AMHERST — Four new councilors will join nine holdovers when Amherst’s third Town Council convenes its first meeting Tuesday evening, with the only decisions on the agenda being a vote on who will serve as the council’s president and vice president through Jan. 6, 2025.

The Town Council meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at Town Room at Town Hall, with the public invited to be present in person or virtually via Zoom. Though no time is being set aside for public comment, councilors will have an opportunity to offer thoughts and reflections at the conclusion of the meeting.

Town Manager Paul Bockelman said he is encouraging the 13 councilors to be sworn-in in advance, though a ceremonial oath of office will take place and, at 7:30 p.m., a photographer will be there to get portraits. Refreshments are also being served.

The only business on the agenda is to elect a president and vice president. District 2 Councilor Lynn Griesemer has served as president since the inaugural council was seated in December 2018, being reelected unanimously in January 2022. District 5 Councilor Ana Devlin Gauthier has been the vice president for the past two years.

The new councilors are Ndifreke Ette from District 1, Heather Hala Lord and George Ryan, both from District 3, and Robert Hegner from District 5. In addition to Griesemer and Devlin Gauthier, returning are District 1’s Cathy Schoen , District 2’s Pat De Angelis, District 4’s Jennifer Taub and Pamela Rooney and At Large Councilors Ellisha Walker, Andy Steinberg and Mandi Jo Hanneke.

The meeting will have a discussion about the council committee and liaison appointment process.

The president, who prepares agendas and presides, will be responsible for making appointments to the four council committees, including the Town Services and Outreach Committee, the Governance, Organization and Legislation Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Community Resources Committee.

Other appointments will also need to be made to panels such as the Budget Coordinating Group and Joint Capital Planning Committee, and the Jones Library Building Committee and Elementary School Building Committee, as well as to designate representatives to speak at Four Town meetings, when Amherst officials converse with Shutesbury, Leverett and Pelham officials, usually on topics related to the regional schools.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.