By Lorna Garey
A short-handed Malden City Council met on Oct. 6 without Chair Amanda Linehan or Councilors Michelle Luong and Chris Simonelli; Councilor Ari Taylor left the session early. Given the absences, a set of four finance papers were postponed to the Oct. 20 meeting because three required a supermajority vote, or eight of 11 members.
In Linehan’s absence, Councilor Carey McDonald acted as chair. The meeting opened with a moment of silence for veterans and service members, as well as a tribute led by Councilor Peg Crowe for longtime community member Jackie Bouley, a familiar presence at All Season’s Table who passed away unexpectedly on Sept. 28. Crowe remembered Bouley as “larger-than-life.”
“She had the unique ability to light up any room and to make everyone feel comfortable,” said Crowe. “She was a dedicated person in her work, in her family, in her volunteer causes, and in her friend group.”
Familiar face on the Planning Board
Among the mayoral communications presented to the council was Paper 411-26, formally nominating Jim Tarr, the city’s former Transportation Planner, as an associate member of the Malden Planning Board for a term expiring March 1, 2027. Tarr fills the unexpired associate term vacated by Michele Ferguson, who was promoted to a full-member seat following the departure of Stephanie Stone. Full members hold permanent, active voting rights on all Planning Board business while associate members are alternates who vote only when the Planning Board Chair designates them to fill in for full members who are absent or recuse themselves.
In his appointment letter formally nominating Tarr, Mayor Gary Christenson emphasized Tarr’s municipal background and expertise in transportation systems, traffic analysis, multimodal planning and coordination with municipal staff, consultants, and community stakeholders.
The appointment received praise during public comment from Malden resident Katie Dillon, who called Tarr “a devoted public servant with a keen and sharp perspective on how to make our community safe and accessible for all.”
The council voted unanimously to refer Tarr’s nomination, along with several others, to the Personnel & Appointments Committee for review.
Unanimous support for striking casino workers
The council was united in backing more than 1,400 striking Encore Boston Harbor hospitality and warehouse workers represented by Teamsters Local 25 and Unite Here Local 26.
During public comment, a spokesman for the large group of workers who attended the meeting urged councilors to stand with union members in their demand for better pay: “We are on strike for our future and the future of our families. One job should be enough.”
Councilors spoke in favor of the measure before taking a vote.
“I look at everybody out here today and firmly believe that one paycheck should be able to feed your family,” said Councilor Ari Taylor, who shared that her husband was a longtime Encore worker. “I see the work that you do. I see what’s expected of you, and I see what you deserve.”
Councilor Ryan O’Malley, who formerly worked at Encore, reminded the council that pro-labor commitments and promises of robust local economic benefits were key to Wynn Resorts securing a gaming license for its Everett location. Councilor Stephen Winslow highlighted a lack of progress at the bargaining table, with Crowe stating that “one job at a living wage is really paramount.” Councilor Karen Colón Hayes said to expect elected officials to continue to join the picket lines.
McDonald, closing the discussion, called the assembled union members the lifeblood of our communities.
“You’re … fighting for your families and your future, and we want you to know that this city is behind you,” they said.
The Council voted unanimously to adopt the resolution, which read in part:
“Now be it therefore resolved that the Malden City Council go on record expressing support for the strike of Teamsters Local 25 and Unite Here Local 26 workers by not eating, meeting, or sleeping at hotels while a labor dispute is in effect, and to join all picket lines and encourage all city residents and employees to do the same. And be it further ordered that the city clerk is hereby requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to the general manager of Encore Boston Harbor.”
Major municipal finance ordinances advanced
The Council took steps toward restructuring the city’s financial systems by unanimously approving two key ordinances recommended favorably by a joint session of the Finance and Rules & Ordinance Committees.
The Solid Waste Enterprise Fund establishes a dedicated fund, beginning in FY28, to separately account for trash, recycling, yard waste and hazardous waste operations. McDonald explained that Malden currently operates a trash deficit of roughly $2 million against $3.8 million in total solid waste expenses, which has required general fund subsidies. The enterprise fund creates a formal accounting structure to manage these operations with more transparency.
The Reserve and Stabilization Fund Framework creates a formal governance framework for Malden’s General Purpose Stabilization and Short-Term Capital Needs Special Purpose Stabilization funds. The Council unanimously adopted committee amendments clarifying the role of municipal financial officers, requiring annual reporting on anticipated liquidity needs and mandating presentations to the City Council within 60 days of free cash being certified by the state.
Personal privilege
During the personal privilege period, councilors shared a list of upcoming local events and community notices.
- Jadeane Sica announced that the Jaden Brito-White Foundation three-point basketball shootout will take place on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Mello Park in Ward 7. She encouraged community donations in memory of the late Jackie Bouley, who strongly supported the annual event.
- Ryan O’Malley congratulated the Malden River Works team on their grand opening, announced a volunteer cleanup at Coytemore Lea Park for Saturday, Oct. 10, at 10 a.m. and urged all residents to get their annual flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.
- Karen Colón Hayes promoted the 2nd Annual Malden Donation Fair and Clothing Exchange, hosted by the Malden Community Coalition and Bread of Life, on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bread of Life.
- Peg Crowe highlighted the YWCA Malden annual bowling fundraiser on Oct. 16, noted the Haunted Woods event at Pine Banks Park on Oct. 24 hosted by Councilor Taylor, and invited residents to the annual Trunk or Treat event on Sunday, Oct. 25, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Stephen Winslow said to watch for traffic delays from the Brazilian election runoff voting on Oct. 25. He also announced that National Grid will begin major gas main replacement work on Lebanon Street, from Swains Pond Road to Weber Street, starting Monday, Oct. 12, and running through January between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily.
- Carey McDonald also congratulated the Malden River Works planning team and extended best wishes for Italian American Heritage Month and Indigenous Peoples Day.
Finally, McDonald announced that next week the council meeting will convene as a Committee of the Whole to receive a formal presentation and hold a Q&A session with the Police Chief, Police Commissioner, Detective Lieutenant and Legal Department regarding Malden’s Flock license-plate reader camera system. This will not be a public meeting; while residents may attend, anyone who wishes to submit a comment is advised to contact their councilor.
This is a recap of the Oct. 6, 2026 City Council meeting. The full meeting is on YouTube.
The City Council agenda has links to papers and supporting documents.
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