Starting a ‘conversation’

Councilor planning civic engagement forum

BOSTON. The city will host a major summit this spring to promote greater civic engagement, according to one city councilor, after a substantial decline in voter turnout in the November election.

Councilor Maureen Feeney said officials will work over the next few weeks to plan a forum that will bring together residents to talk about how more people can become more interested in city government. She said the goal of the summit — expected to be at the Boston Convention & Exposition Center — is “to start a conversation on the city’s civic health and vitality.”

Figures compiled on Election day indicated that only about 13 percent of residents came out to vote. In 2003, the previous non-mayoral election year, 24.6 percent of voters went to the polls.

Feeney made the announcement after being unanimously re-elected to a second term as city council president — the first time a female councilor has led the body as president for more than one term. Louise Day Hicks, the only other woman elected president of the city council, only served one term in that role.

Yesterday also marked the arrival of two new faces to the council. Mark Ciommo replaces Jerry McDermott in the Allston/ Brighton district, while John Connolly began his first term as an At-Large councilor.

Before gathering at City Hall, the council met in Faneuil Hall with Mayor Thomas Menino to be official swearing in ceremony.

Feeney also announced the creation of two new committees. One will focus on the city council’s 100th anniversary next year, and the other will tackle matters related to the Boston Common.