Law Department Budget

At a glance

• What: The Council's dispute with the Administration over the Fiscal Year 2027 Law Department budget (Paper 26-142 supplemental appropriation) and over legal-cost information (Paper 26-142B). Includes a litigation settlement vote.
• Where it stands: The supplemental appropriation was cut twice by unanimous vote (August 4 and September 29) to fund only one month of Law Department money, $42,507.63. Paper 26-142B was tabled to the October 13, 2026 meeting.
• Next: October 13, 2026: the Council asked for the Fire Chief to appear, and for the Mayor to say whether she would post the City Solicitor job if the Council funded the full year of that salary, or use the money for outside counsel.

Background (from Paper 26-142B)

• Resolution 26-043 (February 24, 2026) asked for a comprehensive litigation report on rising legal claims since January 2020; Resolution 26-077 (April 28, 2026) authorized a Public Records Request after little response. The Council says it received only partial and late answers.
• On August 4, 2026 the Council received a summary of KP Law spending since January 2020: about $2.4 million.
• The resolution asks for: written status on each item of 26-043; an independent review of litigation costs and risk management; KP Law spending sorted into six categories; the same for other outside firms; settlements or judgments over $10,000 since 2020 with amounts and funding source; other-department legal budgets for FY27; and an update on hiring a City Solicitor.

Votes

• August 4, 2026: Councilor Tseng moved (seconded by Councilor Scarpelli) to cut $382,586.70 from the supplemental appropriation and approve $42,507.63 in one-month funding. 7-0. The Chief of Staff had said she could not attend. Paper 26-142B was approved as offered by President Bears, moved by Councilor Tseng; the B paper was taken up as amended by Councilor Scarpelli on a 7-0 roll call. Nick Giurleo, Andrew Castagnetti, Simon Alcindor and Micah Kesselman addressed the Council.
• September 15, 2026: 26-142 tabled to September 29 (moved by Vice President Lazzaro, seconded by Councilor Callahan, voice vote 6-0, Councilor Leming recorded absent). 26-142B tabled to September 29 on Councilor Scarpelli's motion, seconded by Councilor Tseng, 6-0.
• September 29, 2026: Chief of Staff Nazarian, Zoe Dukach and Micah Kesselman spoke. Councilor Tseng moved (seconded by Councilor Mullane) to cut the appropriation by $340,060 and fund $42,507.63 to the Law budget. 7-0.
• September 29, 2026, Paper 26-142B: Councilor Scarpelli moved a C-paper asking the Fire Chief to appear October 13, amended by Councilor Callahan to add the question to the Mayor about the Solicitor position. 7-0. Councilor Tseng then moved to table to October 13 (seconded by Councilor Scarpelli). 7-0.

Litigation settlement (Paper 26-152)

On September 15, 2026 the Council approved the Sentry Ford litigation settlement submitted by Mayor Lungo-Koehn. Tom Lane of KP Law spoke. Vice President Lazzaro moved, Councilor Tseng seconded; 6-0 (Councilor Leming absent). The dollar amount is not in the minutes text.

Related

Chertok v. City of Medford Litigation

Sources

• City Council regular meeting minutes, September 29, 2026: https://medfordma.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=990,plainText=false)
• City Council regular meeting minutes, September 15, 2026: https://medfordma.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=981,plainText=false)
• City Council regular meeting minutes, August 4, 2026: https://medfordma.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=948,plainText=false)

Log

2026-09-29 - City Council

Appropriation cut by $340,060 with $42,507.63 funded (7-0). 26-142B amended to request the Fire Chief's appearance and a Mayor answer on the Solicitor job; tabled to October 13 (7-0).

2026-09-15 - City Council

26-142 and 26-142B tabled to September 29. Sentry Ford settlement approved 6-0.

2026-08-04 - City Council

Appropriation cut by $382,586.70 with $42,507.63 one-month funding approved (7-0). 26-142B approved.

2026-10-27 - City Council Regular Meeting

26-142 (FY27 supplemental appropriation) and 26-142B were on the agenda; the Council approved settlements for Papaleo ($5,000) and Wright ($5,000). A new supplemental request of $15,553.33 was set for a special meeting on November 2 (2026-11-02 - City Council Special Meeting): $11,500 legal service costs and $4,053.33 for settlements (Sentry Ford $11,640, Papaleo, Wright).

2026-11-10 - City Council Regular Meeting

Paper 26-202, an FY2027 supplemental appropriation for the Law Department of $269,295.81 (salaries $127,803.44, ordinary expenses $141,492.37), is on the agenda. The packet for the 2026-11-02 - City Council Special Meeting showed the same amount for this item, which differs from the $15,553.33 recorded earlier for that meeting.