Gill to Take Oath as New Council President Tues.

Peter Gill will take the oath of office as the new president of the Winthrop Town Council at the swearing-in ceremony to be held on Tuesday, Jan. 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the Cummings School Cafetorium.

Gill was elected in November, defeating incumbent President Jeffrey Turco, who served for two years as the leader of the nine-member Town Council. Thomas Reilly was the first president of the Council in the new form of government.

Gill said he will deliver brief remarks following the ceremony. Town Manager James McKenna will also speak during the program and lead the audience in the pledge of allegiance.

A lifelong resident of the town and currently a member of the Board of Assessors (he will step down from that board), Gill decided in August to run for president of the Council.

“During my campaign I basically said that I wanted to restore Winthrop citizens’ pride in our community,” said Gill. “I also wanted to encourage citizens to participate in our government. I felt we needed to recognize and appreciate what people do for our town.”

Gill emphasized a team approach in his campaign. “And when you spell out the word T-E-A-M, it comes out to Together Each Achieves More – and that’s a motto I used in my campaign.”

Gill said he has spoken informally with the other members of the Town Council “and I feel really encouraged and that we’ll all work well together – everybody has the best interests of the town in mind.”

Gill will preside over his first Council meeting Tuesday night following the swearing-in ceremony and reception. At the meeting the councilors will elect the vice-president and Gill will announce his committee appointments.

Also set to receive their oaths of office from Town Clerk Carla Vitale are: Precinct 2 Councilor James Letterie, Precinct 4 Councilor Craig Mael, Precinct 6 Councilor Linda Calla, and Councilor-at-Large Phil Boncore; School Committee members Melissa Polino, Gary S. Skomro, and MaryAlice Sharkey; Housing Authority members Richard Honan and Frank Ferrara; and Library Trustees James M. Matarazzo, Alex Alexanian, and Maria A. Ferri.