Salem City Council, School Committee complete organizational votes; Alice Merkel elected council president

The Salem City Council convened a special organizing meeting on Jan. 5 at the Peabody Essex Museum to swear in elected officials, select leadership and handle school committee organization.

Eileen Simons, the city clerk, administered the oath of office to Mayor Dominic Pangalo and to city councilors, who each repeated the required pledge to discharge duties "agreeably with the constitution and laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Charter and Ordinances of the City of Salem."

Councilor Varela nominated Alice Merkel for city council president; another councilor seconded the nomination and, after closing nominations, the roll-call vote recorded 11 councilors voting with 10 in the affirmative and one recorded as "present." The presiding officer declared Alice Merkel the council president for 2026. Merkel thanked colleagues, city staff and volunteers and noted Salem 400+ events planned this month.

The council also voted to adopt the council's 2025 rules and regulations as the rules for 2026 and suspended them for the meeting. The measure was presented and passed without recorded opposition.

Separately, the Salem School Committee organized its leadership during a break in the session. Veronica Miranda nominated Beth Ann Cornell for vice chair. The committee held roll-call votes and declared Member Cornell elected vice chair for 2026. Shirley Duray was nominated and elected executive secretary by unanimous vote following roll-call.

The school committee then moved to adjourn its organizational meeting and returned seats to the council. The combined inauguration and organizational session concluded with a benediction and instructions for elected officials to sign the oath book and participate in photos.

No additional council business or ordinance votes were taken during this special organizational meeting.