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Chelsea City Council elects Roberto Jimenez Rivera as 2026 president; elects Norellis de Jesus as vice president

Chelsea City Council & Chelsea School Committee · January 6, 2026

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Summary

At its organizational meeting, the Chelsea City Council unanimously adopted procedural rules and seating and elected Roberto Jimenez Rivera as council president (10–0, 1 absent) and Norellis de Jesus as vice president (10–0, 1 absent). Council also named Kelly Garcia as delegate to the school committee.

Roberto Jimenez Rivera was elected president of the Chelsea City Council at the council’s organizational meeting, receiving 10 affirmative votes with one member absent. The council followed that vote by administering the oath of office to the newly elected president.

The council moved promptly to select its vice president. Nominations closed with Councilor Norellis de Jesus nominated and confirmed by roll call, also with 10 affirmative votes and one absence. The clerk administered the oath for the vice president position.

Councilors adopted the council rules and regulations for 2026, carrying over the previous year’s rules under suspension until the council’s rules subcommittee can recommend changes. The seating and roll-call voting order — drawn at the organizational meeting on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025 — was also approved unanimously under suspension.

Councilors selected Councilor Kelly Garcia as the council’s delegate to the school committee for 2026. The clerk recorded 9 members voting in favor, one member voting present and one absent.

During opening remarks, the newly elected council president called for urgency on local priorities including support for schools facing funding gaps, planning to reduce traffic and parking impacts from development, economic development that protects affordability, and broader community engagement in boards and commissions. He thanked state and federal officials in attendance and acknowledged Councilor Tenari Garcia’s absence due to cancelled flights from Puerto Rico.

The meeting closed after brief congratulations and a motion to adjourn carried by voice vote.

Next steps: the council will proceed with its committee assignments and the rules subcommittee will meet to review any recommended changes to the adopted rules.