Page 2 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, December 5, 2025 Malden City Solicitor will investigate Open Meeting Law violation allegation by one City Councillor vs. another Ward 8’s Sica claims Councillor-at-Large Colón Hayes engaged in ‘serial deliberation’ regarding potential appointment By Steve Freker T he Malden City Council authorized personnel in the City Solicitor’s office to investigate the claim of one City Councillor that a second Councillor violated the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law in the hours leading up to another Council meeting. The vote was 9-2 in favor of this move, with Ward 1 Councillor Peg Crowe and Councillors Paul Condon (Ward 2), Ryan O’Malley (Ward 4), Ari Taylor (Ward 5), Gerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? If Not, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657 Stephen Winslow (Ward 6), Chris Simonelli (Ward 7), Karen Colón Hayes (At Large), Carey McDonald (At Large) and Council President Amanda Linehan (Ward 3) in favor, and voting opposed, Jadeane Sica (Ward 8) and Craig Spadafora (At Large). A proposal to appoint a former City Councillor to fill the Northeast Metro Tech School Committee Malden seat left empty by the passing of former Police Chief James Holland caused some spirited debate at the November 18 Malden City Council meeting. Both backers and detractors of Mayor Gary Christenson’s proposal to appoint former Ward 4 Councillor Jeff Donahue to the unexpired term spoke out in person and by correspondence. The end result of a lengthy discussion was to refer the appointment request to the Council’s Personnel Committee for review. Before that vote was taken, Ward 8 Councillor Jadeane Sica spoke on the Council floor and made the allegation that during the day and evening before the November 18 meeting Councillor-at-Large Karen Colón Hayes “clearly violated” the state Open Meeting Law. Sica alleged Colón Hayes engaged in direct contact via phone call, text message and email in “serial deliberation” with multiple fellow City Councillors “trying to sway opinion” over the potential appointment of Donahue. Councillor Sica called it “unlawful contact” outside of a public meeting” and added, “I will be seeking a formal complaint of the Open Meeting Law violation.” At the November 18 meeting, Councillor Colón Hayes did not MALDEN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER: An Open Meeting Law violation allegation made by one Councillor on another Councillor is now being investigated by personnel from the office of Malden City Solicitor Alicia McNeil. (Courtesy/City of Malden) directly address the allegation. At the most recent City Council meeting, on Tuesday, November 25, Councillor Sica had a docket item on the Council agenda regarding her allegation, asking if the Council would — or would not — want to discuss the complaint in executive session, or, in a meeting closed to the public. Executive session is in the Council’s purview if a matter involves personnel or has legal ramifications. The Council voted unanimously, 11-0, to discuss the allegation in open session. Councillor Sica gave details of her allegation, stating she had “evidence,” such as copies of text messages, voice mails and emails that Councillor Colón Hayes sent to as many as “at least six City Councillors” regarding the Donahue appointment issue. “That’s a quorum and though it may have been one-by-one, it collectively reached six, the very definition of an Open Meeting Law violation,” Councillor Sica said. “[The contact] was clearly intended to shape opinions, all of which must only occur in a public meeting.” “When a Councillor becomes involved in serial deliberation with an unlawful private quorum, it compromises the integrity of our Council,” Councillor Sica said. Councillor Sica called for the following response to her allegation, which she said would be ultimately validated: — That Councillor Colón Hayes recuse herself from all further discussions and actions on the Donahue appointment — That there be a public acknowledgement of the Open Meeting Law violation — That the Council take corrective action regarding this Open Meeting Law violation LAW | SEE PAGE 20
3 Publizr Home