Braintree officials sworn in; council elects Peter Warren president, Elizabeth Maglio vice president

Braintree officials and volunteers were formally sworn into office on Jan. 2 at a public ceremony at Braintree Town Hall, after which the newly constituted Town Council held a reorganization meeting and chose its leadership.

The ceremony, introduced by clerk's office staff member Eric Coker and emceed by state Representative Mark Cusack, included an invocation from Chaplain Bert Tremblay of the Braintree Veterans Council and the swearing-in of members of the Braintree Housing Authority, the Braintree Electric Light Department, trustees of the Thayer Library, the Braintree School Committee and newly elected Town Councilors. ‘‘This is a wonderful historic moment in Braintree,’’ Mayor Joyce said in remarks welcoming attendees.

Mayor Joyce administered oaths for multiple board and committee seats. Among those sworn in were Lucille Casas as a housing authority commissioner and Sean E. Powers as a member of the Braintree Electric Light Board. Trustees named for the Thayer Library included Margaret Ann Morton, Valerie Sheehy and Jeffrey Coates (recorded also in the transcript with a variant spelling). School committee members sworn in included Mark Herzberg, Stacy Donohoe and Kathleen Duffy. Several newly elected town councilors also took the oath to ‘‘support the Constitution of the United States’’ and to discharge municipal duties impartially.

Immediately after the ceremony the council convened a reorganization meeting. The clerk called the roll at 11:46 a.m.; Councilor Bridal was recorded as absent. Senior councilor Dave Ringus described the nomination procedure required under the town charter and opened nominations for council president. A motion to open nominations was made by Councilor Julia Flaherty and seconded by Councilor Warren. Councilor Elizabeth Maglio placed a nomination; after a motion to close nominations (moved by Flaherty, seconded by Reynolds) the council voted by roll call. The outcome was recorded as eight in favor, one absent. The council then declared Peter Warren the president. After being sworn, President Warren thanked his colleagues and said he viewed himself ‘‘one amongst equals’’ and asked that the body conduct its work with ‘‘diligence, respect, and courtesy.’'

The council then opened nominations for vice president. Councilor Joseph Reynolds nominated Elizabeth Maglio; with no other nominees, the body accepted Maglio by acclamation and recorded the roll call as eight in favor, one absent. Mayor Joyce administered the oath to the vice president.

Before adjourning, President Warren entertained a motion to adjourn; the motion was seconded and approved by roll call. The council adjourned following the reorganization completed the same day.