Town Council swearing in. (l-r) RI Supreme Court Justice Paul Suttell, Dennis Canario, James Seveney, Huck Little, Peter McIntyre, Keith Hamilton, Jeff Plumb, Karen Gleason.

The new Portsmouth Town Council was sworn in this evening, and two members with records of long service to the community were elected as the incoming leadership. Peter McIntyre was unanimously voted Council president, as was Huck Little for vice president. In addition to Justice Suttell, state Reps John Loughlin and Jay Edwards were on hand, as was a packed chamber of citizens, relatives, and well-wishers.

The outgoing Council had a chance to offer a few parting thoughts, and all spoke proudly of the work that had been accompished in the preceding two years and offered thanks for the help of the Town administration and employees. They thanked the voters of Portsmouth for the privilege of serving.

For the two departing members, Len Katzman and Bill West, it was clearly a bittersweet moment. Katzman took the opportunity to note the successes of the last several years — wind energy, completing the gym, open space, big box zoning — and thanked the many citizens who had gotten involved in making change happen. He got a laugh by carefully couching his hopes for the future as a farewell (so as not to violate the open meetings law) and wished the incoming Council "wisdom and good fortune." West thanked especially Chief Lynch of who had let him become a firefighter for a day, Police Chief Hebert, the public works department, and all the school staff saying, "we are blessed" to have such dedicated people.

I know I speak for everyone in Portsmouth when I thank the outgoing members of the Council for their years of hard work, and wish the incoming group the best.

More pix up on the Flickr stream.