Malden meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Malden licensing board keeps Mixx 360 license with new conditions

The Malden Liquor Licensing Board decided this week to keep Mixx 360's liquor and entertainment license but imposed corrective measures after police incidents on July 18 and 25. The board did not suspend or revoke the license. Instead, it required the business to add police details for Friday and Saturday events (11 p.m.–3 a.m.), strengthen security training, post signage stating patrons cannot leave and return, improve bag checks and camera coverage, and address parking lot congestion and emergency access. The owner accepted responsibility and agreed to the conditions.

Planning and Zoning

The Planning Board held a joint hearing with the City Council Rules & Ordinance Committee on five proposed zoning amendments. These include allowing cottage food operations, updating nonconforming use rules, redefining medical centers and massage salons, revising use regulations for 14 business types, and amending inclusionary zoning for affordable housing. The board also considered a special permit for a 7-story multifamily building with 73 units (12 affordable) at 1 Salem Street and 15 Ferry Street. No votes were reported; the items remain under review.

The Historical Commission reviewed demolition delay statuses for four Preferably Preserved Buildings: 15 Ferry Street, One Salem Street, 245 Bryant Street, and 808 Salem Street. It also discussed amending the Demolition & Alteration Delay Ordinance with city planning staff.

Housing and Retirement

The Malden Housing Authority met on August 11 to approve bills, checks, and invoices, and review policies, contracts, and charitable requests. The board also reviewed capital project invoices and requisitions for payment.

The Retirement Board heard a pension valuation from Stone Consulting and approved routine financial reports. It enrolled 7 new members (MPS and City), noted 2 deceased members (Brian Newnan, Police; Carole Spaulding, MPS), accepted 1 retirement application (Margaret Drummey, MPS ESP), and processed 6 withdrawals/transfers, including Jennifer Breaker's transfer to Wakefield (17 yrs, 1 mo).

Elections and Other

The Board of Registrar of Voters began testing voting machines and ballots for the September 1 State Primary. Testing started at 11:00 AM on August 19 in Room 106 of City Hall.

The Northeast Metro Tech Building Committee met on August 13 to discuss Student Handbook updates for SY26-27. The full School Committee meeting that day was largely procedural, with an executive session for collective bargaining.

The Board of Appeal held a public hearing on a variance request by Mystic Valley Regional Charter School for an awning sign at 31 Granite St (Petition 26-007). No decision was reported.

Coming up

• **Site Plan Review Committee** (Aug. 25): Public hearing on an accessory dwelling unit in a detached garage at 101 Wallace Street.
• **Council on Aging** (Aug. 25): Vote on posting last meeting's summary, discuss personnel change at the Senior Center, plan activities.
• **School Committee Technology Subcommittee** (Aug. 25): Hear AI Working Group report and discuss GoGuardian launch.
• **State Primary** (Sept. 1): Polls open 7 A.M. to 8 P.M. at Ferryway, Beebe, Linden, and other schools.
• **Malden Housing Authority** (Sept. 2): Regular board meeting to approve bills, invoices, and review policies.

Malden boards weighed housing permits, retirements, and zoning changes in late July

Malden's boards and committees held a busy stretch of meetings from July 21 through July 29, 2026, covering housing permits, city employee retirements, cemetery planning, and a proposed marijuana establishment. All meetings listed below were agenda-only at the time of this report — minutes have not yet been published, so outcomes and vote tallies are not available. What follows reflects what each body was scheduled to consider.

Planning Board: multifamily housing permit extensions

The Planning Board was scheduled to hold public hearings on July 22 for two multifamily housing special permit extensions. One involved a six-story, 82-unit building at 10 Florence Street. The other involved a three-story building with 20 affordable housing units at 211-213 Main Street. The agenda also listed a subdivision plan review for the East Border Road area, a Master Plan Steering Committee charter amendment discussion, and an advisory recommendation for 1 Salem Street, where a 73-unit construction project is under review.

Retirement Board: 14 retirement applications and $12,620.14 buyback

The Retirement Board met July 22 at 8:30 a.m. in conference room #108. The agenda included introducing new board member Craig Spadafora and reviewing retirement applications for 14 city employees, including Michael Bondanza and Teri Ippolito. The board was scheduled to approve a $12,620.14 buyback for Stephen Shepard. Additional items covered the upcoming Retirement Board election, cost-of-living adjustments (COLA), and staff contracts.

City Council: Open Meeting Law determination

The City Council's July 28 agenda addressed a determination from the Attorney General's Office regarding an Open Meeting Law violation. The determination, numbered OML 2026-76, concerns an individual violation by Councillor Colon Hayes related to filling a Voke School Committee vacancy. The agenda also called for the ordered release of deliberative communications within 45 days of the determination date.

Community outreach: proposed marijuana establishment at 926 Eastern Ave

Ward 6 City Councillor Stephen Winslow held a July 29 community meeting on a proposed marijuana establishment at 926 Eastern Avenue. Discussion topics included the type of establishment, security plans, measures to prevent diversion to minors, community impact, and nuisance concerns. The public had an opportunity to ask questions.

Site Plan Review: two accessory dwelling units

The Site Plan Review Committee was scheduled July 28 to consider two accessory dwelling unit applications, both involving basement units in existing single-family homes: 34 Sheafe Street (Permit #RES-077276-2026) and 220 Glenwood Street (Permit #RES-077064-2026).

