Executive Summary
The Malden City Council met on January 6, 2026, primarily to establish its organizational structure for the new year. The Council President announced the 2026 committee appointments, which included the creation of a new Economic Development Committee tasked with identifying corridors for revenue-producing rezoning. Other business included the approval of a 20-item consent agenda and announcements regarding a recent residential fire, the upcoming Martin Luther King Day celebration, and a community meeting regarding AI in public schools.
Meeting Information
- Date: January 06, 2026
- Governing Body: Malden City Council
- Meeting Type: Regular Meeting
- Attendees:
- Councilor Karen Colón Hayes
- Councilor Paul Condon
- Councilor Amanda Linehan
- Councilor Luong
- Councilor Carey McDonald
- Councilor Ryan O'Malley
- Councilor Jadeane Sica
- Councilor Chris Simonelli
- Councilor Ari Taylor
- Councilor Stephen Winslow
- Absent: Councilor Peg Crowe
Opening and Land Acknowledgment
The meeting opened with a salute to the flag and a moment of silence for veterans. The Council President read the following land acknowledgment into the record:
"We honor and acknowledge the Massachusetts, Pennacook, and Pawtucket peoples whose ancestral lands we now call home and on which we gather today. We express gratitude to the indigenous peoples who have cared for this land for generations, predating European colonization and continuing to the present."
Public Comment
- No members of the public signed up to speak during the public comment period.
Consent Agenda
The Council considered a consent agenda consisting of 20 items:
- 14 petitions referred to the License Committee.
- 5 papers referred to the Public Property Committee.
- 1 communication placed on file.
Action: The consent agenda was approved unanimously via voice vote (Motion: Councilor Sica, Second: Councilor Simonelli).
Paper 22-26: 2026 Council Committee Appointments
The Council President announced the standing, special, and ex officio committee assignments for 2026.
Key Standing Committee Chairs:
- Finance: Councilor McDonald (Chair), Councilor Taylor (Vice Chair)
- Rules and Ordinance: Councilor Winslow (Chair), Councilor Colón Hayes (Vice Chair)
- License: Councilor Sica (Chair), Councilor Condon (Vice Chair)
- Public Safety: Councilor Condon (Chair), Councilor McDonald (Vice Chair)
- Public Property: Councilor Luong (Chair), Councilor McDonald (Vice Chair)
New and Special Committees:
- Economic Development Committee (New): Chaired by Councilor Taylor. The President stated the intent is to "identify a small number of key corridors in the city where we can act quickly in partnership with the mayor's administration to rezone for revenue producing development."
- Code of Conduct Committee: Councilor Luong was added as a new member.
- Library Committee: Chaired by Councilor Winslow.
Council Rules and Administration:
- The Council President announced a forthcoming refresh of the council rulebook in collaboration with the City Clerk.
- Proposed updates include codifying land acknowledgments, maintaining hybrid meeting technology, and establishing language regarding the use of AI.
Action: The appointments were placed on file via voice vote (Motion: Councilor Simonelli, Second: Councilor Colón Hayes).
Personal Privilege and Announcements
- Fire Recognition: Councilor Winslow recognized Adam Weldi and the Malden Fire Department for their heroic actions during a fire at 49 Bishop Street, noting that Mr. Weldi entered the home to ensure resident safety.
- MLK Day Celebration: Councilor Colón Hayes announced the Martin Luther King Day celebration scheduled for Sunday, January 18, from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Emmanuel Baptist Church, featuring keynote speaker Dr. Carl B. Mack.
- AI Community Meeting: Councilor O'Malley announced a "Tech on Your Terms" meeting at the Malden Public Library on Wednesday, January 7, at 6:30 PM to discuss children's exposure to AI in Malden Public Schools.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 PM (Motion: Councilor Sica, Second: Councilor Simonelli).