The council will come to order. All rise and salute the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. Please remain standing for a moment of silence in honor of our veterans, service members, and those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. Councelor Conan, would you like to do an additional moment of silence this evening? >> Yes. Okay, let me Hang on. Oh, no.
Where's my >> microphone? >> I know. I can't >> No, I got it. I'm doing my mic. You're doing yours. >> Oh, got it. Got it. All right. Let me put on Councelor Conan. Okay. Councelor Conan, you have the floor. >> Yep. Thank you. Uh, Madame President, as you
know, we lost one of our finest people that's ever served the city and Domano. Uh, he he was on every single committee that I can remember, you know, building the
fieldhouse. He would volunteer for all the committees. the uh each mayor whether it was uh Richard Howard, uh Jim Conway,
uh just incredible how many jobs he volunteered for. And he would keep track of everything for us. We'd meet every I can remember
meeting every single day uh every single one day a week with the building committee and Dom just given everything he's got and uh
he's a tough one to replace. Uh he ju he he just took everything to heart and was in it with his
whole body and soul. He just he just never let it go. And even when he had retired, you could count on him serving on the uh
retirement board. And uh there used to be a joke, if don't fall and get hurt, you're going to bleed blue and gold. So how true. But certainly
uh he come back to the city in 1986 when I did. That's when I first uh and I learned so much from him and I'm so grateful to
have uh served with Dom. So I hope uh we can have a moment of silence for him because he is a very very special man. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you very much. At this time, will the clerk please call the role? >> Council Cologne Hayes, >> Council Condan, >> yes. >> Council Crow, yes. >> Council Lewong, yes. Council McDonald >> here. >> Council Omali >> here.
>> Council Sea >> here. >> Council Simmonelli here. >> Council Taylor >> here. >> Council Winslow >> here. >> Council President Lingham >> here. Okay. Under the provisions of the open meeting law, for those of you in attendance, please be informed that UMA Urban Media Arts will be recording this
evening's meeting. So just be aware there will be audio and video recordings of tonight's meeting. Is there anyone else present tonight who is recording in addition to Uma? Can you please identify yourself if so? Okay, seeing none, we'll move on to the
first order of business. First order of business is public comment. Public comment is allowed under council rules. Each speaker is limited to the subject matter relevant to the evening's agenda and must keep their comments to two minutes or less. Um, I want to make an additional announcement tonight. We do
have some community members who may be coming to the podium um with an interpreter and it's going to be my judgment as the chair that we are going to allow extra time for the interpreter to speak if so. So, the clerk and I are going to double the amount of time to allow interpreters to speak into the microphone after those using additional
language assistance. Um clerk, do we have anybody signed up for public comment tonight? >> We have three people signed up for public comment and one email to read into the record. >> Okay, let's get started. >> The first one is Elena Martinez. Sorry, let me put on the podium
microphone. Okay. Name and street for the record. >> Hello, my name is Elena Martinez in Clifton Street Molden. >> Go ahead. >> Good evening everyone. Um, I am the language access coordinator for the city
for 12 more days. Um, and after seeing today's agenda, I just wanted to stop by and say thank you. Thank you to Mold and to the community, to the groups, to my um collaborators, you know, the people
who made this happen. Even though I'm leaving, I just wanted to summarize four years of work in less than two minutes. So, I just gave everyone a packet that
it's in response to tonight's agenda establishing public language access plan and policy. So, what you have on your hands is the Molden's current language access plan and policy that I've been
using. Uh this one was um updated from the documents that I received when I started working in here. Um I did an assessment of the how the departments work and how they serve uh the community. So each department is very
unique. So what I came up with was the city language access plan uh for Molden it has three basic components. It has the citywide plan so we can look at and I have shared this with the
police with the fire you know just looking at everything that um we need to access. Then we have a department plan and then we have a programspecific outreach guide and a community
engagement worksheet. So this is the same document that was shared with the mayor's office and Mr. Hogan with communications here. This is a training document that looks at every single
service and you can just do a check mark. >> You are at two minutes if you can wrap up. >> So I just wanted to leave my legacy for whatever the next plan is. I haven't heard but um so everyone and you know just thank you.
>> Thank you. [applause] Thank you for that. >> John Butler name and street for the record, please. >> Yes, my name is John Butler. I've lived in Malden for over 30 years on Chestnut Street. Uh I have come here to support
uh made come here to support uh resolution number 293-26. Uh, in 40 years of living in Massachusetts, I've never seen 72% of the elector electorate agree on anything. As well as in Malden, 14,000
people voted yes, 5,64 voted no. I haven't even seen that many votes in a municipal election, whether it's an elected official or even under the override. Um, a lot of people did express their beliefs in it. Um that to
me definitely makes a big loud response from Maldin voters. Um after a year and a half of court battles and legislative delays, Beacon Hills responded with a restrictive audit policy and future pre uh prevention of intervention by this
court system. I don't think that's what the Maldin voters asked for. As we celebrate our 250 years of this great nation, I ask you to support this resolution resolution for the residents of Malden
and give them hope that participating, you know, you have some say in what goes on. I really I really mean that from the heart. Um I used to go to a lot of city council meetings. I didn't go for a long time raising my kids. first time speaking in this building. I knew the other building
quite a bit. Um I just really hope you take this seriously and at least show the people that you're with them on openness and transparency because I know that's one of the big things for the override that you know we asked for and people v you know voice their opinion as
you well know you're dealing with that but I think it's really important that you support the voters. Thank you and happy birthday to America. Thank you. [applause] Steve Mariello. >> Steve Mariello, 283 Child Street. Exactly 250 years ago, the inhabitants
of Malden led the way by speaking up with a unanimous vote for independence. The residents of this city left us with a historic and permanent reminder of the power and importance of voting. On November 5th, 2024, every precinct in
Malden, spanning across political parties, political designations, and the unenrolled, met in the middle and overwhelmingly approved question one, granting the state auditor the authority to audit the legislature. 19 months later, we are still waiting
for the will of the people to be honored. Ironically, here we are on the 250th anniversary of the Malden town instructions, needing to speak up and defend the vote of our community, who simply wants to know how our tax dollars
are being spent by our state leadership. Such delays are an example of what leads to low voter turnout because of a lack of trust in government. We have an opportunity right now to take a step in reestablishing trust between the people and the process by speaking
up in unity with a letter of support for the audit of the legislature on behalf of Malden's residents. What our community needs right now is an assurance that we haven't forgotten that when Malden speaks, we expect our
government to act and respond with integrity. Thank you kindly. Thank you. [applause] Um, it had been my intent to take up the budget here, but given the comments that we got, I think I'm going to proceed through the agenda because it sounds
like folks are here for a lot of the agenda items that we actually have next. Do I have any objections to that? Do folks want to take the budget next? I'm open to >> I have an objection. >> You have an objection? >> I have one public comment that we haven't written to the record. Okay. From the email. >> Oh, we have an email to read. Okay. Well, let's take that up after we read
the one remaining email and then folks can let me know what you think. >> Okay. >> Thank you to our clerk. >> Sorry to interrupt you. No, please. Thank you for letting me know to do so. So, it says, "Dear city council, I write to urge the entire council to fully support council seekers resolution 293-26. As a constituent who voted for the audit
of the Commonwealth's legislature given the majority of Malden voters voted for the override, I believe city leaders can send a clear message to state leaders." This step became even more necessary when state leaders voted to limit the scope of the audit after numerous attempts to block the state auditor from doing her job. I look forward to
watching the council pass this resolution this evening to send that message to state leaders in the people that that the people's vote matters. Sincerely, James Sumner, 759 Highland Avenue. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Well, I think that's one more tick
in the column for keeping the agenda as is. Any objection to proceeding as is? Okay. Councelor Simmonelli, do you have a a point of order? I see your light on. >> Um, >> we don't respond to public comment. I'm just going to remind you. [laughter]
>> Okay. Thank you for being honest. [laughter] All right. Next order of business is our consent agenda. This evening's consent agenda consists of two papers being referred to the finance committee. Does any counselor have a desire to remove either of these items from the consent
agenda for the purpose of further discussion? I think I accidentally put Chris's light on. Danger zone. Um, okay. Hearing none. And seeing none, do I have a motion to approve? >> Motion by councelor Seika, seconded by councelor Luong. Um, all in favor?
