GREENFIELD — As its first order of business with new members, the City Council chose its new leaders on Thursday.
At-Large City Councilor Ashli Stempel was elected president, Precinct 7 City Councilor Otis Wheeler, vice president; and Precinct 3 City Councilor Virginia “Ginny” DeSorgher, treasurer; during the council’s reorganization meeting at City Hall.
Stempel ran against At-Large City Councilor Penny Ricketts for the position of president. Ricketts was nominated by DeSorgher and Stempel was nominated by Precinct 5 City Councilor Timothy Dolan. Stempel won with seven votes to Ricketts’ five, and there was one abstention by Councilor Sheila Gilmour.
Stempel said, as president, she wants to “lead from the back,” and provide her fellow councilors with resources and information.
“I’m confident I have the skills, experience and disposition to lead the council effectively in a way that allows us all to function at a higher level together,” she said, referencing her experience as the human resources and communications manager for Year Up in Boston. “As a communications professional, I see an opportunity to continue to apply my expertise to not only effectively facilitate meetings of the council, but facilitate the flow of information and communications to our board, municipal departments and the community at large so we can all perform at our highest standard of leadership. Communication is at the core of everything we do.”
Ricketts said she wanted to run because of her experience and work on the council.
“I have really worked hard on this, I have wanted this presidency for the last year,” she said. “My intention was always to be the president next. … I know in serving as president there are things that go on, like today’s wonderful ceremony I was able to get out for. I know another duty is to meet with the mayor, the superintendent and the School Committee chair each month, so I have worked out a schedule that has allowed me to get out of work to attend events, important meetings and time to go to the clerk’s office as much as possible.”
Joining the ranks of the 13-member City Council were recently elected At-Large City Councilors Christine Forgey and Philip Elmer, Precinct 1 Councilor Ed Jarvis, Precinct 2 Councilor Daniel Guin, Precinct 3 Councilor DeSorgher, Precinct 4 Councilor John Bottomley and Precinct 9 Councilor Norman Hirschfeld, each of whom were sworn in during a Thursday morning ceremony.
Guin, as the member with the longest overall tenure having previously served for nearly a decade on the town council, led the meeting until Stempel was elected.
Wheeler and DeSorgher, both unanimously approved by the council, were the only people nominated for their respective positions.
DeSorgher was nominated by Ricketts, and said she didn’t have a statement prepared because she wasn’t expecting the nomination.
Wheeler, who was nominated by Dolan, spoke to his desire to serve.
“It’s an honor to be considered. Like so many of us it was not my intention to run for council, I was asked, then asked again and again, but once I got here something about it felt right,” Wheeler said. “They say you should have something in your life that is both beautiful and necessary, and for me right now serving on council is necessary. It guides my purpose somehow and I don’t know why. It asks a lot of me and I am grateful. I’m willing and able to do more.”
Reach Melina Bourdeau at mbourdeau@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 263.