MassVoter.com← Taunton Municipal CouncilTaunton Municipal Council · 2026–2027 Council · Regular meeting
September 15, 2026
18 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: Scott Martin, John McCaul, Deborah Carr, David Pottier, David Chaves, Edward Correira, Phillip Duarte, Debra Botellio, Barry Sanders
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
So Voted.
To go out of regular order to Communications from the Mayor
From the minutes
“Motion made to go out of regular order to Communications from the Mayor. So voted..”
Opportunity for input by the general public.
To open public input
From the minutes
“Motion made to open public input. So voted..”
Brian Ratcliffe, 4 Dale Street, Taunton, discussed snow-removal preparedness and plowing costs and requested that Councilor Carr obtain agreements concerning bonuses and additional compensation.
To close public input
From the minutes
“Motion made to close public input. So voted..”
Communication from Mayor O'Connell of the reappointment of Peter Thomson, 188 2 Paul Revere Terrace, Taunton as the Veterans Graves Officer for a term of five years expiring September 15, 2031.
To move to approve
From the minutes
“Motion made to move to approve. So voted..”
Peter Thomson was then sworn in by Jenn Leger, City Clerk. Tabled from Council Meeting of September 8, 2026: Communication from Mayor O'Connell of the reappointment of Peter Lamb, 651 Norton Avenue, Taunton to the License Commission for a term of six years expiring June 2032.
To move to approve
From the minutes
“Motion made to move to approve. So voted..”
Communication from Jennifer Leger, City Clerk for the appointment of Four, Permanent Full-Time Firefighters.
To refer pages 3-6 on the Committee on the Fire Department
From the minutes
“Motion made to refer pages 3-6 on the Committee on the Fire Department. So voted..”
Communication from DPW Commissioner, Michael Patneaude regarding an administrative correction to the previously approved prior-year invoice for R
To refer to the Committee on Finance and Salaries
From the minutes
“Motion made to refer to the Committee on Finance and Salaries. So voted..”
Communication from Anthony Abreau, Chairman of the Taunton Planning Board, notifying that a Public Hearing on the proposed changes to the City of Taunton Zoning Ordinance will be held on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 5:30 P
To receive and place on file
From the minutes
“Motion made to receive and place on file. So voted..”
To receive and place on file
From the minutes
“Motion made to receive and place on file. So voted..”
To receive and place on file
From the minutes
“Motion made to receive and place on file. So voted..”
3 Communication from Kevin Scanlon, Director of Planning and Conservation, requesting approval to add proposed language for a temporary data center moratorium to the zoning changes previously referred for Public Hearing.
To on discussion to refer to the City Clerk for the hearing process for inclusion and the proposed zoning changes
From the minutes
“Motion made on discussion to refer to the City Clerk for the hearing process for inclusion and the proposed zoning changes. … So voted..”
Communication from Kevin Scanlon, Director of Planning and Conservation, requesting approval to add proposed language for a temporary data center moratorium to the zoning changes previously referred for Public Hearing
To designate the Committee of the Whole as the hearing officer for the hearing on Tuesday, September 22, 2026
From the minutes
“Motion made to designate the Committee of the Whole as the hearing officer for the hearing on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. 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 ratify the Committee's recommendation
Yes: Duarte, Martin, Pottier, SandersNo: Botellio, Carr, Chaves, Correira, McCaul
From the minutes
“Motion made to ratify the Committee's recommendation. On a roll call vote, nine (9) Councilors were present. Four (4) Councilors, Sanders, Duarte, Pottier and Martin, voted in favor. Five (5) Councilors, Botellio, Correira, Chaves, Carr and McCaul, were opposed. Motion did not pass..”
She offered to provide additional information regarding the prior process and stated she would appreciate reconsideration, even if the matter were placed on the next agenda.
To reconsider the matter at the next meeting
Yes: Botellio, Carr, Chaves, Correira, Duarte, Martin, Pottier, SandersNo: McCaul
From the minutes
“Councilor Chaves made a motion to reconsider the matter at the next meeting. On a roll call vote, nine (9) Councilors were present. Eight (8) Councilors voted in favor. Councilor McCaul was opposed. Motion passed..” (Motion: Chaves)
Motion passed.
To table the matters regarding Silver Street and Van Buren Street for one week
Yes: Botellio, Carr, Chaves, Correira, McCaul, Pottier, SandersNo: Duarte, Martin
From the minutes
“Councilor Pottier made a motion to table the matters regarding Silver Street and Van Buren Street for one week. Council President Sanders stated that it was at the discretion of the full Council, as the Council had already voted on the previous matter. On a roll call vote, nine (9) Councilors were present. Seven (7) Councilors voted in favor. Two (2) Councilors, Duarte and Martin, were opposed. Motion passed..” (Motion: Pottier)
Mayor O'Connell clarified that a motion had already been made to table the remaining properties until the following week.
To approve the minutes of the Committee on Public Property and Information Technology from July 28 and August 11, 2026
From the minutes
“Council President Sanders made a motion to approve the minutes of the Committee on Public Property and Information Technology from July 28 and August 11, 2026. So voted..” (Motion: Sanders)
Resolutions: None
To refer to Committee of the Whole a discussion about the roles and responsibilities of the Taunton Redevelopment Authority
From the minutes
“Councilor Sanders motioned to refer to Committee of the Whole a discussion about the roles and responsibilities of the Taunton Redevelopment Authority. So voted..” (Motion: Sanders)
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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