[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6079250,"mediaKeyId","2956163-28c91d312aad345caf12df0dfda7aa6d","parentId",2956163,"title","Council advances gender‑affirming care and reproductive healthcare ordinance to first reading","audioSeconds",609,"startMs",2306000,"endMs",2915000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2956163-28c91d312aad345caf12df0dfda7aa6d&start=2306&end=2915","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2956163-28c91d312aad345caf12df0dfda7aa6d/thumbnail_2306000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6079250/Medford-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Council-advances-genderaffirming-care-and-reproductive-healthcare-ordinance-to-first-reading","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6079250-0b85b4c1cfd68cb2caa0f9e7e232e0a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179054&Signature=RgRyvPpCKQDveysPCMZ1YV0RL6VZRu4Poy~IFQFXB1KRRTwZxv0SUW9TSLPFoRrKALG8Vj9AJddWssfNcJlh1ZtUipYWvqTPnYOS-TaOCc7277lfoDzNaNd~ERFNBGM2icgqoXRzxCCtV1GSt6F2hnfZPjDB-TGHtrj3cl-c1Uo0UWP0mNvJUU-y2h2rj461VeVq2ZQjnaXjRYGr-YTEzJsHqDA5VuIhyNLIJiAfXR-~tFs0iaGy5pMXEGKy7IElw5mbgyDXox6OPLY4hab0JJihu866xF2vDIHVPShCJkCjhIN0rGRx39giYvqX3cwpUTNXQ9RCBitoU6vkf6GOPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Medford City, MA","date","2025-04-08T00:00:00Z","article","The Medford City Council on April 8 voted to waive full reading of and advance for first reading an ordinance intended to protect gender‑affirming care and reproductive health care for patients and providers.

Councilor Singh offered the ordinance (paper 25‑053) and Councilor Tsang asked the council to waive the lengthy ordinance reading and allow the petitioner to provide a summary; the council approved waiving the reading and advanced the item. Sponsors said the ordinance is designed to protect people seeking care and medical providers from out‑of‑state arrest warrants and from attempts to apply non‑Massachusetts law within Medford; it also protects medical records and affirms nondiscrimination housing and services based on gender identity and expression.

Councilors described consultations with stakeholders including medical providers, the city’s legal counsel (KP Law) and community groups. Councilors Collins and others voiced support and called the measure a local step to ensure access and protections even as state and federal dynamics change. After public comment the council voted to approve for first reading; the roll call recorded unanimous support.

Why this matters: supporters said the ordinance offers a local legal layer to protect residents and providers; council sponsors emphasized aligning definitions with state law and providing administrative support for accurate public information.

Next steps: the ordinance was advanced for first reading and will return for subsequent readings and public hearings required under local ordinance procedures.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Medford City Council 04/08/25","oneSentenceSummary","Councilors voted to waive reading and advance a city ordinance intended to protect access to gender‑affirming care and reproductive health services; sponsors said the measure mirrors state definitions and aims to protect provider and patient information.","taxTitle","Medford City, Middlesex County, Massachusetts","taxId",5091,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6079256,"Council backs resolution calling for release of Tufts student detained by ICE and approves 'Know Your Rights' materials for residents",2733,2930000,5663000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2956163-28c91d312aad345caf12df0dfda7aa6d&start=2930&end=5663","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2956163-28c91d312aad345caf12df0dfda7aa6d/thumbnail_2930000.jpg","/articles/6079256/Medford-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Council-backs-resolution-calling-for-release-of-Tufts-student-detained-by-ICE-and-approves-Know-Your-Rights-materials-for-residents","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6079256-708ae5d89ee879f4ed88a9ad7e359f27/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179054&Signature=LxdtN27sWv1kW3Pe2qjIaTCEe66f3a2JH3dMLb7V0TL0t7Wiwk1gAlp8LkHvsdhSyBHico6hTiZ3Yb6z14oIVdOFd1WH8WOcFWoR-AFrfjql0JBKHg9CzbawEjzVTPbZlQJfS~3B4JLdrzoD9Gk3Q926so5a~32xKpwd6TLxXFWHl6OpszbQ~GmNNMxJ91AFuCwWGP8e4fO43zC0mcsGmSFoYDdjXHY3-UvQR1NKJS8FSN7WMS4oGId5CeGqKwYyvA4jvPlQg7khUnKVQA8YCujHedSX~CYvRlux3AV1ZKs~KucQWfQsfqJmpoN93CWJLlbHYO-rYN6NGNlDj-pUIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Medford City Council on April 8 approved a resolution calling for the release of Tufts doctoral student Rumaysa (Ramesa) Ozturk, who was detained by federal immigration authorities; the council also adopted a separate resolution directing the city to prepare and distribute \"Know Your Rights\" informational materials in multiple languages.

