Malden City Council 12-9-25

Governing Body: Malden City Council Meeting Type: Regular Meeting Meeting Date: December 09, 2025

Attendees:

• Councillor Karen Colón Hayes
• Councillor Paul Condon
• Councillor Peg Crowe
• Councillor Carey McDonald
• Councillor Ryan O'Malley
• Councillor Jadeane Sica
• Councillor Chris Simonelli
• Councillor Ari Taylor
• Councillor Stephen Winslow
• Councillor Amanda Linehan (Council President)

Absent:

• Councillor Craig Spadafora

• The meeting was called to order by Council President Linehan.
• The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
• A moment of silence was observed in honor of veterans and service members.
• An acknowledgment of the ancestral lands of the Massachusetts, Pennacook, and Pawtucket peoples was made.

• The Town Clerk conducted a roll call.
• All listed attendees were present, with the exception of Councillor Spadafora.
• Council President Linehan noted that UMA Urban Media Arts would be recording the meeting.

• No individuals were signed up for public comment.

• The consent agenda included:
  • Meeting minutes for approval.
  • One order to be referred to the Finance Committee.
  • One appointment to be referred to the Personnel Committee.
  • One communication to be placed on file.
  • One paper to be referred to the Public Property Committee.
• No councilor requested to remove any items from the consent agenda for discussion.
• Motion: Councillor Condon moved to approve the consent agenda, seconded by Councillor Winslow.
• Vote: All in favor.
• Outcome: The consent agenda was approved unanimously.

• Motion: Councillor Winslow moved to receive the committee report, seconded by Councillor Taylor.
• Vote: All in favor.
• Outcome: The committee report was received unanimously.
• The report addressed Papers 377-25 and 407-25, Series of 2025.
  • Paper 377-25: Committee recommended out favorably as amended by adding the word "and" before "annual."
  • Paper 407-25: Committee recommended out favorably to the full City Council.

• Official Title: Be it ordained by the Malden City Council that the code of the City of Malden 6.08.060 subsection b3 off-site parking facilities is hereby amended by adding an annual between non-refundable and application, and by striking $100 per vehicle and inserting the following: $200, a base fee of $100 for the first nine parking spaces and $20 per each additional parking space over nine.
• Discussion:
  • Councillor Winslow explained that the amendment addresses a court ruling that found previous fees for off-site parking facilities to be excessive.
  • The new fee structure was reviewed by the legal office and the Building Inspector, Nelson Miller, and aims to be consistent with other cities and compliance efforts.
  • Councillor Sica confirmed that the Licensing Committee unanimously supported the amendment, following recommendations from the City Solicitor's office.
  • Councillor Simonelli expressed strong support for the new fee structure, calling it "terrific."
  • Councillor Winslow clarified the fee structure: "$200, a base fee of $100 for the first nine parking spaces and $20 per each additional parking space over nine."
• Motion to Amend: Councillor Winslow moved to amend Paper 377-25 by adding the word "and" before "annual" for grammatical correctness, seconded by Councillor Sica.
• Vote: All in favor.
• Outcome: The motion to amend carried unanimously.
• Motion to Enroll: Councillor Winslow moved to enroll Paper 377-25 as amended, seconded by Councillor Sica.
• Vote: All in favor.
• Outcome: Paper 377-25 was enrolled unanimously.

