Stevens S warns against complacency
By Doug Grindle Community Reporter

Newly sworn-in elected officials include (front, l to r) Michael Ossing, Don Landers, Mayor Nancy Stevens, Patricia Pope, Steven Levy, Scott Schafer, (back, l to r) Peter Juaire, Joseph Valarioti, Edward Clancy, Paul Ferro, Joseph Delano and Arthur Vigeant. PHOTO/DOUG GRINDLE

Marlborough - The recently elected officials of Marlborough were sworn in before a crowd of hundreds at a ceremony at the Marlborough Middle School Jan. 7.

City councilors, school committee members and returning Mayor Nancy Stevens were sworn in by City Clerk Lisa Thomas.

The mood was upbeat and elected officials smiled broadly as they were sworn in and music played as part of the ceremony.

U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D; State Sen. Pamela P. Resor, D-Acton; State Rep. Stephen P. LeDuc, D-Marlborough; and former mayor Michael Hogan looked on as the officials were sworn in for two-year terms.

Stevens, who was re-elected to a second term, gave the inaugural address, and said while the last two years had been good ones, more remained to be done.

"We must avoid the complacency that comes with re-election," Stevens said.

In her speech, Stevens promised "service and not politics."

"We have not always agreed," she said, referring to city councilors, "[but] our goals are the same."

She also said residents want to see good public services, safe streets and resources being used wisely for the common good.

According to Stevens, the city faces a number of challenges in the year ahead as it looks to find money to help pay for upgrades to the city's wastewater treatment plants, which could eventually cost more than $80 million. Stevens said $10.3 million had been earmarked from public sources for the improvements.

New city preparation will be needed as city contracts are negotiated in 2009. Stevens said the city must balance the needs of the employees and the interests of the residents, but the negotiations would likely be difficult.

"Conflict is unavoidable," she warned.

Stevens also said more needs to be done to help redevelop the city and make it more livable. She pointed to new redevelopment projects, such as those at the old Armory building and the St Mary's Church redevelopment, which are helping to remake the city.

Stevens said the city needs to "create the environment that will foster this growth."

This includes pursuing publicprivate partnerships, and reviewing city landholdings such as the Foster Building, which may need to be sold.

"We must pursue these reviews," she said.

Stevens also pledged to ask councilors to find money to hire more code enforcement officers to overcome "overcrowding and blight." She pledged to reinstitute the Police Department's traffic enforcement team. And she called upon residents to reach out to others to help their neighbors in any way they can.

"No contribution is too small," Stevens said. "What will you do to make Marlborough a better place?"

The speech was generally well received.

Ward 4 Councilor Peter Juaire said he was in favor of the traffic enforcement team.

"There are so many drivers on the street and the people don't adhere to the rules," he said. "People are in a hurry today."

McGovern said he will continue to work to get federal funds to help pay for the wastewater treatment plant. In December 2007, he announced that $300,000 in federal funds will be coming to Marlborough to pay for it, and more is likely to arrive.

"It will be easier next year and the year after that to get more," McGovern said.

Some of the new faces among the city's elected officials said they are eager to get started.

"I am pleased to now be part of the School Committee and am looking forward to learning a lot," said Katherine Hennessy, one of two newly sworn-in members of the committee.

Margaret Dwyer is the second new addition to the committee.

At the inauguration, students from Marlborough High School also performed.