Video: New year means swearing-in ceremonies

As the New Year now kicks into gear, some local towns are saying stick with the "old" while others are all for in with the new.

This week featured swearing-in ceremonies across the county and state, as elected officials started new terms in office. In Brighton and Pittsford, that meant another go-round for supervisors Sandra Frankel and Bill Carpenter, respectively, and Mendon welcomed three fresh faces.

The biggest story this time around for Mendon was the lack of controversy during the town's swearing in ceremony. On Jan. 1, 2004, then-supervisor Moe Bickweat was forced to hold the ceremony next to Town Hall near the Honeoye Creek waterfall after being locked out of the building. Republican board members Patricia Freeman and Marvin Vahue, incoming highway superintendent Bud Smith, Justice William Fletcher and Town Clerk James Merzke were sworn in during a separate ceremony at the home of Councilman Paul Tichenor.

This time around, things were much different.

"It didn't matter the party or whatever the case may be, but the people in attendance were very supportive of the direction we're trying to go in," said new Supervisor Ian McNabb, who was sworn in Jan. 1 with new Town Board members Shari Stottler and Mark Cottle at the Mendon Community Center. "It was a very nice event."

src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2jjag-zMTLQrel=1" width="425" height="355" scale="ShowAll" loop="loop" menu="menu" wmode="transparent" quality="1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed> More than 50 people attended the ceremony, which also featured Smith, Fletcher and Merzke being sworn in. Stottler and Cottle replace Freeman and Vahue, who held board seats since 1996. <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/z90_wdcRwkk&rel=1" width="425" height="355" scale="ShowAll" loop="loop" menu="menu" wmode="transparent" quality="1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed> "I'm very optimistic about the future," said Cottle, highlighting the inclusiveness of the ceremony. "People seem to have a clear idea of what they want to happen, which is stability on the board, a new library built and good governing." In Brighton, Frankel began her ninth term as supervisor Jan. 2, a title she's held since 1991. She was re-elected to her position along with long-time Town Board member Ray Tierney. Both are Democrats. "Each term of office builds upon one another," Frankel said. "My dedication deepens with each passing year and I'm energized by new challenges and opportunities to work with new people." One of those people will be new board member Sheila Gaddis, who said being sworn in to her position was a "historic moment" for her. Gaddis will keep the board occupied completely by Democrats, which had its own historic measure during the ceremony. It was 34 years to the day that Michael Miller was sworn in as the first Democrat board member in Brighton. "I'm eager to get started serving the citizens of Brighton," Gaddis said. Gaddis takes the seat of departing board member Sherry Kraus, who served more than eight years. Also being sworn in were town justice Karen Morris and clerk Susan Kramarsky. A little bit of history also took place in Pittsford, where Supervisor Bill Carpenter was sworn in for the eighth time Dec. 31, making him the third-longest tenured supervisor in town history, behind George Hicks, who served from 1910 to 1925 and Paul Spiegel, who was supervisor from 1966 to 1988. "Each time is special when you walk up there and put your hand on the Bible to take the oath (of office)," Carpenter said. Other long-serving members that were sworn in again were board members John Higgins, who is starting his fourth term, and Karen Green, who has held her title since 1999. Town justice Fred Galina, who has served since 1998, was also sworn in. "We spend a lot of time and energy to make sure things are going right," Higgins said. "We treat people as customers, knowing that customers can go somewhere else." <em>Bryan Roth can be reached at (585) 394-0770, Ext. 270, or at broth@mpnewspapers.com.