By Joan F. Simoneau, Community Reporter
Marlborough – The City Council held a short meeting Jan. 9 as it welcomed new City Council President Patricia Pope and three new councilors, Ward 2 Councilor Richard Jenkins, and Councilors-at-Large Kathleen Robey and Mark Oram.
Among items acted upon were the acceptance of a communication from the city's new mayor, Arthur Vigeant, regarding the appointments of Donald V. Rider Jr. as city solicitor; Michael Berry, as executive aide to the mayor; and Patricia Bernard, as executive secretary to the mayor. Vigeant's request to reappoint Deborah Puleo to the position of city collector, effective Feb. 1, for a one-year period, was referred to the Personnel Committee. Ward 4 Councilor Robert Tunnera, who will serve as the new chair of that committee, scheduled a meeting for Monday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m. to act on this request.
Pope has served on the council for 16 years and has been vice president for the past four years. Ward 6 Councilor Edward Clancy will now be the new vice president.
Other council chairs include: Finance, Councilor-at-Large Michael Ossing; Public Services, Ward 7 Councilor Donald Landers; Legislative and Legal Affairs, Ward 5 Councilor Robert Seymour; Wireless Communications, Clancy; Public Safety, Oram; Urban Affairs and Housing, Ward 3 Councilor Matt Elder; Human Services, Robey; Veterans” Affairs, Jenkins; Operations and Oversight, Ward 1 Councilor Joseph Delano; Open Space, Oram; and Rules Committee, Pope.
Robey, formerly a member of the Marlborough School Committee, filled one of the vacancies created by Vigeant and state Rep. Steven Levy, R-Marlborough. Her seat has been filled by Heidi Matthews, who ran unopposed for that board. Oram was formerly a Ward 6 councilor. Jenkins defeated Paul Ferro in the November 2011 election.