[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-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",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6299775,"mediaKeyId","2495350-a62fc4cac31d9f7e6035ed80ec4d35b2","parentId",2495350,"title","State plans to close Clarion Hotel shelter June 30; city says Neighborhood Works will help families transition","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",9374000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2495350-a62fc4cac31d9f7e6035ed80ec4d35b2&start=9374&end=9374","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2495350-a62fc4cac31d9f7e6035ed80ec4d35b2/thumbnail_9374000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6299775/Taunton-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/State-plans-to-close-Clarion-Hotel-shelter-June-30-city-says-Neighborhood-Works-will-help-families-transition","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299775-ab15ec7e25440d4812e234f8421ea741/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199983&Signature=PtMA2IUgnwiFaQsp3uYmeN8FGvbNCdcGAk-obfQUqgJ3GvepTExbmFhCKjXTFE1L9XCsQ89soOSCgxOI3o4A9JCbLotyrD6H3BHKEtnKb~aLgM1uiVCiA-TkY-cvMGUgH0hfbMrZBu0zCV9y~FMkP-BA7sgzpYSQciHGBLS4wvHMjTVE9PDdanHbcGW5sG3TExfj2iSOtIU-Q025w0JAvOQ~Qo3puNkTsEFTIzYmcRkL93oUjLYbb1yn21XonbnRRMftsWJHehREc81PbGL1auSh4DdXJgyerpQDwI5mLCocXvK9a~w3VuKin-qFrOkBIvHr41l6FgwUNdaY~DdkjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Taunton City, MA","date","2025-02-11T00:00:00Z","article","Mayor Shawna O'Connell told the council that the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (state) plans to close the Clarion Hotel emergency shelter, which has housed families since April 2023, on or about June 30, 2025.

The mayor's communication said about 16 families currently live at the Clarion and that Neighborhood Works, the shelter provider, is expected to coordinate transitions to housing for those families before the closure. The letter also noted that using the hotel as a state-operated shelter without the city's prior agreement had placed additional burdens on first responders, schools and local services; the mayor said the hotel's return to hotel use should benefit local businesses and the adjacent industrial park.

The council voted to refer the mayor's letter to the full council for discussion and asked to hold an item on the matter for further review and coordination with state and local stakeholders.

Ending: The communication was referred for council-level discussion; the administration and Neighborhood Works will be expected to coordinate transitions for residents and to brief the council as plans are finalized.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Taunton City Council 2025 02 11","oneSentenceSummary","The mayor informed councilors the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities plans to close the Clarion Hotel emergency shelter by June 30; Neighborhood Works is expected to work with families to transition them into housing and the council referred the communication for further discussion.","taxTitle","Taunton City, Bristol County, Massachusetts","taxId",5535,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6299779,"Committee on Finance and Salaries approves payroll and $3.74M accounts-payable warrant; tables two items until next week",31,23000,54000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2495350-a62fc4cac31d9f7e6035ed80ec4d35b2&start=23&end=54","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2495350-a62fc4cac31d9f7e6035ed80ec4d35b2/thumbnail_23000.jpg","/articles/6299779/Taunton-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Committee-on-Finance-and-Salaries-approves-payroll-and-374M-accounts-payable-warrant-tables-two-items-until-next-week","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299779-ca3b7f6a3036de53953a2d58ff2c6c54/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199983&Signature=Nv6yJWyJEtF5oVHb9emfqJt8QBIR4gkjNUE~xiKOD4o1dQG-UpcV11MsEODM7DbG3okC7ws45e3Qtjg3fZr6wlzPmy02NQs2rn4AnKvfrdk8iI5C8Y7eI1T~d-3f1ni7vpyAIurhXVJzRl~qmD93cCTV6SqfK5G6IgX0zhgR8lX74s8Fy89NOELstUtSE713sFjQNpPXQm1~KcXWdTu8z4m2w0plWMN9P0AwSmjRqIfi-jI3q~y0r1ImDGqpGKosyH1Qzbusc47hEmlCjJPySFDrDbTc519GobHNouGVjN0aCT7-PP2lMRwtYajCs~CmckYF7NwGvHSNOQXgl~kXaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Committee on Finance and Salaries met and approved the weekly payroll and accounts-payable warrants as presented.

