Malden City Council 10/27/2026

A member of the public submitted written comment via email concerning inclusionary zoning:

• A member of the public urged the Council to pass the proposed inclusionary zoning overhaul, stating: "I hope you'll adopt this proposal so we can start to build some sorely needed housing." The speaker emphasized that the existing inclusionary zoning policy had yielded only three affordable housing projects over the past five years, which is insufficient to address community demand.

The Council considered three reappointments to the Malden Board of Health for terms commencing upon confirmation and expiring on October 22, 2029:

1. Reappointment of Dr. Scooney Carrington, 551 Lynn Street (Paper 440-26).
2. Reappointment of John "Jack" Colangeli, 9 Lynn Street (Paper 441-26).
3. Reappointment of Dr. Kunar Singh, 1127 Salem Street (Paper 442-26).

• Councillor Winslow noted for the record the pronunciation of Dr. Carrington's first name and acknowledged Mr. Colangeli as Malden's former fire chief.

• Councillor Crowe moved to approve all three reappointments on the floor without committee referral, seconded by Councillor Colón Hayes.

• Paper 440-26 Vote: Confirmed 11-0.

• Paper 441-26 Vote: Confirmed 11-0.

• Paper 442-26 Vote: Confirmed 11-0.

The Council held a public hearing on Paper 444-26, a petition by Massachusetts Electric Company d/b/a National Grid (Plan No. 31286263) for five utility poles and underground conduits:

• Installing one joint-owned midspan pole (P5145) on Blaine Street, initially proposed 50 feet south of pole P2023 in front of 6 Blaine Street.
• Installing one joint-owned midspan pole (P2025-50) on Hancock Road in front of 24 Blaine Street, 60 feet northeast of pole P2025.
• Installing one joint-owned pole (P2003) and anchors on Lynn Street adjacent to 148 Belleville Street, 30 feet east of pole P2002.
• Installing two joint-owned midspan poles on Eastern Avenue: pole P1977 across from 1080 Eastern Avenue and pole P2901 across from 1114 Eastern Avenue.
• Installing underground cable duct bank and conduits from existing manhole 2-1 on Broadway to new manhole 2-2 on Eastern Avenue to riser pole P1979.

Discussion and Public Testimony:

• National Grid representatives explained that the work constitutes a broader electrical distribution feeder project running from Broadway to Wesley Street to redistribute electric loads between the Maplewood substation and Melrose.
• A resident spoke in opposition during the public hearing, raising serious concerns regarding the placement of an additional utility pole directly in front of the home at 6 Blaine Street. Following discussion between the resident, National Grid, and Ward Councillor Sica, National Grid agreed to shift the pole 20 feet north, placing it 30 feet south of pole P2023 rather than 50 feet.
• Councillor Winslow and Councillor Sica raised concerns regarding the underground conduit work on Broadway and Eastern Avenue, noting that the city is approaching a 25% design milestone for a roughly $20 million Broadway corridor redesign. They stated that the city engineering team and consultants must review the utility conduit plans to prevent interference with stormwater infrastructure and roadway improvements.
• Under Council Rule 32.01, Councillor Sica moved to split the petition to separate the Broadway and Eastern Avenue underground conduit project from the pole petitions, instructing National Grid to coordinate with the City Engineer and resubmit a separate petition.

Action on Petitions:

• Councillor Sica moved to grant the remaining four pole installation petitions, amended to locate the Blaine Street pole 30 feet south of pole P2023, subject to conditions that Dig Safe and the City Engineer be notified and that streets and sidewalks be restored to the satisfaction of the Director of Public Works. Seconded by Councillor Crowe.
• Vote: Granted 11-0.

The Council considered Paper 445-26, sponsored by Councillor Winslow: "Be it ordained by the Malden City Council that the Code of the City of Malden 12.16.010 Table of Intensity regulations, business uses, motel hotel max height to read six stories not to exceed 75 feet."

• Councillor Winslow stated that current zoning limits hotels to four stories, whereas market trends over the past 25 years favor six-story construction. He requested the matter be vetted in committee alongside pending discussions regarding transitioning hotel permitting from special permits to site plan review.
• Councillors McDonald and O'Malley requested to be added as co-sponsors.
• Councillor McDonald moved to refer the paper to the Rules and Ordinance Committee, seconded by Councillor O'Malley.
• Vote: Referred 11-0.

