Malden City Council 06-23-2026

• Governing Body: Malden City Council
• Meeting Type: Regular Meeting
• Date: June 23, 2026
• Attendees:
  • Present: Councillor Jadeane Sica, Councillor Chris Simonelli, Councillor Ari Taylor, Councillor Stephen Winslow, Council President Amanda Linehan, Councillor Carey McDonald, Councillor Karen Colón Hayes, Councillor Peg Crowe, Councillor Paul Condon, Councillor Ryan O'Malley.
  • Staff: City Clerk, Building Commissioner Nelson Miller, City Solicitor Alicia McNeil, City Planner Michelle Romero, OSPCD Director Alex Pratt, Clerk of Committees Ron Hogan.

The Council held a public hearing on Paper 334-26, a petition by DMS Trinity LLC (DBA Trinity Naturals) seeking to amend a Special Permit for the property at 36 Charles Street (Parcel ID 062-239-910). The amendment sought to reissue the permit or transfer rights to a new entity, Beach House Cannabis.

• Petitioner Presentation: Attorney Roberto DiMarco represented DMS Trinity, explaining that the amendment would allow a joint venture with strategic partners Paul Ferrazzi and Casey Baker of Beach House Cannabis. He argued the property use remains unchanged and the request is a standard business evolution.
• City Staff Input: Building Commissioner Nelson Miller clarified that while the permit was not recorded at the Registry of Deeds, it remains legally valid because construction work commenced. He noted that the Council's action is the first of three steps, followed by the Cannabis Licensing and Enforcement Commission (CLEC) and a new Host Community Agreement (HCA) with the Mayor.
• Public Opposition:
  • Attorney Blake Mensing: Argued the permit has no legal force under MGL Chapter 40A, Section 11 because it was never recorded. He claimed the transfer bypasses the intended vetting process.
  • Eric Gath (Misty Mountain): Expressed concern that the original equity and local ownership promises made by DMS Trinity were being abandoned for an unvetted entity.
• Council Action: The Council voted to grant the petition to amend the special permit, removing the non-transferable condition.
• Vote Outcome: 8-0 in favor (Councillors Sica, Simonelli, Taylor, Winslow, Linehan, McDonald, Colón Hayes, Crowe, Condon, Taylor, Winslow). Councillor O'Malley recused himself.

The Council considered Paper 335-26, an amendment to the Code of the City of Malden 12.12.300 regarding Inclusionary Zoning.

• Summary: OSPCD Director Alex Pratt explained that the current policy is too restrictive given current market conditions. Proposed changes include:
  • Adjusting the affordability requirement from 50% to 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for rental units.
  • Increasing density bonuses from one unit to two units for each required affordable unit.
  • Adjusting parking requirements to 0.75 spaces per unit for projects exceeding affordability requirements.
• Action: The Council voted to refer the matter to a Joint Planning Board and Rules and Ordinance Committee hearing.
• Amendment: The Council amended the paper to require that any 'payment in lieu' of building affordable units must be approved by the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board rather than OSPCD staff.

The Council adopted a series of recommendations from the Board of Registrars of Voters for the upcoming election cycle:

• Paper 337-26: Adopted in-person early voting hours and designated the City Clerk's Office as the central polling location.
• Paper 338-26: Designated official polling locations for all wards and precincts.
• Paper 339-26: Authorized police details for polling locations.
• Paper 340-26: Authorized the City Clerk to notify and warn inhabitants of the state primary (Sept 1) and state election (Nov 3).
• Vote Outcome: Adopted unanimously.

The Council ordained two administrative reorganizations:

• Paper 318-26 (Cemetery Trustees): Amended Section 2.16.040 to reduce the Board of Trustees from five members to three members, to take effect via attrition.
• Paper 319-26 (Emergency Management Board): Amended Section 2.16.090 to reduce the board from seven members to five. The board will now comprise the Police Chief, Fire Chief, DPW Director, Public Health Director, and Public Facilities Director. The language was also updated to be gender-neutral.
• Vote Outcome: Both papers were ordained unanimously following a suspension of the rules.

The Council addressed Paper 320-26, amending Section 4.12.020 regarding Building Permit Fees.

• Action: The fee was increased from $16 to $18 per $1,000 of value added to bring Malden in line with surrounding communities.
• Vote Outcome: Ordained unanimously.

The Council reviewed Paper 263-26 regarding the legalization of residential kitchens as home occupations.

• Action: The Council voted to split the paper into two parts:
  • Zoning (Title 12): Referred to a Joint Planning Board and Rules and Ordinance Committee hearing. This includes definitions for 'Cottage Food Operation' and allows on-site sales limited to prearranged pickups.
  • Operations (Title 9): Referred to the Board of Health to adopt state sanitary code (105 CMR 590) and to the Rules and Ordinance Committee to address solid waste/composting regulations for these businesses.

The Council granted the following licenses (Papers 273, 274, 311-315):

• Open Air Parking: AGM Auto Sales (135 Eastern Ave, 28 spaces) and United Properties (25 Florence St, 34 spaces; 29 Madison St, 40 spaces).
• Pool Tables: Top Pools Inc. (77 Exchange St, 7 tables).
• Extended Hours: L. Maxell (97 Medford St, 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.).
• Livery: Luxury Fleet LLC (9 Constance St, 1 vehicle) and driver Akush Kumar.

Councillors announced various July 4th Independence Day celebrations:

• Ward 1 & 2: Movie night at Green Street Park (July 3); festivities at Devir Park (July 4, 9:00 AM).
• Ward 3: Celebration at Amherst Park (July 4, 10:00 AM).
• Ward 4: Celebration at Coytemore Lea Park (July 4, 9:00 AM).
• Ward 5: Celebration at Forestdale Park (July 4, 10:00 AM).
• Ward 6: Celebration at Trafton Park (July 3, 9:00 AM).
• Ward 8: Celebration at Linden Park (July 4, 8:45 AM).
• Other: Malden Pride celebration at Coytemore Lea Park (June 28, 12:00 PM).