← Taunton Municipal Council

Taunton Former Councilor

Christopher Coute

At-large · 3 terms in this record

A monthly email on how they voted, starting in November.

Council terms

2024–2025 Council2022–2023 Council2020–2021 Council
Election Day · Tuesday, Nov 3

Your Taunton ballot: 14 quizzes, about a minute each.

Start my ballot →

Record at a glance · 2020–2021 Council

107 of 108meetings attended (99%) · whole council 96%
225votes cast by name (yes, no or abstain)
12no votes (5% of votes cast) · whole council 9%
8 of 71split votes where Coute was in the minority (11%) · whole council 24%
3abstained
3terms in this record

On split votes, Coute voted the same way as…

How these numbers work
  • Counted from the official minutes, for 2020–2021 Council only. Committee meetings and routine votes (adjourning, approving minutes) are not counted.
  • Attendance counts the meetings where the minutes list Coute as present or absent at the start.
  • Only votes the minutes record member by member are counted. Voice votes and votes given only as a count (for example 6-3 with no names) are not.
  • Percentages are shown only when there are at least 10 meetings or votes to count.
  • A split vote is one where at least one member voted yes and another voted no. “In the minority” means on the side with fewer votes; ties are not counted.
  • “Whole council” combines every member’s record for the same term.

These numbers describe the record; they are not a grade. A no vote, an abstention or a minority vote is neither good nor bad. MassVoter never rates officials.

Attendance

At the start of 107 of 108 Municipal Council meetings in 2020–2021 Council.

Missed

Every meeting (108)

Votes where councilors disagreed · 2020–2021 Council

Dec 21So votedMotion: to approve the Special Permit as it relates to the 5,751…Passed 8–1 · Coute: Yes

December 21, 2021: So voted.

ApprovePassed · 8–1

To approve the Special Permit as it relates to the 5,751 sq. ft

Voted: Yes

Yes: Cleary, Coute, Croteau, Duarte, McCaul, Postell, Pottier, SandersNo: Carr

From the minutes

“Councilor Sanders made a motion to approve the Special Permit as it relates to the 5,751 sq. ft. Recreational Retail Marijuana Facility with the conditions outlined by the DIRB. On a roll call vote, nine (9) councilors present, eight (8) voted in favor. Councilor Carr was in opposition. So voted..” (Motion: Sanders)

Read it in the official minutes, page 3 (PDF)

Dec 21Councilor Coute expressed his frustration on who was responsible…Motion: to grant the Special Permit for the 1,090 ft. hair salon…Failed 5–4 · Coute: No

December 21, 2021: Councilor Coute expressed his frustration on who was responsible at the time of the construction.

ApproveFailed · 5–4

To grant the Special Permit for the 1,090 ft. hair salon with the condition as outlined by the DIRB

Voted: No

Yes: Cleary, Croteau, Duarte, Postell, SandersNo: Carr, Coute, McCaul, PottierThe 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

“Councilor Sanders made a motion to grant the Special Permit for the 1,090 ft. hair salon with the condition as outlined by the DIRB. On a roll call vote, nine (9) councilors present, five (5) voted in favor. Councilors Pottier, McCaul, Carr and Coute were in opposition. So voted. The motion did not pass..” (Motion: Sanders)

Read it in the official minutes, page 5 (PDF)

Nov 9Petitions: pf NONE Committee Reports: Motion was made for…Motion: to on i a roll call vote to adopt the recommended…Passed 7–2 · Coute: Yes

November 9, 2021: Petitions: pf NONE Committee Reports: Motion was made for Committee reports to be read by title and approved

OrdinancePassed · 7–2

To on i a roll call vote to adopt the recommended no parking on the west side of West Water Street 60 ft. from intersection of West Water Street and Third Street from the Ordinances and Enrolled Bills Committee

Voted: Yes

Yes: Carr, Cleary, Coute, Croteau, Duarte, Pottier, SandersNo: McCaul, Postell

From the minutes

“Motion was made on i a roll call vote to adopt the recommended no parking on the west side of West Water Street 60 ft. from intersection of West Water Street and Third Street from the Ordinances and Enrolled Bills Committee. On a roll call vote, nine (9) Councilors : present, seven (7) Councilors voted in favor. Councilor McCaul and Postell voted in opposition..”

Read it in the official minutes, page 5 (PDF)

Sep 28The Department of Public Works Committee discussed : the…Motion: to approvePassed 7–2 · Coute: Yes

September 28, 2021: The Department of Public Works Committee discussed : the sewer extension to the airport, all councilors were present. It was passed on a three to : two vote. Councilor Croteau…

ApprovePassed · 7–2

To approve

Voted: Yes

Yes: Coute, Croteau, Duarte, McCaul, Postell, Pottier, SandersNo: Carr, Cleary

From the minutes

“Motion was made to approve. On a roll call vote, nine (9) Councilors present, seven (7) Councilors voting in favor. Councilors Carr and Cleary voting in 7 opposition..”

