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She will propose forming a budget and finance task force that will review the entire process and create a report for the City Council to review by March in an effort to streamline and clarify the budget process.

The two-term councilwoman from East Rockville, who was the first incumbent council member to challenge a sitting mayor since 1987, ran on a platform of budget reform and greater community involvement in government.

Because of what she called a disappointing turnout in the recent election, Marcuccio, 74, will also propose forming a committee to examine how the council communicates with the community, she said.

About 6,400 ballots were cast on Election Day, Nov. 3, which represents approximately 17 percent of registered Rockville voters.

She also proposed periodically holding City Council meetings at community centers around the city to foster greater community involvement in government, she said.

"As I learned during the election, a lot of people don't even know we have a city government," she said Monday. "What you have to do is reach out to them."

She also proposed assigning each council member as a liaison to the city boards and commissions, an idea originally put into practice by former mayor Larry Giammo.

And finally, Marcuccio proposed forming a charter review commission to explore the possibility of expanding the council to seven members, possibly with four-year staggered terms. The council now has four members elected every two years. A mayor is also elected every two years.

After Marcuccio's inauguration speech, the new mayor received a standing ovation from the near-capacity audience, which included County Council President Philip M. Andrews (D-Dist. 3), District 17 state delegates Kumar P. Barve (D) of Gaithersburg, James W. Gilchrist (D) of Rockville and Luiz R.S. Simmons (D) of Rockville, and Sen. Jennie M. Forehand (D-Dist. 17) of Rockville.

Two incumbent first-term council members, John Britton and Piotr Gajewski, were sworn in along with two new council members, Bridget Donnell Newton and Mark Pierzchala.

"There were more people in the audience than I think I've ever seen," Forehand said after the ceremony. "I thought it was very personal."

Marcuccio also gave a nod to former mayor Susan R. Hoffmann, who lost to Marcuccio by 313 votes after a hotly contested race. Hoffmann had served one term as mayor and three on the council and was a member of the city Planning Commission for five years prior to that.

"I want to salute Susan Hoffmann for her contributions to the community," she said, adding that she wants to continue Hoffmann's environmentally friendly initiatives.

Hoffmann has urged the city to use more wind power and to create a building code that incorporates more energy-efficient requirements, among other measures.

After the ceremony, Hoffmann, who sat toward the back of the F. Scott Fitzgerald auditorium during the swearing-in ceremony, said she appreciated Marcuccio's comment.

"I thought her remarks about me were very gracious," she said.

Former councilwoman Anne M. Robbins was on hand for the ceremony that saw her longtime friend and ally on the council become mayor.

"This is really a really new group," said the five-term member of the council, who did not seek re-election in November. "I know Phyllis very well. I talk to her once a day and I know what she'll be able to do for this city."

The new City Council will have little time to celebrate after the inauguration, as its first meeting is tonight.

Gajewski, who by day is the music director for the National Philharmonic, ended the ceremony by leading the Richard Montgomery madrigals in a performance of "America the Beautiful." His son, Devin, who is a student at the school, joined the choral group for the performance.

Marcuccio said that as a first-generation American whose father was an Italian immigrant, her election as mayor has an added level of emotional significance for her.

She closed her speech on a personal note.

"The mayor. Wow. Thank you, Pop."