>> Any opposed? Okay, the agenda is approved. Next order of business. >> Paper 291-26, mayoral reappoint Denise Belboni Kowi, 81 Newland Street, Malden, as a member of the license board. said term to commence upon confirmation by the city council and to expire June 5th,
2032. >> Okay. Councelor Crow for the paper. Thank you, Madam President. As we have done in the past is um the mayoral reappoints. Um we've passed on the floor unless someone has a desire to actually bring in um Denise. She did reach out to
me to see if she should be here and unfortunately because she has she's going away but I was like I think we got this the um so she was make sure she was doing her due diligence and could ask answer any questions. So I make a motion that we approve um Denise Bowie Kawi on
the licensing board. >> I'll second. >> Okay. So we need a roll call to confirm that on councelor Crow's motion seconded by councelor Seiko. Let's call the role. >> Councelor Cologne Hayes. >> Yes. >> Council Condan. >> Yes. Council Crowe, yes. >> Council Lewong, >> yes. >> Council McDonald, yes.
>> Council Ali, yes. >> Council Seca, yes. >> Council Simmonelli. >> Council Taylor, >> yes. >> Council Winslow, yes. >> Council President Linhan, >> yes. >> That confirmation passed unanimously 11 to zero. Okay. >> Okay. Councelor Simonelli.
>> Thank you, Madam President. I'm just going to make a comment. You know, I've known her for a long time. She lives down right in the heart of Nulan Street where I grew up. and it's just nice to have somebody on the license committee for alcohol and liquor licenses in my
district and she's very strict and she's she really knows her subject matter. So, I appreciate everybody here tonight uh putting her forward because she she really is a good lady and and she really loves Malden and it's good to have somebody like her uh on the license board. So, I just want to say thanks.
>> Sure. And we had a very thoughtful interview with her when she came on. So, I think I'm very comfortable with taking that that >> vote. Thank you. Okay, next order of business. >> Point of order. >> Oh, sorry, Councelor Cologne Hayes. Thank you. I just had a point of order. I um
former counselor um Anderson is in the room and we just um referred on the consent document something that I believe he was here to speak on. Do you still want to speak like if I ask if we >> can we suspend the rules to do that? >> What do we need to do to sponsor someone
to speak? >> If we can't, we can't. But I figured he came all the way out here >> to him and allow him to >> Yeah, you just need to make a motion to sponsor the former counselor just so he doesn't we can take a roll call. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Uh >> what's that? >> Yes. That's why I came here.
>> Okay. All in favor? >> I welcome. Come on forward. >> Well, good evening councilors. It's a pleasure to be here. Uh interesting for me to be on this side of the microphone.
Um I was expecting to have some debate on the paper that I was going to be here for this evening, but I see you've already moved the community preservation act papers to the finance committee where I really speak in that in in in
more detail. But I want to uh want to thank you for the opportunity to allow me to to come before you uh madame president and honorable members of this Malden city council. Uh it was my pleasure to be on the council when we
formed this community preservation act here in Walden. And uh and the papers that are being referred to the finance committee are are those things that specifically are what we design this program for. So, uh, Emanuel
Baptist Church, this institution has been around in this community for many, many years, is is before the finance committee, and I'll be glad to speak about that in more detail at the finance committee. So, I thank you for the opportunity to get up and speak. Glad to see you all. I was had the opportunity
to sit in on the the earlier subcommittee meeting and I know you all are are wrestling with some very serious uh issues that are going on in the city given the financial situation. I would also while I'm here just like to comment
about uh the moment of silence that con councelor Condan uh has mentioned about Domano. Um, I had the pleasure of serving with Dom uh as many of you have uh when he was
our our uh the guy that we went to for all of the information that we needed. Dom was one heck of a heck of a guy. I won't say one hell of a man. I will say he was a heck of a guy [laughter] and [snorts] this city of Malden was
well served by him and we will miss him all and God bless his soul. Madame President, council members, thank you very much for the opportunity to speak. Thank you. >> Thank you. And we will be docketing that as soon as we can in finance. So, welcome you to come back next week for certain. Okay.
>> We want to get this done quickly. >> Thank you. Yes, councelor Simonelli. Let me put your microphone back on. >> Thank you, Madam President. I just got to say you got to be really careful tonight because you got three W seven counselors here in this. We might have a quorum just for W seven alone. So, I
just want to make sure. noted. [snorts] [laughter] >> Okay. Next order of business. >> Paper 292-26 resolved that it is the sense of the Malden City Council that the body supports the establishment of a public
language access plan and policy. As a diverse and immigrant-rich city with seven major languages and over 70 languages spoken at Malden High School, language access services are essential for creating an open and welcoming community where every resident's voice can be heard. We are proud of the work
the city has done in the last 5 years to build up these services and systems supported by federal stimulus funds from the American Rescue Plan. This startup phase included purchasing equipment, creating new resources and materials, and training staff across departments on language access procedures. We
especially recognize the efforts to create bilingual elections that fully infranchise our Chinese-speaking community. The city council asks for the mayor's collaboration to adopt a translation and language access plan and a sustainable policy for the city. This
plan could include codifying elections procedures, identifying key documents to be translated, establishing benchmarks for the languages spoken by city staff, or setting expectations public engagement for translation or interpretation. Recognizing the city
must reduce expenses across every area to close our budget gap. We want to be transparent about the commitments we will sustain to support every resident's participation in Malden's civic life, regardless of what language they speak. Thank you. I'm going to go to the first
sponsor listed, Councelor McDonald. >> Thank you, President. So, uh, we had a great demonstration in our public comments from our language access coordinator of why I put this on the docket with my colleagues, um, because we've been doing some really good system
building work and I and I do thank you, Elena Martinez, for the work that that you've done in these past few years, which is very well represented here uh, by this draft plan that you provided us with. So my goal here was to make sure that this is not lost and that it is not
a plan that lives on a shelf um or or wherever the final version lands, but that it is in fact has the force of policy and that we can set practices for this next phase of work. Um, we'll talk about the the funding in a little bit
when we talk about the budget because we were able to restore some of the uh the the most concerning reductions that we had um had entertained in the mayor's proposed budget. But I want to make sure that where we're landing on that
wherever we're landing on that support that it's also clear to the community what commitments we are making uh and get us into this ongoing phase. you know, out of the startup phase into the ongoing phase. Um, and so I'm, you know, I think I'm open to how that happens
through the mayor's office or working with us or or or what it takes to set that when it's ready. But I really do want to make sure that we do not lose the progress we have already made. Um, and that it is clear how we're going to continue sustain this really important equity and inclusion commitment in our
city going forward. So, thank you for your consideration. >> Thank you, Councelor McDonald. Would either of the other co-sponsors like to speak before I start taking any of the lights that are on councelor Winslow? >> Yeah, I I thank uh councelor McDonald for taking the lead out on this and I
think we heard very clearly last uh meeting from the community about the importance of lang language access and I think all of us as counselors experience this and we made that clear to the mayor's office. So I appreciate that. Um you know we are doing more and our budget is including more to ensure that
happens and and and Elena thank you so much for uh bringing forth this the plan that you have been working diligently on and um you know I think it is now up our legacy um uh to to make sure that we continue to work on this even under uh
tight fiscal times. Um, you know, this is a very fascinating document about how many people in our community um have ne language access needs and um that's not going to go away whatever the budget is. So, we now have to commit as a council
and as a community to make sure we uh work together to make sure we are communicating in a big way with our our community. So, um I appreciate that and uh and I think it, you know, ultimately it makes us a stronger community to be able to speak across the language
barriers that we have. So, um so we have to do that in an intentional way and that's what this is about. Um it's just really making sure we do stuff with good intention and that makes us a stronger community and and Malden being stronger makes us a stronger nation. Thank you. Great.
