Published: 12/30/2019 6:14:29 PM
Modified: 12/30/2019 6:14:13 PM
GREENFIELD — With the new year comes new faces in city government between city councilors, School Committee members and a new mayor.
These new city officials will be sworn in at the inauguration of Mayor-Elect Roxann Wedegartner on Thursday at 11 a.m. in the Allen Meeting Room at the John Olver Transit Center, 12 Olive St.
The event is free and open to the public. Those looking to attend are recommended to arrive 10 minutes early, according to a press release from the city clerk’s office.
Wedegartner said her plan is to have lunch with her family after the ceremony, give a tour of City Hall to her granddaughter, and then start work.
“I have a meeting beginning at 2 p.m. in City Hall, so I’ll get right to work after lunch,” she said.
The new city councilors to be sworn in include At-Large Councilor-Elects Christine Forgey and Philip Elmer, Precinct 1 Councilor-Elect Ed Jarvis, Precinct 2 Councilor-Elect Daniel Guin, Precinct 3 Councilor-Elect Virginia “Ginny” DeSorgher, Precinct 4 Councilor-Elect John Bottomley and Precinct 9 Councilor-Elect Norman Hirschfeld.
Forgey, who was also Greenfield’s first mayor, said she looks forward to working with the future mayor and councilors on the legislative side of city government because of her “continued love of local government.”
“I anticipate a lot of progress and working together cooperatively, without gridlocks or standoffs,” Forgey said. “I so much want to serve on the Ways and Means subcommittee. With my budgeting background, I want to continue working forward with accountability.”
Elmer said he’s “a little nervous” about taking office.
“I’ve never held a position in government before, and I’ve talked about good government and now I have to deliver,” he said. “I did go to councilor kindergarten to learn a little about budgets and the wisdom of department heads.”
The newly elected School Committee members Amy Proietti, Jean Walsh Wall, Susan Eckstrom and Glenn Johnson are also set to be sworn-in on Thursday.
Later in the evening, the City Council will reorganize at 6 p.m. in the second floor meeting room of City Hall. The council’s president, vice president and treasurer will be elected during the meeting.
Reach Melina Bourdeau at mbourdeau@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 263.