NORWICH – The City Common Council conducted the inauguration of Mayor Joseph Maiurano Tuesday night, along with four aldermen who began their new terms in office.
It was business as usual for Mayor Maiurano, Ward One Alderman Robert Carey, Ward Five Alderman Paul Laughlin and Ward Three Alderman John Deierlein, who were all sworn in for repeating terms last night.
However, for newcomer Thomas LoPiccolo, who was appointed as Sixth Ward Alderman following former Alderman Robert Jeffrey’s election to city supervisor in November, the night was a fresh start as he initiated his new role in the city council.
Maiurano was sworn in to office immediately after calling the meeting to order, beginning his fourth term as mayor. His inauguration was followed by returning Alderman Carey, Alderman Deierlein and Alderman Laughlin. The first order of business for the newly inaugurated council: Filling the vacant seat for the sixth ward alderman.
After Maiurano’s nomination of LoPiccolo to fill the vacant seat, there was no sign of opposition from any of the council members.
LoPiccolo, who is a lifelong Norwich resident, grew up in the sixth ward where he currently lives and said he knows the area well enough to fill the shoes of Jeffrey, who had served on the board for six years.
“I was born and raised in the area,” said LoPiccolo. “The area isn’t new to me; I know the streets and I know the people.”
With a full council at work, the first official city resolution of the new year was passed to adopt the rules of procedure for council meetings – approved ayes by all. The movement was followed by the council’s appointment of positions on the traffic commission, then appointments made by the mayor with the approval of the council to the parks commission and the water commission and lastly, appointments to the electrical board, housing authority, planning commission, plumbing board and youth board – all made by Mayor Maiurano.
“We will have more appointments at the next council meeting,” said Maiurano, noting that there are still vacant positions to fill in the parks commission, water commission and planning commission.
The first joint committees meeting of the year was called to order following the inauguration of new city officials and the appointment of various city board and commission members.
Subsequent to the committees meeting, LoPiccolo commented on his first night as alderman. Citing the topics discussed throughout the meetings, LoPiccolo affirmed he has “a lot of catching up to do.”