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City Council to study casinos

THIS STORY APPEARED IN

January 03, 2012|By Andrew Ryan

(Page 2 of 2)

But Mayor Thomas M. Menino does not appear to be going anywhere anytime soon. Menino was in a feisty mood yesterday as he administered the oaths of office to the councilors. As the mayor walked to the podium, the councilors rose from their seats, anticipating that it was time to take their oaths. But Menino had other ideas. “I didn’t tell you to stand up,’’ the mayor snapped, eliciting laughter from the audience. “Sit down.’’

After the ceremony, reporters asked Menino about an article written by Malcolm Rogers, Museum of Fine Arts director, criticizing the city’s push to increase the size of payments made by universities, hospitals, and cultural institutions in lieu of property taxes, from which nonprofits are exempt. Rogers’s column in The Art Newspaper was titled “Don’t kill the goose.’’

“That’s Malcolm Rogers’s opinion. Eighty-eight percent of the [institutions] are participating in the program,’’ Menino said. “It’s unfortunate that Malcolm doesn’t want to be part of the city and wants to have his own empire.’’

But yesterday’s focus was on the City Council. One new member joined the legislative body - Frank Baker, who won an open seat representing a district that includes most of Dorchester. Each time Baker’s name was mentioned, hoots and hollers erupted in the audience.

“That’s my family,’’ said Baker, who was one of 13 children.

Baker replaced Maureen E. Feeney, who left office after almost two decades to become city clerk. Yesterday marked Feeney’s first official duties in office. She served as emcee of the City Council inauguration and as parliamentarian later at City Hall, where the body held its first meeting of the year.

The Boston School Committee also held its annual organizational meeting yesterday, reelecting the Rev. Gregory Groover as its chairman and installing Michael O’Neill as vice chairman.

The board welcomed a new member, Meg Campbell, founder and executive director of Codman Academy Charter Public School in Dorchester. She was appointed to the committee on Saturday by Menino, filling a vacancy created by Marchelle Raynor, the committee’s former vice chairwoman, who decided to step down after many years on the committee.