Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen:

I would like to begin by first recognizing those honored guests that have graciously agreed to participate in this inaugural program tonight. I personally extend a sincere thank you to Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray, Lisa Nelson representing Congressman McGovern, Senators Scott Brown and James Timilty, Representatives Betty Poirier and John Lepper, Sheriff Thomas Hodgson and District Attorney Sam Sutter, Father Richard Roy, and Reverend Daniel Dore.

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This night is also very special due to the students from various schools citywide serving in various capacities, the Saint John the Evangelist Choir, the Veteran's Honor Guard and Police Honor Guard. A special thanks to Superintendent Durkin as the Master of Ceremonies and the members of my staff who aided in orchestrating this event.

All of us elected officials who have been sworn into our respective offices would not be here on this stage if it were not for the voters of the City of Attleboro. I sincerely thank you for the opportunity to serve you for a third term as your Mayor leading this great City. You have based your vote on my record of accomplishments and that is the most gratifying reward for myself and for the work of my administration. At this time, I would also like to recognize those elected officials who will not be returning to office. Your service was appreciated during your tenure. Since childhood, my love for the City and our community was always on the forefront of my mind. It was my goal since I was seventeen years old to become Mayor of the City of Attleboro and lead it to its former glory. By the time I ran for office in 2003, the City had a negative connotation to its name on many levels. Other municipalities across the Commonwealth viewed Attleboro as an old mill city that has seen better days. Real-estate agents viewed Attleboro as substandard to other local cities and towns. This was true when I was first elected in 2003. However, four years later, this is not the story any longer. This City is on a forward path and we will continue to make forward strides on all fronts.

Last week I was asked to be interviewed by Boston Magazine. I asked for what topic? They replied by stating that this was an interview about how Attleboro is a desirable community to move to. I was ecstatic that our image has been turned around from its prior doom and gloom. It is nice to hear that in Boston they are talking about the good work happening here in Attleboro.

I am often asked why I want to do this job when it takes so much of your personal life away from you. The answer is, I love this job. It is very rewarding to see your hard work and determination come to fruition. Yes, there are trying times, but when I look back and see all the wonderful things accomplished, it is all worth it. I enjoy the ability to reach out and touch people making a difference one at a time. We will never make everyone happy, but we aim to do the very best we can. From time to time, I will get a thank you from the people we help or from the classes that I have visited at our schools and they sit on the bookcase in my office. I cherish all these kind gifts from the good people of Attleboro.

Looking back to my first two terms, I recall all of the difficult times we encountered. People tend to forget about the difficult times after a period of prosperous improvement. We were faced with the inherited one million dollar budget error, unfunded union contracts, snow deficit, a closed fire station, health insurance deficits, layoffs, vacant positions and other smaller items that affected the City's bottom line.

Certainly, Attleboro has seen its upward and downward spirals over its long and impressive history. This has been dictated by the global economy, the Commonwealth's well-being, and the City's financial management. During the past four years, we have been seen less than fruitful times, but managed to still push forward. Our ideals and goals have been set high and we aim to meet them. I am certain that next fiscal year (2009) will be a difficult one to navigate through during the budget process but will do whatever necessary to provide vital services. I will continue to lobby state officials to find more ways to get monies on a continual basis to Cities and Towns across the Commonwealth.

During calendar 2006 and 2007, we enjoyed two excellent years. All City departments were the beneficiaries of improved financial conditions. Schools have been funded above the State minimum-spending requirement for the first time and have seen increased test scores under the direction of Dr. Durkin. Our Police and Fire Departments have been fully staffed with no station closings. Our Park and Recreation Departments have seen noticeable improvements to their facilities. The Council on Aging, administrating the senior tax program, has seen annual enrollment increases each year in order to meet the demand of the $500 tax credit for seniors working 80 hours. The Capron Park Zoo has experienced a rebirth with improved as well as new exhibits with animals from around the world with a White Lion coming from Africa in the spring. Our Industrial Business Park is well underway in the construction phase and the Redevelopment Authority is currently marketing the site for new business. We have successfully completed and opened the new branch of the Registry of Deeds in the former Post Office, which had been vacant for 20 years. The former Bliss School, also vacant for 20 years, was fully rehabilitated with an addition to create 40 affordable housing units. Bristol Community College is currently building their new campus in Attleboro with Bridgewater State College joining them in their new facility. We have partnered with the Attleboro Land Trust, LaSallette, and the Massachusetts Audubon Society to protect over 110 acres of pristine open space for future generations. The Balfour Riverwalk was designated a National Trail by the National Park Service. The City has passed its Urban Renewal Plan for downtown that will transform an underutilized 26-acre parcel into a new Intermodal development that will encompass retail, transit and housing. We have embarked on the construction phase of our streetscape initiative that will be completed summer 2008 that will give the new facelift of our central downtown area with new decorative street lamps, sidewalks, curbing, trees and benches. A record number of Capital Projects have been completed during the last 2 years. Impressively, nearly all of these items were not financed by borrowing, thus saving the City hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest payments. We certainly have been working hard transforming our image.