The resolution supporting Ozturk, introduced by Councilor Lozaro and co‑sponsored by the council president, condemned what sponsors described as an unlawful detention carried out in a manner that raised due‑process concerns. Councilors read statements from Tufts University describing the university’s interactions on Ozturk’s behalf; the council heard from residents and Tufts affiliates urging swift action and public statements. Councilors emphasized consulting Tufts and the student’s attorneys while calling on federal, state and local partners to speak out publicly. The council voted to adopt the resolution; public comment during the item included both residents and students who urged vocal local leadership.

Immediately after that debate the council approved a related, practical measure requesting the mayor’s office create and distribute \"Know Your Rights\" materials for residents — short, plain‑language materials the council directed be translated into English, Arabic, Haitian Creole, Spanish, Portuguese and Chinese and distributed through city channels (city website, community centers, schools, senior center, police and library). Council Vice President Collins and Councilor Tsang urged that the pamphlets cover basic rights when approached by immigration enforcement, including the right to remain silent, the right to see a warrant, the right to refuse entry into a private home absent a judicial warrant, and how to request an attorney. The council also asked staff to coordinate translations and outreach through community liaisons. The motion passed unanimously.

Why this matters: residents and students told the council they fear increasingly aggressive immigration enforcement and want clearer, city‑level guidance on rights and safety; the council’s actions combined a public statement of concern about an individual case with a practical step to inform residents of their rights.

Next steps: the council directed the mayor’s office and relevant departments to prepare Know Your Rights materials in the specified languages and to use city communication channels and community partners for broad distribution. The resolution on Ozturk was passed as a statement to federal and state partners and requested updates from Tufts and the university’s contacts.","Medford City Council passed a resolution condemning the detention of Tufts doctoral student Ramesa Ozturk and urging her release, and separately approved a 'Know Your Rights' informational effort and multilingual pamphlets after public testimony from students and residents.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6079261,"Council refers amended mayoral draft of city charter to special meeting after heated debate; several amendments adopted",3343,7160000,10503000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2956163-28c91d312aad345caf12df0dfda7aa6d&start=7160&end=10503","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2956163-28c91d312aad345caf12df0dfda7aa6d/thumbnail_7160000.jpg","/articles/6079261/Medford-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Council-refers-amended-mayoral-draft-of-city-charter-to-special-meeting-after-heated-debate-several-amendments-adopted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6079261-9a59d213bb378fdfc97b18ded238a0af/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179054&Signature=D5jqd7Hi1-2S0r3HtJPxaae~dp3e8lwOwQLwRxS9~ckY9hfhYM1T0aBmkQPDCyiofa0gZKq4JRxuZNVOdUSMBHByoEY6GN2Bpdkjzie8keQ0PhOtqB2ZNY6pRHtzS0ZOzowvr1mkX392vNA56MeLhOaDFpt8ouZ-vTEmfsBdYufetP6NlcaTJB1JxbwVGaKzcQjFTmElaK6j0gN3tFfr0pcV5qkl775ZWvSr4zh6OP9RP7LJgREKjRJFHpSOsYzfKSCtB8Kvb-f8wzGIwb0mpypW96GlgWD4SiaQnqWUOYbBK-ooEXeK1WMhVLzDOJTjzyEC9WAmqvufek5JS5dFhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Medford City Council spent much of its April 8 meeting debating changes to a mayor‑returned draft of a proposed city charter and agreed to several amendments before referring the package to a special council meeting April 15 for final consideration.

