[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6299790,"mediaKeyId","2495338-5ad6d8e8f48faa5c6fa484ee1630aa9c","parentId",2495338,"title","Taunton council confirms firefighter promotion, approves appointments and refers senior exemption to finance committee","audioSeconds",6595,"startMs",1939000,"endMs",8534000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2495338-5ad6d8e8f48faa5c6fa484ee1630aa9c&start=1939&end=8534","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2495338-5ad6d8e8f48faa5c6fa484ee1630aa9c/thumbnail_1939000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6299790/Taunton-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Taunton-council-confirms-firefighter-promotion-approves-appointments-and-refers-senior-exemption-to-finance-committee","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299790-1f9f389ea4fd997343a37c66e21da9f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181933&Signature=KoqqHJL~L06NSoIMwi5XtgTZFRSl6DnmAJVbiOo1Y3gGKILzfdt0w~iwiHTY0rvq5zwrqhMmyQdrcl0mvd0kHxRX0a2GED58o4Bqje9b9UPOeu0PQ8q~r6SqCmklyqQqXW09Kb5vZqSC0mj7AaPK6eFE9jcZpj-4~dwc-5NFcv8RRi0591CNC5YwiSUV7zPHRRoIAQh-C19U5IZEV1CtWKnQE-HKIbR2554ZUXUlLvG4UQIYph95lDHgCqqWdAq03odnBGKNZmcpzL4sG8bCl41RAHJm7nIegV2HkVE~cfrTt892LUYCZRcMi6gefA8KHN6YhO3bsARx-cGxt-0~eA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Taunton City, MA","date","2025-01-14T00:00:00Z","article","The Taunton City Council on Jan. 14 confirmed a promotion, approved several appointments and referred policy questions to committee.

By roll-call vote taken at the meeting the council unanimously confirmed the promotion of Jeffrey P. Hardin to permanent full-time fire lieutenant, effective Jan. 19, 2025. The chamber held a brief swearing-in ceremony following the vote.

The council also approved appointments to two municipal bodies: Daisy Delano of 46 Linden Street was appointed to the Board of Library Trustees to fill an unexpired term through Dec. 2026, and Megan O’Donnell of 245 Norton Avenue was appointed to the Cultural Council for a full three-year term ending Dec. 31, 2027. Both appointments were approved by voice vote.

Separately, members received a public comment from Lillian Burt, a 66-year-old resident who urged the council to lower the eligibility age for the city’s senior tax exemption from 70 to 65, citing fixed incomes and hardship. Councilor DeWart moved, and the council approved by voice vote, a referral of the senior-exemption question to the Committee on Finance and Salaries for study; the referral will allow staff and counsel to review what statutory or Home Rule action would be required.

Council members also heard several written communications from the mayor and city departments — including updates on city-owned properties, public-safety building timelines and homelessness response plans — and referred many of those letters to standing committees for further review.

All votes recorded on these items were taken in open session except for a separate executive-session item earlier in the evening: the council went into executive session to review and consider approval of a successor collective bargaining agreement with Taunton Firefighters Local 138 IAFF under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 30A §21; the meeting minutes state the council took two votes in executive session, including approval of the firefighter contract and approval to come out of executive session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Taunton City Council 2025 01 14","oneSentenceSummary","At its Jan. 14 meeting the City Council confirmed a promotion to lieutenant in the Fire Department, appointed new members to the library trustees and cultural council and referred a request to lower the senior tax exemption age to the Committee on Finance and Salaries.","taxTitle","Taunton City, Bristol County, Massachusetts","taxId",5535,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6299794,"Mashpee Wampanoag leaders open Taunton \"welcome center,\" say machines will sample gaming; council presses on pilots, PLA and unpaid obligations",4498,2598000,7096000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2495338-5ad6d8e8f48faa5c6fa484ee1630aa9c&start=2598&end=7096","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2495338-5ad6d8e8f48faa5c6fa484ee1630aa9c/thumbnail_2598000.jpg","/articles/6299794/Taunton-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Mashpee-Wampanoag-leaders-open-Taunton-welcome-center-say-machines-will-sample-gaming-council-presses-on-pilots-PLA-and-unpaid-obligations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299794-4e48a2a44815681866bdb64db1ca82a0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181933&Signature=oL5UMdFppuWiNdITFaqU15woKKKwtF3BN~mJ47D9xTP6qjZT7H73b47BDE~OpdEmy0rphXtSe2vl1gIly7b~cnDX2MYFZKqVO24Ph98MhNKwSPh05-~x4hdVLY2geclNxVuVH8AAEQNPvoY0yUgMbT9kWEgWlSlBHL~X0olj17ZOA259R-rJLItwAHk0pEpXr7ldlpZhbTo1sqrx2GBwnmJ3oiYR5F-jbgA9LFCXfV3Bq89JtyJFUe5w6IAkisW9JeLeZBWa-ggaVcktiWPJIraG3A4ylLHCEhwGFLAasJuAzYSvdyCG5~BL16eHI86jbTUkNIWqmt5ApjXOSPzruw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe and their private development partner briefed the Taunton City Council on Jan. 14 about a newly opened welcome center on the tribe’s reservation in Taunton and about next steps toward larger development.

