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Malden council refers open-meeting complaint to legal and authorizes response to attorney general
Summary
The city council voted to refer an open-meeting-law complaint filed January 30, 2026 to the legal office for review and authorized the legal office to submit a response to the Attorney General, following council discussion on agenda notice and public records.
The Malden City Council voted to refer an open‑meeting‑law complaint filed January 30, 2026 by resident John Seya to the city legal office and authorized legal to submit a response to the Attorney General, the council said at its meeting.
Assistant Solicitor (reading the complaint) summarized the claim as alleging that the wording on Paper 72‑26 and its referral to the public safety committee did not provide the public adequate notice of the substance or practical implications of the matter. The assistant solicitor said the office will review the complaint, apply the law, and bring back recommended action if necessary.
Councilors discussed the complaint on the floor. Councilor Taylor moved to refer the complaint to legal, seconded by Councilor Simonelli; that procedural referral was adopted. Several councilors urged legal to review the meeting record, including written comments and in‑person statements, to ensure a complete record for any response. Councilor Ali said he did not think the paper as posted rose to an open‑meeting violation and urged a careful but clear response if the matter proceeds to the Attorney General.
On a subsequent motion by Councilor Crow, seconded by Councilor McDonald, the council authorized the city legal office to submit a response to the Attorney General on the council’s behalf, to be signed by the council president. That motion carried 10 to 1. The council did not make a determination on the merits of the complaint at the meeting; the legal office will prepare a formal response after review.
The complaint, as summarized in council discussion, alleges insufficient detail in the agenda language that could obscure the practical effects of the item and contends that referral to committee would repeat the alleged deficiency. The council’s action was procedural: to seek legal evaluation and then proceed based on counsel’s recommendation.
Next steps: city legal staff will review the complaint and the meeting record and prepare a response for submission to the Attorney General if authorized by the council president, as the council directed.
