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Taunton council refers Hopewell school transfer and several community notices; TMLP open house, ride‑share funds and lottery monitors noted
Summary
The Taunton School Committee recommended transferring the former Hopewell Elementary School to the city with suggested uses including senior and veteran housing and asked that the building’s architectural history be preserved; the council referred the matter to the public‑property committee.
The Taunton municipal council on Jan. 15 received a communication from the Taunton School Committee advising it intends to transfer ownership of the former Hopewell Elementary School at 16 Monroe Street to the city and asking the council to consider uses that preserve the building’s historic character.
The School Committee’s long-range subcommittee recommended the building be used for senior housing, veteran housing or a combination of both and asked that the building’s architectural history be maintained in alignment with the Historical Commission’s covenants. The School Committee noted the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in July 1984 and that the structure, built in 1914, is considered a good example of Renaissance Revival design. The council referred the communication to the public‑property committee for consideration and further action.
Council members also discussed an open-house notice from Taunton Municipal Light Plant (TMLP): TMLP and National Grid are proposing a high-voltage substation on County Street. The utility parties have started the permitting process and will hold a public open house at the Taunton Public Library on Jan. 29 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.; construction is anticipated to begin in summer/fall 2026. The mayor confirmed the event and said TMLP information is available on the city website.
The council received a DPW communication about Transportation Network Company (ride-share) funds collected by the state and distributed to municipalities. The DPW asked the council to appropriate accumulated TNC assessment funds to finance road-construction work including resurfacing, reconstruction and pavement markings; the council referred the request to the Finance and Salaries Committee.
The council also received two notices from the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission that monitors will be installed at two local convenience stores; those notices were placed on file. The council approved a class‑2 license renewal for Amoram Auto Sales Inc., 265 Longmeadow Road, referred a claim for vehicle damage to the law department and DPW, and placed other routine communications on file.
Committee and personnel action items included a Police and License subcommittee recommendation to forward candidates for police-hire approval; that recommendation was recorded in the council minutes for a subsequent roll-call confirmation.
Finally, Councilor McCall asked the council to send a discussion on changed house numbers on Chestnut Street to the DPW committee and invited the city solicitor and city engineer to attend; the council approved the referral.
