MassVoter.com← Taunton Municipal CouncilTaunton Municipal Council · 2024–2025 Council · Regular meeting
November 18, 2025
41 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, Scott Martin, David Pottier, Barry Sanders, Jeffrey Postell, Phillip Duarte, Christopher Coute
Absent: Estele Borges, Lawrence Quintal
During the meeting:
- Councilor Quintal arrived at the meeting at 8:23 PM
- Councilor Borges arrived at the meeting at 8:26 PM
Every vote, in order
So Voted.
To go out of the regular order of business to Appointments
From the minutes
“Motion made to go out of the regular order of business to Appointments. So voted..”
Appointment and Swearing-in of One (1) Permanent Full-Time Police Officer Paul Joseph Corrao, Jr.
To approve
From the minutes
“Motion was made to approve on a roll call vote. On a roll call vote, seven (7) Councilors were present (Councilors Coute, Duarte, Postell, Sanders, Pottier, Martin, and McCaul), seven (7) Councilors voted in favor. Councilors 2 Quintal and Borges were absent. Motion passed..”
The City Clerk then swore-in Paul Joseph Corrao, Jr. as a full-time Police Officer for the City of Taunton.
To take a two-minute recess at 8:22 PM
From the minutes
“Motion was made to take a two-minute recess at 8:22 PM. So voted..”
Councilor Postell exited the meeting at 8:23 PM. Councilor Quintal arrived at the meeting at 8:23 PM.
To return to the meeting at 8:24 PM
From the minutes
“Motion was made to return to the meeting at 8:24 PM. So Voted..”
Councilor Borges arrived at the meeting at 8:26 PM. Communication from Mayor O'Connell for the reappointment of Mrs. Nancilee Lemaire, 12 Kilton Street, Taunton to Serve on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for a term of three (3) years expiring August 2028.
To approve
Communication from Mayor O'Connell for the appointments of Jasmine Barsallo of Taunton High School and Sydney Leavitt of Bristol County Agricultural High School to serve as Junior Members for the Taunton Agricultural Commission.
To approve
On discussion, Councilor Sanders expressed that he is sure they are both going to be wonderful candidates.
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..”
Communication from Mayor O'Connell for the appointments of Jasmine Barsallo of Taunton High School and Sydney Leavitt of Bristol County Agricultural High School to serve as Junior Members for the Taunton Agricultural Commission
To close Public Input
From the minutes
“Motion made to close Public Input. So voted..”
To open the public hearing for public input
From the minutes
“Motion was made to open the public hearing for public input. So voted..”
J.P. Marcoux, Jr., 40 Summer Street, Taunton, spoke of his concerns with tight spaces. Robert Rose, 40 Wales Street, Taunton spoke about what he believes has been illegal business use at this property. He continued to express his concerns. Deborah Carr, 175 Partridge Circle, Taunton asked where the
To close 4 public input
From the minutes
“Motion was made to close 4 public input. So voted..”
Deborah Carr, 175 Partridge Circle, Taunton asked the Assessors about the levy 3 2.5% increase. Her discussion continued.
To close public input
From the minutes
“Motion made to close public input. So voted..”
The Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Dello Russo gave some insight on the levy increase.
To split the tax rate
From the minutes
“Motion was made to split the tax rate. So voted..”
Communication from Mayor O'Connell for the appointments of Jasmine Barsallo of Taunton High School and Sydney Leavitt of Bristol County Agricultural High School to serve as Junior Members for the Taunton Agricultural Commission
To split the tax rate at a 1.750 shift onto the Commercial side
From the minutes
“Motion was made to split the tax rate at a 1.750 shift onto the Commercial side. So voted..”
To close the public hearing
From the minutes
“Motion made to close the public hearing. So voted..”
Hearing #2: Continued Hearing from October 14, 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: § 440-201 Definitions; Family and Group Home.
To open the public hearing and invite the City Planner into the enclosure
From the minutes
“Motion made to open the public hearing and invite the City Planner into the enclosure. So voted..”
A few Councilors spoke.
To open public input
From the minutes
“Motion was made to open public input. So voted..”
To open public input
From the minutes
“Motion was made to open public input. So voted..”
Jacob Anderson, 56 Danforth Street, Taunton spoke about his concerns on the definition of family.
To close public input
From the minutes
“Motion was made to close public input. So voted..”
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..”
Hearing #2: Continued Hearing from October 14, 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: § 440-201 Definitions; Family and Group Home.
To open the public hearing and invite the parties into the enclosure
From the minutes
“Motion made to open the public hearing and invite the parties into the enclosure. So voted..”
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.
