MassVoter.com← Taunton Municipal CouncilTaunton Municipal Council · 2022–2023 Council · Regular meeting
November 21, 2023
33 recorded votes, 1 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Attendance
Present: Kelly Dooner, Phillip Duarte, Estele Borges, John McCaul, David Pottier, Lawrence Quintal, Jeffrey Postell
Absent: Christopher Coute, Barry Sanders
Every vote, in order
So Voted.
To go out of the regular order of business to Communications from the Mayor
From the minutes
“Motion was made to go out of the regular order of business to Communications from the Mayor. So Voted..”
Mayor O'Connell stated that City Hall will close at noontime on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 and will reopen on Monday, November 27, 2023 for regular hours of business.
To revert to the regular order of business
From the minutes
“Motion was made to revert to the regular order of business. So Voted..”
Councilors Sanders and Coute were absent.
To revert to the regular order of business
From the minutes
“Motion was made to revert to the regular order of business. So Voted..”
So Voted. 2
To refer to the Presentation of the FY24 Supplemental Budget
From the minutes
“Motion was made to refer to the Presentation of the FY24 Supplemental Budget. So Voted..”
Councilor Duarte stated that he spoke with State Representative Carol Doherty, who stated that there is legislation being discussed at the State level to help municipalities with the revenue shortfall in regards to the hotel tax.
To approve the final FY24 Supplemental Budget of $284,563,392.47
From the minutes
“Motion was made to approve the final FY24 Supplemental Budget of $284,563,392.47. On a roll vote, seven (7) Councilors were present, seven (7) Councilors voted in favor. So Voted..”
Hearing: On the petition submitted by Colleen Simmons, 25 Silverwood Drive, Taunton, MA 02780 for the issuance of a personal Kennel License per City Ordinance Section 3-24 to allow a Grade 1 (4-6 Dogs) Kennel License for persona
To open the hearing and invite the interested parties into the enclosure
From the minutes
“Motion was made to open the hearing and invite the interested parties into the enclosure. So Voted..”
On the petition submitted by Maureen Pert, 15 Rockland Street, Taunton, MA 02780 for the issuance of a personal Kennel License per City Ordinance Section 3-24 to allow a Grade 1 (4-6 Dogs) Kennel License for personal use/dogs, NOT BUSINESS USE, at 15 Rockland Street, Taunton.
To open the hearing and invite the interested parties into the enclosure
From the minutes
“Motion was made to open the hearing and invite the interested parties into the enclosure. So Voted..”
Hearing: On the petition submitted by Colleen Simmons, 25 Silverwood Drive, Taunton, MA 02780 for the issuance of a personal Kennel License per City Ordinance Section 3-24 to allow a Grade 1 (4-6 Dogs) Kennel License for persona
To open the hearing for public input
From the minutes
“Motion was made to open the hearing for public input. So Voted..”
No one spoke during public input.
To close public input and approve the application
From the minutes
“Motion was made to close public input and approve the application. So Voted..”
Hearing: On the petition submitted by Colleen Simmons, 25 Silverwood Drive, Taunton, MA 02780 for the issuance of a personal Kennel License per City Ordinance Section 3-24 to allow a Grade 1 (4-6 Dogs) Kennel License for persona
To open the hearing and invite the interested parties into the enclosure
From the minutes
“Motion was made to open the hearing and invite the interested parties into the enclosure. So Voted..”
To open the hearing for public input
From the minutes
“Motion was made to open the hearing for public input. So Voted..”
Ordinance for a Kennel License
To open public input for this hearing
From the minutes
“Motion was made to open public input for this hearing. So Voted..”
The City Clerk read a communication from Tracey DeMatteo, 12A Clifton Street, Taunton, expressing opposition to this kennel license.
To make the communications a part of the record
From the minutes
“Motion was made to make the communications a part of the record. So Voted..”
Ann Cathcart, 13 Rockland Street, Taunton, spoke about her concern with the noise level from the residence as the dogs begin barking at 5:00am.
To close public input
From the minutes
“Motion was made to close public input. So Voted..”
So Voted.
To grant the waiver for the variance of the Ordinance and grant the petition
Yes: Dooner, Duarte, Postell, Pottier, QuintalNo: Borges, McCaulAbsent: Coute, SandersThe 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
“Motion was made to grant the waiver for the variance of the Ordinance and grant the petition. On a roll call vote, seven (7) Councilors were present, five (5) Councilors voted in favor (Dooner, Duarte, Pottier, Quintal and Postell), two (2) Councilors were opposed (Borges and McCaul). The motion does not pass. Councilors Coute and Sanders were absent..”
Councilors Coute and Sanders were absent.