>> Thank you, Councelor Winsow. Councelor Omali. >> Thank you. So, I really appreciate um the public comment. Um you know, and I assume that these are good intentions and and I believe that they are. Um but one of the things that I I've learned
over the years by the hard work of many organizations, particularly Malden Core, is that there's a difference between uh intent and impact. Um, and what we need to make sure is that, you know, passing this resolution is not marginalizing the hard work of our language access
officer, um, Alina Martinez, who who has done a lot of great work over the last couple years, um, and as has been highlighted, the the language access plan and protocol that is in front of us. So I would ask that this language access um plan be added as an attachment
to this paper and the agenda which I believe it has to do for the public records law uh and open meeting laws. Uh additionally I would offer I I would offer an amend because I don't want to pass this and make it seem like no work has been done uh and a lot of work has been done. Um and so I would move to
amend this paper um that so that it says that it is sense of the city council that the body supports um the adoption of the language access plan and protocol uh drafted by Alina Martinez, the language access coordinator.
>> Thank you. >> Okay, I'm going to continue to take our lights. We do have a motion on the floor. Um I want to continue discussion before we take that up. Councelor Cologne Hayes. Uh thank you and uh councelor Mali took that right out of I was going to suggest the same thing.
First I want to thank um Elena Martinez uh for everything you have done here for this city. People might not have known it or seen it but um I'm out in this community at every event and and um different nonprofit, you know, organizations and you are always there. You're making connections. connections
sometimes can't be quantified and people don't know how to put them in like data and stats, but we I see you um and the community sees you and I think that this city needs a full-time language access coordinator. Um we are the most diverse city um or what in you know
Massachusetts and we're going to need someone to implement um your plan. And so I agree. Um, of course I I support this um, you know, this paper tonight that we need to have a plan, but I also
would like to add that it's your plan that you've worked on. I haven't had a chance to read it all. Um, I'm not sure if you were contacted um, before this went up or not. I think I might have heard that that you weren't but and but you did speak with the um council president because
you're going to be looking unfortunately um looking for another job and people need to know about all the hard work that you did here and the resolution may seem to think that there wasn't a plan in place. So um I would like to second that and I yeah that's all I have to say about that. Thank you.
>> Okay. Thank you councelor Cologne Hayes. Councelor Simonelli. >> Thank you Madam President. You know, I I just want to say that um Elena, you know, in the four four years that I've known you, I know you've done some great work and I know you're working real hard and you know, I'm not a sponsor on this
paper or co-sponsor on this paper, but I would like to be. I would like to be. uh so you can add me to it and I have all the confidence in the world in the chairman of the finance committee
which is uh council McDonald, the uh council president Amanda Lennahan and the mayor and Chuck and and and Ron and Maria who are sitting here that are part of the financial team because they're busting their back trying to figure it out and try and save as many jobs as
they possibly can, but we can't save them all. And it was the mayor's office that brought Elena in in the first place because they know that we need her. So, we're trying to find the funding. I have all confidence in the people that I just mentioned that they will find the
funding down the road. But, you know, you know, look at honesty is my policy. We're in a financial crisis and we're doing the best that we can, you know, and it's like, you know, everybody wants to keep five firemans, five police cadetses, five Listen, then we get back
to the place where we're in deficit. And if you're in deficit and you don't balance your budget by July 1st, guess what? I don't want to scare anybody, but it's the reality of it. You go in receiverhip and we're not going to do that. So, hard decisions have to be made. But that doesn't mean that the
people that I just mentioned with the ability that they have and that the in the stuff that they've been able to do here in the city of Malden over the last 10 15 years I have all the confidence in the world that they will try [music] and find the funding. They will go after grant money. They will go after other
things to try and restore these things. And I'm coming from the most low to moderate income neighborhood in the city. Ward 7, Suffach Square, Newman Street Housing Projects, Bowen Street Apartments. Anyone that lives in Maldon knows I I know what I'm talking about.
Of course, we'd love to have that. I need that. So, we'd love to have that here. So, I am I I you know, I have all kinds of confidence in the people that I have mentioned that we will move this city forward. And I got to tell, you know, I said in the subcommittee a little while
ago, you know, look, I'm the first one to come out and snap on you for uh not being confident enough. I don't think you're confident and not doing the right job. But listen, we're in a $10 million deficit. I've been here for 16 years. The only other deficit that I seen
that's only close to this is the one after 200 911 and we were about short maybe $3.5 million. We're short almost 10. I Everybody, everybody that's sitting up here has been working. We've been talking to each
other here, off here, one onone. Sometimes it even gets heated discussions, but everybody's trying to do the best that they can. Look, I've been laid off a couple times in this business. That's the business I chose to be in, and I've been laid off on a couple of times myself. I know what it feels like.
Everybody up here knows what it feels like. We don't want to lay anybody off. We don't want nobody coming back. We know we need everybody, but there's only so much money. There's only so many pieces of the pie. And I think the Malden constituency is intelligent enough enough to I know they are to know
that. And I think that, you know, I I just want you guys to have confidence in us, confidence in this uh committee that's up here today. I know that, you know, Council Lahan, who's the uh council president this year, has been, you know, in the mayor's office on a
daily basis. Daily. I talk to, you know, the powers to be on a daily basis myself. It's tough. Like I said, we're doing the best that we can and we're gonna get through this. And we be we're being as transparent as we possibly can. We're not holding nothing back. We're
asking for an audit on ourselves. Can't get any more transparent than that. So, I'm just saying that bear with us. Have confidence in the city of Malden and we're going to get back everything that we're losing. Trust me. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councelor Simonelli. Um,
councelor Luong, >> thank you so much. I just wanted to say in the spirit in which I co-sponsored um this was not to minimize what what um Elena Martinez has done which has been amazing but it's also to recognize that
we have been working on transliteration services as a city for many years prior to um having a language access coordinator all the way up to the changes and all the systems that have been currently put in place. And so, you know, as a city, as we navigate, you
know, as council Simmonelli just said, a very challenging budget environment, I believe it's important that we establish a multi-year language access plan that clearly defines the services, the systems, the technology, and the staffing resources that our current budget that we're about to pass or not
pass, depending on who's voting for what, um, is going to be able to let us sustain over the next three years. And I'm not saying that her plan isn't the plan, but I think it's I think it's trusting in our administration to see what we have for resources in every
department and to be able to come up with that plan. So that's what I'm supporting as a paper is the paper that we put through. But I'm hoping that that will be um a meaningful discussion and the support because our residents deserve it. We are multicultural
city and all of our residents deserve to be able to access our services even in our budget crisis. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councelor Lewong. Um, councelor McDonald for the second time. >> Thank you, President. Um, so to uh to comment on councelor Ali's proposals,
obviously we should attach this yes to the record of the paper. I wholeheartedly agree. I would just say, you know, I I mean, I think I just got this a couple minutes ago and so I haven't had a chance to read it. So I think the whole point of a policy is that you take the time for everyone
involved to make sure that you're clear on every detail of it. And so I if you are open to a friendly amendment to say um a language access policy building on the draft policy done by the language access coordinator, be happy to support that. But I think the whole point is like we need to make sure this is like
really solid and I can't do that on the fly on the floor and we want to make sure that all of the departments who are involved in that as you said council long have a chance to look at this and weigh in before uh something is said. >> Okay. I'd like to hear councelor Ali respond to that. >> I accept the friendly amendment. Um and
having had the chance to go through this um I do think it is going to be everything that you're you're looking for. Um, I think it does it does um comply and take into consideration the reality of our of our city finances. It does talk about using AI and Google
Translate where appropriate and when it's not appropriate. Um, and I do also want to note that um, in terms of having time to review it, um, it's dated February 2025 and so, you know, we're in 2026 and so I think that as a city we
had a plenty of time to to review this and um, I look forward to uh, implementing this uh, as part of this resolution and and really making the rubber hit the road. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councelor Ali. So the amended to vote on the amendment, it would be resolved that it is the sense of the
Malden City Council that the body supports establishment of a public language access plan and policy building on the work done so far by our language access coordinator. Did I capture that accurately? >> Yes.
>> Okay. So we'll we have a motion. Do you want to make that motion, councelor Ali? >> Yeah. >> The motion is yours and you seconded. Okay. So, I'm on a motion by councelor Omali, seconded by councelor Cologne Hayes. All in favor of the amendment. >> I Okay. Any opposed?
