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Taunton Municipal Council
How the Taunton Municipal Council voted, from the City Clerk's official minutes. 9 councilors, all elected at-large. Elected November 2023; sworn in January 2, 2024. Council Presidents: David Pottier (2024), Scott Martin (2025). Kelly Dooner resigned in November 2024; Christopher Coute, the next-highest finisher in 2023, was sworn in November 27, 2024. Covers 106 meetings, January 2 to December 30, 2025.
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.
Sources: Mass. General Laws c. 44 § 32 (city budgets)Council sessions
Coming up
- Tue, Oct 13City Council Agenda, October 13, 2026 →
- Tue, Oct 13City Council Committees →
From the agendas Taunton posts on its official site. Agendas can change; the posted agenda is the official one.
Councilors
Estele BorgesCouncilor · At-large · at 96 of 106 meetingsChristopher CouteSworn in November 27, 2024, to fill Kelly Dooner’s seat · At-large · at 38 of 58 meetings · from Dec 2024Kelly DoonerResigned November 2024 · At-large · at 41 of 47 meetings · until Nov 2024
Phillip DuarteCouncilor · At-large · at 103 of 106 meetings
John McCaulCouncilor · At-large · at 88 of 106 meetingsJeffrey PostellCouncilor · At-large · at 90 of 106 meetings
David PottierCouncil President (2024) · At-large · at 98 of 106 meetingsLawrence QuintalCouncilor · At-large · at 83 of 106 meetings
Barry SandersCouncilor · At-large · at 101 of 106 meetings"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.
Votes where councilors disagreed
Most council votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one councilor voted no or abstained, newest first.
Dec 16Councilor Borges stated she is not supporting the revised…Motion: to appoint Katherine Nunes as the acting Commissioner of the Department…Passed Unanimous, 6 present (Coute, Martin, Quintal absent) · see note
December 16, 2025: Councilor Borges stated she is not supporting the revised motion Council McCaul made.
To appoint Katherine Nunes as the acting Commissioner of the Department of Public Work effective upon the retirement of the current Commissioner and continuing until the positon is permanently filled
The minutes say 8 councilors were present for this roll call, but list 6 at the start of the meeting.
From the minutes
“Motion made to appoint Katherine Nunes as the acting Commissioner of the Department of Public Work effective upon the retirement of the current Commissioner and continuing until the positon is permanently filled on a roll call vote. … On a roll call vote, eight (8) Councilors were present, six (6) Councilors (Councilors Duarte, Postell, Quintal, Sanders, Pottier and Martin) voted in favor of Katherine Nunes. Two (2) Councilors (Councilors Borges and McCaul) voted in favor for Mike Patneaude. Councilor Coute was absent. Motion passed..”
Nov 18So votedMotion: to approve the zoning changesPassed 6–2 · No: Pottier, Sanders
November 18, 2025: So voted.
To approve the zoning changes
Yes: Borges, Coute, Duarte, Martin, McCaul, QuintalNo: Pottier, SandersAbsent: Postell
From the minutes
“Motion was made to approve the zoning changes on a roll call vote. On a roll call vote, eight (8) Councilors were present, six (6) Councilors were in favor (Councilors McCaul, Borges, Martin, Quintal, Duarte and Coute), two (2) Councilors were opposed (Councilors Pottier and Sanders). Councilor Postell was absent. Motion passed..”
Nov 18On a roll call vote, eight (8) Councilors were…Motion: to deny the petitionFailed 1–7 · No: Borges, Coute, Duarte, Martin, Pottier, Quintal, Sanders
November 18, 2025: On a roll call vote, eight (8) Councilors were present, one (1) Councilor was in favor (Councilor McCaul), seven (7) Councilors were opposed (Councilors Coute, Duarte, Quintal, Sanders, Pottier, Martin…
To deny the petition
Yes: McCaulNo: Borges, Coute, Duarte, Martin, Pottier, Quintal, SandersAbsent: PostellCouncilors Borges and Quintal were listed as absent at the start of the meeting but are named in this roll call.
From the minutes
“Councilor McCaul motioned to deny the petition. … On a roll call vote, eight (8) Councilors were present, one (1) Councilor was in favor (Councilor McCaul), seven (7) Councilors were opposed (Councilors Coute, Duarte, Quintal, Sanders, Pottier, Martin and Borges. Councilor Postell was absent. Motion did not pass..” (Motion: McCaul)
Nov 18Ordered That, the requisite age of eligibility for the…Motion: to move approvalPassed Unanimous, 8 present (Postell absent) · see note
November 18, 2025: Ordered That, the requisite age of eligibility for the tax exemption under M.G.L. chapter 59, section 5, clause 41C, be reduced from 70 years to 65 years, effective July 1,…
To move approval
Councilors Borges and Quintal were listed as absent at the start of the meeting but are named as present for this roll call.
From the minutes
“Motion was made to move approval on a roll call vote. On a roll call vote, eight (8) Councilors were present (Councilors McCaul, Borges, Martin, Pottier, Sanders, Quintal, Duarte and Coute), eight (8) Councilors voted in favor. Councilor Postell was absent. Motion passed..”
