Newly elected members of the City Council and School Committee will be sworn into office during separate meetings Monday, marking the first time Lewiston has not held a formal inauguration ceremony.

The change stems from the city’s shift to staggered terms, which saw roughly half of elected seats up for grabs in November. With each body only swearing in four members Jan. 5, and with another year left in Mayor Carl Sheline’s term, the traditional inauguration was seen as unnecessary, city staff said.

“When residents voted in 2021 to implement staggered terms, that essentially eliminated the large traditional inauguration ceremony because all of the 16 elected official positions will not be starting a new term at the same time anymore,” City Clerk Kathy Montejo said.

The end of the formal ceremony means no more speeches, invocations/benedictions, entertainment by the high school choral chamber singers, post-reception and more.

The last full slate of elected officials was sworn in in January 2024, with half of the seats starting three-year terms, and the other half remaining with two-year terms.

Montejo said she believes that until this coming year, Lewiston has always held a formal inauguration every other year.

The City Council is scheduled to meet Monday, Jan. 5, where the incoming councilors — Josh Nagine, Scott Harriman, Iman Osman and Bret Martel — will be sworn in at 6 p.m.

Afterward, it will hold a joint workshop with the Planning Board and Finance Committee before the regular meeting begins at 7 p.m. At that time, the council is slated to elect a president for the term, as well as a councilor to serve as a member of the School Committee.

The incoming members of the School Committee — Janet Beaudoin, Meghan Hird, Julia Harper and Luke Jensen — will also be sworn in Monday night at the start of its meeting at 5:30 p.m.