All right. So, let's We have a motion on the resolve. Oh, you have a question, Councelor Cologne Hes. >> We could go. I would just say with that addition, I'd like to be added if that's okay. As a sponsor, please. >> Absolutely. Does anybody else want to be added before we move forward? Okay.
>> Okay. Okay. So, taking motions on the resolve. >> Motion to pass resolve. >> Okay. On a motion by councelor Winslow, seconded by councelor Simonelli. All in favor? I. Any opposed? >> The resolve is passed. Thank you
everyone. Next order of business. Paper 293-26. resolved that it is the sense of the Malden City Council that the body wishes to express support of an audit of the Massachusetts State Legislature by the state auditor as was voted by a majority of Malden voters during the 2024 state
election. Whereas the principles of open government, accountability, and fiscal responsibility are fundamental to the trust placed in elected officials by the citizens they represent. And whereas in the 2024 state election, a decisive majority of voters across every single precinct in the city of Malden
overwhelmingly approved the ballot measure calling for a comprehensive audit of the Massachusetts state legislature. And whereas this mandate from Malden voters spans across all neighborhoods and political lines, representing a rare and powerful moment of communitywide unity on the need for
government transparency. And whereas local municipal budgets are directly impacted by state funding and fiscal decisions and absolute transparency at the state level ensures that local tax dollars and state aid are managed with the utmost integrity. Now therefore, be
it resolved that the Malden City Council on behalf of the residents of Malden hereby voices its strong support for the clear and expressed will of the Malden voters regarding the audit of the Massachusetts State Legislature. And be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be sent to Malden state
legislative delegation, the governor and the state auditor urging compliance with the transparent governance demanded by our shared constituents. >> This was sponsored by councela. >> Thank you madam clerk. Councelor see for the paper. >> Thank you madam president. Tonight I am
proud to introduce a resolution that is fundamentally about one thing. listening to the people who sent us here. In November of 2024, the voters of Malden sent a crystalclear message to Beacon Hill. When question one appeared on the
ballot calling for a comprehensive audit of the state legislature, our residents didn't just approve it, they approved it overwhelmingly. It was passed with over 71% of the state vote, statewide vote. And right here in
Malden, it won in every single precinct. From Ward One to Ward 8, across every neighborhood and across every political party line, Malden voters spoke with one unified voice, something we all know
almost never happens on any topic in this city. They demanded transparency. They demanded accountability. And most importantly, they expected their votes to matter. Yet, just recently, we
watched the state house pass a bill that effectively guts the core of what our residents voted for. Instead of opening the doors to a full audit, they voted to heavily restrict it, shielding their core functions from independent
oversight and barring the courts from intervening. When 72% of the electorate votes for A and the legislature rewrites the law to give them B, that isn't compromise. That is a dismissal of the
voters's mandate. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution to defend the intent of the Malden voters and to send a clear message to Beacon Hill that we expect them to honor the democratic process. Thank you.
Thank you, Councelor Sika. I do have a couple of lights. I'm going to go to councelor Ali first. >> I'd like to thank councelor Sika for introducing this this uh resolution. Um I'll be fully in support of it and um you know I think that what first comes to mind when I read about what the house
did and I hope that the senate will vote down what the house did and I hope that um more healy our governor will veto it if for some reason it gets through both houses. Um, what I uh what first came to mind, it was very George Orwell, very Orwellian, where they passed like an a
bill that makes the the legislature less uh less more opaque, less visible, less transparent, and they called it a transparency bill. Um, you know, it's it's very much in the line of war is peace, peace is war. Um, it it just is not it's not trustworthy, and I don't
think the public recognizes it. I I know the the public can recognize that it's not what they say it what they say it is. Um you know I'm not going to reiterate and and go abnauseium of what you said. You you did a great job of summarizing it. Um you know this is by
far the most crucial thing that's going on right now. People are trying to say that uh that the the separations of powers uh prevent any type of oversight of the legislature which is just just not true. The reason why you separate
powers in our country is so that you do not have um one um body [snorts] that's completely unaccountable to the others. The courts check the legislature, the court courts check the executive the same way the executive checks the other
branches. Uh and the fact that that's not happening uh shows just how broken our state house is. Um so fully in support. Thank you for so much. Uh, and as some people online um guessed, I don't know if maybe there's like a a prediction market out there right now on whether or not I'm going to be a co-sponsor. Um, but I am going to be a
co-sponsor. So, >> even I guessed that. [laughter] >> Thank you, Councelor Ali. Councelor Winsow. >> Yeah. Um, you know, we talk about uh you it is very much a core thing of making sure that um our government institutions
are are uh fulfill the will of the people. I mean one of the reasons why in our US constitution you know the first amendment talks about freedom of speech, freedom of the press and the right to petition government is because ultimately the people are the check on
the the own government and so um so having more transparency at uh the the legislative level level is just so apparent that what we need. So very supportive of that and just you know we in this 250th year of our um you know
honoring our revolution. It is important that all officials at every level of our government understand that um having arbitrary ability to spend our funds without oversight is is wrong. and we
need to have uh people who help keep everybody um knowledgeable about how our money is spent and that it's authorized by law. Thank you. Great. >> Thank you, Councelor Winslow. Councelor McDonald. >> Thank you. So, I am part of the 72% also
who voted for the audit because our legislature and our leadership should be transparent and accountable and need to change the way they do business. here in Malden. As we've said, we voted to welcome another audit uh into our city to make sure that we're doing things as
well as we can in addition to the ongoing regular financial audit. Thank you, Council Long for sponsoring that. So, I couldn't agree more um that these changes are needed. You all may or may not know I started my career uh in a different working in a different state's
legislature and I actually worked on school funding issues there, which is part of my passion for this issue. But Malden, excuse me, Massachusetts is the outlier among all states when it comes to these basic transparency laws. Nearly every other state, the legislature is
subject to public records, subject to open meeting laws, all committee votes are recorded. There are expectations about how long, you know, you need to provide notice before things are voted on. So, these seem like basic protections to me. and all of the you know that same vote when the legislature
voted to restrict this this access to the audit uh all of those things were together they all seem like the same kind of uh unwillingness to follow the will of the voters in our community so I will be supporting this I do want to say I think this has become an unnecessarily
nasty political fight on Beacon Hill and I hope that our leadership can consider this that the opportunity it is to build trust uh because transparency matters uh when we are trying to get things done on behalf of our communities, not just for itself. And there are way too many
policies that are being blocked because we don't have uh insight and transparency into what's happening behind closed doors. I would recommend that if that's an issue that we bring in outside partners or that the legislature and the and the state auditor bring in
partners like the National Conference on State Legislators who are very trusted uh and neutral to help make sure that this is a make sure it's a success. But I wholeheartedly support this. Um thank you for proposing it and would like to be added as a co-sponsor. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Councelor McDonald. Uh Councelor Lewong, >> thank you. You know, when I first started on school committee many moons ago, first thing I put through was the special education audit for Malden so we could audit ourselves and how we gave our own services. And that was important
to make sure for transparency and all the things that councelor McDonald [clears throat] was saying and same thing with our upcoming audit that we have coming in the fall. So for the state legislature to not think that they don't qualify or
that they shouldn't also be audited I find is criminal. I also voted for the audit. So I am happy to support your paper. Thank you so much for putting it through. >> Thank you. >> Thank you councelor Leong. Councelor Simonelli. >> Thank you madam president. You know I
just want to commend councelor see on bringing this paper forward. Uh again you know I know I'm being redundant up here. I know we want to get this dock and moving, but I just got I got to say it the way it is. We're coming to recess soon. So, I just want to say that, you know, it hasn't been easy up here. Everybody's been trying to do every
little thing. And, you know, there's been a lot of um a lot of I won't say fighting. I will say disagreements. There's been a lot of disagreements up here and people have been going at it. And, you know, uh Council Secret and I, you know, sometimes you can see us, sometimes we go at it up here. If you
think that's something, you should see us when we go at it when we're home on the phone with each other. And uh but at the end of the day, council seeker and I have grown up with each other and we come from the east side of the city and we understand the same problems that are going on and we try and do different
resolutions and we try and put different amendments forward. We try and uh be on different committees to help, you know, to to help our constituency. But at the end of the day, you know, her and I we come to a common ground. And I I think
that's a a a good thing to say about our friendship. And I I will sponsor this paper and uh and support her. Like I said, you know, we can be mad at each other today and tomorrow we'll be calling each other about like what rise we're getting for the 4th of July. And I
I think that's a a good relationship to have. We have the, you know, same friends, uh same community. And I I have to take my hat off to her again, you know. I mean, everybody up here is working diligently
and tirelessly with the mayor's office and their financial team to get us through this crisis. And we're getting through. We're getting through and uh you can count on that. So again, I just want to just say that council see it's a great paper. Good good stuff and I'm on
it. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councelor Simmonelli. Councelor Cologne Hayes, >> I I just wanted to ask thank you for putting this forward. But I just wanted to ask to be um listed as a sponsor. Great job. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councelor Cologne Hayes. Councelor Omali for the second time. >> Yeah, in the in the last time. And I
just want to want to highlight, you know, our state daughter Diana Daglio is really doing the yman's work here. You know, obviously she passed this audit law. Uh she's currently working on passing a public records law that would apply to the legislature to make sure that we can get all the public the same public records laws that we have to
comply with, making sure that they have to comply with that. Um, and the reason why I have the mo so much confidence in Diana Daglio is because she was a staffer, she was a house rep, and she was a state senator. She knows exactly where the bodies are buried. That is the type of person you want doing an audit.
