MIDDLETOWN — Middletown formally installed Mayor Nocera at a special Common Council ceremonial meeting Monday evening at Beaman Middle School, where local officials, students and residents attended a program that included a presentation of the colors, the Pledge of Allegiance and a performance by the Middletown High School advanced concert choir.

Judge Robert L. Holzberg administered the oath of office to Mayor Nocera, who was congratulated on stage and briefly met family members escorted forward by ceremony staff. The oath as given at the ceremony specified a mayoral term through Nov. 9, 2027.

In an inaugural address, Mayor Nocera said the city must invest in modern infrastructure and in education. "I pledge to you tonight that I will lead with civility, transparency, equity, inclusion, diversity, and honesty," the mayor said. He pointed to a recently passed referendum that, he said, will help "rebuild our roads, our sewers, our waterworks" and called for careful, intentional spending to match the city's aspirations.

The mayor drew on his experience in the local schools and on the Board of Education, saying students "deserve the best teachers," and described education as "the hinge upon which our city's future swings." He also said public safety remains a top priority and said first responders should be well equipped.

The ceremony also included swearing-in of newly elected Board of Education members. The mayor administered oaths to the following people, each for terms described during the ceremony (as recited at the time of the oath): Dean Krupa (term to Nov. 13, 2029), Kelly B. (term to Nov. 13, 2029), Christopher Cardella (term to Nov. 13, 2029) and Kimberly Reardon (term to Nov. 13, 2029). The mayor also swore in Planning & Zoning Commission members including Andrew Regan and other members whose names appear in the transcript (terms noted through Nov. 13, 2029 during the ceremony).

The program opened with remarks by meeting staff and included an invocation and a closing benediction by Reverend James, pastor of Saint Sebastian Church, who offered prayers for the mayor and city leaders. Police and fire color guards escorted officials onto the stage and school music ensembles led the Pledge and anthem.

The mayor closed by thanking municipal staff and inviting attendees to a reception in the school cafeteria. The program concluded with a final musical number and public departure.

Notes on the record: the official transcript contains inconsistent spellings of some personal names and a variant given name for the mayor in different segments. To avoid misidentification, this article refers to the newly sworn official as "Mayor Nocera" as used in the majority of the ceremony’s references and in stage announcements. Where the transcript provides specific term end dates (listed above), those dates are reported as read during the ceremony; if an exact given name for a sworn individual could not be confirmed from the transcript alone, the article uses the surname and role as recorded at the event.

What happens next: The installation is ceremonial; any policy proposals or spending tied to the referendum will follow the city’s usual budget and council approval processes.