The Medford City Resident Services Public Engagement Committee voted to publish the committee’s May newsletter after editing a draft prepared by Councilor Lazaro.

Chair Lemming opened discussion and thanked Councilor Lazaro for compiling links and drafting the newsletter. Councilor Lazaro described edits that added a Memorial Day resolution, a link to planning and permitting committee materials, and a note about a recent facilities-manager briefing to the full council.

The nut graf: Committee members reviewed wording changes including a suggested sentence about first reading of the governing ordinance for the Human Rights Commission (HRC), adjustments to how business hours for an establishment were described, and a capitalization decision for references to veterans’ services. Councilor Lazaro and other members debated phrasing to make the HRC ordinance line read that it would “empower [the HRC] to run more effectively and respond to new challenges.”

Committee members also discussed a specific liquor/common victualer licensing item: several committee members noted the change aligned business common victualers licenses and liquor licenses so some establishments would be permitted to stay open until 1 a.m.; members emphasized that permission to stay open is discretionary and that establishments do not necessarily use the later hours nightly. Councilor Lazaro said residents sometimes object to late hours when restaurants are in mixed-use buildings.

Action: On a motion by Councilor Saini, seconded by Councilor Lazaro, the committee voted (Councilor Callaghan: yes; Councilor Lazaro: yes; Councilor Scarpelli: absent; Councilor Singh: yes; Chair Lemming: yes) to approve the newsletter as edited and to publish and circulate the May newsletter. The motion passed (approved; 1 absent).

Ending: Staff or the clerk will post the newsletter and add YouTube links and other formatting before public distribution.