THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, March 26, 2021 Page 9 COMPLAINTS | FROM PAGE 1 Last week, Ward 4 Councillor Ryan O’Malley’s complaint made with the Attorney General regarding an email transmission originating with Councillor-at-Large Craig Spadafora was discussed. Last week’s discussion of the matter involving Councillor Spadafora, which was confi rmed as a transgression by Malden City Solicitor Kathryn Fallon, was lengthy and detailed with copies and discussions of at least two emails sent by Councillor Spadafora to other Councillors. The content of the emails regarded a matter involving a joint meetcomplainant, Councillor O’Malley, who would be able to then accept or reject them and/or further address or pursue additional remediation steps regarding the complaint with the AG’s Offi ce. Councillor O’Malley spoke briefly several times during the discussion last week, which was before a full City Council meeting, reiterating previous remarks that he would continue to address and report any incidences where he believes rules and regulations within the City Council or any other part of municipal government are not being followed. He said he had a duty to safeguard the peated his advice from the previous week’s meeting that moving forward, all email communication between Councillors be directed through him and Clerk of Committees Lisa Cagno to both assure transparency and appropriate manner of communication. All Councillors agreed. Attorney Fallon was not present at Tuesday’s meeting. Ward 3 Councillor Amanda Linehan, who has worked for many years as Communications Director for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), suggested the City of Malden pursue a plan to off er formal training in Open Meeting Law and other state regulatory practices for all new elected city officials and/or board of commission appointees, so as to avoid further issues with violations and other matters. Councillors O’Malley and Spadafora immediately endorsed an initiative of this sort, and other councillors quickly followed suit, and Clerk Lucey agreed to look into it for further possible action. RETIRE YOUR MORTGAGE BEFORE YOU RETIRE! Apply for our 10 & Done Loan and you could get rid of your mortgage sooner! Apply online at massbaycu.org or call (617) 269-2700 and let’s do the math together! Closing Costs Two Open Meeting Law violations complaints in two weeks, by one Malden City Councillor against another Councillor, were discussed in two weeks in two separate meetings. ing of the City Council’s Ordinance and Finance Committees and the Malden Planning Board. Attorney Fallon confirmed Councillor O’Malley’s complaint claiming Councillor Spadafora’s email constituted a “deliberation” since the number of Councillors receiving it numbered enough for a quorum, which means it could be construed as an improper assembly outside of the legal parameters of a municipal body. Councillor Spadafora: Action was unintentional Councillor Spadafora, at last week’s meeting, read a lengthy personal statement, asserting the violation was unintentional and issuing a public apology for the transgression. City Council President Neal Anderson said he agrees that the violation appeared unintentional, and Attorney Fallon added that regardless of the intent, the violation was formally registered with the Attorney General’s Offi ce and had to be addressed. The formal discussion of the violation was the fi rst step, and City Council President Anderson said that all the members of the City Council would be participating in an in-person training session on the parameters of the Open Meeting Law conducted through the AG’s Offi ce in the near future. Attorney Fallon said these steps for remediation would be formally documented and delineated to the integrity and transparency of city government. Second Open Meeting Law complaint In the second Open Meeting Law violation complaint, which Councillor DeMaria fi led in February regarding an email to Councillor Sica’s email to other Councillors regarding a license application by a potential car dealership, the discussion was much briefer on Tuesday night. There was a brief exchange at last week’s City Council meeting, during the personal privilege segment, almost entirely from Councillor Sica directed toward Councillor DeMaria, after Councillor DeMaria announced the news of her complaint being fi led. At Tuesday’s discussion during the License Committee meeting chaired by Councillor Condon, again, there was a mention by City Council President Anderson on upcoming training. Councillor DeMaria did not speak on the matter Tuesday night, and Councillor Sica confi rmed the violation through use of the email she sent to other Councillors. Councillor Sica said it was an unintentional violation and publicly apologized for the transgression when she spoke at Tuesday’s meeting. Malden City Clerk Greg Lucey, at the request of Councillors Condon and Anderson, spoke briefl y and reSOUTH BOSTON – EVERETT – QUINCY – SEAPORT massbaycu.org (617) 269-2700 *APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Interest Rate and APR are as of March 15, 2021 and are subject to change without notice. The APR is calculated based on a loan amount of $100,000 for a term of 10 years or 120 months. Payments are $9.48 per $1,000 borrowed. Owner occupied condos and single family primary residences only. Payment doesn’t include taxes, insurance or HOA fees. The actual payment obligation will be greater. Maximum loan amount is $300,000. The maximum LTV is 80% up to $200,000. The maximum LTV is 70% for loans over $200,000 up to $300,000. Loan must be in first lien position. Other terms and restrictions apply including a 620 minimum credit score. 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