To reconsider the vote in one (1) week and have the City Clerk confirm that nine (9) Councilors will be present
From the minutes
“Motion was made to reconsider the vote in one (1) week and have the City Clerk confirm that nine (9) Councilors will be present. So Voted..”
On the petition submitted by Annisa Reed, 72 Whitehill Street, Taunton, MA 02780 for the issuance of a personal Kennel License per City Ordinance Section 3-24 to allow a Grade 2 (7-12 Dogs) Kennel License for personal use/dogs, NOT BUS
To make the petition a part of the record
From the minutes
“Motion was made to make the petition a part of the record. So Voted..”
Ann Cathcart, 13 Rockland Street, Taunton, spoke about her concern with the noise level from the residence as the dogs begin barking at 5:00am.
To close public input
From the minutes
“Motion was made to close public input. So Voted..”
The City Clerk stated that three (3) of the dogs are licensed, and that she cannot license anymore of the dogs without a kennel license.
To continue the hearing in order to get more information from the Law Department on December 5, 2023
From the minutes
“Motion was made to continue the hearing in order to get more information from the Law Department on December 5, 2023. So Voted..”
Reappointment of Eleanor Brennan, 158 Oak Street, Taunton to serve on the Department of Human Services/Council on Aging Board of Directors for a term of four (4) years expiring November 2027.
To approve
From the minutes
“Motion was made to approve. So Voted..”
Com. from the Chairman, Taunton Planning Board stating that the Taunton Planning Board is in receipt of a Special permit for 136 Alanita Drive for a 1,150 sq
To receive and place on file
From the minutes
“Motion was made to receive and place on file. So Voted..”
Com. from the City Solicitor regarding a communication dated November 6, 2023 which the Law Department received from Comcast with information about changes to Xfinity TV services.
To receive and place on file
From the minutes
“Motion was made to receive and place on file. So Voted..”
Com. from the City Planner regarding the FY2024 first quarter update on the implementation of the ADA transition report
To refer to the Committee on Americans with Disabilities Compliance
From the minutes
“Motion was made to refer to the Committee on Americans with Disabilities Compliance. So Voted..”
Com. from the Police Department requesting to pay a past due utility expense from TMLP. They are requesting that they are allowed to expend $59.81 for an FY 2023 expense.
To the Committee on Finance and Salaries
From the minutes
“Motion was made to the Committee on Finance and Salaries. So Voted..”
Com. from Sarah S
To move approval and refer to the Police Chief
From the minutes
“Motion was made to move approval and refer to the Police Chief. So Voted..”
Com. from Carl Capelo, Manager, Capital Development Company, LLC, 37 Taunton Green #1215, Taunton requesting approval for a sewer extension on Highland Avenue to service a newly built residential dwelling at 52 Highland Avenue
To refer to the Committee on the Department of Public Works
From the minutes
“Motion was made to refer to the Committee on the Department of Public Works. 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..”
Petitions: NONE
To move approval
From the minutes
“Motion was made to move approval on a roll call vote. On a roll call vote, seven (7) Councilors were present, seven (7) Councilors voted in favor of providing a conditional offer to Brady Nichols. The motion passes. Councilors Sanders and Coute were absent..”
Resolutions: Ordinance for a first reading to be passed to a second reading AN ORDINANCE REGARDING WAGES FOR SPECIAL POLICE OFFICERS Chapter 19 - Police Department Be it ordained by the Municipal Council of the City of Taunton and
To pass to a second reading
From the minutes
“Motion was made to pass to a second reading. So Voted..”
Howard Street, the South Side (right side) for its entire length. All ordinances or parts thereof inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed. This Ordinance shall become effective immediately upon passage.
To pass to a second reading
From the minutes
“Motion was made to pass to a second reading. So Voted..”
Councilor Pottier requested to refer to the Committee of the Council as a Whole and/or the Committee on Ordinances and Enrolled Bills the issue of 5 vs. 3 member Council Committees.
To move approval
From the minutes
“Motion was made to move approval. So Voted..”
Ordinance for a first reading to be passed to a second reading AN ORDINANCE ARTICLE III
To refer this area to the Safety Officer for further investigation and for consideration of a chevron or flashing lights
From the minutes
“Motion was made to refer this area to the Safety Officer for further investigation and for consideration of a chevron or flashing lights. So Voted..”
To refer to the Committee on Police and License and the Police Chief and the Taunton Emergency Management Agency regarding an emergency response plan for mobile homes
From the minutes
“Councilor McCaul motioned to refer to the Committee on Police and License and the Police Chief and the Taunton Emergency Management Agency regarding an emergency response plan for mobile homes. So Voted..” (Motion: McCaul)
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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