The payroll warrant was approved in the amount of $1,622,275.89. The accounts-payable warrant approved totaled $3,740,951.12. Committee materials highlighted several large items on the accounts-payable list: approximately $128,000 for group dental insurance; roughly $296,000 for student transportation; $116,000 and $234,000 for student tuition to the May Institute and Reid's Collaborative respectively; $862,000 for South Coast Educational Collaborative student tuition; approximately $203,000 for electricity and internet payments; and about $155,000 in interest payments to US Bank.

Committee members then noted two agenda items would be deferred at the request of Councilor Borges: (1) discussion of potential dissolution of the airport and parking commission revolving funds effective June 30; and (2) a request to increase Taunton Municipal Lighting Plant (TMLP) commissioner stipends. Both were tabled until next week.

Ending: Warrants were approved by voice vote and the committee directed the postponed items be brought back at the next meeting with Councilor Borges present.","The Committee on Finance and Salaries approved a payroll warrant of $1,622,275.89 and an accounts-payable warrant totaling $3,740,951.12 with listed large expenditures; the committee also tabled consideration of dissolving two revolving funds and a request to raise TMLP commissioner stipends until a later meeting.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6299784,"Police and License committee grants renewals, conditionally approves secondhand-license pending fingerprints",238,143000,381000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2495350-a62fc4cac31d9f7e6035ed80ec4d35b2&start=143&end=381","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2495350-a62fc4cac31d9f7e6035ed80ec4d35b2/thumbnail_143000.jpg","/articles/6299784/Taunton-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Police-and-License-committee-grants-renewals-conditionally-approves-secondhand-license-pending-fingerprints","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299784-dc4178d5c5dd85d35db237c22048d251/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199983&Signature=GvlJM97GCfWOjLAlu2TRHvHluLXG0-C~LERIJr4iotDILLKXvfq1Fb86hMkesyBCYg7vAMZbV2S7eauxTPH92EnZCV3UQ1oYTaeI3hCNtOn86p5Hos3qIHUY0cUSj-J~B4tizXxSJUqlbD5P0t683eaK59Xdk8vOERt43-zDmgH0JJWWij-vHiHJ8VGtJPfNkA1-cV5e176T905zWmBeC0gkWTawGSNWDNh-JB1vmEVTNsDDYB~xdH9y2JEyw0U~E9lZ5Rs7582yTR1Rd-ZEpWBRqb1D9bMSlPiUOEglasfsFL7E8H~9vL6DbS4BIi9yYvJECIgzeRo1j06VYGrlIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Committee on Police and License approved a renewal of a Class 2 license for Amorin Auto Sales at 265 Longmeadow Road and heard two secondhand-article petitions.

Detective staff recommended a positive finding on the auto-sales renewal; the committee approved the renewal by voice vote. The committee then considered a petition for a secondhand article license for Amber's Clothing, an online secondhand clothing operation planned for 11 Hamilton Street. Police recommended moving the petition forward contingent on completing fingerprinting and final background checks. Committee members discussed precedent and the need to avoid creating a pattern of granting licenses before background checks were finished, but recognized the background investigation was near completion. The committee voted to grant the petition on the condition that final fingerprints and a successful background investigation are completed and that police provide an update to the committee once checks are finalized.

