How the Taunton Municipal Council voted, from the City Clerk's official minutes. 9 councilors, all elected at-large. Elected November 2019; sworn in January 6, 2020. Council Presidents: Barry Sanders (2020), Christopher Coute (2021). Daniel Dermody died in office May 16, 2020; Phillip Duarte was sworn in May 26, 2020. Covers 108 meetings, January 14 to December 27, 2021.
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
What does the Municipal Council do? It is the city’s lawmaking body. It passes local laws (ordinances), votes on the yearly budget, and approves borrowing and zoning changes.
The mayor runs the city day to day and proposes the budget.
"At X of Y meetings" counts the roll call at the start of each meeting in this record. Councilors who step out are listed on each meeting page.
Meetings
About missing minutes
Covers January 2018 to today. The minutes are mostly scanned images; we read them with text recognition and checked every roll-call count against the councilors named. Inaugural ceremonies, which take no votes, are left out. Committee meetings are not included yet, except the January 5, 2026 Committee of the Whole meeting where the Council President was elected. A few motions were discussed but no vote is recorded in the minutes; those are left out.
“Councilor Sanders made a motion to approve the Special Permit as it relates to the 5,751 sq. ft. Recreational Retail Marijuana Facility with the conditions outlined by the DIRB. On a roll call vote, nine (9) councilors present, eight (8) voted in favor. Councilor Carr was in opposition. So voted..” (Motion: Sanders)
Dec 21Councilor Coute expressed his frustration on who was responsible…Motion: to grant the Special Permit for the 1,090 ft. hair salon…Failed 5–4 · No: Carr, Coute, McCaul, Pottier
December 21, 2021: Councilor Coute expressed his frustration on who was responsible at the time of the construction.
ApproveFailed · 5–4
To grant the Special Permit for the 1,090 ft. hair salon with the condition as outlined by the DIRB
Yes: Cleary, Croteau, Duarte, Postell, SandersNo: Carr, Coute, McCaul, PottierThe minutes say the motion did not pass even though more councilors voted for it than against; some council votes need more than a simple majority.
From the minutes
“Councilor Sanders made a motion to grant the Special Permit for the 1,090 ft. hair salon with the condition as outlined by the DIRB. On a roll call vote, nine (9) councilors present, five (5) voted in favor. Councilors Pottier, McCaul, Carr and Coute were in opposition. So voted. The motion did not pass..” (Motion: Sanders)
Nov 9Petitions: pf NONE Committee Reports: Motion was made for…Motion: to on i a roll call vote to adopt the recommended…Passed 7–2 · No: McCaul, Postell
November 9, 2021: Petitions: pf NONE Committee Reports: Motion was made for Committee reports to be read by title and approved
OrdinancePassed · 7–2
To on i a roll call vote to adopt the recommended no parking on the west side of West Water Street 60 ft. from intersection of West Water Street and Third Street from the Ordinances and Enrolled Bills Committee
“Motion was made on i a roll call vote to adopt the recommended no parking on the west side of West Water Street 60 ft. from intersection of West Water Street and Third Street from the Ordinances and Enrolled Bills Committee. On a roll call vote, nine (9) Councilors : present, seven (7) Councilors voted in favor. Councilor McCaul and Postell voted in opposition..”
Sep 28The Department of Public Works Committee discussed : the…Motion: to approvePassed 7–2 · No: Carr, Cleary
September 28, 2021: The Department of Public Works Committee discussed : the sewer extension to the airport, all councilors were present. It was passed on a three to : two vote. Councilor Croteau…
“Motion was made to approve. On a roll call vote, nine (9) Councilors present, seven (7) Councilors voting in favor. Councilors Carr and Cleary voting in 7 opposition..”
