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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, March 10, 2026 · 7:00 PM · City Council Chambers · 215 Pleasant Street · Malden, MA 02148 · Watch the meeting with Teams: https://tinyurl.com/2s3zj4cu
1. CALL TO ORDER
Council President Linehan called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & MOMENT OF SILENCE IN HONOR OF SERVICE MEMBERS
An additional moment of silence was offered by Council President Linehan for Stephen Lewis of Ward 3, who passed away on March 4, 2026.
An additional moment of silence was offered by Councillor Winslow in honor of Arthur Kahn who passed away on February 27th, 2026, at the age of 92.
3. ROLL CALL
Also in attendance was Lisa Cagno, Prasanna Rajasekaran, Maria Luise, Ron Hogan, Alicia McNeil, and several members of city staff and residents.
Present - Councillors: 11 - Karen Colon Hayes, Paul Condon, Peg Crowe, Amanda Linehan, Carey McDonald, Ryan O'Malley, Jadeane Sica, Chris Simonelli, Ari Taylor, Stephen Winslow and Michelle Luong
4. GUESTS, CITIZEN ACHIEVEMENT, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
177-26
Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer Ron Hogan will appear before the Council to provide an update on school funding requirements for FY27.
Attachments: FY27 School Funding Overview
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
One email was received from Bruce Friedman of 8 Marvin Street to speak in opposition of Paper 123-26, which is now attached to the history of that paper.
Maria Luise of the Mayor's Office spoke in favor of the reappointment of Yem Lip as City Engineer.
6. CONSENT AGENDA
Approval of the Consent Agenda
A motion was made by Councillor Taylor, seconded by Councillor Colon Hayesto approve the Consent Agenda.The motion carried by unanimous vote.
142-26
Minutes for the meeting of February 24, 2026
The Council Minutes was approved.
143-26
Minutes for the meeting of March 3, 2026
The Council Minutes was approved.
144-26
Council Reappointment: James Tuxbury of 111 Glen Street, Malden as member of the Cemetery Trustee Board, said term to expire March 1, 2030. (Confirmation not required)
Attachments: Council Reappointment Letter - James Tuxbury
The Appointment was placed on file.
145-26
The Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School District respectfully submits their 2025 Annual Report
Attachments: Northeast Voke Annual Report 2025 Malden
The Communication was received and filed.
146-26
Communication from the Mayor regarding Kevin Molis as the Chair of the License Board.
Attachments: Mayor's Communication
The Communication was received and filed.
7. APPOINTMENTS & ELECTIONS
147-26
Council Reappointment: Robert Donnelly of 38 Goldcliff Road, Malden as part-time member of the Board of Assessors, having served since February 15, 2011, said term to commence upon confirmation by the City Council and expire March 1, 2029.
Attachments: Council Reappointment Letter - Robert Donnelly
A motion was made by Councillor Crowe, seconded by Councillor Winslow, that the Appointment be confirmed. The motion carried by the following vote:
Yea: 11 - Colon Hayes, Condon, Crowe, Linehan, McDonald, O'Malley, Sica, Simonelli, Taylor, Winslow and Luong
8. COMMUNICATIONS
148-26
Communication: The Police Community Advisory Council respectfully submits their Inaugural Recommendation Report, as was submitted to Chief Cronin of the Malden Police Department for year ending 2025
Sponsors: Carey McDonald
Attachments: Police Community Advisory Council Recommendation Report 2025-FINAL
MPD. Traffic Analysis 2024
MPD Use of Force Report. 2024
MPD - Statistics, Police Community Advisory Council..
A motion was made by Councillor McDonald, seconded by Councillor O'Malley, that the Communication be placed on file. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
179-26
A representative from the Solicitor's Office will follow up on Paper 128-26 with an update to the Council on the investigation into the Open Meeting Law Complaint filed by Ryan O'Malley of 706A Main Street, Malden on February 17, 2026 (revised February 19) related to accusations made involving the Executive Session of February 10, 2026.
