The Narragansett Town Council on Jan. 6 approved a slate of municipal appointments, voting unanimously on each motion.

The council voted 5-0 to reappoint Judge John DeCubilis as municipal court judge and to appoint Sarah Masson as magistrate clerk. The council also approved the appointment of James Callahan as town solicitor and Bob Craven as assistant town solicitor, and confirmed Thomas Hirschin as town sergeant; each motion passed 5-0.

The appointments drew brief public comment related to the town’s legal counsel. Mark Brady, speaking on behalf of the Planning Board, asked the council to “exercise leadership in renewing attorney Marsala,” saying the planning board had submitted a unanimous letter supporting Steve Marsala as planning-board legal counsel and citing Marsala’s “institutional knowledge of Narragansett.” Brady said planning-board workloads include time-sensitive subdivision and site-review deadlines and a two-year comprehensive-plan update that “may be delayed” without experienced counsel.

Town Manager Jim Tierney said the council had conducted interviews, reviewed résumés and letters of recommendation for the solicitor and assistant-solicitor positions and that council members “came prepared with asking questions specifically to each of the individuals who came and interviewed.” The manager and council members praised Sarah Masson’s organization and the qualifications of the solicitor candidates.

Several appointments included routine motions with no extended debate. The vote counts and outcomes recorded on the meeting record were: municipal court judge (approved, 5-0); continuation of the probate-judge appointment to the Jan. 20 meeting (approved, 5-0); magistrate clerk (approved, 5-0); town solicitor/assistant solicitor (approved, 5-0); town sergeant (approved, 5-0).

The council discussed swearing-in logistics for the new town solicitor. The council agreed to delay a formal oath until the required documents could be provided; Callahan may be sworn at the Jan. 21 meeting or at another mutually convenient time.

The council also invited public participation during appointment items; a small number of residents used that opportunity to request clarifications about the solicitor selection and its expected impacts on the planning and zoning boards.

Council President closed the appointments section after the motions passed and moved on to the next agenda items.