She knows the inside of this organization, and she and I have full confidence in her when it comes to that. Um, I'm just wondering if it makes sense. Should we be amending this to in to instruct our legislators and the governor in this or is do we think it's enough to just if the city clerk sends
it to them and sends it to the governor so that they're aware that we've done this? I don't want it just to be us in this room and the public to know that. I want the people that can still help prevent this backwards law uh from taking effect to know that hey, you shouldn't be voting for this and if it
does get onto your desk, Governor, please veto it. I think if if we're okay with you sending it to them, that probably would be fine. Otherwise, I would be willing to amend it to instruct them. >> It says the governor. >> Are you you want stronger language than
just to send it? Am I understanding? >> Did you miss that? >> Oh, yeah. So, if I click into it, there's more. >> Yes, there's Okay, >> sounds good. Thank you. >> Understood. >> Is the whole body? Yeah. >> I'm looking at you like what did I not put that there? >> No, you did. Okay. Okay. So, seeing no
other lights, do we have a motion? >> Can Can we do a roll call on this vote? Do you mind? >> I don't mind. Yeah. Um, so we have a motion by councelor Simonelli, I assume, seconded by councelor Sika. >> Yes. >> Okay. Let's call the role.
>> Council Cologne Hayes, >> yes. >> Council Condan, >> yes. >> Council Crow, >> yes. >> Council Lewong, >> yes. >> Council McDonald, yes. >> Councilor Ali, yes. >> Council Seca, yes. >> Council Simon, yes. Council Taylor, >> yes. >> Council Winslow, >> yes. >> Council President Lahan, >> yes.
>> Unanimously passed 11. [applause] [applause] >> Thank you all for coming out. Um, next order of business. >> Give me just one second, please. >> Yep. No problem. [laughter] >> Sorry.
>> [laughter] >> Paper 197-26. Be it ordained by the Malden City Council that the code of the city of Malden MCC 6.08.070C2 licensing of marijuana establishments is hereby amended by inserting provided that no fewer than five marijuana retail
licenses shall be made available after Mass General Laws Chapter 138 subsection 15. >> Okay. Councelor Cologne Hayes. Oh, councelor Winsow, did you want to speak to this? >> Did you want to speak or N? I I was just gonna summarize really quickly again.
So, we we did already enroll this. So, um as you might recall, we there was an issue in terms of how many cannabis license we could generally issue and it's sort of bounced between four and five. And so, this is just to make sure that we have a minimum of five
permitted. And so, that's the purpose. So, that's just be clear. We would I would make a motion to ordain it. Thank you. >> Okay, great. Any questions? Okay, seeing none, we have a motion by Councelor Winslow, seconded by Councelor Cologne Hayes. We just need a voice vote. So,
all in favor? I. Any opposed? >> Okay, that is ordained. Next order of business, communication. On May 13, 2026, a request was made by Bruce Freriedman of 8 Marvin Street for the executive session meeting minutes from the Malden City Council for the date of May 12,
2026 regarding the matter of Benevolent Botanicals LLC and 926 Eastern Avenue LLC v. City of Malden. Pursuant to MGL chapter 3A section 22G1 with the approval of council president
Linhan and city solicitor McNeel on May 28, 2026 11 members of the Malden city council were offered a period of time to review the draft minutes in the privacy of the city clerk's office. If there were any motions for amendments or need for further discussion, a date would be set to meet in executive session to deliberate. Otherwise, if there were no
objections on behalf of the body, Council President Lahan would be tasked with the approval of said minutes. On June 4th, 2026, Council President Lahan authorized the approval of these minutes. Concurrently, a periodic review was completed to determine if said minutes warranted continued non-disclosure. Under open meeting law,
MGL chapter 38, section 22F, these executive session minutes are being withheld as publication may defeat the lawful purpose of the executive session. Under the public records law, these same set of executive session meeting minutes are being withheld based on attorney client privilege. The meetings were held
in executive session with the city solicitor and city officials who share an attorney client relationship. The city officials sought legal advice from the city solicitor and the communications of these meetings have not been waved. For the stated reasons, the above meeting minutes are withheld
from public release at this time. >> Okay. Thank you. Um folks have any questions? We do have representative from our solicitor's office. Otherwise, we'd be looking just to do a motion for v voice vote to place on file. Correct. >> Motion second. >> Okay. Motion by councelor see seconded
by councelor Winslow to place on file. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Councelor Mali has stepped out. Okay. Next order of business. >> Paper 295-26. Committee report. the standing committees on economic development and
rules and ordinance serving in a joint session to Whoomer's referred paper 256 series of 2026 having considered the same make the following vote I'm sorry make the following report under the authority of paper 256-26 to draft amendments to the sign control ordinance
committee presents the newly written paper 296-26 as the product of that task to amend 416 sign control ordinance committee recommends this paper out favorably to the full council. >> Okay. Um Oh, so we we do need to accept
the committee report though first, right? Okay. So, on a motion from councelor Taylor, seconded by councelor Winsow to accept the committee report. All in favor? I. Any opposed? >> Okay. >> Paper 296-26. Order. Be it hereby ordained by the
Malden City Council that the code of the city of Malden MCC 4.16 sign control is hereby amended as follows and it's explained in greater detail in the body of the paper. >> Okay. Councelor Winsow for the paper. >> Yeah. Um, so this is, uh, you know,
we're working to streamline some of our ordinances relate to businesses. And one of the things that, um, you, especially when you're starting up a business, one of the things you want to do is put up a sign to let everybody know you're there and and know how to find you. And in the past, this has generally gone through a
signed con signed review committee, and that can be pretty burdensome. So, uh, this new, uh, update to the ordinance, it will really put more of those responsibilities in the hands of the building commissioner, uh, and and really scale back the role of the sign
review committee. So, so that's really the, um, the intent of the this. So, um, I don't know if councelor Taylor had anything more, but yeah. >> No, I think that was, uh, pretty well said, Steve. I think the, you know, the biggest thing is the sign design review
committee meets once a month. So, it's a lot to have somebody wait an entire month when generally when they show up, it's it's maybe 35 seconds of reviewing it based on, you know, um the recommendations of the building commissioner. And uh so that is
something that can be streamlined very easily regarding, you know, holding back that we will have the committee there if needed to convene, but not necessary to move forward. So, it should be a help for many of our businesses. >> Yep. And I do want to just offer a quick
thanks to the counselors that have been serving on that as well because it does take place during the business day. That is time that they've been giving um for what has been a pretty regular process up till now. So just want to make sure to give that thanks. Um so thank you both for that update. I'm going to take one light so far that I have from
councelor McDonald. >> Just very briefly, I'm really excited to support this paper. It's the first one coming out that is part of this broader push towards um trying to build up our economic development and tax base um and the momentum on that. So I I am really
excited about this. I think it's a great example of streamlining where we can to make it easier for businesses. I I always thought it was kind of wacky you had to go to a signed design review committee that only does that. Many communities that have design review committees have much broader ordinances
or standards around facades and architectural quality. And this is just to vote to confirm that you followed the the ordinance. So [snorts] I think this is a great example of where we're streamlining and I and I want to commend the economic development committee um
the staff of the OSPCD um and everyone involved in this. Thank you. >> Thank you uh councelor Simmonelli. >> Thank you Madam President. You know, I just want to applaud uh this paper because I'll be honest, you know, my experience 15 16 years ago I was the director of inspectional services and
that was part of one of my marching orders when I under Richard Howard when I took the job was to establish a sign design review committee and it was burdensome uh to both the department and the um and the way it was run uh and the
uh city you know the city councilors that had to come there during the day and it was a long process and I don't think we should have b businesses waiting 30 60 90 days uh to get approved for putting a sign uh out in front of
their uh business uh you know every day matters uh when you're paying a you know a mortgage or if you're paying rent and you're paying personnel to be there and you want to get that business out there and established and let them know that
you know hey here we are. So again, I applaud uh this is a great the sponsor of this paper. Uh I think it's a great move moving forward. Like I said, I've had experience and dealing with it and is just it was the way it was done before was burdensom to the uh
department and to the uh to the business constituency. So I think this will speed things up and streamline things. So again, great job. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you, Councelor Simmonelli. Councelor Winslow. >> Yeah. So just and just for folks from the public, I mean the the great thing is we because we have that ordinance,
there's actually a lot of detail to that. So the the building inspector is going to have a lot of guidance and that's really what we were finding is that you know a lot of the things that were coming and were in conformance or just for a few comments. So so I think that's a great thing. So I would make a motion to enroll this uh ordinance.
