David Malone was sworn-in as the Mayor of Portsmouth during ceremonies on Tuesday. The oath of office was administered my Portsmouth Solicitor Mike Jones, Tanya Malone is seen holding the bible while Malone takes the oath.
"It's a pleasure to serve the citizens of Portsmouth in this capacity. I take it with honor and am humbled and have always been a servant in the community," Malone said prior to being sworn into office by city solicitor Mike Jones.
Malone said he has made contact with the cities department heads and will continue to meet with them.
"I told them they can take there boxing gloves off now. We're not going to be fighting. I know we are going to have some disagreements. We are going to disagree together," Malone said. "I will be leaning on them (department heads) for advice and the processes we need to take. They are the experts at what they do."
Malone said as of now there will not be any changes in the department heads.
"There are a couple of personnel issues that we need to look at. There might be some changes but I don't foresee any if certain conditions are meet," Malone said.
Malone's fist city council meeting will be Monday, December 27 as mayor. Malone said he plans to present council with a 2011 operating budget during that meeting.
In an effort to help balance the 2010 budget each of the cities unions signed memorandums of understanding (MOU) forgoing a scheduled three percent pay increase. Malone says he hopes new ones can be signed for 2011.
The city is currently facing a $1.3 million dollar budget deficit.
Malone says he has a plan to move city offices out of the current municipal building.
"Two or three years ago we had an engineer come in and they deemed this (current municipal) building unrenovateable. They are the engineers, they are the experts," Malone said. "I hope to put a plan together before June of this year. I've got a company in California, who's been in contact with me. The information that I have I shared it with all the councilmen earlier this year. I did not present it to the mayor because her vision was different."
When asked if the city might revisit the issue of the Marting's building, Malone said "Yes, hopefully within the next six months. If not the Marting's then some where else for a facility. A lot of people are against the use of the Marting's building, we will have to placate that this year. We have to allow them (voters in Portsmouth) to give us the o.k. We own the Marting's building, if it's going to be very economical for us to use the Marting's building and we pitch that way and sell it to the community and they understand what we can do as a community. I hope they (voters) would be willing to go with it," Malone said.
He said if the city plans on using that building they will have to go back to the voters.
City council will soon be soliciting for applications and resumes for Malone's vacant council seat. Once someone is appointed they will full fill Malone's unexpired term.
Malone said taking care of the traffic issues the city has been facing over recent months is towards the top of his to to-do-list.
During his address after being sworn into office Malone stated, "old ways are gone and we are moving forward, we are not looking back. I hope to play a very important part in moving this city forward," Malone said. "I realize I can not accomplish anything without everyone's involvement and support."
"I know we may not agree on every issue, all that I ask is that we work together for the good of our community. I look forward to the weeks and the months ahead with excitement and the opportunities that will be presented before us. I ask you fellow citizens to join me in moving towards our best future," Malone said.
For more information the Mayor's office can be reached at 354-8807.
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