NORTHAMPTON — The city’s government has officially entered a new era. On Monday, around 200 people gathered at the Senior Center as incumbents and newly elected City Council and School Committee members were sworn in for their respective terms alongside Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra for her second term.
“This swearing in is more than a ritual. It marks as, in my case, the renewing of an oath, a formal commitment to service,” Sciarra said at the inauguration ceremony. “For many of you, it is a peaceful transfer of responsibility and the first time you have solemnly sworn to faithfully fulfill your elected role to the city of Northampton.”
The inauguration saw Northampton’s elected officials pledge an oath led by City Clerk Pamela Powers, abiding by the Constitution, Massachusetts Law and Northampton’s City Charter. Attendees also heard a series of speeches highlighting this shift in the city’s municipal government and several joined the Young@Heart Chorus singing verses of “This Land is Your Land,” written by Woody Guthrie.
Hours after the event, the council took its first actions during its reorganization meeting, electing Ward 7 Councilor Rachael Maiore as council president, and Ward 2 Councilor Debbie Klemer as vice president, later that afternoon. Maiore replaced former Council President Alex Jarret, after serving as vice president.
Sciarra’s address to the city aimed to highlight the qualities, values and goals required to keep Northampton “the civic and cultural heart of this region.” Reflecting on her introduction to Northampton’s government in 2014, Sciarra said this is now her sixth oath to office. Throughout her tenure, she said one constant she has observed is change.
“Not a single person who was serving on the City Council or the Northampton School Committee when I was first sworn in, is serving on those bodies today,” she said. “In fact, as of today, 50 different people have served in those capacities over the past 12 years.”
Speaking to her fellow elected officials, Sciarra said that this year in particular, “we take our oath amidst even more danger and anxiety with a White House,” describing actions that include “devastating the federal civil service,” and “jeopardizing global security with yet another war of choice for oil.”
“In the face of these mounting challenges, pressures and purposeful federal chaos, we have a charge to keep,” she said. “If we are to have a local functioning government and healthy democracy, we must reliably deliver essential services and I believe that includes looking out for each other and equitably caring for the most vulnerable in our community.”
There are five newcomers to the nine-member City Council including At-Large Councilor Meg Robbins, Ward 1 Councilor Gwen Nabad, Ward 3 Councilor Laurie Loisel, Ward 5 Councilor Aline Davis and Ward 6 Councilor Christopher Stratton. Incumbents include Klemer and Maiore, At-Large Councilor Garrick Perry and Ward 4 Councilor Jeremy Dubs.
Newcomers to the nine-member School Committee (excluding Sciarra who currently chairs the committee) include At-Large Members Tiffany Jewell and Robbie Saner Sullivan, and Ward 1 Member Alena Bartoli, Ward 3 Member Renika Montgomery-Tamakloe, Ward 5 Member Amy Martyn, Ward 6 Member Cynthia Mahoney and Ward 7 Member Valerie Reiss. Incumbents include Ward 2 Member Anat Weisenfreund and Ward 4 Member Mike Stein.
At the inauguration, Rabbi Jacob Fine of Congregation B’nai Israel of Northampton, reflected on Northampton’s history in the world at large.
“Mayor Sciarra, esteemed elected officials,” Fine said “[The] people of Northampton elected you because we believe in your capacity to carry forward a bold vision for our city that builds on Northampton’s beautiful history, and to translate that vision into action for the benefit of all of us.”
Appointments
The city councilors elected for the next term all took there seats for the first time together at the reorganization meeting, where they unanimously elected Maiore as the new president, who was nominated by Perry. For vice president, there was a contest with Klemer elected over Perry in a 6 to 3 vote. Klemer was nominated by Robbins and Perry was nominated by Loisel.
“I’ve seen what works, I’ve seen what doesn’t work and I see how effective, steady, compassionate leadership can be,” Maiore said at the meeting.
Maiore is entering her seventh year on the council as its longest standing member. She said she had previously spent time on the Rules Select Committee as well as spending four years as chair of the Finance Committee. Six councilors made comments explaining why Maiore would make a good president.
“As the vice president last term, I learned the full scope of what the role of council president requires,” Maiore said. “With so many new faces on [the] council, I think that experience matters now in particular. It means that we can move forward out of the gate with confidence, clarity and purpose.”
Maiore said she has lived the reality of constituents and moving forward, the council has many challenges including housing, school and city safety issues.
“We need to show our residents that democracy here is alive and well, that a healthy separation of powers makes us all stronger, that we can challenge when necessary without tearing each other down,” she said.
Perry, who nominated Maiore, said she always keeps her heart at the forefront of things, something that the council needs.
“As the longest running councilor, I believe that as this very vast turnover has happened, this experience is going to really help guide us,” Perry said about Maiore.
While Perry is the second longest serving councilor, Klemer was elected as vice president. The point was made by multiple councilors including Davis, that it is good to have a tough decision to make between two councilors to fill the deputy seat.
“It’s a hard choice and that’s a good thing,” Loisel said about electing a vice president. “It’s a good thing. That’s democracy at its best. Once we’ve made that choice, we will move on, roll up our sleeves and get to work.”
“I care deeply about this council and about doing this work, doing this work well,” Klemer said. “I work hard, I show up and I follow through, and I’ve taken the time to speak with each of you because I respect the body and the responsibility that comes with leadership.”
Maiore who voted for Klemer said they have worked closely together and wants a leadership combo for the council that is set up for efficiency and success.
“I plan to give this job all I got, but it’s certainly a job that I could use some reliable help and a good, proven working relationship,” Maiore said. “And that’s what I have with Councilor Klemer.”
The meeting concluded with a review of Open Meeting, Conflict of Interest and Public Records Law, and discussion of upcoming council meetings along with potential council rules changes for the future. The council’s next meeting will be Thursday, Jan. 15 at 6:30 p.m.