New City Council President O’Malley hits the ground running in first meeting of New Year

Council committee assignments are made; some changes are proposed and expected to be approved

By Steve Freker

New Malden City Council President Ryan O’Malley banged the gavel for the first time Tuesday night, January 7 at the first meeting of the New Year. Councillor O’Malley, who represents Ward 4, hit the ground running in City Council Meeting #1 of 2025 as he outlined some of his personal leadership goals for the coming year in addition to announcing his appointments to the various Council committees.

Also, he proposed some changes – primarily in the number of fellow Councillors on various committees – which were entertained, then received initial approval by a vote of his colleagues. That particular numbers change, going from three to five members on some committees, was proposed so a quorum could be more efficiently attained to comply with Open Meeting Law regulations. Since the member number change is essentially a change in Council rules, a second vote must be taken at the next full Council meeting (Tuesday, January 21), Council President O’Malley explained.

O’Malley opened a brief presentation to his colleagues and the public by delineating some personal leadership/procedural goals he has for the coming year. He used the acronym “ENGAGE” in his outline:

—Embrace technology and off nights for some committee meetings

—Notify Mayor to submit proposals directly to City Council or Committees

—Go directly to committees with papers from Councillors

—Allow public to remotely access ALL meetings over “Teams” (a technological service)

—Generate 2025 Goals for City Council at second meeting

—Encourage key resources to participate in City Council meetings

O’Malley called them “over-arching goals,” which he said he compiled after consultation with the city’s Chief Strategy Officer, Ron Hogan. The intent, the Council President said, is to streamline the work of the Council as it collaborates with other resources and personnel.

In addition to these goals, O’Malley also announced the introduction of three new special committees to the Council list:

—Arts & Culture Committee: Committee of five shall work to expand arts & culture opportunities in Malden.

—Community Traditions: Committee of five shall work to inventory/document cherished Malden traditions.

—Quadricentennial Planning: Committee of three shall work to start planning and fundraising for Malden’s 400th Anniversary in 2049.

“We must work to preserve memories of traditions that make Malden special,” Council President O’Malley said. “Seven Bumps, the I-A Road Races, there are many traditions.”

As for the upcoming 400th Anniversary, “It is very difficult for our city to fund major projects, so we can have a head start on a major celebration 25 years away in 2049. If we can start saving something now every year, we could make it happen.”

The new Council President also announced the consolidation of the Public Property, Public Works and Cemetery Committees into one committee: Public Property. This committee was one of those he announced would be increased from three to five members. O’Malley also said it was intended for this move to be codified, or made permanent in the Council rules, by vote of the members.

O’Malley then announced the Council Committee assignments for the coming 2025 municipal legislative year. See separate story box with full City Council Committee assignments listed.

The chairpersons for the major, standing Council committees are as follows:

—Community Engagement & Inclusion Committee: Chairperson Karen Colón Hayes (at-large).

—Finance Committee: Chairperson Carey McDonald (at-large).

—License Committee: Chairperson Jadeane Sica (Ward 8).

—Personnel & Appointments Committee: Chairperson Amanda Linehan (Ward 3).

—Public Safety Committee: Chairperson Paul Condon (Ward 2).

—Public Property Committee (with Public Works and Cemetery): Chairperson Craig Spadafora (at-large).

—Rules & Ordinance Committee: Chairperson Stephen Winslow (Ward 6).

The City Council voted unanimously to accept the Council Committee assignments, with the intention of taking another vote at the next full Council meeting to codify the Public Property change in both name and number of members (from three to five).