New mayor to be sworn in Wednesday

GAINESVILLE - Gainesville is poised to get a new mayor Wednesday when the city council holds its organizational meeting of the new year.

Councilwoman Myrtle Figueras is expected to be appointed to a two-year term as mayor, succeeding councilman Bob Hamrick, who will remain on the council. The largely ceremonial post is rotated every two years among members of the council. It will be Figueras' second stint as mayor. Councilman Ruth Bruner is expected to be named Mayor Pro-Tem.

The selection of a new mayor and mayor pro-tem will follow the swearing-in of Hamrick, Figueras and Bruner to new terms by Superior Court Judge John Girardeau.

Also on the agenda Tuesday are other first-of-the-year housekeeping items. Among them: setting the dates and times for council meetings and work sessions this year and appointment of the City Manager, City Attorney, and City Auditor, all usually routine and included on the agenda for the council's organizational meeting every year.

Appointment of a Gainesville Planning and Appeals Board chairman and Ward 1 Representative on the planning board is also included.