I am proud of all of our departments. We all have put in countless hours to make these things happen. I extend a gracious thank you to all who work hard everyday to make the City shine. These things would not be possible without your persistence and determination.

Dr. Durkin joined the City of Attleboro approximately 18 months ago and has been a blessing to our public school system. She has provided the leadership and foresight to identify the needs of the system and her path to excellence. I meet with her regularly and we work commonly on our goals together. If we expect to rehabilitate the City, the schools are an important piece to the puzzle as is all other departments. Dr. Durkin's staff should be commended for their diligence in following the path provided by her and the School Committee. Our schools have excelled under her direction and I look forward to continuing our close relationship for years to come.

As I said earlier in this speech, next fiscal year will be a tough one to weather. I will work with all departments to try and meet our goals. Unfortunately, the most recent information from the State is not to expect much (if any increase) in aid. We are all struggling in this sluggish economy. All of us are all experiencing the high price of oil and gasoline as well as the growing number of foreclosures in the real estate market. Tough times are on our doorstep, but this will not keep me from setting goals and objectives. I will look forward to working with the Municipal Council this upcoming budget season for their innovative thought and support on possible ideas for revenue generating income to support our budget. I will continue to examine areas for cost saving measures, as the City's funds collected are just as important as my own.

Goals and objectives for the upcoming two years will include: adding more public safety personnel, providing more funding to our schools, increasing the number of participants in the senior tax program, continuing the progress of replacing aging water mains, completing the Wastewater Treatment Facility, improving our City roadways and sidewalks, a small rehabilitation project of the police station, designing future phases of the streetscape initiative in the downtown, designing a rehabilitated Veteran's Memorial Park (Lee's Pond) in South Attleboro, rehabilitating the forgotten Blackinton Park donated to the City in 1937, restoring the exterior of the historic Academy Building built in 1843, will take a hands on approach and work vigorously on attracting businesses to the downtown, continuing the progress on working on the high school renovation project, completing the major roadway through the Industrial Business Park and luring a hotel to the site, continuing to make progress on implementing the downtown Intermodal project, the creation of a dog park for pet owners of the City, designing an alternative for the Holden/North Main Street intersection to improve safety, working with our regional planning group and MassHighway to design and construct a boulevard on South Avenue, rebuilding the Pitas Avenue Bridge in South Attleboro, expanding our bicycle routes, working with our newly created Youth Commission to implement their ideas and have them participate in our government affairs and also hosting a television show once a month highlighting our City departments and showing the community what we do and have to offer as a means of making your government open and transparent. I know that these goals and objectives seem to be set very high for such difficult times. However, we must set high aspirations for ourselves in order for us to strive for success. I have stated and will again tonight that the status quo is not sufficient in my eyes. Today, I have no less confidence than I did four years ago that we will continue to move forward. It is my ambition to be the best community in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

I appreciate all the assistance from our Federal and State delegation. Congressman McGovern, Governor Patrick, Lieutenant Governor Murray, Senators Brown & Timilty, Representatives Lepper and Poirier have all been active supporters of all our projects. They have brought millions of dollars to our community in the form of grants and I cannot overstate my gratitude for all their support. They have made their mark on our City for generations to come. I will work diligently to continue our trustworthy relationships.

This evening, I reach out to you and ask you what you can do for your community? How would you like to be involved? What can you offer as a service to the City? Too often today, people are consumed by their own lives. Not enough people are willing to give of themselves for the service of others. The best communities in our country are those who have the most people involved and who care about where they live. Government should be a participatory process and I urge you to be informed and active people. Please ask questions and allow yourself to be involved.

To those returning to office for another term, I wish you the best of luck in your commitment and your service. It is never an easy task to be a public servant. You should be commended for your willingness to return and the confidence that you have instilled in the voters. Thank you for your time and commitment. To those who are newcomers, I wish you the best in your new adventure. Always be true to yourself and make decisions that will allow you to sleep at night. Do your diligence and ask plenty of questions and explore the processes of your new position. I hope that you will find your position as fruitful as I have during the past four years. To all elected officials, thank you for the time you spend away from your personal lives. Generally, the public never sees the hundreds to thousands of hours that pour into these positions. Your loved ones certainly deserve a special thank you for your time away from home. We all seek public office to better our community and make a difference. I hope that you will find that you are able to make a positive change.

Sincere congratulations to our newly sworn Municipal Council, School Committee, Treasurer, Collector and Clerk. Let us all work as a unified partnership in order to wholeheartedly make a difference in our great City of Attleboro.

Thank you!