-26.
5. COMMUNICATIONS
345-26
The City Council will address the Open Meeting Law determination received on July 8, 2026 from the Attorney General’s Office, numbered OML 2026-76, which found an individual violation of the Open Meeting Law by Councillor Colon Hayes, regarding the filling of the Voke School Committee vacancy.
The Attorney General has ordered the release of deliberative communications within forty-five (45) days of the date of the determination and further instructs the Council after which to certify with the AGO that the release of communication was completed as ordered.
Sponsors: Amanda Linehan
Attachments: AGO Determination OML 2026-76 - Malden City Council
Original Complaint OML Complaint KCH Nov 18 2025
- Solicitor's Response 458-25 To AGO- 11.19.25 OML Complaint by
- Councillor Sica ~ 12.18.2025
- Mayor's Memo to the Council on OML
Text #1a KCH to AT
Text #1b KCH to AT
Text #2a KCH to CS
Text #2b KCH to CS
Text#2c KCH to CS
FB Screenshot #1
FB Screenshot #2
Voicemail transcript KCH to PCrowe
Voicemail recording KCH to PCrowe
Winslow email
- PUBLIC COMMENT July 28 2026 City Council Agenda OML
- Complaint re Councillor Colon Hayes
After Clerk Desiderio introduced the paper, she gave a brief synopsis of the OML complaint, the AGO's determination and the reason why this meeting was necessary. Clerk Desiderio read into the record a number of text messages, email, voice mail transcript into the record.
Council President Linehan then recognized City Solicitor McNeil who offered understanding and guidance to the full Council on improper deliberation and how to avoid it in the future.
Points from the Attorney General's determination Solicitor McNeil reiterated to the Body for clarity and understanding:
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One-way communications can reach a quorum, even if nobody responds. 2. If the subject matter is within the Body's jurisdiction, it can be deliberation even when a vote is not pending.
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Communications that skirt the spirit of the law may not be used to circumvent the law. 4. Communication outside a meeting may still be deliberation even if the other person doesn’t respond back.
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It doesn’t matter who contacts who, it still counts as communication. 6. Even a thumbs up emoji on social media is considered deliberation, because it expresses an opinion on a matter within the Body's jurisdiction outside a duly posted meeting.
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The OML is very broad and so members should be careful at all times when it comes to outside communications.
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And finally, even if a member doesn't think they are speaking to a quorum, hub and spoke communications have a cumulative effect and leads to a violation like the one being addressed at this evening's meeting.
It was the general consensus of the full Body that they are in need of a formalized open meeting law training session to refresh their knowledge. Councillor Luong spoke of the comprehensive Mass Municipal OML Training offered to all municipal officials. As a new City Councillor, she had found it very helpful and plans on going back again to stay abreast of any new information.
Councillor Colon Hayes stated she had not planned on saying much this evening because she has already addressed this issue with her constituents through a written statement and a short video which have been circulated online. However this evening she is taking to heart what is being said. Councillor Colon Hayes said she recognizes that she made a mistake with counting in regards to reaching a quorum. She said she has learned from this experience but she will continue to call other Councillors as needed for city business, being more careful about not reaching the point of violation.
Council President Linehan noted it is the responsibility of the Council to govern themselves and assured members of the public that nothing discussed at this meeting is in regards to constituents speaking to Councillors but rather Councillors doing city business with each other as a quorum outside of a properly noticed meeting. She encouraged members of the public to continue reaching out to city representatives as needed.
A motion was made by Councillor O'Malley, seconded by Councillor Luong, that the Communication be received and filed. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
6. PERSONAL PRIVILEGE
7. ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Councillor Sica, seconded by Councillor Crowe, that this meeting be recessed to the Call of the Chair. The motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 8:08 PM.
CAROL ANN DESIDERIO, CITY CLERK
On Wednesday, July 29, Clerk Desiderio emailed a draft of these meeting minutes to the full Council for the purpose of approving them before the next regularly scheduled meeting of September 8. This was done so that the finalized minutes may be certified and sent to the Attorney General's Office prior to the 45-day deadline of August 22, as outlined in the AGO's determination OML 2026-76, dated July 8, 2026.
After hearing from a quorum of the Body and with the approval of Council President Linehan, Clerk Desiderio finalized the approved minutes on August 6, 2026.
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