Today (Sunday, July 1), Mayor-elect David Roberts leaves behind his title of city councilman to become Hoboken’s chief executive. The festivities kick off with an early morning Mass and are scheduled to conclude with an afternoon reception on the city’s waterfront. There will also be a short council meeting.
Roberts will be sworn in with his slate of at-large council members, Carol Marsh, Ruben Ramos Jr., and Tony Soares. The inauguration events are as follows:
• 8:30 a.m. – Inaugural Mass at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Fourth and Hudson Streets. This will be presided over by Rev. David Arias, the regional bishop of Hudson County.
• 11 a.m. – Swearing-in ceremony of the mayor-elect and at-large council members on the steps of City
Hall at the corner of Newark and Washington streets. Speakers at the ceremony will include Rep. Robert Menendez, senators Jon Corzine and Robert Torricelli, state Sen. Bernard Kenny and democratic gubernatorial candidate and Woodbridge Mayor Jim McGreevey.
• Immediately after – Council meeting in the City Hall council chambers for reorganization of the council. Might include elections of a new council president and nominations of councilpeople to the now-vacant 4th and 6th Ward council seats (see story, p. 3).
• 1-4 p.m. – Celebration reception at Pier A Park featuring free food and entertainment.