The mayor had returned a revised draft after the council’s governance review. Council deliberations on April 8 focused on representativeness, balance of power between the mayor and council, the mayor’s role on the school committee and appointment rules for future charter review bodies. Councilors said they wanted to preserve the council’s ability to make appointments by ordinance in some cases, ease an asymmetric residency restriction for ward councilors, and change how future charter review panels are constituted.

Key procedural steps and amendments adopted by the council on April 8 included:
- Restoring the phrase \"or ordinance\" in section 3‑3(a) so the council can appoint members to some boards/commissions by ordinance as well as by charter.
- Striking a one‑year ward residency look‑back for ward council candidates (section 2‑1(c)); the adopted language requires only that a ward counselor be a voter in the ward for which election is sought.
- Amending section 9‑4(b) so future charter review committees would be composed of three appointees each from the mayor, the city council and the school committee (3/3/3) rather than the mayor‑weighted composition proposed in the returned draft.
- Reverting petition certification language (section 8‑2) to the Board of Election Commissioners for voter roll access.
- Setting the signature threshold in section 8‑2(e) at 12% so citizen initiative and repeal petitions use a single consistent threshold.

Councilor Collins moved, and members adopted, an amendment to remove the mayor from the school committee and replace that seat with an at‑large school committee seat; the council voted to include that amendment for additional consideration at the April 15 special meeting. The proposal to remove the mayor from the school committee was a focal point for several councilors who argued for shifting power and for clearer separation of executive and school governance, while other councilors and many residents urged that the mayor remain on the school committee to preserve connection between city leadership and school operations.

The council also voted to send the mayor’s draft as amended back to a special meeting on April 15 at 6 p.m. to give members more time to finalize the text before forwarding it to the Legislature. Anthony Wilson of the Collins Center, who addressed the council, advised that certain election‑mode and composition changes would require legislative approval (special act) while other technical edits could be handled during periodic review; he also noted that a future charter review route via signatures and election of a charter commission would remain legally available.

Why this matters: a new charter would rewrite the city’s foundational government document and affect how Medford elects representatives, how power is divided between executive and legislative branches, and how future charter reviews are conducted. The council’s amendments attempt to balance the mayor’s revisions with council prerogatives while preserving a path to voter consideration.

Next steps: the council will reconvene in a special meeting April 15 to consider the amended draft and try to finalize a version to send to the mayor and the Legislature for placement on an upcoming municipal ballot.","After hours of debate the council adopted multiple amendments to the mayor’s returned draft — including restoring council appointment language, removing a one‑year ward residency requirement and agreeing to revise future charter committee appointments — then voted to continue the charter for final action at a special council meeting April 15.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6079265,"Council approves first reading of $25.8 million loan order for McGlynn and Andrews HVAC and roof work",922,553000,1475000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2956163-28c91d312aad345caf12df0dfda7aa6d&start=553&end=1475","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2956163-28c91d312aad345caf12df0dfda7aa6d/thumbnail_553000.jpg","/articles/6079265/Medford-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Council-approves-first-reading-of-258-million-loan-order-for-McGlynn-and-Andrews-HVAC-and-roof-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6079265-692270d6200560e33c8f0e10b6a011de/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179054&Signature=kJRxTUiFOFdyOqgeUr43CLBGZaL0zwnok-sfkFrq1-Omnx3SGhHKTTTQDDWhCbnpVsRXoBdw-TA9CjZcxTZtvkJiLA3GSRZbdBvBzxJZIXMO67IuTsnHYtZvtVZoBtt1FM7EmlQ7LPubxmg55B-PyqHbqzPDGXmcofMqRz8K4koho~oFwWrcRE1OXC7kH3o46pT8DNt7wUdTjKviFsrCYLLb1QyvJheHPeeCF74KVS3EUl0ZPnhgP0FoMH4HAZ-AeXUGmqY6zgyK0wFd1eAtcRa8XlE09-CT~dX37gsscWm7YX~z~oTX-hr7IlX508A3MOrL6~Q7hnXQIayG6UFL5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Medford City Council on April 8 voted 7-0 on first reading to advance a loan order of $25,775,000 for HVAC replacements, roof work and related upgrades at the McGlynn and Andrews elementary schools.