Thank you. >> Okay. On a motion by councelor Winslow to enroll, seconded by councelor Simonelli. All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Okay, seeing none, that is enrolled. Next order of business, >> the moment we've all been waiting for.
>> Paper 297-26, committee report. The standing committee on finance to whom was referred paper 233 series of 2026. Having considered the same, make the following report. >> On a motion by councelor McDonald, seconded by councelor Taylor to accept the committee report. All in favor?
>> I. Any opposed? Okay. Paper 233-26. Order. The mayor will submit I'm sorry. Do you want me to do the memo first or do you want to give the committee report? >> I can do the committee. >> Okay. >> Oh, sorry. Only if I put your light on. Eh, there you go. Thank you, President.
Um, so as chair of the finance committee, I I just wanted to recap and I will not it will not be exhaustive, but I think it's important when we talk about the city budget to realize this is not a one-year process. We are actually in year three, I would say, of a process
of reckoning with the structural deficit in this city. And we are not done today, no matter how this vote uh proceeds either. I would go back to 2023 when we first started really talking about the inevitable structural gap. We were at
that time able to use um the approval of the 2023 bud um of the budget in 2023, able to use ARPA funds to help support um some of our costs. and we did things like shifted our pension payment schedule so that we could um avoid uh
some of our annual expenses. That year we passed two resolutions at this council table. One was about growing our revenues over time uh economic development strategies, potential fees, etc. And the other was about uh one of the primary drivers here, tackling the
changes we need to our school funding formula. as the single busiest expense in Malden, as it is for most cities and towns, the state's requirements for how we spend money on our schools, has uh not been matched with tools to raise
that money. And uh I am a parent of kids in the schools. I support investing in the schools, but the expectations from the state have really uh been impossible for us to meet. And Malden is in an almost unique position about that. There are only a handful of communities where
the state's expectations for what we should be able to spend on our schools are so out of whack with the actual money we have. So, we spent um some serious amounts of time in 2023, 24, and 25 trying to work with the legislature
to get changes to the school funding formula. Uh including work with Senator Lewis's office. Um, we did another resolution in 2024 about supporting a study commission to make some recommendations. That didn't pass until
2025. Um, and at that point last fall, a team of us went to the hearings that that task force was having on the local share problems with the formula and delivered a very clear message um about the pain that we're feeling in our community from this as we want to invest
in our schools. Last year, I think at this time we realized how tough this year was going to be and so also began the process of shifting to the group insurance commission our healthcare pool to the state pool. Um that has um del is
we are projecting still to deliver savings of about 3 million. We won't know until July. Um but that is been a key piece of making the ends meet this year. Uh we revised our fee schedule. We looked at long-term issues like um
permitting uh fees and trash fees and so on. And this year when we this year's process cannot be separated from the failure of our override where we asked our voters to say, do you want to sustain the current levels of service
that we have? We narrowly lost um the lower vote threshold in that. But the reality is that the tough decisions we face now, the time to fully avoid them was three months ago. That was when there was the chance to perhaps change the outcome or advocate differently um
for the passage of that override. Now, having lost that, we have to recognize that that was not the will of our voting community. And so, we are facing some pretty serious cuts. Even this year, as I said, this is not the end of our story. Um the budget that we've
considered relies on uh just over $5 million in one-time funds um to give us some more time to work on some of the other strategies. One of those includes our economic development work that'll build up our tax base. That's how we get long-term revenue in addition to the
fixes we need for the school funding formula. And I'm really excited to see that work moving. So this year the budget came a little bit early. We used that time to meet with every single department, representatives from every single department in the city. We talked
about the proposed cuts. Um, roughly 35 positions are being eliminated in this budget. That's a combination of open positions, layoffs, retirements, and the city is working and bargaining with our unions to reduce the number of layoffs
and shift that as much towards retirement and open positions as possible. So, we had good conversations and asked every department head, "What are the impacts of this on your budget and are there ways that we could save money in the future?" And we had some good ideas from folks and they told us
about ways they'd reduce contract expense and they're hoping to reduce professional services next year when something expires or changes. So, it was good to have those direct conversations. Um ultimately we had a very strong turnout for our public hearing last week
and as a result the finance committee proposed to the mayor restoring some of the cuts to our language access services specifically the position in the clerk's office the city clerk's office that focuses on electionbased language access
and infranchising our most language isolated community many of our Chinese speaking uh community um members who have rely on these services to access their um their vote and their ballot. The mayor agreed to that as well as to
restore uh some but not all of the cuts, which is what we requested, not all but some of the cuts to the um community events budgets that the council manages. I think we heard specifically given the July 4th um anniversary this uh next
month. This was not the time to scale all the way back. Um so we'll have to revisit that next year. So those were the those were the things that the mayor agreed to in the memo that is attached to this. We voted as part of the committee report to recommend those amendments to the appropriation order.
Um we don't have the authority to do that without the mayor's ascent. We can only cut. Um so that was then recommended. did unanimously, favorably back out to the floor just earlier tonight. So, I just want to say again, we are here with an unfortunate task to
figure out how much we can do to stabilize our budget and the finances of the city that we are entrusted with. And we will have to be back here in a year again to figure out how to take the next steps that we need to truly bring this budget into balance. But um in order to
give us more time for some of these other strategies to play out and consider other options, we're deal we're we're cutting it by about half uh right now of the of the deficit we would have started with and we'll need to continue to work on that in the year ahead. So I just want to say thank you to all of the
counselors who have put input on this. Thank you to our city's finance team, Chuck Ran, controller Ron Hogan, chief strategy officer, who will be retiring and his position not backfilled. Thank you Ron. uh and Maria Louise um chief of staff to the mayor who are all here and
the mayor himself who was at nearly every single finance committee meeting and Dan Grover treasurer where did Dan go in the back >> oh he's in the back oh there you are I'm sorry Dan on you >> thank you Dan Grover treasurer for also being in all of these meetings I appreciate that >> that is my committee report um and I'm
sure there will be comments about this budget as there should be uh but thank you all for getting to this point um it's been a journey and we're not done thank you >> and before we take motions or questions Uh, do you want to read the mayor's memo? Okay, I think we should do that next. >> Um, so a mayor a memo from mayor Gary
Christensen to the city council dated June 4th, 2026. Thank you for your focus, attention, and dedication to this year's budget process. I know you all share in the pain of seeing people lose jobs, the concern for the future, and the commitment to do everything we can
to put Malden on a sustainable path. That process begins with this budget, but certainly doesn't end here. While I'm leerary of adding anything back into the budget, knowing what the future holds, I'm also mindful of the collaboration that is needed between us.
