Taunton delegation asks committee to approve home-rule petition to ease police chief transition during move to new public safety facility

State lawmakers representing Taunton told the Joint Committee on Public Service that a Taunton-filed home-rule petition would smooth a planned transition as the city moves into a new public safety facility and as its longtime police chief approaches mandatory retirement.

"Just to give a little background, the city of Taunton is in the process of building a new public safety facility," said Kelly Dooner, "and with that transition period is the reason we filed this home rule petition. Just so that Chief Walsh could help with that transition period of everybody moving into the new public safety facility, working with new equipment, new cameras, new 9-1-1 systems, just to be able to keep a smooth transition for the sake of public safety, and the safety of the residents in the city of Taunton." Dooner identified herself as the senator for the Third Bristol and Plymouth District and said she previously voted for the petition while serving on the Taunton City Council.

Representative Orr, appearing with Dooner, said the petition mirrors a House filing by the late Representative Carol Doherty and argued the extra time is needed to complete the transition and reforms in the police department. "We reiterate the fact that this is very important to the city, to be able to carry this transition on. I believe we have till October of 2025, or 2026 before our chief ages out," Orr said, adding that the chief has led work on the new facility and reforms including body-worn cameras.

Committee co-chairs did not ask follow-up questions during the witnesses' appearances. The Taunton delegation said the city’s mayor’s office planned to testify later in the hearing.

Why it matters: The petition seeks a local, statutory accommodation during a complex operational transition — including new facilities and communications systems — and is framed as a public-safety measure to avoid gaps or disruption while staff and equipment are moved and integrated.

What was not decided: The committee did not vote on the petition during this hearing; lawmakers asked the committee to consider the filing and indicated additional testimony would follow from the mayor’s office. Details about the petition’s precise text, including whether it would extend service, change retirement timing, or the effective dates, were not presented on the record and therefore are not specified.

Context and next steps: Dooner said she checked with Senate legal counsel and found no conflict of interest for her participation. The delegation asked committee members for a favorable report; committee chairs thanked the witnesses and moved on to subsequent testimony.