← 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

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Record at a glance · 2022–2023 Council

93 of 107meetings attended (87%) · whole council 91%
136votes cast by name (yes, no or abstain)
9no votes (7% of votes cast) · whole council 10%
9 of 33split votes where Coute was in the minority (27%) · whole council 28%
0abstained
3terms in this record

On split votes, Coute voted the same way as…

How these numbers work
  • Counted from the official minutes, for 2022–2023 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 93 of 107 Municipal Council meetings in 2022–2023 Council.

Missed

Every meeting (107)

Votes where councilors disagreed · 2022–2023 Council

Dec 19She stated that she is not looking to put…Motion: to support Chief Walsh's recommendation to revoke the tow contractPassed 7–2 · Coute: Yes

December 19, 2023: She stated that she is not looking to put anyone out of business, however, she could not go against the Chief's recommendation after receiving this information this evening and this…

ApprovePassed · 7–2

To support Chief Walsh's recommendation to revoke the tow contract

Voted: Yes

Yes: Borges, Coute, Dooner, Duarte, McCaul, Postell, SandersNo: Pottier, Quintal

From the minutes

“Motion was made to support Chief Walsh's recommendation to revoke the tow contract. On a roll call vote, nine (9) Councilors were present, seven (7) Councilors voted in favor (Dooner, Duarte, Borges, McCaul, Coute, Sanders and Postell), two (2) Councilors were opposed (Pottier and Quintal). The motion passes..”

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

Nov 28Ordinance for a Grade I kennel license, the premises…Motion: to waive the requirement that the dogs be kept on a…Passed 7–2 · Coute: Yes

November 28, 2023 (Joint meeting): Ordinance for a Grade I kennel license, the premises contains 0

ApprovePassed · 7–2

To waive the requirement that the dogs be kept on a premises containing 0.5 acres or more and waive the requirement that the dogs be housed, sheltered or kept a minimum of 100 feet from the nearest residential dwelling based on a finding that said waivers will not be detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare and to approve the license

Voted: Yes

Yes: Coute, Dooner, Duarte, McCaul, Postell, Quintal, SandersNo: Borges, Pottier

From the minutes

“Motion was made to waive the requirement that the dogs be kept on a premises containing 0.5 acres or more and waive the requirement that the dogs be housed, sheltered or kept a minimum of 100 feet from the nearest residential dwelling based on a finding that said waivers will not be detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare and to approve the license. On a roll call vote, nine (9) Councilors were present, seven (7) Councilors voted in favor (Postell, Quintal, Sanders, Coute, McCaul, Duarte and Dooner), two (2) were opposed (Pottier and Borges). The motion passes..”

Read it in the official minutes, page 12 (PDF)

Nov 21So VotedMotion: to grant the waiver for the variance of the Ordinance and…Failed 5–2 · Coute: Absent

November 21, 2023: So Voted.

OrdinanceFailed · 5–2

To grant the waiver for the variance of the Ordinance and grant the petition

Voted: Absent

Yes: Dooner, Duarte, Postell, Pottier, QuintalNo: Borges, McCaulAbsent: Coute, SandersThe 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

“Motion was made to grant the waiver for the variance of the Ordinance and grant the petition. On a roll call vote, seven (7) Councilors were present, five (5) Councilors voted in favor (Dooner, Duarte, Pottier, Quintal and Postell), two (2) Councilors were opposed (Borges and McCaul). The motion does not pass. Councilors Coute and Sanders were absent..”

Read it in the official minutes, page 4 (PDF)

Nov 14The motion passesMotion: to leave the tax rate shift at 1.745Passed 5–3 · Coute: Yes

November 14, 2023: The motion passes.

ApprovePassed · 5–3

To leave the tax rate shift at 1.745

Voted: Yes

Yes: Borges, Coute, Dooner, Pottier, QuintalNo: Duarte, McCaul, SandersAbsent: Postell

From the minutes

“Motion was made to leave the tax rate shift at 1.745. On a roll call vote, eight (8) Councilors were present, five (5) Councilors voted in favor (Dooner, Borges, Pottier, Coute and Quintal), three (3) Councilors were opposed (Duarte, McCaul and Sanders). Councilor Postell was absent. The motion passes..”

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

Oct 31Petitions: Hours of Operation License - RENEWAL 1Motion: to refer to the Committee on Police and License and the…Passed 6–2 · Coute: Absent

October 31, 2023: Petitions: Hours of Operation License - RENEWAL 1

Send to committee or departmentPassed · 6–2

To refer to the Committee on Police and License and the Police Chief

Voted: Absent

Yes: Borges, McCaul, Postell, Pottier, Quintal, SandersNo: Dooner, DuarteAbsent: Coute

From the minutes

“Motion was made to refer to the Committee on Police and License and the Police Chief. On a roll call vote, eight (8) Councilors were present, six (6) Councilors voted in favor (Councilors Postell, Quintal, Sanders, Pottier, McCaul and Borges), two (2) were opposed (Councilors Duarte and Dooner). Councilor Coute was absent. The motion passes..”

