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For the seventh time: I swear |
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Wednesday, 05 December 2007 |
By JOSEPH B. NADEAU
WOONSOCKET — The new term of office began for Mayor Susan D. Menard, members of the City Council and the School Committee Tuesday evening with colorful inauguration ceremonies in Woonsocket High School's auditorium.
Menard was sworn-in to her record 7th term as mayor by her longtime Public Works Director Michael Annarummo, and City Clerk Pauline Payeur and School Superintendent Maureen Macera read the oaths of office to the City Council and School Committee respectively. "I'm looking forward to a new two-year term as mayor and it's going to be challenging, Mayor Menard said as she prepared to enter the auditorium for the city charter required 8 p.m. start of inauguration. A main concern for her administration in the new term will be coping with potential cuts in state and federal funding as the economy adjusts to a continuing downturn, she said. "We are going to have to work a little harder and be a little creative but I think we will manage," Menard said. "I'm very happy that we are starting with a $4.9 million surplus," she added. Menard and the other newly elected city officials were led into the auditorium by an honor guard headed by Police Chief Michael L.A. Houle, Deputy Police Chief Richard Dubois, and Fire Chief Kenneth Finlay. Also participating were Superintendent of Schools Maureen Macera, Public Works Director Michael A. Annarummo, James N. Allam of Board of Canvassers, City Judges Lloyd Gariepy and Thomas F. Dickinson, and Judith A. McLaren, longtime supporter of Menard, as the Master of Ceremonies. The mayor's directors, Joel D. Mathews, Robert Strom, Albert A. Brien, and newly appointed City prosecutor Jon Brien, were also on hand. In addition to Menard, seven members of the city council, Christopher A. Beauchamp, Stella G. Brien, Leo T. Fontaine, Roger G. Jalette Sr., William D. Schneck, Jr., Suzanne J. Vadenais and John F. Ward, and the five members of the School Committee, Marc A. Dubois, Linda M. Majewski, Anita A. McGuire-Forcier, Eleanor M. Nadeau, and Michelle R. Williams, were also sworn-in. After the mayor's inauguration remarks, the new City Council met for the first time and selected Leo T. Fontaine to continue in his role as President and William D. Schneck Jr. as the new vice president. The School Committee will reorganize as its next meeting. Fontaine commended the departing members of the Council, Brian Blais, J. Michel Martineau and Normand J. Laliberte Jr. for their past service to the city and said he pleased to be working with the newly elected members. "If we continue to work together I'm sure we can make the City of Woonsocket a place we can all be proud of," he said. Also participating in the ceremonies were members of the High School's Band and Chorus under the direction of Kevin Plouffe, Lisa Alves, Jeffrey Either and Ronald Lamoureux. High School Band vocalist Marissa Silva sang the Star Spangled Banner, and the High's School's Select Girls Chorus sang "God Bless America," and "The Light Within." The Revs. Ronald Bengford of Scared Heart Parish and Mark A. Sauriol of All Saints Parish, gave the Invocation and Benediction.
Text of the mayor's inaugural address:
Good evening honored guests, fellow public servants, residents and friends. Tonight we embark on a new chapter in our continuing efforts to secure Woonsocket's future.
The next two years present many challenges and exciting new projects.
The major initiatives for the upcoming two years include building two new middle schools, implementing our state mandated nine-year revaluation, additional infrastructure improvements and continued tax stability.
Perhaps the most exciting project will the long awaited replacement of Woonsocket's existing obsolete middle school.
This has been a primary capital need for many years.
I would like to thank the members of the Middle School Building Committee for their time and effort in providing the City recommendations pertaining to the future housing of our middle school students. Our efforts have been concentrated on ensuring that the Hamlet Avenue site will be ready for what will be a major investment in our City's school children. That, combined with the recent construction of the Harris and Pothier Elementary Schools and the substantial Citizens and Globe Park additions, Woonsocket will have completed a major commitment to the educational needs of our City's youth for years to come. Economic development will continue to be at the forefront of my administration. Recent new construction at Highland Industrial Park will include Summer Infant and Expotrac. Over the next two years, we will continue to work with the owners of the remaining parcels to further the Park's growth. Redevelopment efforts at the corner of Clinton and Cumberland Streets are finally coming to fruition with a mix of commercial and residential units. We are also working on redevelopment plans with the owner of the former French Worsted mill complex on Hamlet Avenue in what will be an exciting mix of retail, office and residential space. I envision that when completed, these existing outdated mill buildings along with our new middle school complex will enhance an important artery into the City. This, along with the upswing in private investment on Main Street, the City will continue to see new business growth, both big and small. Our continued efforts will help bolster job growth and tax revenue for our citizens for many years to come.
Other significant projects are already underway. Rivers Edge Recreation Complex with its new soccer fields, bike path, concession building, executive golf and canoe launch will be completed in 2008. New upscale housing projects include Allen Street Lofts, the Bernon Mills Estates and the Headquarters Condos in the former Police Station.
These investments in our City will further improve our economic base, continue tax stability and make the City of Woonsocket a better place to live.
An important project that I will be working on this term will be the implementation of a new water treatment facility. Both the Rhode Island Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Management have mandated requirements necessitating the building of this facility. This project will ensure that ratepayers receive safe, clean water for years to come.
As we all know the economy is weakening at both the state and federal level, the federal government now has a trillion dollar deficit. But here in Woonsocket, thanks to the cooperation and work of the School Committee and the City Council, we are proud to say the City of Woonsocket has a $4.9 million surplus. It is the people present here tonight, those sitting on the City Council and School Committee, who will be working diligently to make sure the people of the City of Woonsocket can continue to afford to live here.
I also want to thank my directors for their hard work, their dedication and the many hours they have spent on job to the benefit of this city.
In conclusion, I feel both highly challenged and excited as I enter these next two years. I would like to thank the citizens of Woonsocket for once again bestowing their faith in my Administration and me. It has been and remains a great honor to serve you as Mayor of this wonderful city of Woonsocket.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 05 December 2007 )
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