Wayne Matewsky

At the Everett City Council meeting on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, Wayne Matewsky participated in several votes and also used the floor to raise concerns about city-casino communication and to announce his retirement from the council.

Early in the meeting, Matewsky seconded a motion to accept the committee report in favorable action for item 22, and he voted yes. He also questioned whether “a renewal” still needed referral, asked about item order by saying, “I thought we took all of them out of order,” and then seconded the motion to take item 23 out of order, voting yes. On item 14, he voted yes for favorable action, and on item 15 he voted yes for favorable action “with letter of thanks.” Later, he voted yes on the motion to enter executive session and adjourn from there.

During discussion involving Encore, Matewsky asked, “Even on a renewal?” He noted that Edna Michelin was present in the chamber and said she “served for the last four or five years.” He also pressed the issue of entertainment and local participation, saying, “They have it because I’ve seen it on commercials on TV,” and, “We don’t have entertainment here at your location, but I appreciate you being here this evening.” According to the meeting record, he questioned why Encore does not offer more live entertainment, complained that local Everett businesses are not participating because they cannot afford the lease, and suggested Encore should bring Everett businesses into the venue and work with the community planning board. He told the council, “There’s no connection with you people. There’s no communication. That’s my concern right now,” and added, “I think, Mrs. McAnneny, our concerns, there seems to be a missing link here between the council and the casino, and I hope that we can improve on that.”

In a point of personal privilege, Matewsky announced, “I’ve enjoyed serving over 40 years on the city council, and I’m retiring as of this evening.” He said his decision was personal, cited recent health concerns and his role as caregiver for his parents, and thanked the community, the mayor, and colleagues. He said, “I know the runner-up in the council is Mr. Hanlon,” and wished him and the new mayor “the best of luck.” Another member responded by praising his service and saying he was “very proud to serve with you for these last two years.”

Council member Wayne Matewsky used the small departments budget hearing to focus on two main topics: the senior lunch program and the proposed elimination of the agenda-delivery position.

On the lunch program, he opened by saying, “Well, it’s a great program,” and added that he had “several neighbors that are unable to go shopping” and that “the pick the man that brings it by is wonderful.” He said, “I can’t say enough about the program,” and noted that it serves “400 residents that are older and so forth.” Matewsky asked how long the program would continue once ARPA money ends, and he also complimented the department’s senior entertainment programming, saying, “You do more entertaining things than the casino does here and everything,” and praising the impersonator events for seniors.

He then turned to the budget item eliminating the position responsible for delivering agendas. Matewsky said he was unaware of the cut until he arrived at city hall and described the role as the “sergeant of arms in the chamber.” He asked whether arrangements had been made with Mr. Meghan and questioned why the previous assistant city clerk had not handled the delivery. He argued that “by charter, we are supposed to get this agenda” and said he wanted “a physical calendar agenda in my mailbox” at least three days before the meeting. He also asked to “hire some summer help,” recalling that the city had used summer assistance in the past.

Matewsky thanked Mr. Sayer for the work he had done over the previous four or five years, saying he “filled a very, very, a big void.” He agreed with Councilor Garcia and the council president that the issue should be adjusted rather than treated as purely personal, and he said, “I agree with the budget director, and we’ll put this together and maybe clarify what the job description actually is.” He also praised Mr. Burley, Mr. Flood, and Mr. Marchese as knowledgeable and doing excellent work.

He voted yes on the roll call vote to accept the budget. He also commented on chamber safety features, including ropes and belts, saying they should be used and unlocked for meetings.

At the April 27, 2026 Everett City Council meeting, Councilor Wayne Matewsky participated in several discussions and votes, with his comments focused on communication, appointments, and the data center ordinance.

Early in the meeting, Matewsky addressed the petitioner directly, saying, “Thank you, Madam President. Moses, there’s four people that would like to speak with you, so make sure you touch base with them.” He followed that exchange by stressing, “Communication is very important on the matters.” He later added “Favorable action,” indicating support for the pending petition after conditions were discussed. On the roll call tied to that item, Matewsky voted yes on the motion for favorable action on the petition pending conditions.

During the handling of items 12 through 17, Matewsky voted yes to take those items collectively and out of order. When the council then considered favorable action on items 12 through 17, described as the appointments, Matewsky voted no. He also made the motion for favorable action on the appointments before the roll call vote was taken.

Matewsky also appeared as a co-offerer on item 19, the ordinance concerning data centers. In that discussion, he stated, “You know, I I don’t know much about the data centers, but from what I’ve heard … there’s a problem here with this.” He went further, saying, “I don’t think I’m gonna vote for any data center in this community.” His comments reflected clear opposition to the ordinance. The extracted record also notes that he raised concerns about the land use history and possible electricity cost increases associated with the proposal.

On the roll call for the ordinance on data centers, Matewsky voted no. His remarks and vote aligned in opposition to the measure, and he framed his position as cautionary and rooted in concerns about the proposal’s impact on the community.

At the Everett City Council meeting on Monday, April 13, 2026, Councilor Wayne Matewsky was active on several matters, most visibly on a streetlight proposal and a discussion of entertainment and licensing issues.

During consideration of the streetlight item, Matewsky questioned the petitioners about the scope of the project and confirmed details with staff. He asked, “These are additional streetlight poles. Am I right?” and followed up by asking, “Can you look in that?” He then made clear he supported the proposal, saying, “Well, I’m in favor of more lighting in that area,” and explaining that “it is kinda dark in that neighborhood, and there are a lot of new residents.” He added that the area has “hundreds of new apartments… especially on Second Street.” The extracted record also reflects that he moved to postpone the public hearing until it came out of committee.

Later, in the appointment discussion for the liquor board, Matewsky addressed the nominee directly: “Mister Fern, I think you’re gonna be a great fit for the liquor board.” He praised the nominee’s answers and said, “I think the mayor has made a good appointment with you.” In the course of that exchange, he remarked that, to his knowledge, there was not “a single place of establishment in this city that has entertainment,” while also noting the casino’s role. He said he was “very disappointed that there is no place in this city that you can actually go to… to have a little more enjoyment than just a drink.” He also observed that in the summertime there is outdoor activity at the casino, though he had “never really witnessed it.”

Matewsky also participated in the discussion on item 29. He said, “Madam president?” and asked, “I thought this was in the committee already,” then later acknowledged, “Oh, they haven’t done that yet? Okay.” The record indicates he seconded the motion to refer item 29 to Ways and Means. He also spoke in support of concerns that the casino was not delivering the entertainment and outreach expected, suggested referral to the Everett Liquor Board, the mayor’s office, and the gaming commission, and thanked Councilor Garcia for her remarks. No roll-call votes were recorded for him in the extracted data.