WOBURN - Sgt. First Class Keith Callahan, a Woburn native, was honored by the City Council with a moment of silence at the beginning of its most recent regular meeting.

A proclamation was also read by council President Charles Doherty in honor of Sgt. Callahan, 31, who was killed in action in Iraq on Jan. 24.

Callahan was a 1993 graduate of Woburn High. He also attended the Clapp Elementary School and Joyce Middle School.

The highly-decorated solider was serving his fourth tour of duty in Iraq, as a member of the U.S. Army's 82d Airborne Division. He was assigned as a fire team leader of the Second Battalion, 325th AIR.

Funeral services were held in Woburn on Jan. 31 for Sgt. Callahan.

Omnipoint withdraws - The council voted unanimously to allow a leave of withdrawal without prejudice for a petition from Omnipoint Communications for cellular telephone equipment at 145 Lexington St.

In a letter to the council, attorney Brian S. Grossman wrote: "Due to a restructuring of priorities in the current network development, the applicant has elected not to pursue this location at this time."

Appointments - Two appointments to city boards were confirmed.

- Field Terrace resident and former Ward 4 alderman William Mulrenan will join the Woburn Golf & Ski Authority for a 6-year term. Mulrenan replaces Charles O'Reilly.

- Bow Street resident Alfred Tancreti will continue to serve on the Woburn Commission for Handicapped & Disabled Citizens, for a 1-year term.

Biomedical board - The council voted to abolish the Biomedical Oversight Committee, which was established by the council about a decade ago to enforce regulations for businesses in the city that handle hazardous materials.

While there are several businesses in the city that handle such substances, the city's Board of Health has essentially taken over the committee's duties, according to Mayor Thomas McLaughlin.

Also, membership in the board has waned to the point that the committee is "essentially defunct," McLaughlin said.

Election change - Adopted was an order that will allow the city's preliminary election to be scheduled within a 60-day window before the final election.

Previously, the ordinance called for the preliminary election to be held four weeks prior to the city election.

City Clerk William Campbell intends to hold the preliminary election this year on Sept. 25, six weeks before the Nov. 6 city election. Campbell requested two more weeks to allow enough time for the mailing and return of absentee ballots.

The state Legislature must approve a home rule petition before the change can be affected.