Oct 14Petitions: Hours of Operation - Renewal 1Motion: to appreve Cape Highway Canna, LLC and Trade Group, LILC -dba-…Passed 7–1 · No: Duarte
October 14, 2025: Petitions: Hours of Operation - Renewal 1
To appreve Cape Highway Canna, LLC and Trade Group, LILC -dba- Bloom Canna Host Community Waivers
Yes: Borges, Martin, McCaul, Postell, Pottier, Quintal, SandersNo: DuarteAbsent: Coute
From the minutes
“Motion was made to appreve Cape Highway Canna, LLC and Trade Group, LILC -dba- Bloom Canna Host Community Waivers on a roll call vote. On discussion, Councilor Duarte pointed out he will be voting against this. He did partake in outlining this process but he was not a member of the actual special committee after it was created. He thinks there was two fatal flaws in the process. He went into further details. On a roll call vote, eight (8) Councilors were present, seven (7) Councilors voted in favor. Councilor Duarte was opposed. Councilor Coute was absent. Motion passed..”
Sep 30Councilor McCaul explained why he feels we should educate…Motion: to authorize the filing of this Home Rule Petition as articulated…Passed 7–0 · Abstained: McCaul
September 30, 2025: Councilor McCaul explained why he feels we should educate the residents more.
To authorize the filing of this Home Rule Petition as articulated and the attached document in an unrestricted manner and allow the legislation to make any revisions that are necessary and appropriate to the form of the bill
Yes: Borges, Duarte, Martin, Postell, Pottier, Quintal, SandersAbstained: McCaulAbsent: Coute
From the minutes
“Councilor Sanders made a motion to authorize the filing of this Home Rule Petition as articulated and the attached document in an unrestricted manner and allow the legislation to make any revisions that are necessary and appropriate to the form of the bill on a roll call vote. On a roll call vote, eight (8) Councilors were present, seven (7) Councilors voted in favor (Councilors Duarte, Postell, Quintal, Sanders, Pottier, Martin and Borges) and Councilor McCaul abstained himself from voting. Councilor Coute was absent..” (Motion: Sanders)
Sep 9On discussion, Councilor Sanders asked the Law Department if…Motion: to adopt the OrderPassed 6–3 · No: Coute, Duarte, Sanders
September 9, 2025: On discussion, Councilor Sanders asked the Law Department if this will require an ordinance change. Attorney Gay stated that they can move forward as there is no ordinance for this.…
To adopt the Order
Yes: Borges, Martin, McCaul, Postell, Pottier, QuintalNo: Coute, Duarte, Sanders
From the minutes
“Motion was made to adopt the Order on a roll call vote. On a roll call vote, nine (9) Councilors were present, six (6) Councilors voted in favor (Councilors McCaul, Borges, Martin, Pottier, Quintal and Postell), three (3) Councilors were opposed (Councilors Sanders, Duarte and Coute). The motion passes..”
Sep 9Com. from the City Solicitor regarding the Council's motion…Motion: to refer to the Committee of the WholePassed 8–1 · No: Duarte
September 9, 2025: Com. from the City Solicitor regarding the Council's motion on September 2, 2025 to refer to the Law Department and Mayor's Office regarding Department Heads and Public Input
To refer to the Committee of the Whole
Yes: Borges, Coute, Martin, McCaul, Postell, Pottier, Quintal, SandersNo: Duarte
From the minutes
“Motion was made to refer to the Committee of the Whole. On a roll call vote, nine (9) Councilors were present, eight (8) Councilors voted in favor, Councilor Duarte was opposed. The motion passes..”
Aug 26Petition submitted by Michael Lopes, 18 Reed Street, Taunton,…Motion: to approve work towards acquiring the property by 8 eminent domain…Passed 6–3 · No: Coute, Duarte, Sanders
August 26, 2025: Petition submitted by Michael Lopes, 18 Reed Street, Taunton, MA 02780 for a special permit for a development consisting of 29 residential units at 18 Reed Street, Taunton, MA 02780…
To approve work towards acquiring the property by 8 eminent domain or by other means and that any mitigation efforts come back to the Council for consideration
Yes: Borges, Martin, McCaul, Postell, Pottier, QuintalNo: Coute, Duarte, Sanders
From the minutes
“Councilor Pottier motioned to approve work towards acquiring the property by 8 eminent domain or by other means and that any mitigation efforts come back to the Council for consideration. On a roll call vote, nine (9) Councilors were present, six (6) Councilors voted in favor (Councilors McCaul, Borges, Martin, Pottier, Quintal and Postell), three (3) Councilors voted in opposition (Councilors Sanders, Duarte and Coute). The motion passes..” (Motion: Pottier)
Jun 17Councilor Pottier stated that the City Solicitor recommended that…Motion: to approve the Order of Taking and related , taking plans…Passed 7–0 · Abstained: Pottier
June 17, 2025: Councilor Pottier stated that the City Solicitor recommended that item #3 in the Committee of the Whole be taken as a separate item for a vote of the Council.
To approve the Order of Taking and related , taking plans for the Scadding Street over the snake River Bridge Replacement project
Yes: Borges, Coute, Duarte, Martin, McCaul, Quintal, SandersAbstained: PottierAbsent: Postell
From the minutes
“Motion was made to approve the Order of Taking and related , taking plans for the Scadding Street over the snake River Bridge Replacement project on a roll call vote. On a roll call vote, eight (8) Councilors were present, seven (7) Councilors voted in favor. Councilor Pottier voted present. Councilor Postell was absent. The motion passes..”
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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