Inauguration Ceremony Held in Gardner MA – Complete Coverage
With pomp and circumstance, Gardner held its Inauguration at Perry Auditorium beginning at 6:30pm on January 4, 2024. Listen to the entire event on any device. CLICK PLAY
Dr. Stephanie Marchetti, the Executive Director of the Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center did the welcoming remarks, Reverend Pastor David Trolongo of Chair City Church did the invocation, and the Reverend Father Thiago Rodrigues Ibiapina of Annunciation Parish did the Benediction.
City Clerk Titi Siriphan was there for the Certificate of Election and roll call of officials.
Musical performances are included by the Gardner Middle School Bobcat Select Chorus, the Greater Gardner Community Choir, and Surround Sound.
Speakers included City Council President Elizabeth Kazinskas, Mayor Michael Nicholson, and State Representative Jonathan Zlotnik. Speeches are contained in AUDIO of entire event and are also available separately below.
Mayor Michael Nicholson spoke about the successes of the Chair City during the past couple of years and expressed a positive vision for the future. Listen to his speech on any device. CLICK PLAY.
Nicholson Speech
The Mayor thanked Judge Goldstein for his role in helping to bring the Veterans Treatment Specialty Court to Gardner, Dr. Marchetti for work at the Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center, various individuals, and City employees for their “top quality service to our residents.” The Mayor spoke about challenges, opportunities, and how “our efforts are bearing fruit.” He spoke about the various successes in the City including various projects and improvements. “We paved 20 miles of road, nearly a quarter of our entire City, in just the last 3 years.” The Mayor detailed the educational opportunities offered to Gardner students. He spoke about the over 50 businesses which have either newly opened or expanded and almost 20 buildings in Downtown under renovation. He spoke about transportation improvements in Gardner. The Mayor talked about improving City operations: “we made sure to break away from the that’s-how-we’ve-always-done-it mentality and see if there were updates that we could make to improve our operations. Regarding projects: “The most significant construction project we have ongoing for the new year is our continuing work renovating the former Waterford Street School location to house our new non-profit community center.” He also announced a name we didn’t know until now – Jersey Mike’s, a sub shop, will be opening in Timpany Crossroads Plaza this year.
City Council President Elizabeth Kazinskas also spoke. The Council President spoke about cooperation among City Government and the achievements made as a result of that collaboration. Listen to her speech on any device. CLICK PLAY.
Kazinskas Speech
Kazinskas stated “Mayor Nicholson, thank you for working alongside the city council and our city government. This is how it is supposed to work, and we have proven it in Gardner that it does work. We don’t have to agree all the time, but it is okay if we agree some of the time. We don’t have to respect each other, but we choose to do so. We can have different roles that serve different purposes in our city government and still share a common goal. Your strong commitment to transparency is appreciated, and I look forward to all that we as a City Council will accomplish together with you as our city’s mayor and our respective roles over the next two years.”
State Representative Jonathan Zlotnik delivered remarks. He stated of Mayor Nicholson. “If I can highlight one thing, it is Mike’s willingness to work with others, to put in the effort to take in other opinions. That really produces results, especially in the long term.” Listen to his remarks on any device. CLICK PLAY.
Zlotnik Remarks
City Councilors and School Committee were there. Carolyn Kamuda was absent as she had resigned abruptly for personal reasons. Next highest vote getter Calvin Brooks was there. Per the City Charter, he’ll officially be a City Councilor at Large when elected at the next City Council meeting.