SMITHFIELD — U.S. Sen. Jack Reed last night administered the oath of office to newly elected town officials amid a festive atmosphere at Town Hall.

“I’ve been in a lot of places where they literally would have died to have democracy like this,” Reed told the overflowing crowd of well-wishers in the council chamber, who exploded in applause.

Taking the oath for council were Stephen G. Tocco, Stephen R. Archambault, Bernard A. Hawkins, Ronald F. Manni and Michael J. Flynn. The first three constitute the new Democratic majority on the panel. Archambault and Hawkins are newcomers.

School Committee members who raised their right hands were Virginia G. Harnois, a Democrat who on Monday was reelected as committee chairwoman, Erin L. Donovan, who won election as a Republican, and Richard B. Iannitelli, who won reelection as a Republican. The Democrats also control the School Committee.

Balloons festooned the council chamber, which was decorated with red, white and blue swags and a floral centerpiece. Excited children scampered here and there as a boisterous crowd milled around waiting for Reed to arrive. VIPs joining Reed included A. Ralph Mollis, secretary of state-elect, and Frank Caprio, state general treasurer-elect.

The size of the crowd had been anticipated. Police officers guarded the pedestrian crossing in front of Town Hall, where traffic on Farnum Pike is rarely heavy.

The officials who took the oath each wore a red boutonniere. People spent the waiting time sipping coffee or munching from a table of hors d’oeuvres and complaining about a balky public address system that sent out bursts of feedback at random intervals.

The council’s first order of business was to elect officers. As expected, Tocco was selected as president and Archambault as vice president.

“The spirit of Smithfield is alive and well,” Tocco told the audience. He promised that the new administration would be “the most incisive, inclusive and transparent government” that Smithfield has ever had.

The rest of the session was spent in approving license renewals and other routine business.