THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021 Page 9 City Council honors outgoing councillors’ service to city Guinasso, Giannino, Powers and Zambuto praised By Adam Swift I t was a bittersweet City Council meeting on Monday night as members honored those four City Councillors who will no longer be serving in the City Council Chambers come the New Year. The outgoing offi cials are At-Large Councillors Jessica Ann Giannino and City Council President Anthony Zambuto, Ward 3 Councillor Arthur Guinasso and Ward 5 Councillor John Powers. Ward 4 Councillor Patrick Keefe set the tone early in the meeting as he pointed out that come ly, and then my life changed forever. Over the last 10 years, I’ve had the honor to serve with two mayors, two state representatives, going on three senators and alongside so many wonderful colleagues that I’m sitting with here tonight, including Bob Haas and Richie Penta, who are no longer with us but were there when I started.” Guinasso praised Giannino for the work she has done as a councillor, and will continue to do as a state representative. “You’re going to do wonderful things for our community; tough decisions – you have to split the room,” said Keefe. “I don’t know how Councillor Guinasso’s done it for 34 years, but for whatever reason, he kept on bringing people under that tent, and he kept on gaining steam and he kept on gaining supporters.” Guinasso said he never ran for offi ce thinking he would spend 34 years in the City Council Chambers. “You take day by day and hope you do the best you can, and if people like you, they like you,” said Guinasso. “Unfortunately, once you make a deDeparting Councillor-at-Large Jessica Ann Giannino is pictured with family members. From left are Joseph, Joann, Chris and Jessica Ann Giannino. cision some people are happy and some people are unhappy, so you try to tell the people that are unhappy the reasoning why you went the other way against their wishes. If you do that and you are fair with people and you are honest with yourself and the people you represent, you’ll have longevity in this.” Powers, who is recovering from some medical issues, was unable to attend Monday Honored for a decade or more of service to the City Council with their names on the Legislative Bench were Councillors Arthur Guinasso, Ira Novoselsky, Anthony Zambuto, Jessica Ann Giannino and George Rotondo. Councillor John Powers was unable to attend Monday night’s meeting. January the council will be missing a total of 88 years of service to the City Council. Giannino is stepping down after a decade on the City Council to serve as a state representative. “Tonight marks the bittersweet end for me for a decade of public service to the city of Revere as a city councillor,” she said. “It feels like yesterday. I was 19 years old, a sophomore at Salem State in November of 2011, anxiously waiting for my numbers to come in on Revere TV, sitting in my living room with my famiyou’re going to do great things for the cities you represent; and certainly, be mindful of the fact that you are the kid from Revere that came to the City Council as a young kid and grew up very quickly to take up a very huge task as a city councillor, and you did it with class,” said Guinasso. Keefe praised Guinasso for his 34 years of service on the City Council. “Very often in politics, you don’t gain friends; sometimes you have to gain enemies, and that’s unfortunate because sometimes you have to make Outgoing Ward 3 Councillor Arthur Guinasso received a plaque for his years of service from Ward 4 Councillor Patrick Keefe. Outgoing City Council President Anthony Zambuto. night’s meeting, but his colleagues honored him for more than two decades of dedicated service to Ward 5. “The one thing I’m going to remember about John is, that bumper sticker said it all: He was a full-time councillor,” said Councillor-atLarge Gerry Visconti. “The enerHONORS | SEE Page 17 gy that he gave, and the dediOUR DOORS ARE OPEN The PETER A. ROSSETTI INSURANCE AGENCY would like to thank our customers for their patience and loyalty during these challenging times. will continue to practice social distancing and requiring masks. Outgoing City Council President Anthony Zambuto received a plaque from City Clerk Ashley Melnik and City Council Vice President Gerry Visconti. 436 Lincoln Ave, Saugus * (781) 233-1855 * www.rossettiinsurance.com
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