City Council Selects Michael Termini as Mayor, Bids Farewell to City Employees

Thursay's Capitola City Council meeting reflected on the work accomplished this year and closed with a look into the future with a newly appointed mayor and vice mayor.

A larger-than-usual audience attended, in anticipation of the announcement of the new mayor and vice mayor, as well as for a presentation honoring two retiring city employees for their long careers serving the city.

Outgoing Mayor Dennis Norton presented proclamations to the city's Maintenance Superintendent, Ed Morrison, who began working for the city 37 years ago at the age of nineteen, as pound master at the Capitola Police Department.

City Clerk Pam Greeninger was also honored for her work for the city, which began 32 years ago as a "clerk typist."  

Here are the five most important events of the meeting:

1. Vice Mayor Michael Termini was unanimously selected as the new mayor, and Councilmember Stephanie Harlan was unanimously selected as the vice mayor for 2012. Mayor Termini presented former Mayor Norton with a plaque of Capitola.

“I think that everyone will agree, no mayor has suffered as much," Termini said. "No mayor has weathered as many figurative and actual storms. You’re my colleague, you’re my friend, you're my neighbor, and I’m sorry to say you have aged twelve years in twelve months. You have really taken this to heart.” 

2. Norton stepped down from his post as mayor with a long recap of the year's trials and accomplishments, which included being , working to educate and restrict the use of , replacing , identifying a , completing Capitola Road construction, filling a hole in commercial revenue at the Capitola Mall with a , and the renovation of the Bay Avenue senior apartment complex, to name just a few.

3. A public hearing was held on the 41st Avenue/Capitola Mall Re-Visioning Plan, which the city council had commissioned in response to a 42 percent lost in sales tax revenue over the past decade. 

After much commentary, the council voted unanimously to accept the plan, and Interim Community Development Director Susan Westman reiterated that it was just the beginning of the planning process, and that there would be opportunities to work on the Plan before anything is set in stone.  

4. Vice Mayor Harlan said that a shuttle between the Village and 41st Avenue was "the wave of the future," adding that she would love to see the city and the businesses share the cost of making it happen.

5. The council voted 3-2 to approve a contract with Bob Murray and Associates to recruit a Chief of Police. The job will cost $19,500, $4,000 of which covers background checks.

Kirby Nicol was adamant that the contract was worth the money.

“We really do need to have a professional head hunter out there that can do a better job, to find out who is available and can do a good job,” Nicol said. 

Quote of the night:
"Remember, think about where you live, and the 6 billion people who would trade places with you tomorrow. Cheer up!” —Closing comment of newly elected Mayor Termini.

What do you think of the appointments of Termini and Harlan? Tell us in the comments!