City Of West Haven: West Haven Inaugural Set For Noon Dec. 5 At WHHS

West Haven CT

02 December, 2021

4:44 PM

Description

Press release from the City of West Haven: December 2, 2021 WEST HAVEN, Dec. 2, 2021 — Democratic Mayor Nancy R. Rossi will serve as West Haven's chief elected official for another two years when she and the rest of the city's elected officials are administered the oath of office at noon Sunday, Dec. 5. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., will swear in Rossi for a third term during a ceremony in the West Haven High School auditorium, 1 Circle St. The public is invited. Face masks are required regardless of vaccination status. Democratic Town Committee Vice Chair Kathy Tucker will serve as the master of ceremonies, and Blumenthal will serve as the keynote speaker. Rossi defeated John W. Lewis in the Sept. 7 Democratic primary and Republican candidate Barry Lee Cohen in the Nov. 2 general election. Rossi, 63, is the 12th and first female mayor of West Haven since it was incorporated as a city by the General Assembly in 1961. Blumenthal will administer the oath of office to incumbent Democratic City Clerk Patricia C. Horvath and incumbent Democratic Tax Collector Dorothy Chambrelli. Probate Judge Mark J. DeGennaro will swear in the nine incumbents and four newcomers on the City Council. Returning council members are Bridgette J. Hoskie, D-1; Mitchell L. Gallignano, D-4; Robbin Watt Hamilton, D-5; Peter V. Massaro, D-6; Treneé McGee, D-7; Robert Bruneau, D-9; Gary Donovan, D-at large; Ronald M. Quagliani, D-at large; and Colleen O'Connor, R-at large. New to the council are Meli Garthwait, R-2; Sarah J. Ackbarali, D-3; Victor M. Borras, D-8; and Steven J. Johnstone, R-10. DeGennaro will administer the oath of office to members of the Board of Education, including elected Democrats Patrick O. Egolum, Kim Kenny and Morgan Watts and elected Republican Jennifer L. Frost. DeGennaro will also swear in incumbent Democrat Joseph W. Harvey III, elected Democrat Ruth Figueroa and elected Republican David Riccio Jr. to the Board of Assessment Appeals. The West Haven Charter mandates that all elected officials take the oath of office on the first Sunday in December. The inauguration will commence with a procession led by the West Haven Police Honor Guard. The ceremony will feature Rossi's inaugural address and include musical selections performed by the West Haven High School Band under the direction of Donata Lupacchino. Air Force veteran Allen Garlock will lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Jaclyn Chiarelli will sing "The Star-Spangled Banner," Vertical Church Pastor David Diewalg will give opening and closing prayers, and Nora E. Mullins will sing "America the Beautiful." The public is invited to a reception after the event in the school cafeteria. Rossi, a certified public accountant most recently at Whitten, Horton + Gibney LLP in Orange, is no stranger to public service in West Haven. She is a former five-term councilwoman who was elected to represent the 7th District in 2005. She served as the Finance Committee's chairwoman from 2007 to 2015. Rossi lives in the 7th District with her husband of 40 years, Arthur Rossi. They have two sons — Angelo and Stephen — and three grandchildren: Arthur, 11, Julianna, 2, and CeCe, 9 months. This press release was produced by the City of West Haven. The views expressed here are the author's own.