Aug 24Recommendations on the Committee on Council as a Whole,…Motion: to certify the petitionPassed 5–3 · No: Carr, Cleary, Sanders · Abstained: Duarte
August 24, 2021: Recommendations on the Committee on Council as a Whole, which met last night, Councilor President Coute stated they voted to move a Home Rule petition on updates to the Taunton…
“Motion was made to certify the petition on a roll call vote. So voted. On a roll call vote, nine (9) Councilors present, five (5) Councilors voted in favor (Councilors Postell, Coute, McCaul, Pottier, and Croteau, three (3) Councilors voting in opposition (Councilors Carr, Cleary and Sanders), one (1) Council (Councilor Duarte) recused himself. Motion passed..”
“Motion was made to ordain. On a roll call vote, nine (9) Councilors present, six (6) Councilors voting in favor. Councilors Carr, Cleary and Sanders voting in opposition. MOTION CARRIES. ..”
“Motion was made to ordain. On a roll call vote, nine (9) Councilors present, seven (7) Councilors voting in favor. Councilors Sanders and Cleary voting in opposition. MOTION CARRIES..”
Aug 10MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT…Motion: to come out of executive sessionPassed · see note
August 10, 2021: MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH TAUNTON FIRE FIGHTERS, LOCAL 138, IAFF FOR SUCCESSOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS. . MOTION: ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, COUNCILORS DUARTE,…
ApprovePassed · Voice vote, names not recorded
To come out of executive session
The minutes record a roll call but no count.
From the minutes
“MOTION: TO COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION. ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, COUNCILORS SANDERS, CLEARY, DUARTE, CROTEAU, POTTIER, MCCAUL AND COUTE VOTED IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES..”
Aug 3Recommendations adopted to reflect the votes as recorded in…Motion: to endorse the vote from the DPW CommitteePassed 6–0 · Abstained: Coute
August 3, 2021: Recommendations adopted to reflect the votes as recorded in Committee : Reports. So Voted, Sewer extension discussion on Joseph Warner Blvd, Referred to a Committee as a Whole.
“Motion was made to endorse the vote from the DPW Committee. On a roll call vote, seven (7) Councilors present, six (6) Councilors voting in favor. Councilor Coute voted to abstain. Councilors Sanders and Carr was absent..”
Aug 3Petition submitted by Attorney William Rounds, 115 Broadway, Taunton…Motion: to require the contractor to put the stubs and the extension…Passed 6–0 · see note
August 3, 2021: Petition submitted by Attorney William Rounds, 115 Broadway, Taunton on behalf of his client, Kyra Fernandes, Manager, HTC Trinity, LLC, 28 Kings Court, Taunton for a special permit for 491…
ApprovePassed · 6–0
To require the contractor to put the stubs and the extension to the _ property lines to four houses
The minutes give only the count (6–0), not how each councilor voted.
From the minutes
“Motion was made to require the contractor to put the stubs and the extension to the _ property lines to four houses, On a roll call vote, seven (7) Councilors present, six (6) - Councilors voting in favor..”
From the official minutes kept by the Taunton City Clerk (agendas and minutes). From the Taunton Municipal Council’s official minutes, posted in the city’s Agenda Center. Most items pass by voice (“So voted”), and the minutes record only the result for those; how each councilor voted is shown for roll calls. MassVoter never grades officials; votes and attendance are shown exactly as the minutes record them. MassVoter never grades officials; votes and attendance are shown exactly as the minutes record them. Councilor photos: City of Taunton Municipal Council page (taunton-ma.gov). Former councilors show initials.
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Deborah CarrCouncilor · At-large · at 100 of 108 meetingsDonald ClearyCouncilor · At-large · at 105 of 108 meetingsGerald CroteauCouncilor · At-large · at 105 of 108 meetingsDaniel DermodyDied in office May 16, 2020 · At-large · at 20 of 20 meetings · until May 2020
Phillip DuarteSworn in May 26, 2020, to fill Daniel Dermody’s seat · At-large · at 84 of 87 meetings · from May 2020
John McCaulCouncilor · At-large · at 106 of 108 meetingsJeffrey PostellCouncilor · At-large · at 98 of 108 meetings
David PottierCouncilor · At-large · at 108 of 108 meetings
Barry SandersCouncil President (2020) · At-large · at 104 of 108 meetings