City Council

Office of the City Clerk City Hall • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 P: 978.674.4161 • F: 978.970.4007 www.LowellMA.gov Lowell City Council Michael Q. Geary City Clerk Regular Meeting Minutes Date: Jan 06, 2020 Time: 10:00 AM Location: City Council Chamber 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA CITY CLERK 1. - CITY CLERK 1.1. INAUGURATION 2020 - 2021 CITY COUNCIL-ELECT * Procession into City Council Chambers. * Open Ceremony/Notice of Election. * Roll Call. * Invocation. * Oath of Office. * Election of Mayor. * Mayor's Oath of Office. * Election of Vice Chairman. * Vice Chairman's Oath of Office. * Benediction. Roll call showed 9 present. City Clerk Michael Q. Geary, Chair. Council-Elect entered Council Chamber lead by Assistant City Clerk, Angela Gitschier. City Clerk Geary welcomed those attending the event, including newly elected members, Sokhary Chau, John Drinkwater and returning Council member, Daniel Rourke, to the Council. City Clerk Geary recognized his staff as well as staff at Manager’s office for their assistance with this program. City Clerk Geary introduced Judge Stacey Fortes, First Justice of the Lowell District Court, along with Father Nicholas Sannella and Father Cristiano Barbosa of the Lowell Collaborative Parishes. Father Nicholas Sannella of the Immaculate Conception Church delivered the Invocation. Lowell High School and Lowell Fire Department Color Guard presented the colors and the Lowell High School Chorus sang the National Anthem. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 2 of 3) The Roll was called. Nine present. Official Notice of Election from Election Commissioners depicting the results of the November 5, 2019 election was read by the Chair. Motion by C. Nuon, seconded by C. Leahy “to accept the communication and place it on file.” So voted. Each Councilor was before their desk and was administered the oath of office by Judge Stacey Fortes (1st Justice, Lowell District Court). Motion to proceed to elect a Mayor by C. Elliott, seconded by C. Mercier. So voted. On the first ballot the Council designated Councilor John Leahy as the Mayor of the City of Lowell by receiving 7 votes (C. Chau, C. Conway, C. Drinkwater, C. Elliott, C. Leahy, C. Rourke). The remaining members of the body cast remaining 2 votes for C. Nuon (C. Nuon, C. Samaras). C. Nuon and C. Samaras recast their selection for Mayor Leahy. The Chair declared John Leahy as Mayor, who was then escorted to the Rostrum by his children, Jack and Madelyn. Judge Fortes administered the oath of office. Mayor Leahy chaired the remainder of the meeting. Mayor Leahy addressed the Chamber thanking his colleagues, family and friends for the opportunity as well as outlining a platform to work as an effective team for the City. Mayor commented on many projects in the City and the work of subcommittees. Mayor noted the need for body to be united in their efforts to promote and improve the City. Motion to proceed to elect a Vice Chair by C. Conway, seconded by C. Drinkwater. So voted. On the first ballot the Council designated Councilor Rita Mercier as the Vice Chair of the City of Lowell Council by receiving 9 votes (C. Chau; C. Conway; C. Drinkwater; C. Elliott; M. Leahy; C. Mercier; C. Nuon C. Rourke; C. Samaras). The Mayor declared C. Mercier as Vice Chair, who was then escorted to the Rostrum by her children. Judge Fortes administered the oath of office. Motion to adopt present rules of the City Council for 2020-2021 by C. Elliott, seconded by C. Conway. So voted. Father Cristiano Barbosa delivered the Benediction. City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov  (Page 3 of 3) ADJOURNMENT 2. - Time for meeting to stand adjourned. Motion to Adjourn by C. Elliott, seconded by C. Drinkwater. So voted. Meeting was adjourned at 10:30 AM. ____________________________ Michael Q. Geary, City Clerk City of Lowell • 375 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • www.lowellma.gov