Ending: The committee closed the item with a contingent approval for the secondhand license and recorded that background checks must be completed before the license is finalized.","The Committee on Police and License approved a Class 2 license renewal for Amorin Auto Sales and granted a secondhand article license for Amber's Clothing on the condition that fingerprinting and background checks are completed successfully.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6299789,"City, police and Boys & Girls Club outline steps to improve Court Street crossing after safety review",1193,4187000,5380000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2495350-a62fc4cac31d9f7e6035ed80ec4d35b2&start=4187&end=5380","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2495350-a62fc4cac31d9f7e6035ed80ec4d35b2/thumbnail_4187000.jpg","/articles/6299789/Taunton-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/City-police-and-Boys-Girls-Club-outline-steps-to-improve-Court-Street-crossing-after-safety-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299789-0183e11f6bd02598f4d384c3f3d1a62f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199983&Signature=WYEFZnsTiIDw3QTXMWxiB68DPhJSy216N6JEkErqqJEcC1qO6zlswb8MyQiqRvTp3-NwQZzDUi2DQDrkwVBukWR8KCN3f0KlZxq6xi66kWPfI7lqJxkibTPteBtxKc7JOmtxnaWb1w4SFK43aikpLzdaB8KGijuvvZoaM1PoqS-uUT3Q5D6F8iurYdNO8kb88WxfWB27SOkAagy-0phuthyP9B-ETh9P7k8nxq2NDkoj4AbArv7WZCJA1UDM1E5j6sZi-IJ-M7-CD0YbQqT8WOIxXB~tIhxDQKGBUFnCeBNx9aXeY6arrM5C~XdaTuRnI0V7fl8Dmjo7v51727c0fg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City officials, Taunton police and Boys & Girls Club leaders told the municipal council they have coordinated a set of measures to improve pedestrian safety at the Court Street crosswalk by the Boys & Girls Club.

Mayor Shawna O'Connell read a letter from the administration summarizing a police-conducted speed study and subsequent actions. Police said the week-long speed count measured roughly 41,000 vehicles through the corridor and found that speeding was not the primary factor during pick-up hours; instead, limited sight lines created the greatest hazard because motorists approaching the crosswalk could not see pedestrians until they were partly into the crosswalk.

Immediate steps described in the briefing include installation of an electronic warning sign on Court Street, repainting of crosswalk stripes to increase visibility, replacement of malfunctioning flashing crosswalk signs, targeted enforcement patrols by the Taunton Police Department, blocking one parking space adjacent to the crosswalk to improve sight lines, added lighting behind the club, and the Boys & Girls Club supplying a trained crossing guard during heavy pickup hours (initially proposed for about 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.). The club also said it will work with its bus provider to adjust drop-off/pick-up locations, revise parent pickup procedures and continue outreach to families to encourage use of side/rear parking so fewer pedestrians must cross Court Street.

Police and safety staff agreed to explore funding and grant opportunities for additional measures such as embedded flashing beacons (rectangular rapid flashing beacons or similar). Officials noted some equipment costs may exceed available local budgets and could require grant support or a capital request; a vendor estimate mentioned during discussion was roughly $1.3 million for a particular full-signalized option, which participants said would require further scoping and cost verification.

Councilors urged continued focus on education, enforcement and engineering: repeated safety messaging to parents and children (wait for cars to stop before entering crosswalk), more consistent enforcement during problem hours, and evaluation of traffic-calming measures such as raised crosswalks or speed cushions where appropriate. The committee and council asked staff (police, DPW and the Boys & Girls Club) to reconvene, assess engineering alternatives (including cost and plow/maintenance impacts), pursue grant options for beacons, and deploy interim measures now. The council praised the Boys & Girls Club and police for immediate action and asked for updates as solutions are developed.

