← Taunton Municipal Council

Taunton Former Councilor

Estele Borges

At-large · 3 terms in this record

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

Council terms

2024–2025 Council2022–2023 Council2018–2019 Council
Election Day · Tuesday, Nov 3

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Record at a glance · 2024–2025 Council

96 of 106meetings attended (91%) · whole council 88%
127votes cast by name (yes, no or abstain)
8no votes (6% of votes cast) · whole council 8%
5 of 32split votes where Borges was in the minority (16%) · whole council 22%
1abstained
3terms in this record

On split votes, Borges voted the same way as…

How these numbers work
  • Counted from the official minutes, for 2024–2025 Council only. Committee meetings and routine votes (adjourning, approving minutes) are not counted.
  • Attendance counts the meetings where the minutes list Borges 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 96 of 106 Municipal Council meetings in 2024–2025 Council.

Missed

Every meeting (106)

Votes where councilors disagreed · 2024–2025 Council

Dec 16Councilor Borges stated she is not supporting the revised…Motion: to appoint Katherine Nunes as the acting Commissioner of the Department…Passed Unanimous, 6 present (Coute, Martin, Quintal absent) · Borges: Yes

December 16, 2025: Councilor Borges stated she is not supporting the revised motion Council McCaul made.

Confirm appointmentPassed · Unanimous, 6 present (Coute, Martin, Quintal absent)

To appoint Katherine Nunes as the acting Commissioner of the Department of Public Work effective upon the retirement of the current Commissioner and continuing until the positon is permanently filled

Voted: Yes

The minutes say 8 councilors were present for this roll call, but list 6 at the start of the meeting.

From the minutes

“Motion made to appoint Katherine Nunes as the acting Commissioner of the Department of Public Work effective upon the retirement of the current Commissioner and continuing until the positon is permanently filled on a roll call vote. … On a roll call vote, eight (8) Councilors were present, six (6) Councilors (Councilors Duarte, Postell, Quintal, Sanders, Pottier and Martin) voted in favor of Katherine Nunes. Two (2) Councilors (Councilors Borges and McCaul) voted in favor for Mike Patneaude. Councilor Coute was absent. Motion passed..”

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

Nov 18So votedMotion: to approve the zoning changesPassed 6–2 · Borges: Yes

November 18, 2025: So voted.

ApprovePassed · 6–2

To approve the zoning changes

Voted: Yes

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..”

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

Nov 18On a roll call vote, eight (8) Councilors were…Motion: to deny the petitionFailed 1–7 · Borges: No

November 18, 2025: 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…

DenyFailed · 1–7

To deny the petition

Voted: No

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)

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

Nov 18Ordered That, the requisite age of eligibility for the…Motion: to move approvalPassed Unanimous, 8 present (Postell absent) · Borges: Yes

November 18, 2025: 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,…

ApprovePassed · Unanimous, 8 present (Postell absent)

To move approval

Voted: Yes

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..”

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

Oct 14Petitions: Hours of Operation - Renewal 1Motion: to appreve Cape Highway Canna, LLC and Trade Group, LILC -dba-…Passed 7–1 · Borges: Yes

October 14, 2025: Petitions: Hours of Operation - Renewal 1

ApprovePassed · 7–1

To appreve Cape Highway Canna, LLC and Trade Group, LILC -dba- Bloom Canna Host Community Waivers

Voted: Yes

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

From the minutes

“Motion was made to appreve Cape Highway Canna, LLC and Trade Group, LILC -dba- Bloom Canna Host Community Waivers on a roll call vote. On discussion, Councilor Duarte pointed out he will be voting against this. He did partake in outlining this process but he was not a member of the actual special committee after it was created. He thinks there was two fatal flaws in the process. He went into further details. On a roll call vote, eight (8) Councilors were present, seven (7) Councilors voted in favor. Councilor Duarte was opposed. Councilor Coute was absent. Motion passed..”

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

Sep 30Councilor McCaul explained why he feels we should educate…Motion: to authorize the filing of this Home Rule Petition as articulated…Passed 7–0 · Borges: Yes

September 30, 2025: Councilor McCaul explained why he feels we should educate the residents more.

ApprovePassed · 7–0

To authorize the filing of this Home Rule Petition as articulated and the attached document in an unrestricted manner and allow the legislation to make any revisions that are necessary and appropriate to the form of the bill

Voted: Yes

Yes: Borges, Duarte, Martin, Postell, Pottier, Quintal, SandersAbstained: McCaulAbsent: Coute

From the minutes

“Councilor Sanders made a motion to authorize the filing of this Home Rule Petition as articulated and the attached document in an unrestricted manner and allow the legislation to make any revisions that are necessary and appropriate to the form of the bill on a roll call vote. On a roll call vote, eight (8) Councilors were present, seven (7) Councilors voted in favor (Councilors Duarte, Postell, Quintal, Sanders, Pottier, Martin and Borges) and Councilor McCaul abstained himself from voting. Councilor Coute was absent..” (Motion: Sanders)

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

Sep 9On discussion, Councilor Sanders asked the Law Department if…Motion: to adopt the OrderPassed 6–3 · Borges: Yes

September 9, 2025: 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.…

Adopt orderPassed · 6–3

To adopt the Order

Voted: Yes

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..”

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

Sep 9Com. from the City Solicitor regarding the Council's motion…Motion: to refer to the Committee of the WholePassed 8–1 · Borges: Yes

September 9, 2025: 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

Send to committee or departmentPassed · 8–1

To refer to the Committee of the Whole

Voted: Yes

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..”

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

Aug 26Petition submitted by Michael Lopes, 18 Reed Street, Taunton,…Motion: to approve work towards acquiring the property by 8 eminent domain…Passed 6–3 · Borges: Yes

August 26, 2025: Petition submitted by Michael Lopes, 18 Reed Street, Taunton, MA 02780 for a special permit for a development consisting of 29 residential units at 18 Reed Street, Taunton, MA 02780…

ApprovePassed · 6–3

To approve work towards acquiring the property by 8 eminent domain or by other means and that any mitigation efforts come back to the Council for consideration

Voted: Yes

Yes: Borges, Martin, McCaul, Postell, Pottier, QuintalNo: Coute, Duarte, Sanders

From the minutes

“Councilor Pottier motioned to approve work towards acquiring the property by 8 eminent domain or by other means and that any mitigation efforts come back to the Council for consideration. 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 voted in opposition (Councilors Sanders, Duarte and Coute). The motion passes..” (Motion: Pottier)

Read it in the official minutes, page 13 (PDF)

Jun 17Councilor Pottier stated that the City Solicitor recommended that…Motion: to approve the Order of Taking and related , taking plans…Passed 7–0 · Borges: Yes

June 17, 2025: Councilor Pottier stated that the City Solicitor recommended that item #3 in the Committee of the Whole be taken as a separate item for a vote of the Council.

Adopt orderPassed · 7–0

To approve the Order of Taking and related , taking plans for the Scadding Street over the snake River Bridge Replacement project

Voted: Yes

Yes: Borges, Coute, Duarte, Martin, McCaul, Quintal, SandersAbstained: PottierAbsent: Postell

From the minutes

“Motion was made to approve the Order of Taking and related , taking plans for the Scadding Street over the snake River Bridge Replacement project on a roll call vote. On a roll call vote, eight (8) Councilors were present, seven (7) Councilors voted in favor. Councilor Pottier voted present. Councilor Postell was absent. The motion passes..”

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

Votes with no disagreement (101)

    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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