And as a result, this memorandum is to inform you that we will support your resolution that was voted on unanimously at last last week's finance meeting. To summarize, your request was to do the following. restore $40,000 to the city clerk's office for honest to continue
her work with our non-English-speaking community on voting rights and other matters and restore funding for ward- based activities and support including Fourth of July by budgeting for the following in the ward improvements line item. This singular line item will replace the Fourth of July line item.
$7500 per ward counselor, $2,500 per atlarge counselor. The net addition is $87,500, which takes into account the fact that we already had $20,000 budgeted in the Fourth of July line item, which is now zeroed out. I am willing to increase the
use of reserves to support your request in the spirit of collaboration. In the community focus of these requests at last week's public hearing with the addition of funding to continue the good work that ANSA does for our community, I do want to address the topic of language access. As you know,
the budget removes funding for an additional full-time language access access position that we had hired previously with ARPER funds and funded last year out of the general fund. This position had always tended to be temporary in nature and establish a
foundation for the organization to follow. With Anna's position restored, she will work closely with our DEI coordinator Kashana Harling to strengthen our overall efforts on language access. We will amend on his contract to formalize these additional
goals and Kashana is also eager to lead in addressing our needs. The city clerk has also indicated that this capacity exists with Anna's role given the seasonal and temporary nature of elections. I do want to proactively address some of the other ideas as well
that while not presented at finance committee did come up during the committee the whole meeting. It was suggested that we could cut police and fire overtime to restore positions. Both chiefs spoke in detail in the finance committee about the necessity of overtime funding to address staffing
shortages shortages caused by such things as injuries, FMLE, vacations, and sick time. Overtime funding is a necessity for any public safety organization to provide the flexibility necessary to respond to circumstances unique to public safety. Cutting
overtime budgets won't help us. Rather, it will simply leave these departments short midway through the fiscal year. For that reason, it's not a real cut and would result in a mid-year added appropriation from reserves. I cannot and will not support additional spending that would be funded by cuts that are on
paper only while ultimately pulling more from reserves. Similarly, recommendations to cut the salary reserve is simply irresponsible. We have open contracts with unions for time periods during which other unions received increases. Cutting funding here
is once again not a real cut, but rather just a backdoor increase to utilizing reserves to fund additional spending. This is not transparency. Again, I cannot and will not support additional spending funded by cuts to salary reserves that would then require the use
of more reserves when contracts are settled. There were several other items mentioned such as cutting professional services from the legal department that once again don't provide any actual positive savings. Please remember budgets are a combination of controllable and uncontrollable line
items. The use of outside counsel is largely driven by circumstances out of our control and this line item accounts for that uncertainty. Cutting the budget won't cut the need. It will only leave us shortfunded later on in the fiscal year. I have provided for the docket a
revised appropriation order for the meeting of June 9th which reflects the requests that were voted on in committee. I hope that with these requests being funded that the city council can take an affirmative vote on that budget. There remains a lot of work to be done with the various collective
bargaining units and the sooner we have an approved budget, the sooner we can finalize plans with these groups that meet the goals of the budget. Thank you again for your time, attention, and dedication to Malden. And I will read into the record paper 233-26
order. The mayor will submit the fiscal year 2027 annual appropriation orders for the general fund. The revised budget appropriation is attached to the history of this paper and it is dated June 4th, 2026. >> Okay, thank you so much
questions discussion. >> Okay. >> I have one light by councelor Ali. I do have a motion and a second on the floor. >> Yeah. So my I would make a motion to amend the uh budget by uh striking um or
reducing um the following account numbers 001 0 210 5150 which is police overtime by 289,749 and30. Um, account number 0010
220 5150 uh fire uh fighter overtime 446,30391. Um, and then salary reserve which is 0010 996
5110 1 0 for 1.2 million for 04 63945. So that would be a total of over [clears throat] $1.9 million in uh savings. U it would allow the mayor, if he so chooses, to
restore the cadetses who would be um laid off currently as proposed and it would also [snorts] allow him to restore the firefighters that are um proposed to be laid off. um you know salary reserve
whether or not we put it in salary reserve or we have it in the the um the free cash um I I I believe is irrelevant. Um I think that structuring like this makes it seem like we have less money than we really do. Um and I
think when you take that into consideration with the fact that during the override discussion it was woe is me the sky is falling. we're going to have to fire it and lay off 60 people. Now we're really looking at four or five
people. Um the $1.6 million that we found out about the day after the election. I think when you take it into this grand scheme of things, it undermines um confidence in this process and whether or not to some degree this
was a manufactured emergency. I think there's a way to save these people's positions without laying them off. I think I've just laid out a way to do that and I hope we can restore all the positions that we're proposing to lay off. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. >> Would love a second. >> I'll second.
>> Okay, so we now have >> Okay, councelor Simmonelli. >> You know, I look actually, honestly, I'm going to uh actually defer at this point because I don't want to jump the gun here, but I want to defer to the uh
chairperson of the finance committee. So, uh, I'd like to hear this response on where like what is the reason for these, um, for these cuts and how do you think that's going to restore? I mean, we're down to the final we're down to the final wire here and, uh, you know,
we have to have a balanced budget by July 1st. It's not too far off. It's a lot of funding. You're talking there for a second. So, I just want to know like what's the reasoning behind it? what's it going to do and how's it going to
restore these people these positions and if you can >> why don't we vote on it and then passes it >> we'll have that discussion if it doesn't then it's a mute topic >> that's fine I'm cool with that >> I I I also would just say that with
respect to councelor McDonald I would also offer that we have the mayor's finance team we have our controller CFO who could also speak to that >> um >> say take the vote first and then speak to it if it passes Good idea. >> On Council Mali's motion.
>> I'm fine with that, too. >> That's good. >> Okay. So, we have a motion >> by councelor Ali's seconded by >> No, I won't second that. >> I was going to say [laughter] >> I thought I thought it was council see I thought it was council see motion to
take the vote. I'm sorry. My my bad. >> Okay. So, we have a motion by councelor Ali, seconded by councelor Cologne Hayes. I think the clerk, you're comfortable with you can get the numbers. >> I will go back. >> You can fill in the numbers and go back. Make sure that I have them correct. >> We actually did a pretty good job
getting everything that you said. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. We'll do a a roll call. >> Sure. >> Okay. I'm ready if you are. >> Council Cologne Hayes. >> Yes. >> Councelor Condan. >> No. >> Council Crow. >> No. >> No. Council Lewong.
>> No. >> No. Council McDonald. >> No. >> No. Council Omali, >> yes. >> Yes. Council Seika, >> no. >> No. Council Simmonelli, >> no. >> No. Council Taylor, >> no. >> No. Council Winslow, >> no. >> No. Council Lahan, >> no.
>> No. So, that um motion fails. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So, we can go back to the previous motion or we can take we can undertake additional motions. >> Motion to pass the budget. >> Second. >> Okay. On a motion by councelor
Sika, seconded by councelor Simonelli. We'll take the role. >> Council Cologne Hayes. >> No. >> No. Council Condan. >> This is to pass adopt the order. >> To adopt the order. I'm sorry I said that wrong. >> To pass the budget. >> To pass the budget.
>> Yes. To adopt the order. >> He said yes. >> I'm sorry. I didn't hear you. I apologize. [laughter] >> Council Condan said yes. Thank you. >> Council Crow. >> Yes. Yes, Council Wong. >> Yes. >> In the middle of a roll call.
