Reeves, however, does not foresee problems in his working relationships and says he is "fully prepared to work with anyone who will work with [him]."

But this open invitation does not seem to extend to the CCA.

Dowds says that right after the inauguration, the CCA invited Reeves to discuss ways to restore their working relationship, but the mayor has not responded to the offer.

"I was handed a letter in a summonslike fashion," says Reeves, adding that the letter had already been distributed to the press. "The whole thing had a kind of arrogance about it, and [I've been] too pressed with other matters [to respond]."

Though the CCA classifies Reeves' new ties with the Independents as politically motivated, others say the mayor's political direction has not really changed.

"I don't think that Ken is the sort of person who would put aside his basic beliefs to be elected mayor," Born says. "Ken Reeves is a progressive person, a progressive councillor and a progressive mayor, and I am counting on him to vote that way."

Born says there will be little change in the substance of Council discussions.

"[The deal Reeves made with the Independents] might change how things get done, but...not what things get done," Born says. "I hope it won't change what things get done."

"I think that there will be relatively few changes with regard to issues," former Cambridge mayor Alice K. Wolf says.

But the political manifestations of Reeves' deal with the Independents have already surfaced in the appointing of committee chairs.

"It's very clear...that the people who voted him in got their choices," Wolf says.

Reeves appointed Independent Councillor William H. Walsh, who has been charged with 59 counts of conspiracy, bank fraud and false statements to a bank, as chair of the Ordinance Committee.

Reeves also named Independent Councillor Michael A. Sullivan as chair of the Finance Committee.

Born questions whether the appointment of Walsh as Ordinance Committee chair is appropriate.

"Bill Walsh is innocent until proven guilty and I believe that," Born says. "But I'm not sure that I would have personally even thought of appointing someone who was facing such charges."