The center — a roughly 2,000-square-foot, prefab structure installed by the tribe — is divided between exhibits on tribal history and a reception area with operable machines that the tribe described as a sampling of gaming activity. Tribe and partner officials said the facility is a temporary, phased effort intended to introduce residents and neighbors to the tribe’s plans; proceeds from the machines during the initial soft-opening period will be donated to local charities.

“Nu tomas — my blood and my bones is from that land,” said Brian Wheaton, chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag, as he described the tribe’s long historical ties to the region and the purpose behind the welcome center. Vice Chairman Carlton Hendricks Jr. said the facility “is a welcome center … the tribe exercising our sovereignty” and that the tribe self-performed the opening work using local, often-unemployed union tradespeople.

Genting’s Kevin Jones, the tribe’s private partner, said the welcome center is not a full casino and is part of a phased approach to development the tribe has pursued for years. The tribe said the building includes multimedia exhibitions and ten operating machines; the first seven days of proceeds will go to the Ryan Hendricks Foundation (a tribal member’s memorial charity) and the next seven days’ proceeds, through the grand opening on Jan. 26, will go to a city-designated veterans’ charity, the tribe said. The city was told the center is staffed during opening hours and that tribal police coordinate with Taunton police for security.

Councilors raised questions about several topics: unpaid pilot payments under the city–tribe intergovernmental agreement (IGA), ongoing site maintenance and illegal dumping on reservation land, whether the welcome-center jobs were union or nonunion, and whether a project labor agreement (PLA) for future construction would be honored. Several councilors pressed the tribe to make good on pilot and other obligations to the city.

“Anything you want to do in the city of Taunton, if you wanted to build a shed, you have to be up to date on your taxes,” Councilor Coit said, urging the tribe to make outstanding payments that the council and administration view as a matter of good faith. The tribe’s representatives said the tribe has made millions in prior payments and that litigation and legal costs prior to 2015 required significant outlays; they said they now want to move forward but still face legacy obligations.

On labor, the tribe told councilors it is negotiating with unions and is “working from a nearly completed PLA dated back to 02/2016,” and said it remains committed to a PLA for future construction phases. Councilors said they expect union involvement and a PLA for major construction.

City officials said an MOA between the city and the tribe is likely in the coming weeks and that council review — including possible executive-session review with counsel — will follow. The tribe and its counsel also confirmed on the record that the land was placed into trust by the U.S. Department of the Interior (decision recorded in 2015–2016) and that the tribe is eligible to operate Class II gaming under federal Indian gaming law; tribal counsel said the tribe’s gaming ordinance and the negotiated state compact are in effect.

Operational details presented at the meeting included: the welcome center is currently open a limited schedule (reported at the meeting as Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.), the structure is a prefabricated unit assembled on site, and the machines are intended as a short, sample interaction rather than a full casino operation. Staff and tribal representatives described security arrangements, ongoing site cleanup and plans to deter illegal dumping, but councilors urged continued work to address recurring dumping and to bring unpaid obligations current.

