WEST WARWICK — The recently elected members of the Town Council and School Committees were sworn in last night during a joint ceremony at the town high school.

Missing from the event was Ward 5 Councilman Peter F. Calci Jr., who opted to be sworn in yesterday morning at Town Hall.

Calci said his absence was a message to his council colleagues for not supporting his bid for the presidency.

“Not having the support for myself to be president, I was not going to be with them to celebrate tonight,” Calci said via phone after the ceremony.

In his absence the council unanimously elected David Gosselin Jr. president and Angelo A. Padula Jr. vice president. Calci served as vice president during his last term and as acting president in the months leading up to the election after Edward A. Giroux resigned from the post in September. Giroux and Councilwoman Filomena Gustafson were also sworn in last night.

On stage, few words were said about Calci’s absence, though newly elected council President Gosselin did allude to it in his remarks to the crowd.

“I want to thank the members of the council here tonight who voted to support me for president,” Gosselin said. “The next year is going to be fun.”

In his last act as School Committee chairman, Daniel T. Burns Jr. presided over the ceremony to swear in the three newest elected members of the committee: Bruce E. Vanasse, James A. Williamson Jr. and John A. Pettinicchio Jr.

The committee elected Lindagay M. Palazzo chairwoman, Vanasse vice chairman and Elizabeth B. Brunero clerk.

tbuford@projo.com