Read it in the official minutes, page 7 (PDF)

Aug 24Recommendations on the Committee on Council as a Whole,…Motion: to certify the petitionPassed 5–3 · Coute: Yes

August 24, 2021: Recommendations on the Committee on Council as a Whole, which met last night, Councilor President Coute stated they voted to move a Home Rule petition on updates to the Taunton…

ApprovePassed · 5–3

To certify the petition

Voted: Yes

Yes: Coute, Croteau, McCaul, Postell, PottierNo: Carr, Cleary, SandersAbstained: Duarte

From the minutes

“Motion was made to certify the petition on a roll call vote. So voted. On a roll call vote, nine (9) Councilors present, five (5) Councilors voted in favor (Councilors Postell, Coute, McCaul, Pottier, and Croteau, three (3) Councilors voting in opposition (Councilors Carr, Cleary and Sanders), one (1) Council (Councilor Duarte) recused himself. Motion passed..”

Read it in the official minutes, page 3 (PDF)

Aug 17Appointment of the auditor, chief assessor, purchasing agent and…Motion: to ordainPassed 6–3 · Coute: Yes

August 17, 2021: appointment of the auditor, chief assessor, purchasing agent and treasurer/collector

OrdinancePassed · 6–3

To ordain

Voted: Yes

Yes: Coute, Croteau, Duarte, McCaul, Postell, PottierNo: Carr, Cleary, Sanders

From the minutes

“Motion was made to ordain. On a roll call vote, nine (9) Councilors present, six (6) Councilors voting in favor. Councilors Carr, Cleary and Sanders voting in opposition. MOTION CARRIES. ..”

Read it in the official minutes, page 9 (PDF)

Aug 17Appointment of the auditor, chief assessor, purchasing agent and…Motion: to ordainPassed 7–2 · Coute: Yes

August 17, 2021: appointment of the auditor, chief assessor, purchasing agent and treasurer/collector

OrdinancePassed · 7–2

To ordain

Voted: Yes

Yes: Carr, Coute, Croteau, Duarte, McCaul, Postell, PottierNo: Cleary, Sanders

From the minutes

“Motion was made to ordain. On a roll call vote, nine (9) Councilors present, seven (7) Councilors voting in favor. Councilors Sanders and Cleary voting in opposition. MOTION CARRIES..”

Read it in the official minutes, page 15 (PDF)

Aug 3Recommendations adopted to reflect the votes as recorded in…Motion: to endorse the vote from the DPW CommitteePassed 6–0 · Coute: Abstained

August 3, 2021: Recommendations adopted to reflect the votes as recorded in Committee : Reports. So Voted, Sewer extension discussion on Joseph Warner Blvd, Referred to a Committee as a Whole.

ApprovePassed · 6–0

To endorse the vote from the DPW Committee

Voted: Abstained

Yes: Cleary, Croteau, Duarte, McCaul, Postell, PottierAbstained: CouteAbsent: Carr, Sanders

From the minutes

“Motion was made to endorse the vote from the DPW Committee. On a roll call vote, seven (7) Councilors present, six (6) Councilors voting in favor. Councilor Coute voted to abstain. Councilors Sanders and Carr was absent..”

Read it in the official minutes, page 9 (PDF)

Aug 3Petition submitted by Attorney William Rounds, 115 Broadway, Taunton…Motion: to require the contractor to put the stubs and the extension…Passed 6–0 · Coute: Not recorded

August 3, 2021: Petition submitted by Attorney William Rounds, 115 Broadway, Taunton on behalf of his client, Kyra Fernandes, Manager, HTC Trinity, LLC, 28 Kings Court, Taunton for a special permit for 491…

ApprovePassed · 6–0

To require the contractor to put the stubs and the extension to the _ property lines to four houses

The minutes give only the count (6–0), not how each councilor voted.

From the minutes

“Motion was made to require the contractor to put the stubs and the extension to the _ property lines to four houses, On a roll call vote, seven (7) Councilors present, six (6) - Councilors voting in favor..”

Read it in the official minutes, page 11 (PDF)

Aug 3Councilor Pottier made the following motion: ,Motion: to extend the permit for two yearsPassed 6–1 · Coute: Yes

August 3, 2021: Councilor Pottier made the following motion: , :

ApprovePassed · 6–1

To extend the permit for two years

Voted: Yes

Yes: Cleary, Coute, Duarte, McCaul, Postell, PottierNo: CroteauAbsent: Carr, Sanders

From the minutes

“MOTION: TO EXTEND THE PERMIT FOR TWO YEARS. ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, COUNCILORS CLEARY, DUARTE, POTTIER, MCCAUL, POSTELL AND COUTE VOTED IN FAVOR. COUNCILOR CROTEAU VOTED IN OPPOSITION. (COUNCILORS SANDERS AND CARR WERE ABSENT) MOTION CARRIES..”

Read it in the official minutes, page 29 (PDF)

Votes with no disagreement (151)

    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.

    How to read these pagesWhere the votes come from, how we check them against the official minutes, what isn't included yet, and how to report a mistake.About city pages →
    Get an email when new quizzes open

    MassVoter.com · nonpartisan match quiz · About · How the Legislature voted · Local Votes · Privacy · Support MassVoter

    Report an error on this page

    See something wrong? A wrong vote, name, date or number? Tell us and we’ll check it against the source and fix it. Fixes are listed on our corrections page.