Mayor-elect planning post inaugural city celebration in college gym

AUBURN — The city will get two inaugurations next month — a scaled back swearing in at Auburn Hall, followed by a celebration and speeches two miles away at Central Maine Community College.

Mayor-elect Dick Gleason said the reception at the Central Maine Community College Kirk Hall Gymnasium will feature color guards, the Edward Little High School band and speeches, like Auburn inauguration ceremonies of the past.

"But this is a celebration of Auburn," Gleason said Friday. "This is one of those rare opportunities the citizens of Auburn get to celebrate the city. That's just something we didn't want to pass up."

Councilors voted this week to scale back the biennial celebration, saying it was an unnecessary expense. Every member of the incoming council has served on the board previously. That includes Gleason, who was Ward 1 representative, and newly elected at-large councilors Eric Samson and Belinda Gerry.

Gleason said the college is donating the use of the gymnasium and volunteers are paying for light refreshments.

"So it's not going to cost the city a thing," Gleason said. "But it is important, I think. People of this city should not be deprived of a celebration. I think we need it."

The official inauguration is scheduled for 6 p.m. Dec. 7 in Auburn Hall. City Clerk Mary Lou Magno will swear in Gleason, the councilors and School Committee members. Then, the focus moves to the college. Gleason and David Das, the current chairman of the Auburn School Committee, will present keynote speeches.

Das said committe officials think it makes more sense to have the celebration at the college.

"It's a good public event, and the gym can hold more people," Das said. "We felt that it's just the best venue for this kind of public event."

staylor@sunjournal.com