Mayor Shawna O’Connell and council members thanked the tribal leaders for the presentation and said the administration will continue conversations about pilot payments, PLA language and a formal MOA; officials indicated those matters will move to committee review and, where needed, to executive session with legal counsel.

","Tribal leaders and their developer partner presented a 2,000-square-foot welcome center that mixes tribal history and operable gaming machines whose inaugural proceeds will go to charities; councilors pressed for clarity on pilot payments, project labor agreements and site maintenance.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6299798,"Taunton finance panel approves payroll and warrants, OKs reserve transfers including $90,000 to schools",248,50000,298000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2495338-5ad6d8e8f48faa5c6fa484ee1630aa9c&start=50&end=298","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2495338-5ad6d8e8f48faa5c6fa484ee1630aa9c/thumbnail_50000.jpg","/articles/6299798/Taunton-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Taunton-finance-panel-approves-payroll-and-warrants-OKs-reserve-transfers-including-90000-to-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299798-ff3053bf2d52553d5025dbe641351aa7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181933&Signature=Q4AU4L2zkg0Ik1i--Bu4mmIsw9GGHw0YbihOOkeg-rNh~gxSpl0zvI8mRQdlEIlLfxzPOCOdsIZOqU8Fa5X-dzUpTxNaigXABAaJO5dubxCcK9UOaBFId9TxmUyABqR7KFwVoKNEOEHQT33LPHfpArYEz1AKEnIuraUCx-P~4gglcgFWsaHHnnn252LpLET9RFnWL2T2y7HaV3GttVktGHAi9JciQsy4TMha7MnCQWkvshv7bzFh3QU-YDKdROE4vIrRlXFZglExxOH1sbyK0mEe78g0Jx-aEbnMkBlLQZ5eRNao9~IBY07uvDFjJmtsE31rq2Xd18bd2Giy38WNaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Committee on Finance and Salaries met Jan. 14 and approved routine payroll warrants and several reserve fund transfers, including payment of a prior-year IT invoice and a $90,000 transfer to the school department.

The meeting approved a payroll warrant in the amount of $1,544,550.95 and a warrant totaling $7,262,746.30 for weekly vouchers and city department bills; committee members voted by voice on both items. Finance staff summarized the largest line items on the warrant as reported during the meeting, including payments for dental insurance, CTA construction, student transportation, site improvements for the school department, tuition payments to the May Institute, road resurfacing, electricity and pump-station improvements.

The finance department asked the committee to approve payment of a prior-year bill of $21,048.13 for IT services and to authorize a reserve fund transfer to cover it. Finance staff said the vendor did not invoice the city in the prior year because of an accounting error; after consultation with the city law department staff recommended paying the bill and covering it with a reserve fund transfer. The committee approved the transfer by voice vote.

The committee also approved a $90,000 reserve-fund transfer to the Taunton Public Schools budget. Finance staff said the transfer will bring the school appropriation to a stated total of $120,090,000 and that the transfer resulted from later reconciliation between the superintendent’s office and the city during the supplemental budget process. Committee members sought and were given a ballpark figure on net school spending, with staff estimating the city would be “around 104%” but stressing the speaker’s figure as an approximation.

All listed motions on the agenda were made, seconded and approved by voice vote during the meeting; the transcript records no roll-call tallies for these approvals.