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)
Darius Velez, 9 Reed Street, Taunton spoke about his concerns with how the neighborhood will change. Robert Higgins, 21 Reed Street, Taunton spoke about drainage and sewer system concerns.
To close public input
From the minutes
“Motion made to close public input. So voted..”
On the petition submitted by Michael Lopes, 18 Reed Street, Taunton, MA 02780 to allow for the issuance of a Special Permit to allow: A development consisting of 29 residential units at 18 Reed Street located in the Urban Residential D
To re-open public input
From the minutes
“Motion was made to re-open public input. So voted..”
Motion did not pass.
To continue the public hearing to November 25, 2025
From the minutes
“Motion was made to continue the public hearing to November 25, 2025. So voted..”
Communication from the Assistant Executive Director of Retirement notifying of the revised retirement for Shawn R
To move approval and send the appropriate scroll
From the minutes
“Motion made to move approval and send the appropriate scroll. So voted..”
To move approval and send the appropriate scroll
From the minutes
“Motion made to move approval and send the appropriate scroll. So voted..”
Communication from the DPW Operations Office Manager submitting a retirement payout for Mary Crowley in the amount of $27,481.13.
To move approval and send the appropriate scroll
From the minutes
“Motion made to move approval and send the appropriate scroll. So voted..”
5 Communication from the Director of Elections submitting a follow-up to Councilor McCaul's October 24, 2025 press release.
To receive and place on file
From the minutes
“Motion was made to receive and place on file. So voted..”
Communication from Senator Kelly A. Dooner providing an update regarding the train noise concerns raised by residents along Debra Drive related to South Coast Rail operations.
To receive and place on file
From the minutes
“Motion made to receive and place on file. So voted..”
Communication from Deep Pond Farm and Stables, 123 Dolan Circle, East Taunton expressing gratitude and extending an invitation for their Lighting of Deep Pond on Friday, November 28, 2025.
To receive and place on file
From the minutes
“Motion made to receive and place on file. So voted..”
Communication from the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission, 150 Mount Vernon St., Dorchester, MA notifying of KENO To-Go Monitor installation at Mobil Mart located at 342 Winthrop Street, Taunton.
To receive and place on file
From the minutes
“Motion made to receive and place on file. So voted..”
Communication from the City Planner requesting to meet with the Committee on Zoning. These items were listed under Hearing #2 on the agenda.
To refer the zoning changes that were listed on agenda dated November 4, 2025 to the Committee on Zoning
From the minutes
“Motion was made to refer the zoning changes that were listed on agenda dated November 4, 2025 to the Committee on Zoning. So voted..”
Petitions: Class II License - RENEWALS 1
To refer the above 19 petitions to the Committee on Police and License and the Police Chief
From the minutes
“Motion made to refer the above 19 petitions to the Committee on Police and License and the Police Chief. So voted..”
Class IT License -- RENEWALS 1. Arthur's Auto Junk Yard located at 147 Fremont St., Taunton 2. Harry's Auto Wrecking, Inc. -dba- Harry's Auto Wrecking located at 68 Whitsborough Street, Taunton
To refer to the above 2 petitions to the Committee on Police and License and the Police Chief
From the minutes
“Motion made to refer to the above 2 petitions 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..”
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, 2026.
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..”
Resolutions: Ordered That, the requisite age of eligibility for the tax exemption under M
For the Committee of the Whole to meet with the Police Department, Board of Health and the Zoning Enforcement Officer related to issues that were brought up about Park Street under Public Input
From the minutes
“Councilor Coute made a motion for the Committee of the Whole to meet with the Police Department, Board of Health and the Zoning Enforcement Officer related to issues that were brought up about Park Street under Public Input. So voted..” (Motion: Coute)
To have the Administration provide an update to the Committee of the Whole the status on activities at the 4 Spring Lane property
From the minutes
“Councilor Sanders made a motion to have the Administration provide an update to the Committee of the Whole the status on activities at the 4 Spring Lane property. So voted..” (Motion: Sanders)
That the Administration provide an update on the Burt Street and Winthrop Street intersection
From the minutes
“Councilor Borges made a motion that the Administration provide an update on the Burt Street and Winthrop Street intersection. Along with the Winter and School Street intersection. So voted..” (Motion: Borges)
To refer to the DPW that they send the Council information regarding the plans for the infrastructure and drain issues on Whales Street
From the minutes
“Councilor Borges made a motion to refer to the DPW that they send the Council information regarding the plans for the infrastructure and drain issues on Whales Street. So voted..” (Motion: Borges)
To refer to the Committee on Zoning the discussion on Airbnb's regarding Special Permits
From the minutes
“Councilor Borges made a motion to refer to the Committee on Zoning the discussion on Airbnb's regarding Special Permits. 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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