COVENTRY — Minutes after being sworn in last night, the new Republican-controlled Town Council moved quickly to make its first change, replacing the town solicitor with a major Providence law firm.

By unanimous vote, the council appointed Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge on an interim basis to review the town’s legal affairs and its cases. Council members said they’ll discuss the appointment in more detail when they meet next month. They did not immediately say why they fired Town Solicitor Patrick J. Sullivan.

Governor Carcieri swore in the four Republican council members, including newcomers Laura Flanagan, Glenford Shibley and Raymond Spear, as well as returning Councilman Kenneth L. Cloutier. State Sen. Leonidas P. Raptakis swore in the lone Democrat — the reelected Frank Hyde — as well as the three new members of the School Committee, Thomas A. Hetherman, Nancy E. Sprengelmeyer and Lisa P. Tomasso.

Council members elected Cloutier president. The new council voted to retain the interim town manager, Paul K. Sprague, who has held the post since 2007.

—Lisa Vernon-Sparks