Chelsea City Council elects De Jesus council president; Taylor named vice president, Kelly Garcia chosen as school committee delegate

At its organizational meeting, the Chelsea City Council elected Councilor De Jesus as president of the City Council, Councilor Todd Taylor as vice president and Councilor Kelly Garcia as a delegate to the Chelsea School Committee. The council conducted roll-call votes, administered oaths of office and confirmed procedural items for 2025.

The newly elected council president, Councilor De Jesus, took the oath of office and outlined several priorities for the coming year, urging collaboration with the city administration on growth and economic development, stewardship of ARPA funds, and a comprehensive master plan that will involve resident participation. “We will build on this momentum ensuring that all of our decisions are pushed forward, with stability, safety, health, and inclusivity in mind,” Councilor De Jesus said.

Council business began with roll call. Two members were recorded absent. Nominations for council president and vice president were made from the floor and seconded. After roll-call voting, the council announced results: nine members voted in favor of electing Councilor De Jesus as council president; two members were absent. Councilor Todd Taylor was elected vice president with a majority vote; the council reported two absences and one member recorded their ballot as “present.” Councilor Kelly Garcia was elected as the council’s delegate to the Chelsea School Committee with eight affirmative votes, two absences and one recorded “present” vote. The council then administered the oaths for the elected officers.

In addition to officer elections, the council approved keeping the 2024 rules and regulations in effect for 2025 until the council’s Rules and Administration subcommittee reviews them and makes recommendations. The council also reaffirmed the roll-call order and seating arrangement that were drawn during the organizational meeting on Dec. 16, 2024; the seating order was announced from the dais and placed on the public record.

In her remarks after being sworn in, Councilor De Jesus highlighted a range of policy areas the council intends to prioritize: economic development and tax base growth through outreach to businesses; close monitoring of city finances, including tax abatements and exemptions; planning for the expiration of ARPA funds; and encouraging resident participation in the city’s master plan process. She said the council will continue work on housing initiatives, infrastructure repairs that address environmental justice and sustainability, and connections between job opportunities, health and housing stability.

Councilors and staff thanked colleagues and department directors for work completed in the prior year. De Jesus specifically credited the city manager and federal partners for securing funding tied to environmental justice work. She said the council has committees focused on safety, housing and youth sports and that those committees will continue to advance items on the council’s agenda.

Votes at a glance

- Election of council president: Councilor De Jesus — Approved (9 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain; 2 absent). Roll-call voting was used; the clerk announced results and the oath was administered.

- Election of council vice president: Councilor Todd Taylor — Approved (majority; council reported 2 absent, 1 recorded as “present”). Oath administered.

- Delegate to Chelsea School Committee: Councilor Kelly Garcia — Approved (8 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain; 2 absent, 1 recorded as “present”). Oath administered.

The meeting record also shows a motion to carry the 2024 rules and regulations forward for 2025 until the Rules and Administration subcommittee provides recommendations; that motion was seconded and placed on the record. The council confirmed the seating arrangement and roll-call order established Dec. 16, 2024.

The president’s remarks closed the meeting with a forward-looking statement about votes and initiatives the council expects to consider this month, including housing-related measures.