New Year, New Mayor

The beginning of 2010 was not only the end of a decade, but also the end of an era in Rye.

After 12 years, Rye officially has new leadership at city hall. Doug French was sworn in as mayor on New Year's Day, taking the reigns from outgoing mayor Steve Otis, who was elected in 1997.

Otis, whom voters re-elected twice, delivered the opening remarks at the swearing-in ceremony.

Otis spoke highly of French and the city's three new city council members--Peter Jovanovich, Suzanna Keith and Richard Filippi. French and his running mates all won their seats after the November election, campaigning on a platform of "change for Rye."

"This group of people will continue to do what we all do, which is making Rye a better city," Otis said of the new council members.  

French, Jovanovich, Keith and Filippi were all sworn in by Judge Peter Lane during a 4 p.m ceremony on the steps of city hall. 

French and the new council members will have a full plate when they assume their new roles at city hall. The council passed a tight budget  during its last meeting of the year on December 16. The budget includes no 2010 raises for city hall employees and a tax increase that is slightly less than 1.6 percent.

French said he is ready to take on the challenge of his new job and will begin working on several key issues immediately.

"I am honored to be Rye's next Mayor. We are going to start working on the 2011 budget and work on labor contracts that have expired and the structure of our legal department," French said.

He also said city hall will work harder to engage residents in local government.

"We are also going to encourage an active public through meetings and public forums," he added. 

Keith said dealing with fiscal issues will be some of the council's greatest concerns.

"The big thing is focusing on our vision and making sure Rye is financially stable while preserving our quality of life," she said.

Filippi said the council should advance discussion on environmental issues.

"We would like to see the movement of environmental laws that have been buried not only from an environmental, but [an] economic point of view," he said.

The new council members won't have to wait long to address these issues. The first city council meeting of 2010 will be held at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, January 6 at city hall.