MassVoter.com← Taunton Municipal CouncilTaunton Municipal Council · 2024–2025 Council · Regular meeting
September 9, 2025
21 recorded votes, 3 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF) · City meeting page
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
Attendance
Present: John McCaul, Estele Borges, Scott Martin, David Pottier, Barry Sanders, Lawrence Quintal, Jeffrey Postell, Phillip Duarte, Christopher Coute
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
Appointments: Appointment and Swearing-in of Two (2) Permanent Full-Time Police Officers: o Jonathan DaRosa o Matthew J. Letourneau
To approve
From the minutes
“Motion was made to approve on a roll call vote. On a roll call vote, nine (9) Councilors were present, nine (9) Councilors voted to appoint Jonathan DaRosa and Matthew J..”
The City Clerk swore in Jonathan DaRosa and Matthew J. Letourneau as permanent, full-time police officers.
To revert to the regular order of business
From the minutes
“Motion was made to revert to the regular order of business. So Voted..”
Opportunity for input by the general public. The City Clerk read a communication from Nathan Daniels, 10 Rankin Road, Taunton, regarding the unsafe lip of road created by previous paving at 10 Rankin Road.
To refer to the Committee on the Department of Public Works, the Department of Public Works and the Mayor's Office
From the minutes
“Motion was made to refer to the Committee on the Department of Public Works, the Department of Public Works and the Mayor's Office. So Voted..”
Hearing: Continued Hearing from August 26, 2025: Upon the petition of the City of Taunton, 15 Summer Street, Taunton, on the Proposed Changes to the City of Taunton Zoning Ordinance Dated June 17, 2025 regarding the red-lined co
To continue the hearing until September 22, 2025 at 7:30am
From the minutes
“Motion was made to continue the hearing until September 22, 2025 at 7:30am. So Voted..”
Com. from the Fire Chief requesting to pay prior year fiscal invoices and educational reimbursements that were submitted to his office after Fiscal Year 2025 closed on June 30, 2025.
To refer to the Committee on Finance and Salaries
From the minutes
“Motion was made to refer to the Committee on Finance and Salaries. So Voted..”
Com. from the Fire Chief requesting to pay prior year fiscal invoices and educational reimbursements that were submitted to his office after Fiscal Year 2025 closed on June 30, 2025
To refer to the Committee on Finance and Salaries
From the minutes
“Motion was made to refer to the Committee on Finance and Salaries. So Voted..”
Com. from the Police Chief requesting that the Municipal Council request a certification for one full-time police officer from the Human Resources Division. This position has been approved by Mr. Dello Russo for the purposes of funding.
To refer to the City Clerk so call for a list
From the minutes
“Motion was made to refer to the City Clerk so call for a list. So Voted..”
Com. from the Safety Officer requesting that the City Council approve his request to place a flashing crosswalk sign at the crosswalk at 31 School Street
To move approval and refer to the Department of Public Works
From the minutes
“Motion was made to move approval and refer to the Department of Public Works. So Voted..”
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. Com. from the First Assistant City Solicitor regarding an Order of Taking for 4 Spring Street.
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..”
Com. from the Director of Elections requesting that the City Council make a motion to approve police detail coverage for the September 23, 2025 Municipal Preliminary Election
To approve the police detail coverage
From the minutes
“Motion was made to approve the police detail coverage. So Voted..”
To approve the Warrant for the Preliminary Election
From the minutes
“Motion was made to approve the Warrant for the Preliminary Election. So Voted..”
Com. from the Chief of Staff regarding the use of public input at City Council meetings to express dissatisfaction with City Employees
To open public input
Yes: Borges, Coute, Martin, McCaul, Postell, SandersNo: Duarte, Pottier, Quintal
From the minutes
“Motion was made to open public input. On a roll call vote, nine (9) Councilors were present, six (6) Councilors voted in favor (Councilors Coute, Postell, Sanders, Martin, Borges and McCaul), three (3) Councilors were opposed (Councilors Duarte, Quintal and Pottier). The motion passes..”
To close public input
From the minutes
“Motion was made to close public input. So Voted..”
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..”
Com. from the City Solicitor regarding the question presented by Brian Ratcliffe at public input on September 2, 2025, inquiring publicly about a letter that he submitted to the City on January 4, 2024 and questioning why it was not placed on a Council agenda.
To refer to the Committee of the Whole
From the minutes
“Motion was made to refer to the Committee of the Whole. So Voted..”
Com. from the Barrett Costello, President, Kiwanis Club of Taunton to extend an invitation to their 23"? Annual Cook-off Contest and Scholarship Fundraiser.
To receive and place on file
From the minutes
“Motion was made to receive and place on file. So Voted..”
Com. from Kenneth Kostka, KLK Taunton Riverside Avenue LLC requesting approval to allow a street opening on Riverside Avenue in the vicinity of the rear of 202 High Street.
To refer to the Department of Public Works
From the minutes
“Motion was made to refer to the Department of Public Works. So Voted..”
Livery License -- NEW 1. WJB Transportation Services LLC to be located at 447 Broadway, Taunton (3-Vehicles).
To refer to the Committee on Police and License and the Police Chief
From the minutes
“Motion was made to refer to the Committee on Police and License and the Police Chief. 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..”
Resolutions: NONE
To refer to the Board of Health and to the Blighted Property Task Force regarding the immediate issue of rodents on the blighted property of 155 Highland Street
From the minutes
“Councilor Borges motioned to refer to the Board of Health and to the Blighted Property Task Force regarding the immediate issue of rodents on the blighted property of 155 Highland Street. So Voted..” (Motion: Borges)
To refer to the Department of Parks, Cemeteries and Public Grounds for an update on the Sikorski Field cleanup
From the minutes
“Councilor Borges motioned to refer to the Department of Parks, Cemeteries and Public Grounds for an update on the Sikorski Field cleanup. So Voted..” (Motion: Borges)
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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