>> I'm just wondering, do we take a motion to amend the budget to reflect the work that was done? >> No, because the mayor sent down a revised budget and that's what you're voting on, the revised budget that was attached to. >> Okay. Just I just want to make sure that you guys were doing what you wanted to do. >> No, that's a good question. Appreciate it. >> It is a good question. Um, Council
McDonald, >> yes. >> Yes. Council Ali, >> no. Council Sea, >> yes. >> Yes. Council Simonelli, >> yes. Council Taylor, >> yes. >> Yes. Council Winslow, >> yes. >> Yes. Council President Lan, >> yes. >> Yes. So, that order has been adopted. The budget has been passed by a vote of
9 to2. [applause] Next order of business. >> That is your docket. It's clear. >> The docket is clear. Does anybody have personal Wow. Everybody has personal privilege. >> Whoa. Oh my goodness. Okay. Councelor Winslow was first. >> All right. Um I I want to thank um
everybody who came out for bike to the sea day um on Sunday. Uh, I know some of the counselors were there, the mayor was there, but also Malden Police for helping out get people safely across and uh, Malden DPW to, you know, help uh,
clean up a few things as well. So, um, and then just remind everybody in uh, W 6 in Maplewood, we are going to have our um, 250th celebration on Friday, July 3rd. Um, the normal time, 9 to1, but we're having it a day early. So, um,
everything's lining up for that. But if you want to volunteer and come out, help out, watch bouncy houses, or hand out some uh of Henry's catering burgers and sausages, uh come on out. Thanks. Great. >> Okay, counselor Cologne Hayes.
>> I didn't realize it was second, so that's okay. No one like I [laughter] got it. Okay, so um I want to uh let everyone know again about Junth. Um we have been working so hard uh behind the scenes to get this going. It is Friday,
June 19th. Um 11 to 3 at the Salemwood School. We have an excellent program. Um it begins with a flag raising at 11. Then we have performances. Uh we have a drumming corp. We have a welcome. We have songs. Then we have a um
let's see, spoken word, double Dutch uh group. Yes. Step routine. Me too. I love double Dutch. uh keynote address by Terry Carter, uh the AO step team in Malden High, but also Salemwood and funk phenomenon, which was huge last year.
Then we're going to break out and I want the community to know because there's going to be workshops. Um so Terrell um Dorch is going to be doing a teen experience um black ident identity workshop. Dr. Rachel is going to be doing the double dutch. Um she's going to talk about the history of double
dutch and art on canvases and then the big finale which would be the community meal. Last year over 700 people attend. This gets bigger and bigger and so this year we're going to do a graband go, not go, a grab and sit down um in the cafeteria because it got overcrowded to
the point where we almost went over capacity last year. So they're going to be trying something different. So please be patient with us um when we try and do that. And um I hope you all come. And then the second thing is um I want to congratulate uh a couple of Baldin
students. So the district attorney Mary and Ryan had a celebration for good citizens and I had put forward a few um youth who ended up receiving this. So they were there today. Actually I couldn't go because I was here but that was um and that's for being good
citizens and being involved like I do um a citizens group too with uh youth civics with kids. Kadus, um, so many people know him. He's done everything. Um, Juliana Dormillville, um, Sophie Tran and Eve Camarado. Um, so they've all been doing some great things and
just congratulations to them. >> I didn't even know that. Wow. Go Eve and everyone. No bias. Um, okay. Counselor Simmonelli. >> Thank you, Madam President. So, Steve don't know yet, but I'm teaming up with him for the 4th of July this year. I haven't told him yet.
>> Oh, God. [laughter] He don't know yet. Yeah, that's right. Listen, we'll we'll pull numbers. >> No, I I'm just saying that, you know, W 7 will be doing their Fourth of July festivity on Friday, July 3rd as well, uh, in the afternoon, say around 5:00.
We're doing 5 to 8. I'm a little different this year. I think it's too hot in the morning. Kids don't want to run in the races too early or then in the mid afternoon it's a little too late. So, we're going to change it up a little bit and see how that goes. We did a little bit last year like that and it seemed to work out pretty well. And I
just want to say that like you know anybody that wants to like come out and volunteer uh not just on this on the Fourth of July festivities. I intend on working on several uh festivities uh moving forward in the neighborhood in the city of M. So, you know, I could use
the support and use the help uh if anybody wants to just, you know, jump in and do some neighborhood things and have some ideas on neighborhood activities. I really could use the help this year like all of us can. So, I just want to just extend that arm out to everybody and say come on aboard. Thank you very much,
Madam President. >> Thank you, Councelor Simonelli. Councelor Omali. >> Uh, hi everyone. I just want to wish everyone a happy pride month. Um, you know, this is we did a flag raising recently and there's been a lot of great events at different schools. So, um, I
just want to wish everyone a happy pride. [clears throat] In addition, um, Ward 4 is going to be having our Independence Day celebration on July 4th, Saturday, uh, 9:00 a.m. to 1 PM at Cordmly Park. Obviously, if you'd like to volunteer, we all need volunteers.
Um, the pool would be open. Uh, there'll be, you know, obviously bouncy houses, [clears throat] the races, everything. But I think the big thing in Ward 4 that everyone likes, including the mayor, >> is the big bubbles, the giant bubbles. So, I've learned how to make giant bubbles. if you'd like to see some giant
bubbles come to Quartermly Park on Independence Day. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Last but not least, councelor Lu Wong. >> Yes. So, I just wanted to um mentioned that councelor Simonelli and I are working on a book drive this summer in Ward on the east side and throughout the
city actually. So, anybody any of the counselors come see me after if you'd like to, you know, join us. We'd love to be inclusive to everyone. And uh yeah, that's it. Thanks. Okay, councelor Condan. >> I told him
>> it's okay. >> My partner is very disagreeable tonight, [laughter] but uh I would like to reach out to our two communities, W one and W two. Uh we have uh Friday night we're gonna be uh
doing uh Peg's show where she's the star. [laughter] >> I told you no. [laughter] >> It's all about Peg. >> But uh no, we're gonna She puts on a great show. She does >> for u you know the basketball tournament
and everything else. >> So okay >> in a movie night. [clears throat] >> Yeah. >> Movie night. >> Movie night. >> In movie night. [laughter] >> What's the name of that movie? >> You'll find out. >> Okay. >> It's a surprise.
>> All right. >> You don't tell anybody what they're coming to see. >> Continue on. [laughter] >> Oh yeah. She's got >> You're a good backup. >> All right. And [laughter] uh Saturday we'll be doing uh Saturday
we'll be having a good time barbecuing. That's where we're going to need some help >> on the barbecuing and all the kids races and >> uh giving them out toys. Judges. So if you can make it, I'd appreciate
it. Devop can't be the only one who does it. >> I know where it is. >> Well, now you meet. >> She says I'm done. [laughter] >> All right. Good. Well, Michelle, you got something else? >> I just I just wanted
>> really quick. Um I just wanted to thank the Kuanas Club for donating 300 books to mine and Chris um Council Simonelli's book drive. It's huge. We probably have about 450 books, but a big part was from the Kuanas Club, and I just wanted to give them a really big shout out and to just to say thank you.
>> That's great. Okay, councelor Sika. Thank you. I guess I'm just going to do a little quick save the date for me, but uh W 8 is on the 4th of July. It's the 4th of July celebration on the 4th of July. So, everybody save the date for that. We'll be starting our festivities
at 9:00 a.m. till noon. Um, yep. I'm sure you will [laughter] be there because I love going to other people's when I'm not running my own. [laughter] >> All right. Thank you. No hot dogs. Thank you. Okay. Councelor Taylor. Sorry. I
don't I don't want ward five to think we're not having a Fourth of July. We absolutely are having our Fourth of July on the 4th of July. Uh 10 to 1 at Forestdale Park ne right next to the Forestdale School. Thank you. Yeah. Now I feel like I have
to say mine, too. We'll also be having W 3 on the 4th of July, 10 to1 at Ambridge Park. Come on down. We're having Pearl Street do the food again. It's been so popular the past few years. We'll have hot dogs, burgers, and veggie burgers. Um so be in touch if you want to volunteer or donate. Um we'd love to
have the help. >> Awesome. I was just going to ask for a motion to adjurnn. So a motion by councelor Ali, seconded by councelor Crowe. All in favor? I >> I at 8:40 we are adjourned.