• Official Title: Be it ordained by the Malden City Council that the code of the City of Malden 6.08.100 subsection A2 Used Cars Dealers is hereby amended by striking in its entirety and inserting the following in its place: A release signed by the applicant authorizing city personnel to access the applicant's criminal record.
• Discussion:
  • Councillor Winslow stated this is a technical correction to the ordinance regarding CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) checks for used car dealers.
  • Previously, applicants provided their own CORI; the new procedure requires applicants to sign a waiver allowing the City Clerk's Office to obtain the CORI directly, ensuring better confidentiality and accuracy.
  • Councillor Sica clarified that CORI checks have been in place for several years, but the method of obtaining them is changing to ensure accountability.
  • Councillor Simonelli supported the change, emphasizing the importance of proper CORI checks for license applicants, especially for used car dealers and liquor licenses. He noted the complexity of reading Board of Probation (BOP) reports and the expertise of compliance officers.
  • Councillor O'Malley raised a procedural concern, noting the paper lacked a listed sponsor. Councillor Sica confirmed she was the sponsor, as it originated from the Licensing Committee.
  • Councillor O'Malley expressed reservations about the current procedure, stating that the ordinance reads "the City Council may deny a license," not the City Clerk. He voted "present" in committee due to concerns about the City Clerk's discretion in filtering applicants based on CORI checks without direct City Council review.
  • Councillor Sica read Code of the City of Malden 6.08.110 F2, outlining specific criteria for denying licenses based on criminal history, which applies to various license types, not just Class 2 Dealer licenses. She emphasized that the City Clerk's office follows this existing ordinance.
  • Councillor O'Malley reiterated that the ordinance grants the City Council, not the City Clerk, the authority to deny licenses, suggesting a need to review the procedure to ensure all applicants receive a fair hearing.
  • Councillor Simonelli suggested that while the current procedure of the Clerk's office screening applications is effective, the ordinance wording could be reviewed in the future to reflect this practice. He also highlighted the process for applicants to clear up discrepancies on their CORI reports.
  • Town Clerk Carol Ann indicated that a new policy would be presented by the Solicitor's office, which would involve entering executive session for any questionable CORI reports.
  • Councillor McDonald agreed that the ordinance's wording ("may deny") suggests discretion and that some aspects of the current policy, such as denying licenses to individuals released from incarceration within a year, might warrant future review in light of "Ban the Box" initiatives.
  • Councillor Sica urged enrollment of the paper as it addresses a current procedural issue, and further discussions on broader policy changes can occur later.
• Motion to Enroll: Councillor Sica moved to enroll Paper 407-25, seconded by Councillor McDonald.
• Vote: All in favor.
• Outcome: Paper 407-25 was enrolled.

• Councillor Simonelli:
  • Congratulated the Malden Police Department and Chief for quickly apprehending individuals involved in car break-ins on Bryant Street.
  • Announced the Suffolk Manor Holiday Party on Friday, December 19th, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, featuring Chinese food, drinks, desserts, and a DJ Santa.
  • Announced that Ward 7 residents can participate in the Public Safety Toy Drive, a collaboration with Councillors Sica and Spadafora, by contacting Councillor Simonelli, Councillor Sica, or the police station.
• Councillor Sica:
  • Provided details on the Public Safety Day Toy Drive, involving the Fire and Police Departments.
  • Stated that Detective Renee Kelly (ahkelly@maldenpd.com) manages the list of families in need, ensuring privacy.
  • Toys will be distributed on Wednesday, December 17th.
  • Donations of toys are still being accepted at the police station or central fire station, or via an Amazon wish list on Facebook.
• Councillor O'Malley:
  • Thanked the Friends of the Malden Public Library and the Malden Historical Society for their annual winter concert in the Ryder Gallery, featuring the Mystic Side Opera Company.
• Councillor Taylor:
  • Announced a Zonta event, "Silent Witness Giving Voice Back to Domestic Violence Victims," on December 10th at 6:30 PM in City Hall.
  • Announced Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at Pine Banks on December 13th from 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM in the barn near the baseball field.
• Councillor McDonald:
  • Informed the public that the Finance Committee voted on a recommendation regarding Proposition 2 1/2, which will be on the City Council agenda next week.
  • Encouraged public comment and input on the matter.
  • Thanked Mayor Christenson and his finance team for their transparency and data-driven discussions.
• Councillor Winslow:
  • Announced the Friends of Malden Public Library annual book sale on Saturday at 11:00 AM.
  • Announced the Greater Malden Asian American Community Coalition's Open House and Barbecue on Pearl Street from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
  • Tentatively announced the city menorah lighting for Sunday, December 21st, at 5:00 PM.

• Motion: Councillor O'Malley moved to adjourn, seconded by Councillor Simonelli.
• Vote: All in favor.
• Outcome: The meeting was adjourned.