Maiocco elected to 10th term as Medford council president
City Councilor Robert Maiocco - who last week won election to his 14th term in the chamber - was elected council president in a caucus session on Tuesday, by a 5-0 margin.
He'll assume the post in January, marking his 10th term as the gavel banger. Councilors Paul Camuso, Fred Dello Russo, current President Breanna Lungo-Koehen, and Robert Penta voted him in.
But Councilors Stephanie Muccini Burke and Michael Marks skipped the caucus. Maiocco wouldn't speculate why on Wednesday.
"I'm grateful for the support that I received," he said.
It remains unclear whether Marks would have supported Maiocco at the caucus. Marks didn't name his preferred choice for the presidency in an email message.
"My vote for president would have reflected a new leadership and direction for the council," he wrote.
Muccini Burke also didn't explicitly name a top choice for the post in an email, but lauded Marks' performance as the current vice president.
"[Marks] has was interested in [the presidency] and has served the body well when having to fulfill the presidency on occasion," she said. "He has never held the position of president."
The council president's powers extend beyond the ceremonial. In addition to quarterbacking the public meetings, the president casts one of three deciding votes for all withdrawals from the linkage fund, which commercial developers pay into when they turn a profit in town.
The cash is reserved for street repairs and other public works. Two out of three linkage trustees must approve any spending.
"It makes me feel grateful to my colleagues that supported me," Maiocco said.
Dello Russo was voted council vice president on Tuesday.
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