City of Portsmouth Plans Inauguration Outside on January 3, 2022

Out of an abundance of caution against the spread of the highly infectious Omicron variant of COVID-19, the Mayor-elect has determined that the Inauguration for the City Council, Police Commission, Fire Commission and School Board will be held outdoors on Monday, January 3, 2022. The abbreviated ceremony will take place at the 9/11 Memorial in the upper parking lot at City Hall, starting at 7 pm.

The Inauguration program will include the National Anthem and posting of colors by the Portsmouth Police and Fire Departments, invocation by Chaplain Jeffrey Pelkey, and then the taking of oaths by Fire Commissioners Dickie Gamester and Jennifer Mosher-Matthes; Police Commissioners Kate Coyle and Buzz Scherr; School Board members Liz Barrett, Nancy Novelline Clayburgh, Brian French, Kerry Nolte and Lisa Rapaport; City Council members Andrew Bagley, Rich Blalock, Kate Cook, Josh Denton, Vince Lombardi, Beth Moreau, John Tabor, Assistant Mayor JoAnna Kelley and Mayor Deaglan McEachern.

Similar to the annual 9/11 ceremony, members of the public are asked to park in the lower lot at City Hall. The upper lot will be closed, except for handicapped-accessible spaces, starting at 6 pm. Overflow parking is also available in the lot on Junkins Avenue opposite City Hall.

The traditional Inauguration Reception is being postponed to a later date.