City Government
Melrose City Council
About the Council
Eleven people hold the power of the purse in Melrose, and four of them answer to you no matter which street you live on. The city elects four councilors at large, chosen by every voter in Melrose, and seven by ward, each representing one specific corner of the city. The Mayor writes the budget, but the Council is the body that can cut it. And no mayoral appointment of a police chief or a fire chief takes effect until the Council votes to confirm it. Terms run two years, so every one of the eleven seats goes back to the voters that often. Four of the eleven members now serving were sworn in for the first time in January 2026.
- Sets policy and law by passing ordinances and resolutions.
- Controls the budget by cutting or approving what the Mayor proposes. It cannot add to it.
- Checks the Mayor by confirming major appointments, including the police and fire chiefs.
Council Members
Four councilors are elected at large by every Melrose voter. The other seven each represent a single ward. Every January the Council chooses one of its own members as President to run its meetings. For 2026 that is Brad Freeman of Ward 4.
Jason Chen
Email: jchen@cityofmelrose.org
Elizabeth Kowal
Email: ekowal@cityofmelrose.org
Maya Jamaleddine
Email: citycouncil@cityofmelrose.org
Ryan Williams
Email: citycouncil@cityofmelrose.org
Manjula Karamcheti
Email: citycouncil@cityofmelrose.org
John Obremski
Email: citycouncil@cityofmelrose.org
Christopher Park
Email: cpark@cityofmelrose.org
Brad Freeman
Email: bfreeman@cityofmelrose.org
Kimberly Vandiver
Email: citycouncil@cityofmelrose.org
Cal M. Finocchiaro
Email: citycouncil@cityofmelrose.org
Devin Romanul
Email: citycouncil@cityofmelrose.org
Councilors without a published personal email can be reached through the Council office at citycouncil@cityofmelrose.org or 781-979-4116.
Meetings & How to Participate
- When: the first and third Monday of the month at 7:45 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the first floor of City Hall, 562 Main Street. February and April meetings fall on the first and fourth Monday. July and August have a single meeting, on the third Monday.
- Agendas & minutes: posted in advance on the city website at cityofmelrose.org.
- Public comment: residents may participate in person or remotely. Check the posted agenda for the sign-up procedure.
- Committees: much of the detailed work happens in committee, meeting on Mondays or Thursdays at the chair’s discretion.
Sources
Melrose City Council (cityofmelrose.org). Verified July 2026.
Melrose government website (cityofmelrose.org). Verified July 2026.
What this seat decides
Your Town or City Council
A local ordinance, the city or town budget, or a problem in your own ward or district. The real testimony happens at committee hearings rather than at the full council meeting.
Public hearings and meetings are where residents shape city decisions.