MassVoter.com← Taunton Municipal CouncilTaunton Municipal Council · 2022–2023 Council · Regular meeting
April 5, 2022
49 recorded votes, 5 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Attendance
Present: Jeffrey Postell, Lawrence Quintal, Barry Sanders, Christopher Coute, David Pottier, John McCaul, Estele Borges, Phillip Duarte, Kelly Dooner
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
So voted.
To go out of the regular order of business to Communication from the Mayor
From the minutes
“Motion was made to go out of the regular order of business to Communication from the Mayor. So voted..”
Communication from the Mayor
To revert back to the regular order of business
From the minutes
“Motion was made to revert back to the regular order of business. So voted..”
Mayor O'Connell spoke about the purpose of this hearing and how it would help with things such as removing barriers to building an expansion in urban areas, people finding affordable housing and it will give the City Council oversight on larger and mixed use projects.
To open the public hearing and invite the City Planner, 3 Kevin Scanlon into the enclosure
From the minutes
“Motion was made to open the public hearing and invite the City Planner, 3 Kevin Scanlon into the enclosure. So voted..”
Councilor Borges said over the years they have had many complaints about commercial vehicles in the front of yards.
To open public input
From the minutes
“Motion was made to open public input. So voted..”
Motion was made to move the four to 6 fifteen unit multi family's from City Council to the Board of Appeals
To move the four to 6 fifteen unit multi family's from City Council to the Board of Appeals in the urban central business district
From the minutes
“Motion was made to move the four to 6 fifteen unit multi family's from City Council to the Board of Appeals in the urban central business district. So voted..”
She feels 5 developers should be recusing themselves from voting if they make any type of profit off these decisions.
To close public input
From the minutes
“Motion was made to close public input. So voted..”
Scanlon recommended today were the same sizes he recommended 3-years ago.
To approve the building definition of a fence from 6ft. or less to : 7ft. or less
From the minutes
“Motion was made to approve the building definition of a fence from 6ft. or less to : 7ft. or less. So voted..”
So voted.
To remove the prohibition that prevents delivery in a retail location for cannabis or marijuana products
From the minutes
“Motion was made to remove the prohibition that prevents delivery in a retail location for cannabis or marijuana products. So voted..”
Motion was made to remove the Planning Board recommendation to the City Council. So : voted.
To remove the language about the fee waiver
From the minutes
“Motion was made to remove the language about the fee waiver. So voted..”
So voted.
To remove the language related to special permits, for fees for major and minor changes
From the minutes
“Motion was made to remove the language related to special permits, for fees for major and minor changes. So voted..”
To require any City agency that signed off on a building permit, will now have to sign off on a certificate of oceupancy
From the minutes
“Motion was made to require any City agency that signed off on a building permit, will now have to sign off on a certificate of oceupancy. So voted..”
To remove the requirement that building permits are signed off in a certain order
From the minutes
“Motion was made to remove the requirement that building permits are signed off in a certain order. So voted..”
To support the Urban Residential lot size to 75 ft. or less of width
From the minutes
“Motion was made to support the Urban Residential lot size to 75 ft. or less of width. So voted..”
For the one, two and three family special permits be moved from the Planning Board to the Zoning Board of Appeals
From the minutes
“Motion was made for the one, two and three family special permits be moved from the Planning Board to the Zoning Board of Appeals. So voted..”
To allow a three family use by-right and Urban Residential
From the minutes
“Motion was made to allow a three family use by-right and Urban Residential. So voted..”
To move all mixed use commercial of sixteen units or more from the Planning Board to the City Council
From the minutes
“Motion was made to move all mixed use commercial of sixteen units or more from the Planning Board to the City Council. So voted..”
To reduce the lot size in an Urban Residential District from 15,000 to 10,000 minimum, dry area lot from 11,250 to 8,000 and contiguous frontage from 100ft. to 75ft
Yes: Coute, Dooner, Duarte, McCaul, Postell, Pottier, Quintal, SandersNo: Borges
From the minutes
“Motion was made to reduce the lot size in an Urban Residential District from 15,000 to 10,000 minimum, dry area lot from 11,250 to 8,000 and contiguous frontage from 100ft. to 75ft. on a roll call vote. So voted. On a roll call vote, nine (9) councilors present, eight (8) councilors voting in favor, one (1) councilor voting in opposition. Councilors Dooner, Duarte, McCaul, Pottier, Coute, Sanders, Quintal and Postell were in favor. Councilor Borges was in opposition. Motion passed..”
Motion passed.
