"What [Reeves] is ultimately doing is garnering more power for himself because it is hard for me to believe that Bill Walsh can be an effective chair of the Ordinance Committee," Born adds. "I don't think that Ken would compromise his philosophy of what good city government is."

But Wolf does not see the appointments of Independent councillors to two of the most important committees as drastically changing the political inclinations of the Council.

"It really depends on how people use the committees," Wolf says. "A lot of what does or doesn't happen depends on the initiative of individual councillors or groups of councillors."

Although Wolf says that historically the Independents have "tended not to have very active committees," these committees could be very influential if they are used with the initiative traditionally associated with CCA-backed councillors.

Though the appointments of the Independent committee chairs are a sign of the Council's new political realignment, the result may be less than drastic.

The new political configuration of the Council may just translate into a period of stable but relatively inactive government, says Wolf, who is now a fellow at the Kennedy School of Government's Institute of Politics.

"There may be an impact on how much new [policy] will happen as opposed to what will fall apart," Wolf says. "I don't think much will fall apart, but not much progress will occur."

The CCA agrees that the Council is not likely to show much initiative. "The council isn't going to be doing much for a while," predicts Dowds. "Certainly the CCA coalition has turned to pieces."

The political realignment, prompted by Reeves, will not change the traditional Independent-CCA split on most of the Council's divisive issues--including rent control--according to both Wolf and Born.

Reeves' strong progressive leanings, especially regarding the city's social problems, will remain the same, Born adds.

But having a mayor who fits into neither the CCA nor the Independent mold may introduce an element of uncertainty on how the Council might deal with new issues.

For example, Dowds predicts that the end of the recession in Cambridge will prompt a revival of the construction industry.

The traditional stance of the Independents has been pro-development while the CCA has supported neighborhood protection. Reeves, though noted for his progressive views, is also a strong advocate of business interests, particularly in Central Square.

Though the Council is still debating the implications of the last election, some say the new Reeves-CCA split could actually prove an important factor in the 1995 Council elections.

Says Wolf: "For future elections, it's going to be a lot dicier."