The Council reviewed Paper 446-26, sponsored by Councillor Winslow: "Be it ordained by the Malden City Council that the Code of the City of Malden Title II Administration is hereby amended by striking subsection 2.12.165 C, Supervision of Animal Control Officer and adding 2.12.105D, Supervision of Animal Control Officer."

• The proposed amendment transfers administrative oversight of the Animal Control Officer from the Malden Police Department to the Department of Health and Human Services, reflecting duties centered on public health, urban wildlife management, rabies vaccinations, and animal wellness.
• Councillor McDonald joined as co-sponsor and moved that the paper be enrolled without committee referral, seconded by Councillor Winslow.
• Vote: Enrolled 10-0-1, with Councillor O'Malley voting Present.

The Council considered Paper 448-26: "Ordered, that the FY2027 General Fund Appropriation Order Schedule B for the fiscal year July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2027 be and hereby is amended by reducing the appropriation for the Department of Public Works by $800,000 from $9,525,480 to $8,725,480 said reduction shall eliminate the $800,000 appropriated within the Department of Public Works FY2027 budget for the FY2026 snow and ice deficit, which will instead be raised on the FY 2027 tax recalculation report. All other provisions of the FY 2027 appropriation order shall remain unchanged."

• Councillor McDonald explained that under state municipal finance law, snow and ice removal deficits are accounted for distinctly in subsequent fiscal cycles and that adjusting the line item from the Department of Public Works budget to the tax recalculation report is necessary before finalizing annual tax rate certifications.
• On a motion by Councillor McDonald, seconded by Councillor Luong, the paper was referred to the Finance Committee.
• Vote: Referred 11-0.

The Council took up enrolled Paper 327-26: "Be it ordained by the Malden City Council that the Code of the City of Malden 12.12.030 Use Regulations is hereby amended as follows, as written in the body of the paper."

• Councillor Winslow reviewed the approximately 15 revisions to the municipal use table, which allow:
  • Hospitals in Industrial zones;
  • Business schools more broadly;
  • Medical centers by-right in Business Highway, Business Commercial, and Industrial zones;
  • Sit-down (non-fast food) restaurants by-right in Business Highway and Industrial zones;
  • Body art establishments in Business and Industrial zones;
  • Convenience stores by-right in Business and Industrial zones;
  • Licensed massage therapy across expanded business and overlay districts;
  • Adult day care by-right in Business Highway and Industrial zones;
  • Kennels in Business Commercial, Business Highway, and Industrial zones;
  • Research and development by-right in Business Commercial and Business Highway zones; and
  • Towing operations by-right in Industrial zones.
• Councillor Simonelli expressed support for enabling citywide economic development through by-right permissions.
• On a motion by Councillor Winslow, seconded by Councillor Colón Hayes, the ordinance was ordained.
• Vote: Ordained 11-0.

The Council considered enrolled Paper 415-26: "Be it ordained by the Malden City Council that the Code of the City of Malden, Title II, Chapter 24 is hereby amended by adding Section .075 Assistant Department Head Salary Schedule and inserting the following positions as is outlined in the body of the paper."

• Councillor Winslow noted that the measure updates classification and compensation schedules for assistant department heads across municipal departments.
• On a motion by Councillor Winslow, seconded by Councillor Sica, the ordinance was ordained.
• Vote: Ordained 11-0.

The Council received the report of the Standing Committee on Rules and Ordinance on Paper 434-26, concerning Papers 335-26 and 335A-26:

• Report Vote: Received 11-0.

The Council then considered Paper 335-26: "Be it ordained by the Malden City Council that the Code of the City of Malden 12.12.300 Inclusionary Zoning is hereby amended by striking new ordinance in its entirety and inserting the following."

Substantive Details & Committee Amendments:

• The ordinance establishes a comprehensive five-year update to Malden's inclusionary zoning regulations. Based on municipal housing consultants' financial feasibility studies, the required percentage of affordable units for multi-family residential developments over eight units is reduced from 15% to 10%.
• Councillor Winslow moved committee amendments to modify the definition of an "inclusionary project" and strike Section D defining "mixed income project." Seconded by Councillor Colón Hayes.
• Amendment Vote: Adopted 11-0.