","At the Committee on Finance and Salaries the city approved payroll warrants and authorized two reserve-fund transfers: payment of a prior-year IT vendor invoice of $21,048.13 and a $90,000 transfer to Taunton Public Schools to reach a final school appropriation figure.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6299803,"Taunton says MassDOT review, extra engineering raise Old Colony Avenue bridge design to about $1.4M; council backs Raynham MOA",958,512000,1470000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2495338-5ad6d8e8f48faa5c6fa484ee1630aa9c&start=512&end=1470","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2495338-5ad6d8e8f48faa5c6fa484ee1630aa9c/thumbnail_512000.jpg","/articles/6299803/Taunton-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Taunton-says-MassDOT-review-extra-engineering-raise-Old-Colony-Avenue-bridge-design-to-about-14M-council-backs-Raynham-MOA","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299803-c4fb085744c9232f08e9a3795cfc2f1d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181933&Signature=Lk2BzAvOvxvarA7p8OdJw-8AkkfHxauf~zAPLVS8nQ--tzfiiUK9uIeDsMrqNiCoXGALJJQPp0HU-9PxLBrmQOoJtFnCH-RGA2P2G6bsCaKF9w3d~ivzUoBf9rr85RtTRRG1CEnY7FzHNIzgLAq8PFJTibFmUfISBF7GHyZpP26cMCtorb1~Amf~Y8NTSqFFVGFZqNf0SxL9coKwXKkrx8iH0l~4UZeVpCbwGSrmZbYDE59psNGHvU4SJOFTaPMiSrbFQgUA3Cj0DzSoj1e92iFXkOwiuziAkChme6XDegPmLKN5Aj~k~j-0U9LPc-7v1MKdbvOIwir1rHGm818~ZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Taunton City officials told the Committee of the Whole on Jan. 14 that the Old Colony Avenue bridge replacement has escalated from a municipal-only $300,000 design to a MassDOT-led project with roughly $1.1 million–$1.4 million in design costs, and the council voted to support a memorandum of agreement with the town of Raynham to share expenses.

The update matters because the city’s $5 million federal community project funding grant requires MassDOT oversight for a bridge project, which triggers many additional deliverables, prolonged reviews and a longer design schedule, city consultants and staff said.

Chris Jones, project manager for Beta Group, Taunton’s design consultant on the bridge, told the council that when the federal grant placed the project under State Department of Transportation jurisdiction the scope of engineering tasks expanded “from about three engineering tasks to about 21,” requiring more reviewers and a roughly two-year design schedule. He said MassDOT review moves beyond structural adequacy to review nearly every aspect of the project as it progresses.

City finance staff told the council that the municipal share of the added design effort will appear in the upcoming Capital Improvement Program. Officials said Raynham has already voted to enter an MOA and committed approximately $650,000 toward the additional cost.

MassDOT schedule and cost constraints were flagged as specific risks and deadlines. Jones said the federal grant requires the project to be advertised for construction by Sept. 30, 2026; the city’s target is that construction would start in spring 2027 and occur in one primary construction season. A preliminary construction cost estimate discussed at the meeting ranged from about $4.5 million for construction to more than $5 million when construction administration and related costs are included; Jones and city staff said the estimate will firm up at the 25% design submission to MassDOT.

Councilors asked about traffic impacts, schedule risk and who would pay overruns. Jones and the city’s DPW commissioner said the plan anticipates a full road closure during construction with a detour routing traffic via Precinct/Church Street and Route 44. Officials also said the Commonwealth’s position is that the municipality would be responsible for cost overruns once the project is a MassDOT-managed grant. The city said it will continue to pursue supplemental funding with MassDOT and other partners if a gap remains after final estimates.

Following the presentation, a motion “to make this presentation part of the record and to support the administration’s MOA with the town of Raynham” was made, seconded and approved by voice vote.

The next formal steps listed to council were: finalizing the MOA language for inclusion in the CIP, completing a task order and notices so Beta can resume detailed design, and producing a 25% design package so MassDOT can schedule required design public hearings and provide the firmer cost estimate that will guide construction funding.

What’s next: the city said the CIP will show the line items for the design contract amendment at the council’s Jan. 21 meeting and staff will return with a 25% schedule target and public hearing dates once MassDOT has reviewed the submittal.

","City officials told the municipal council and Committee on the Whole that federal earmark rules and MassDOT oversight have multiplied design tasks and costs for the Old Colony Avenue bridge project; Raynham has agreed to split the added design cost and the council voted to support an MOA with the town.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Taunton council confirms firefighter promotion, approves appointments and refers senior exemption to finance committee

Mashpee Wampanoag leaders open Taunton "welcome center," say machines will sample gaming; council presses on pilots, PLA and unpaid obligations

Taunton finance panel approves payroll and warrants, OKs reserve transfers including $90,000 to schools

Taunton says MassDOT review, extra engineering raise Old Colony Avenue bridge design to about $1.4M; council backs Raynham MOA