Newsletter Signup
Stay up to date on all the latest news from Boston.com
City Council approves rule change to prevent New Year’s Day inaugurations
This year, new City Council members were sworn in on Jan. 1 due to longstanding rules.
On New Year’s Day, the Boston City Council and city staff gathered for the inaugurations of new members and to officially begin the municipal year. They could soon no longer be required to hold these ceremonies on the first day of the year.
Boston’s City Charter dictates that elected terms and the city’s municipal year start on the first Monday in January. Every so often, including in 2024, this coincides with New Year’s Day.
The City Council approved a home-rule petition Wednesday that would change these requirements. Pending approval by the state Legislature, the terms of elected officials would now terminate at 10 a.m. on the first weekday after the second day in January following the municipal election. Also, the municipal year would begin on the first weekday after the second day in January.
Advertisement:
Councilor Brian Worrell said that first responders had to staff the city’s inauguration just 10 hours after New Year’s Eve festivities, which require significant public safety resources.
“That’s too great of a strain to put on Boston public safety professionals. In other years, inaugurations happen as late as Jan. 7. This home-rule petition solves for both problems, updating a centuries-old document with an easy fix that will ensure that this body gets to work earlier by moving inauguration to happen between Jan. 3 and 5, which is more in line with federal standards and should increase civic engagement,” said Worrell, who sponsored the docket.
Advertisement:
It passed with 11 votes in favor and two against. Councilors Ed Flynn and Erin Murphy opposed it.
The matter was the subject of a working session last week, and Councilor Gabriela Coletta, chair of the government operations committee, submitted a report recommending that it ought to pass. It would take effect in January 2026.
Murphy and Flynn explained their opposition to The Boston Herald last week. Flynn said that he and his colleagues have an obligation to serve the public at all times, including during holidays.
Murphy told the paper that having those ceremonies on New Year’s Day actually boosts civic engagement because family members and others don’t have to take work off to attend. She told the Herald that there is not a need to change the rules because situations like this happen so infrequently.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com