Nystrom starts term with a bang - of gavel

Norwich - There was plenty of pomp and circumstance and little business Tuesday as new Mayor Peter Nystrom and the six aldermen on the City Council were sworn in before a packed house at Council Chambers.

The Norwich Police Color Guard and the New London Firefighters Pipes & Drums led a procession that included the new mayor and council members, departing Mayor Benjamin Lathrop and his predecessor, Arthur Lathrop. All three were elected under the 2001 charter change that created the mayor position and the six-member City Council.

Norwich Police Chief Louis Fusaro and the city's fire chiefs stood behind the mayor and council members as City Clerk Sandra Greenhalgh administered their oaths of office. State House of Representatives Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., R-Norwalk, joined Greenhalgh in swearing in Nystrom, a former 18-year Republican state representative for Norwich.

A quick business meeting followed the loud applause that greeted the swearing-in ceremony. When aldermen greeted Nystrom's appointments to city committees with unanimous and silent approval, Nystrom joked that it could be "an easy two years."

Democratic Alderman Francois "Pete" Desaulniers was approved unanimously as council president pro tempore, and Alderwoman Jacqueline Caron, who returned to the council after a two-year absence, read the oath to swear him into the position.

Prior to adjournment of the 15-minute meeting, Nystrom addressed the standing-room-only audience, noting that his two brothers were stuck out in the hallway. For a moment, he turned serious.

"You've handed me quite an honor, and I'm going to do my best not to let anyone down," Nystrom said. "I feel so privileged to sit in this chair."

Nystrom borrowed from the words of Father Larry LaPointe, who gave the opening prayer. Scanning the room, LaPointe pointed out that the crowd represented numerous beliefs - religious, spiritual and political - and all came together for a united purpose Tuesday to salute the city leaders. LaPointe was the priest who married Nystrom and his wife, Linda, 24 years ago.

"He told us we have differences, and that's also what unites us," Nystrom said, "the common needs of all our citizens."

Nystrom then briefly turned to politics, saying this City Council would work together to make the city stronger and less reliant on the state government in Hartford. "We have to pick ourselves up," he said.

He then called for a motion to adjourn and tested his new gavel.

"It works," Nystrom said.