Democratic Mayor Anita Dugatto called for consensus among city officials Saturday during her inaugural address at Derby High School.
The mayor won her second, two-year term Nov. 3 by overcoming Republican Richard Dziekan, 1,464 to 1,352 during a city-wide election.
Dugatto was sworn in Saturday by Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman in front of more than 100 supporters.
Click the video above to watch the entire ceremony, which was carried live on the web thanks to Jack Walsh and the Electonic Valley.
Wyman had also administered the oath of office to Dugatto two years ago when Dugatto made history by becoming the city’s first female mayor after defeating Anthony Staffieri, a four-term Republican.
Building consensus was Dugatto’s theme during a speech Saturday. She invoked President John F. Kennedy.
“Let’s not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer,” Dugatto said, quoting a speech Kennedy made in 1958 while addressing Loyola College alumni in Baltimore. “Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future.”
The text of Dugatto’s speech is embedded below. The article continues after the document.
Dugatto’s Speech In Derby by ValleyIndyDotOrg
During her first term, Dugatto faced criticism from Derby Republicans — and fellow Democrats on the Board of Aldermen — for not involving others in important decisions, such as her decision last year to make emergency repairs on the Derby parking garage.
A Sunday morning “meeting” last month about an administrative order from state environmental regulators also raised eyebrows within her own party.
But Dugatto said Saturday Derby can’t move forward without consensus.
“I encourage you to challenge the status quo in pursuit of consensus,” she said. “However, I ask that you do so in a constructive manner with suggestions for implementable solutions that serve the greatest good.”
The Democrats in Derby enjoy a 7 – 2 majority on the Board of Aldermen, the city’s legislature.
Former Mayor Staffieri is returning to city government after a two-year absence, as he was elected Third Ward Alderman.
“I’m looking forward to moving the City of Derby in a positive way,” Staffieri said Saturday. “I hope to set the city on course.”
Staffieri is joined by newly elected Alderman Thomas Donofrio, an independent who ran with the Derby Republican Party.
After the ceremony, the Board of Aldermen held a special meeting and elected Third Ward Alderman Carmen DiCenso as Aldermanic president. He succeeds Second Ward Alderman Art Gerckens.
First Ward Alderman Barbara DeGennaro made the motion to nominate DiCenso. Gerckens abstained.
The Aldermen also voted to waive Section 14 of the Derby City Charter that bans dual-office holding for five city employees who have elected positions on boards.
They voted to allow:
- Incumbent Joseph L. DiMartino to serve on the Board of Aldermen and as a public works employee
- Incumbent Stephen M. Iacuone to serve on the Board of Aldermen and as a Water Pollution Control Authority employee and as a police officer;
- Thomas J. Donofrio to serve on the Board of Aldermen and as a police officer;
- Incumbent Christopher Carloni to serve on the Board of Apportionment and Taxation and as a Water Pollution Control Authority employee;
- Louis Oliwa to serve on the Board of Apportionment and Taxation and as a paid sub-contractor for the Storm Ambulance Corps serving the City of Derby.
The prevalence of city employees in so many elected positions isn’t ideal because of potential conflicts, but the people’s votes must be respected, Gerckens said.
DiCenso said since he is retired he has plenty of time for the work as board president. DiCenso is chairman of the board’s blight committee. He said he’s at City Hall three or four days a week already, working with the city’s blight busters.
Wyman congratulated the newly-sworn in officials.
“You are on the ground. You are the ones who have to daily take care of the city,” she said. “The election is over. We all (need to) get together and work together.”
