Arrigo Starting Transition Process

By Sue Ellen Woodcock

There are no signs that Mayor Dan Rizzo will be filing a suit in Suffolk Superior Court regarding the recount of the Nov. 3 election, where councillor Brian Arrigo topped the race with 5,209 votes over Rizzo’s 5,091, a difference of 118 votes.

Several attempts to reach Rizzo were unsuccessful and Arrigo, the election clerk and Suffolk Superior Court had heard nothing.

The Board of Election Commissioners met Nov. 23 to decide if a recount petition filed by Rizzo’s camp would be accepted. The commissioners took no action. Rizzo’s only hope for a forced recount is if he filed a suit in Suffolk Superior Court.

A clerk in the court office said nothing had been filed as of 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Now Rizzo’s name is out there for a state senate race and Arrigo is moving ahead with plans to be sworn in and become mayor on Jan. 4.

One of Arrigo’s first order of business, as city councillor and mayor-elect, was to present a motion to the city council Monday night calling for Mayor Rizzo to institute freeze on all hiring and appointments to be implemented through Jan. 4, 2016.

Arrigo said this is a standard request for when a new mayor is coming in.

When he’s not at his job at the MBTA, Arrigo has been working with his transition team. He said he is not sure when his last day at the MBTA will be.

So far Arrigo has plans on hiring two staff members, although he has not determined their job titles yet.

Joining the Arrigo office in 2016 will be Joe Gravellese, son of School Committee member Susan Gravellese. He is currently employed by State Rep. Lori Ehrlich (D-Marblehead) as an aide. Also coming on board will be Omar Boukili, who is currently the mayor’s aide in Somerville. Arrigo said Boukili will be moving to Revere.

Arrigo has also been meeting with various department heads in the training room on the second floor of city hall. Permission was given to him to use the space by George Anzuoni, director of finance for the city. Anzuoni said he has been made the point person from the Rizzo administration.

Arrigo has met with DPW head Don Goodwin about the upcoming winter, making sure equipment and crews are ready.

“In the community I have about 20 other people working as members of the transition team,” Arrigo said.

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