To reduce urban lot size from 30,000 to 25,000 and dry area from 22,250 to 20,000
Yes: Coute, Dooner, Duarte, McCaul, Pottier, QuintalNo: Borges, Postell, Sanders
From the minutes
“Motion was made to reduce urban lot size from 30,000 to 25,000 and dry area from 22,250 to 20,000 on a roll call vote. So voted. On a roll call vote, nine (9) councilors present, six (6) councilors voting in favor, three (3) councilor voting in opposition. Councilors Quintal, Coute, Pottier, McCaul, Duarte and Dooner were in favor. Councilors Postell, Sanders and Borges were in opposition. Motion passed..”
Motion was made to remove : note #5 from Section 440, Attachment #3 Intensity of Use Regulations. Councilor : Borges was in opposition. So yoted.
To approve as written on the Off Street Parking section
From the minutes
“Motion was made to approve as written on the Off Street Parking section. … So voted..”
So voted.
Roll call vote (the minutes do not state the motion separately; see the text before the vote)
Yes: Coute, Pottier, Quintal, SandersNo: Borges, Dooner, Duarte, McCaul, Postell
From the minutes
“On a roll call vote, nine (9) councilors present, four (4) councilors voting in favor, five (5) councilor voting in opposition. Councilors Pottier, Coute, Sanders and Quintal were in favor, Councilors Dooner, Duarte, Borges, McCaul and Postell were in opposition. Motion did not pass..”
Motion did not pass.
To approve the language as is for the off street parking
From the minutes
“Motion was made to approve the language as is for the off street parking on a roll call vote. So voted..”
So voted.
To approve
Yes: Coute, Duarte, QuintalNo: Borges, Dooner, McCaul, Postell, Pottier, Sanders
From the minutes
“On a roll call vote, nine (9) councilors present, three (3) councilors voting in favor, six (6) councilor voting in opposition. Councilors Quintal, Coute and Duarte were in favor. Councilors Postell, Sanders, Pottier, McCaul, Borges and Dooner were in opposition. Motion did not pass..”
Motion did not pass.
To table the off street parking until next week
From the minutes
“Councilor Sanders made a motion to table the off street parking until next week. So voted..” (Motion: Sanders)
On discussion, Councilor Pottier asked Mr. Scanlon and anyone else from the City, to find any information regarding what a standard trailer would be considered by the council.
To on dwelling conversions which will lineup with the change in Urban Residential that the lot area is 10,000 sq. ft
From the minutes
“Motion was made on dwelling conversions which will lineup with the change in Urban Residential that the lot area is 10,000 sq. ft. So voted..”
Councilor Borges was in opposition.
To approve the retreat lots with the added four conditions the Planning Board recommended
Yes: Coute, Dooner, Duarte, McCaul, Pottier, QuintalNo: Borges, Postell, Sanders
From the minutes
“Motion was made to approve the retreat lots with the added four conditions the Planning Board recommended on a roll call vote. So voted. On a roll call vote, nine (9) councilors present, six (6) councilors voting in favor, three (3) councilor voting in opposition. Councilors Dooner, Duarte, McCaul, Pottier, Coute and Quintal were in favor. Councilors Borges, Sanders and Postell were in opposition. Motion passed..”
Motion passed.
To amend the storm water requirement that all development must meet the Massachusetts Storm Water handbook
From the minutes
“Motion was made to amend the storm water requirement that all development must meet the Massachusetts Storm Water handbook. So voted..”
So voted.
To recess the public hearing
From the minutes
“Motion was made to recess the public hearing. So voted..”
To take a five minute recess
From the minutes
“Motion was made to take a five minute recess. So voted..”
Com. from the Executive Director, Office of Economic and Community Development regarding a Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP) request for 24 Winthrop Street owned by Michael Binda, submitted in September 2021 which also
To refer to the Law Department to determine whether it should go to the Committee or the full City Council
From the minutes
“Motion was made to refer to the Law Department to determine whether it should go to the Committee or the full City Council. So voted..”
Com. from the City Solicitor submitting and update on the status of the City's evaluation of its emergency dispatch services
To receive and place on file
From the minutes
“Motion was made to receive and place on file. So voted..”
To receive and place on file
From the minutes
“Motion was made to receive and place on file. So voted..”
To receive and place on file
From the minutes
“Motion was made to receive and place on file. So voted..”
Com. from the City Clerk regarding the appointment of three (3) permanent full-time : Firefighters
To refer to the Committee on F ires & Wires
From the minutes
“Motion was made to refer to the Committee on F ires & Wires. So voted..”