Read it in the official minutes, page 4 (PDF)

Sep 26Excellent workMotion: to instruct the Elections Director to not put the Charter on…Passed 5–4 · Coute: Yes

September 26, 2023: Excellent work.

ApprovePassed · 5–4

To instruct the Elections Director to not put the Charter on the November 2023 ballet

Voted: Yes

Yes: Coute, Dooner, Duarte, Postell, PottierNo: Borges, McCaul, Quintal, Sanders

From the minutes

“Motion was made to instruct the Elections Director to not put the Charter on the November 2023 ballet on a roll call vote. On a roll call vote, five (5) Councilors voted in favor (Dooner, Duarte, Pottier, Conte and Postell), four (4) Councilors voted in opposition (Borges, McCaul, Sanders and Quintal). So voted. Motion passed..”

Read it in the official minutes, page 10 (PDF)

Sep 12Councilor Coute stated that they would be doing their…Motion: to continue this hearing until next week and invite the Zoning…Failed 4–5 · Coute: Yes

September 12, 2023: Councilor Coute stated that they would be doing their due diligence to get feedback from the City officials who have had interaction with the Barchards in order to make a…

ApproveFailed · 4–5

To continue this hearing until next week and invite the Zoning Enforcement Officer and a representative from the Police Department

Voted: Yes

Yes: Borges, Coute, Dooner, PottierNo: Duarte, McCaul, Postell, Quintal, Sanders

From the minutes

“Motion was made to continue this hearing until next week and invite the Zoning Enforcement Officer and a representative from the Police Department. On a roll call vote, nine (9) Councilors were present, four (4) Councilors voted in favor (Coute, Pottier, Borges and Dooner), five (5) Councilors were opposed (Postell, Quintal, Sanders, McCaul and Duarte). The motion does not pass..”

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

Sep 12Resolutions: NONEMotion: to refer the Solar Ray RFP to the Inspector General for…Failed 4–5 · Coute: No

September 12, 2023: Resolutions: NONE

Send to committee or departmentFailed · 4–5

To refer the Solar Ray RFP to the Inspector General for the review of the RFP process

Voted: No

Yes: Borges, McCaul, Quintal, SandersNo: Coute, Dooner, Duarte, Postell, Pottier

From the minutes

“Councilor Borges motioned to refer the Solar Ray RFP to the Inspector General for the review of the RFP process. … On a roll call vote, nine (9) Councilors were present, four (4) Councilors voted in favor (Borges, McCaul, Sanders and Quintal), and five (5) Councilors voted in opposition (Dooner, Duarte, Pottier, Coute and Postell). The motion does not pass..” (Motion: Borges)

Read it in the official minutes, page 16 (PDF)

Sep 5Councilor Sanders called for a point of order and…Motion: to the table the voteFailed 4–4 · Coute: No

September 5, 2023: Councilor Sanders called for a point of order and stated that there is a motion to table, and that there is no need to have a motion to press, because…

Table (set aside)Failed · 4–4

To the table the vote

Voted: No

Yes: Borges, McCaul, Quintal, SandersNo: Coute, Dooner, Duarte, PottierAbsent: Postell

From the minutes

“Motion was made to the table the vote. On a roll call vote, four (4) Councilors voted in favor (Quintal, Sanders, McCaul, and Borges), four (4) were opposed (Coute, Pottier, Duarte, and Dooner). Councilor Postell was absent. The motion does not pass..”

Read it in the official minutes, page 2 (PDF)

Sep 5Resolutions: Order to be accepted on a roll call…Motion: to refer to the Law Department to determine whether the City…Passed 5–3 · Coute: No

September 5, 2023: Resolutions: Order to be accepted on a roll call vote Ordered That, The City of Taunton shall establish a Taunton Triad agency I gift account in accordance with M

Send to committee or departmentPassed · 5–3

To refer to the Law Department to determine whether the City of Taunton has adopted M.G.L. Chapter 53 Sec. 18B, which would allow the City of Taunton to provide a booklet regarding the charter vote coming up on November 7th that explains what a yes vote would mean and what a no vote would mean

Voted: No

Yes: Borges, McCaul, Pottier, Quintal, SandersNo: Coute, Dooner, DuarteAbsent: Postell

From the minutes

“Councilor Borges motioned to refer to the Law Department to determine whether the City of Taunton has adopted M.G.L. Chapter 53 Sec. 18B, which would allow the City of Taunton to provide a booklet regarding the charter vote coming up on November 7th that explains what a yes vote would mean and what a no vote would mean. On discussion, Councilor Coute requested that this matter be placed on next week's agenda so that the Council has the opportunity to research the law. On a roll call vote, five (5) Councilors voted in favor (Borges, McCaul, Pottier, Sanders and Quintal), three (3) voted in opposition (Dooner, Duarte and Coute). Councilor Postell was absent..” (Motion: Borges)

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

Votes with no disagreement (110)

    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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