Procedural Dispute:

• Councillor O'Malley requested to split Section E1 (the 10% affordability threshold) from the paper under Council rules, stating his objection to lowering the affordability percentage from 15% and asserting that broader development hurdles stemmed from existing moratoria and parking minimums rather than affordability targets.
• Councillor Winslow raised a point of order that the request was out of order because, under parliamentary rules, a paper can only be split if both divided portions can stand independently, which an isolated percentage subclause cannot.
• Council President Linehan sustained the point of order and ruled the motion to split out of order, noting that legal counsel had advised separating incentives into Paper 335A-26 under state voting threshold laws, but that dividing core definition sections would render the ordinance nonfunctional. Councillor O'Malley objected to the ruling of the chair, noting concerns over procedure.

Debate and Final Action:

• Councillor McDonald voiced strong support for the update, emphasizing that financing data showed the 15% requirement produced virtually zero affordable housing because project economics failed under high interest rates and inflation.
• Councillor Sica spoke against the measure, stating that the Building Commissioner and City Planner had unresolved concerns and expressing reservations regarding lowering the affordability requirement.
• Councillor Winslow moved to enroll the paper as amended, seconded by Councillor McDonald.
• Vote: Enrolled 10-1, with Councillor Sica dissenting.

The Council considered Paper 335A-26: "Be it ordained by the Malden City Council that the Code of the City of Malden 12.12.300 Inclusionary Zoning is hereby amended by including a new subsection that shall be titled F Incentives."

• The separate paper provides development density and dimensional incentives for inclusionary housing projects, separated in accordance with state statute governing zoning incentive majority votes.
• The committee reported favorable action with amendments to:
  • Ensure height bonuses do not apply in Residence A zoning districts;
  • Strike proposed location bonuses; and
  • Establish parking requirements of 1.1 spaces per unit for market-rate units and 0.7 spaces per unit for affordable units (adjusted from an earlier 1.0 space per unit draft).
• Prior to the vote, Councillor Sica announced that due to a personal bereavement, she had to depart the meeting early.
• Councillor Winslow moved a further floor amendment requested by the City Planner and City Solicitor to amend the introductory clause of Section 12.12.300(F) to read:

  "To facilitate the objectives of this section, a development subject to this section shall comply with all applicable requirements of this ordinance, except for requirements regarding density, height and number of parking spaces, and only as stated in the following incentive provisions."

• Seconded by Councillor Crowe.
• Amendment Vote: Adopted 10-0, with Councillor Sica absent.
• Councillor Winslow moved that Paper 335A-26 be enrolled as amended, seconded by Councillor Crowe.
• Vote: Enrolled 10-0, with Councillor Sica absent.

The Council received the report of the Standing Committee on Finance regarding Papers 427-26 and 428-26:

• Report Vote: Received 10-0, with Councillor Sica absent.

The Council then considered two financial transfer orders to satisfy retroactive collective bargaining settlements through June 30:

1. Paper 427-26: "Ordered that the sum of $157,000 be and the same is hereby transferred from salary reserve to the following accounts."

   • Funds retroactive adjustments across approximately a dozen departments for assistant department heads covered under the newly ordained salary schedule.
   • Councillor McDonald moved to adopt the order, seconded by Councillor Crowe.
   • Vote: Adopted 10-0, with Councillor Sica absent.

2. Paper 428-26: "Ordered that the sum of $220,000 be and the same is hereby transferred from salary reserve to police salaries."

   • Funds a retroactive 3% cost-of-living adjustment for the patrol officers' union through June 30.
   • Councillor Winslow moved to adopt the order, seconded by Councillor Colón Hayes.
   • Vote: Adopted 10-0, with Councillor Sica absent.

Councillors announced various municipal and civic events:

• Ward 6 Halloween Celebration: Scheduled for Saturday, October 31, from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Trafton Park, featuring games, entertainment, and candy. Drivers were urged to exercise caution on Halloween evening.
• Municipal Voting: Early voting continues at City Hall through Thursday and Friday ahead of the upcoming election on Tuesday; ADA accessible entrance improvements were completed at the Ward 6-2 polling location (Club 24).
• Community Events: Gratitude was expressed to volunteers and emergency personnel for the Haunted Woods event (drawing over 300 guests), the Trunk or Treat event (serving roughly 800 children), and firefighters who responded to the Porter Street fire. A Malden River cleanup sponsored by GMAC and Karen Buck was announced for Saturday from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
• Comprehensive Master Plan Drop-In Workshop: Scheduled for Saturday, November 7, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Senior and Teen Center for residents to provide input on the city's 10-year master vision plan.

Adjournment:

• On a motion by Councillor McDonald, seconded by Councillor Taylor, the Council voted to adjourn.
• Vote: Passed 10-0, with Councillor Sica absent.
• The meeting adjourned at 8:53 PM.