Com. from the City Solicitor regarding Assessors' Parcel 29-14, owned by the City of Taunton
To refer to the Committee on Public Property
From the minutes
“Motion was made to refer to the Committee on Public Property. So voted..”
Com. from the City Solicitor regarding Bask, Inc
To move the request to meet in Executive Session
From the minutes
“Motion was made to move the request to meet in Executive Session. So voted..”
Mayor / O'Connell asked for a reconsideration to put this topic back to the Committee of the Council as a Whole due to her being able to attend that meeting so it's earlier so they don't have to have it during the City Council meeting and have to extend the meeting.
To move for reconsideration
From the minutes
“Motion was made to move for reconsideration. So voted..”
Com. from the City Solicitor regarding Bask, Inc
To move this meeting to the Committee of the Council as a Whole to meet in executive session
From the minutes
“Motion was made to move this meeting to the Committee of the Council as a Whole to meet in executive session. So voted..”
Com. from Jason Ekholm, 88 Dwinell Road, Taunton, expressing concerns for his roadway
To refer this matter to the Committee of the Department of Public Works and he also would like to schedule a presentation on unacceptable roads in the City of Taunton
From the minutes
“Councilor Coute made a motion to refer this matter to the Committee of the Department of Public Works and he also would like to schedule a presentation on unacceptable roads in the City of Taunton. So voted..” (Motion: Coute)
Antique Dealer's License (RENEWAL) 1. Memorable Memorabilia located at 45 Baylies Road, Taunton 2. Antique Broker Consulting Service located at 4 Oxford St., Taunton
To refer to the Committee on Police and License and the Chief of Police
From the minutes
“Motion was made to refer to the Committee on Police and License and the Chief of Police. So voted..”
Billiard Table License (RENEWAL) 1. Frank's Good Times, Inc. located at 381 Winthrop St., Taunton (1 Pool Table)
To refer to the Committee on Police and License and the Chief of Police
From the minutes
“Motion was made to refer to the Committee on Police and License and the Chief of Police. So voted..”
Billiard Table License (NEW) 1. Atlantic Café located at 10 Plain St., Taunton by Bruce Thomas and Casey Medas (2 Pool Tables)
To refer to the Committee on Police and License and the Chief of Police
From the minutes
“Motion was made to refer to the Committee on Police and License and the Chief of Police. So voted..”
Junk Collector's License (RENEWAL) 1. Arthur G. Pimenta, Jr. Junk Collector located at 147 Fremont St., Taunton 2. DeBrum Salvage located at 57 Stevens St., East Taunton
To refer to the Committee on Police and License and the Chief of Police
From the minutes
“Motion was made to refer to the Committee on Police and License and the Chief of Police. So voted..”
Petitions: Antique Dealer's License (RENEWAL) 1
To refer to the Committee on Police and License and the Chief of Police
From the minutes
“Motion was made to refer to the Committee on Police and License and the Chief of Police. So voted..”
Old Gold License (RENEWAL) 1. Pacheco's Gold & Gems, Inc. -DBA- Pacheco's Jewelry located at 20 Taunton Green, Taunton
To refer to the Committee on Police and License and the Chief of Police
From the minutes
“Motion was made to refer to the Committee on Police and License and the Chief of Police. So voted..”
Junk Collector's & Junk Dealer's Licenses (RENEWAL) 1. Santos Recycling, Inc. located at 18-28 Dana St., Taunton :
To refer to the Committee on Police and License and the Chief of Police
From the minutes
“Motion was made to refer to the Committee on Police and License and the Chief of Police. So voted..”
Petitions: Antique Dealer's License (RENEWAL) 1
To refer to the Committee on Police and License and the Chief of Police
From the minutes
“Motion was made to refer to the Committee on Police and License and the Chief of Police. So voted..”
Committee reports
For Committee reports to be read by title and approved
From the minutes
“Motion was made for Committee reports to be read by title and approved. So Voted..”
During that meeting the sub-committee voted to recommend to hire subject to the December g'h 2021 conditional offer letter for police candidate John Joyce, ; Jr.
To approve the conditional offer
From the minutes
“Motion was made to approve the conditional offer. So voted..”
Resolutions: NONE New Business:
To refer to the Law Department for a review of the Airport Commission agenda as it relates to possible open meeting violations
From the minutes
“Councilor Postell made a motion to refer to the Law Department for a review of the Airport Commission agenda as it relates to possible open meeting violations. In : addition to review all the other boards and commission agendas for compliance. So voted..” (Motion: Postell)
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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