Attachments: 128-26 Response to O'Malley OML Complaint Feb 19 2026
Assistant City Solicitor Zaheer Samee presented on the investigation into this OML complaint, which basically alleged that there was improper deliberation during the February 10 Executive Session. After reviewing the open meeting law and a number of determinations issued by the Attorney General's Office, Attorney Samee has concluded no improper deliberation, and therefore no OML violation has occurred.
A motion was made by Councillor Crowe, seconded by Councillor Sica, that the Communication be received and that the Legal Department is authorized to submit the response to complainant and Attorney General's Office. The motion carried by a 10-0 voice vote. Councillor O'Malley stated present.
180-26
A representative from the Solicitor's Office will follow up on Paper 138-26 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 19, 2026 related to release of Executive Session minutes from February 3, 2026.
Attachments: 138-26 Response to Friedman OML Feb 19 2026
Assistant City Solicitor Prasanna Rajasekaran presented on the investigation into this OML complaint. This OML alleges a similar argument from the one Mr. Friedman filed two weeks ago also pertaining to the release of Executive Session minutes. Again, the response is that since the legal case in question is still pending, the withholding of Executive Session minutes is not in violation of the open meeting law, as release of records at this time would defeat the legal purpose of the stated Executive Session. Attorney Rajasekaran has concluded no OML violation has occurred.
A motion was made by Councillor Taylor, seconded by Councillor Luong, that the Communication be received and that the Legal Department is authorized to submit the response to complainant and Attorney General's Office. The motion carried by a 10-0 voice vote. Councillor O'Malley stated present.
181-26
City Solicitor Alicia McNeil will appear before the Council with a communication from the Legal Department regarding procedures on responding to records requests.
Attachments: 181-26 Communication about O'Malley Record Request for meeting minutes 3.10.2026
City Solicitor Alicia McNeil took this opportunity to offer guidance to the City Council on proper procedures if/when a member of the Body is included on a correspondence seeking a public records request. The request must not be responded to directly, it should go through the proper channels via the Public Records Access Administrator. When this process was recently bypassed by a Councillor, confidential information that should have been partially redacted was released in full to the public.
A motion was made by Councillor McDonald, seconded by Councillor Simonelli, that the Communication be received and placed on file. The motion carried by a 10-0 voice vote. Councillor O'Malley stated present.
9. COMMITTEE REPORTS
149-26
Committee Report: The Standing Committee on Personnel/Appointments to whom was referred Papers 123 and 125 Series of 2026, having considered the same make the following report: Committee recommends these papers out favorably to the Full Council.
A motion was made by Councillor Crowe, seconded by Councillor Taylor, that the Committee Report be received and filed. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
123-26
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.
Attachments: Mayor's Reappointment Letter - Yem Lip
Public Comment on docket #123-26
Public Comment Paper 123-26
A motion was made by Councillor Crowe, seconded by Councillor Winslow, that the Appointment be confirmed. The motion carried by the following vote:
Yea: 10 - Colon Hayes, Condon, Crowe, Linehan, McDonald, O'Malley, Simonelli, Taylor, Winslow and Luong
Nay: 1 - Sica
125-26
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.
Attachments: Mayor's Reappointment Letter - Anthony Rodrigues
A motion was made by Councillor Crowe, seconded by Councillor Luong, that the Appointment be confirmed. The motion carried by the following vote:
Yea: 11 - Colon Hayes, Condon, Crowe, Linehan, McDonald, O'Malley, Sica, Simonelli, Taylor, Winslow and Luong
10. TABLED PAPERS
127-26
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.
(Hearing Held)
Attachments: 46 Newland Street Petition
Abutters 46 Newland Street
Hearing Notice 46 Newland Street
11. PERSONAL PRIVILEGE
12. ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Councillor Sica, seconded by Councillor Simonelli, that this meeting be adjourned. The motion carried unanimously.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:43 PM.
CAROL ANN DESIDERIO, CITY CLERK
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