Ending: Officials said keeping children safe at the Court Street crossing will be addressed through a combination of interim operational fixes and a data-driven engineering plan the city will bring back for council review.","After a speed and site review, Taunton police, the Boys & Girls Club and the city described immediate and near-term steps — including a crossing guard, blocked parking, improved lighting, new signage and pursuit of flashing beacons — to reduce risks at the Court Street crosswalk near the Boys & Girls Club.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_46":116,"_48":117,"_50":118,"_52":119,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":120,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":121,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6299793,"Taunton council tables plan to take 4 Spring Lane for municipal parking, asks administration to fund parking study",5771,391000,6162000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2495350-a62fc4cac31d9f7e6035ed80ec4d35b2&start=391&end=6162","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2495350-a62fc4cac31d9f7e6035ed80ec4d35b2/thumbnail_391000.jpg","/articles/6299793/Taunton-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Taunton-council-tables-plan-to-take-4-Spring-Lane-for-municipal-parking-asks-administration-to-fund-parking-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299793-6e735d62ba59df17f6b48ec349f06867/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199983&Signature=A-nS46HtQNwQd6oelGzI3gkdBRFRCTK1wKFZ7J6-w5B2NVEgPQvshTr8H3X0x6OhtN6PSQZWeFMEOluQv~W8Pu9sDCwffGT81KDE29O457xzEKZOVdd2GQJHIP0FcygvUz0FMGdPmGbQF~eWdwLLRisvQRb8w1IjfCgblxZT3pVBv9Pa9ZxiHqqWJHchmO1bAm4F1-H8y-UifF5gJTNuWpFsuI5Uw6L6RZMoa07whSFM7VYsMintIDZcwPoguMRgKxKo6DdmtN0Xcb6927QXLHTf9As51P9oZ3Bl-vy8wgq1zCHAWo6BxU3ghBiIfkMf1vxypNOyRaUvxIzPo9pl6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Taunton Municipal Council members on the Committee on Public Property voted to table consideration of acquiring 4 Spring Lane for municipal parking and asked city administration to return with a plan to fund a formal parking study.

Councilors debated whether to use $222,000 from the city's marketable property program to buy the blighted parcel and later invest roughly $400,000 to clear, pave and stripe a lot for about 90 spaces. Supporters called the parcel \u001can opportunity\u001d to clean a problem site, create parking that could support downtown growth, and expand municipal lots available for developers seeking parking waivers. Opponents said there is no current demonstrated parking shortage downtown and urged the city to study demand before spending funds.

Proponents including the administration noted an appraisal and title search had been completed, argued the parcel's location is scarce downtown real estate and said the purchase could be funded from proceeds held in the city's marketable property account rather than general tax levy. The city's attorney outlined the eminent-domain process: the council would adopt an order of taking for a stated \u001cpublic purpose\u001d, record it at the registry of deeds, and pay the owner the appraised value; the owner could later petition the courts for a higher award.

Opponents, including multiple councilors, asked for more current data: when downtown lots are full, how many off-street municipal spaces exist, how many new residential units remain to be built downtown and what parking capacity those developments will require. Councilors also raised costs beyond purchase and construction: long-term maintenance, lighting, plowing, liability and possible remediation costs tied to the parcel's past mill fire and known contaminants. Several councilors recommended seeking grant funding or reappraising only after a study.

After discussion the council approved a motion to table the taking of 4 Spring Lane and to request that administration provide a plan to fund and commission a downtown parking study; the motion carried on a roll-call vote. The committee also asked administration and staff to return with coordinated input from planning, DPW, the finance office and economic development about feasible uses, access issues (Spring Lane/Ware Street rights-of-way), and steps to safeguard the parcel if acquired.

The council directed that no final purchase or eminent-domain action proceed until the study and follow-up recommendations are provided.

Ending: The committee's vote keeps the property under private ownership for now and requires the administration to give the council a funded plan for a parking study and next steps before the city pursues purchase or a formal taking.","After hours of debate about downtown parking, the Taunton Municipal Council voted to table a proposed eminent-domain acquisition of 4 Spring Lane and asked the administration to return with a plan to fund a formal parking study before deciding future use.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

State plans to close Clarion Hotel shelter June 30; city says Neighborhood Works will help families transition

Committee on Finance and Salaries approves payroll and $3.74M accounts-payable warrant; tables two items until next week

Police and License committee grants renewals, conditionally approves secondhand-license pending fingerprints

City, police and Boys & Girls Club outline steps to improve Court Street crossing after safety review

Taunton council tables plan to take 4 Spring Lane for municipal parking, asks administration to fund parking study