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Today was City Council's first session in City Hall with six new members and a new president.
Council president Darrell Clarke walked up to the "big chair" –his new seat in Council. He at first seemed a bit uneasy, but quickly found his groove, tapping the wooden gavel to bring members and the public to order.
"You're in for one heck of a ride, you have no idea what you have gotten yourself into," Clarke said.
As soon as Council concluded, reporters asked the new boss how'd it feel leading a Council session for the first time.
"I'm excited. I look forward to getting engaged in the business of running the city," Clarke said. "I'm very interested in the fact that Council members have put some things on the agenda today that will hopefully create jobs, create revenue and create the type of synergy I'd like to see as we move ahead."
Clarke continued on to say that Council will work with the Nutter Administration to move the city forward, citing a productive meeting members of leadership had with the Administration earlier this week.
Clarke said there are still some things he has to get used to.
"I've been here for 12 years in this particular chamber, but standing here in the big chair is always different and there's actually a little more going on than I anticipated," said Clarke who spent the later part of yesterday preparing for todays session. "So, I continue to marvel at Council president Verna's ability to run the session and this Council in a relatively smooth fashion."
Former Council president Anna Verna used to bring the crowd to order by banging the gavel and stating, "There is entirely too much noise in the chamber."
One reporter asked Clarke if he would say the same.
"I actually think that phrase is patented, but I have to come up with my own."