Newcomers Melinda Bales, Charles Guignard and Danny Phillips joined incumbents Charles Jeter, Ron Julian and Sarah McAulay as municipal decision makers for the next two years. Mayor Jill Swain also began her third term at the helm.

Prior to the ceremonies, outgoing Commissioner Danae Caulfield, who unsuccessfully tried to unseat Swain, was recognized for her board service and awarded a commemorative plaque from the board, presented by Swain.

"I sincerely thank you for your service," Swain said. "Your heart was always in everything you did."

In her departing comments, Caulfield took one last playful jab at fellow board member Charles Jeter.

"I was going to wear boxing gloves in here tonight," Caulfield joked in reference to the frequent sparring she and Jeter did concerning numerous topics during Caulfield's two years on the board.

Jeter also made a point to commend Caulfield. "She and I have not always agreed on the issues," Jeter said, "but you can't fault her heart."

The evening marked the return of Charles Guignard to the dais. "It's good to be back," Guignard, who served as commissioner for four years in the late 1990s, said. "I'm excited about working with this board."

McAulay, who was unanimously re-elected as mayor pro tem, Jeter and Julian also had the opportunity to thank family members and supporters and to set the stage for the discussions and decisions on the horizon.

"A lot of progress has been made," Julian said, "but we've got a lot of progress to make."