Politics & Government

Final Council Meeting for Outgoing Mayor Steve Otis

Otis and three council members will vacate their seats.

After 12 years, Mayor Steve Otis may finally have the night off on Wednesday.

The last Rye City Council meeting of the year was also the last meeting for Otis, who was defeated by Republican Doug French in the November election.

Otis gave effusive praise to city employees and Rye residents at the beginning of the council's Dec. 16 meeting.

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"I have had so much fun doing this for 12 years," Otis said. "I've enjoyed every minute of it. I thank the people of the city of Rye for letting me do this. I owe you a great debt."

Otis' fellow council members thanked him for his years of public service.

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Councilwoman Catherine Parker presented Otis with a gift basket she called a "chocolate stimulus package." She gave the other departing council members —Andrew Ball, George Pratt and Mack Cunningham — gold-wrapped nest eggs filled with chocolate coins that had small bites missing. Parker joked that the bites represented taxes.

Council members Paula Gamache and Joe Sack also congratulated Otis.  

"Steve, 12 years is a long time to serve, especially as a volunteer," Gamache said.

"I think you've set a record, because I don't think there will ever be another mayor to serve three terms," Sack said.

Gamache spoke of some of the difficult political issues Otis faced during his tenure, such as the Boston Post Road diet, which reduced lanes on Boston Post Road from four lanes to two.

Otis has faced other challenging political issues during his 12 years as mayor. He was criticized during the election for allowing the city to buy the old CVS building on 1037 Boston Post Road, a more than $6 million purchase that was the intended site of a new police station and courthouse, but now houses Lester's clothing store. The city will have to pay almost $24,000 a month until the balance is paid to the building's former owner, Aero Hardware and Parts Company.

Republican Doug French defeated Otis by garnering 58 % of the vote in the November election. French and his three running mates — Suzanna Keith, Richard Filippi and Peter Jovanovich — campaigned on lower taxes and fiscal responsibility. Keith, Filippi and Jovanovich will replace council members Ball, Cunningham and Pratt.

Otis' political opponents had kind words for the departing mayor and council members.

"We have the ultimate respect for Mayor Otis and the councilmen," Keith said. "We hope that we can continue to rely on them for advice and expertise."

 French called Otis and the other council members "first-class individuals."

"They deserve all the accolades," French said. "They've done a good job in very difficult times, but we're equally excited to take on the challenge." 

A previous version of this story incorrectly stated Councilwoman Paula Gamache reminded Mayor Otis of criticism he received for the city's purchase of 1037 Boston Post Road. Gamache mentioned a separate issue in a different context during her speech.


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