WESTFIELD—The city will be holding the inauguration of its elected officials, as well as the first city council meeting of the new year with new members this Tuesday, Jan. 2.
The inauguration of all elected officials, including the city council and mayor will occur on Jan. 2 starting at 9:30 a.m. at Westfield High School. Following that, there will be the first city council meeting of the year, which features two new at-large councilors, beginning at 11:30 a.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall on Broad Street.
The inauguration at Westfield High School, which is open to the public, will include several performances. These performances include the “Star-Spangled Banner” by Julia Bussell, “America the Beautiful” by Shea Braceland, as well as both a prelude and postlude by the Westfield High School Band.
Westfield Mayor Brian Sullivan (WNG file photo)
Among those inaugurated will be Westfield Mayor Brian Sullivan, who will also be making his inaugural address, all city councilors, including the two new At-Large Councilors Matt Emmershy and Nick Morganelli, as well as the school committee, Westfield Gas and Electric Commission and the Trustee of the Westfield Athenaeum.
Following the inauguration, the City Council will hold its inaugural meeting beginning at 11:30 a.m. at City Hall. At this meeting, the council is expected to choose the city council president for the upcoming year. In order to select a president, a member of the council will nominate a candidate and it will be voted upon via roll call vote. Once one is chosen by the majority, they are elected president.
The city council president, according to the city’s Code of Ordinances, serves a one-year term, and their duties include serving as presiding officer for city council meetings, calling meetings to order, recognize members who would like the floor to speak, preside over public hearings, as well as appointing city councilors to specific committees. This can be done through assignment from the president, or through a “methodology for assigning seats,” according to the ordinance.
Notably however, the president is to refrain from debates when presiding. They may however, leave their chair and select a president pro tempore, at which point the president can speak on an issue.