Historical Commission: demolition delay ordinance amendments

The Historical Commission met July 28 to review status updates for several properties under the Demolition & Alteration Delay Ordinance, including 264 Salem Street (Permit #CMID-077572-2026), 145 Glenwood Street, and 1100 Main Street. The commission discussed possible amendments to the ordinance (Title 4.24), a volunteer outreach plan for the Historical Preservation Program, and updates to the city website's historical information.

Other meetings

The Master Plan Steering Committee met July 21 with consultants from Agency Landscape + Planning for a project status update on the Master (Comprehensive) Plan, including discussion of the plan's title, logo, and community engagement milestones. The Cemetery Trustees held a special meeting July 24 at the Forest Dale Cemetery Office to discuss potential gravesites. The Emergency Management Team met July 29 to review recent emergency activations, hazard mitigation and resilience funding updates, and reports from Fire, Police, Public Health, DPW, Public Facilities, and Schools.

Coming up

• **Aug. 11 — Malden Housing Authority:** The board will consider approving bills, signing checks, paying invoices and contract change orders, plus policy and contract reviews.
• **Aug. 12 — Planning Board:** A joint hearing with the City Council Rules & Ordinance Committee covers five zoning amendments, including inclusionary zoning changes for affordable housing (CCP 335/2026) and cottage food operations (CCP 263/2026). The board will also consider a special permit for a 7-story multifamily building with 73 units, 12 of them affordable, at 1 Salem Street and 15 Ferry Street.

Malden meeting roundup: Boards review housing complaints, water abatements, and sign applications; retirement and housing hearings ahead

Malden's boards and commissions held a busy stretch of meetings from July 7 through July 15, covering fair-housing complaints, water abatement hearings, sign applications, and zoning variances. Because minutes have not yet been published for any of these sessions, all items below reflect what was scheduled on each agenda — not confirmed outcomes. Residents should watch for posted minutes to see what was actually decided.

Housing Authority — July 7

The Malden Housing Authority board met in regular session to approve bills, sign checks, and review invoices, dues, and contract change orders. The agenda also listed review of policies, contracts, charitable requests, capital project invoices, and training conference offerings, followed by open discussion. No minutes are available yet.

Climate Action & Sustainability Commission — July 8

The commission was scheduled to approve June 17 minutes and review feedback on the Energy Coach Program memo. Updates were listed on rain barrel installations, a Bloomberg YCAF grant, and a planned Malden River event. Members also planned communication and translation work for the annual progress report.

Human Rights & Fair Housing Commission — July 8

The commission was set to review a new fair-housing complaint at 13 Albion St. Other agenda items included a brochure update, the City of Malden Fair Housing plan, recaps of Juneteenth and the Malden Pride Event, and a preview of the upcoming National Night August Out event.

Disability Commission — July 9

The commission was scheduled to approve June 2026 minutes and receive updates on current projects, including a Lions Club collaboration and an MOD Grant. New business included discussion of an MBTA accessibility presentation and representation on the UMA board.

Sign Design Review Committee — July 9

The committee was set to review five sign applications: Flyra Aesthetics at 134 Pleasant Street, SRS Building Products at 326 Commercial Street, BentoGo at 475 Ferry St, Main Street Smoke Shop at 507A Main Street, and BTB Showroom at 112 Main Street.

Public Works Commission — July 14

The commission was scheduled to hold water abatement hearings for 13 addresses, including 4 Hemenway Ave., 6 Wilson Ave., 29-31 Bainbridge St, 9 Fellsway East, 344 Lebanon St., and 101-103 Harvard St., among others.

Board of Appeal — July 15

The Board of Appeal was set to approve June 17, 2026 minutes and conduct a public hearing on two petitions. Petition 26-005 requests a variance for a wall sign exceeding 40 sq ft at 869 Eastern Ave (Parcel ID #127-435-504). Petition 26-006 seeks a revision to condition 4 of a 2001 variance at 134-136 Wyoming Ave (Parcel ID #007-1063-1311).

Police Community Advisory Committee — July 15

The committee was scheduled to approve June minutes, gather community feedback, and discuss e-bike and e-scooter safety. The agenda also included election information and updates from PCAC working groups.

Coming up

• **July 21 — Master Plan Steering Committee:** Project status update and discussion with Agency Landscape + Planning consultants on plan title, logo, and community engagement milestones.
• **July 22 — Retirement Board:** Will consider retirement applications for 14 city employees and a $12,620.14 buyback for Stephen Shepard. New board member Craig Spadafora to be introduced. Meeting at 8:30 am in conference room #108.
• **July 22 — Planning Board:** Public hearings on special permit extensions for an 82-unit building at 10 Florence Street and a 20-unit affordable housing building at 211-213 Main Street. Also on the agenda: subdivision plan review for East Border Road area and an advisory recommendation for 1 Salem Street (73 units).
• **July 28 — Historical Commission:** Review of demolition/alteration delay status for properties including 264 Salem Street and 145 Glenwood Street, plus discussion of amendments to the Demolition & Alteration Delay Ordinance (Title 4.24).
• **July 28 — Site Plan Review Committee:** Public hearings on two basement accessory dwelling unit applications at 34 Sheafe Street (Permit #RES-077276-2026) and 220 Glenwood Street (Permit #RES-077064-2026).
• **July 29 — Community Outreach:** Ward 6 City Councillor Stephen Winslow hosts a meeting on a proposed marijuana establishment at 926 Eastern Avenue, covering security plans, prevention of diversion to minors, and community impact.