The measure, submitted by the mayor and introduced by city project staff, would supplement an earlier $5 million authorization that paid for pre-purchase of equipment. Peter Cushing, assistant superintendent for the Medford Public Schools, and Brenda Pike, the city’s climate planner, presented the project and cost breakdown to the council.

The project plan calls for replacing boilers and cooling systems with condensing boilers and heat pumps, automated controls, structural and electrical work, weatherization, and roof repairs. The council was told the $5 million pre‑purchase package already authorized supplied roughly $3.3 million in advance equipment purchases. Construction-phase costs for the two schools were estimated at about $22,945,000, with an owner contingency of $687,273 and additional design and project‑management fees (designer ~ $1,300,000; owner’s project manager ~ $484,000). The presenters also identified other contingencies, including roughly $2.3 million in potential ADA‑triggered upgrades that they expect to seek variances on, and more than $2 million in tariff and second‑shift contingencies.

Project staff said the McGlynn roof will receive a fluid‑applied refurbishment estimated at $1.5 million rather than a full $3 million tear‑off and replacement because the warranty and expected life are comparable at substantially lower cost. The team said about $2.2 million in Mass Save incentives are expected but would be reimbursed after equipment is purchased and installed. Solar installation was described as an add‑alternate and is not included in the bond amount unless bids come in lower than expected.

Vice President Collins moved to approve the loan order for first reading; Councilor Tsang seconded. The roll call vote recorded all seven present councilors as yes (Councilors Callahan, Collins, Lozaro, Lemming, Scarpelli, Singh and President Bares). The motion carried on first reading. Staff said the construction manager was brought on early as a construction‑management‑at‑risk to deliver a GMP (guaranteed maximum price) and to help preserve the schedule so work can be completed before students return in August.

Why this matters: school HVAC and roof work affects building safety, accessibility and energy use for thousands of students; the project includes significant contingencies, reimbursable incentives, and ADA work that could raise costs and trigger variance processes.

Councilors discussed financing options, including the mayor’s office and staff looking at free cash or timing of borrowing to smooth the long‑term debt schedule. Councilor Scarpelli asked whether available free cash might be used to reduce borrowing; staff responded that multiple options would be evaluated and timing of debt service was a central concern for the fiscal plan.

Next steps: the loan order advanced on first reading and will return to council for additional readings and a final vote before the bond can be issued. The project team said they will pursue applicable ADA variances and pursue Mass Save rebates after installation.","Medford City Council voted 7-0 on first reading April 8 to advance a loan order for $25,775,000 to replace boilers and HVAC systems at McGlynn and Andrews schools and make roof repairs; project leaders outlined costs, contingencies and expected rebates.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council advances gender‑affirming care and reproductive healthcare ordinance to first reading

Council backs resolution calling for release of Tufts student detained by ICE and approves 'Know Your Rights' materials for residents

Council refers amended mayoral draft of city charter to special meeting after heated debate; several amendments adopted

Council approves first reading of $25.8 million loan order for McGlynn and Andrews HVAC and roof work