Kasko Named Mayor, Commissioners' Swearing In Tuesday

At first meeting of newly elected commissioners on Monday evening, the group made a decision that will surprise very few—Jeff Kasko will be the new mayor of Haddonfield.

Kasko assumes the mayor's seat after a 12-year mayoral stretch for Tish Colombi, who didn't run for re-election.

Monday's work session was the first meeting of Haddonfield's election victors. Two of the participants, John Moscatelli and Neal Rochford, were so new to the proceedings that they hadn’t even been sworn in yet. All three commissioners will officially be sworn in Tuesday at noon in a brief ceremony at the Municipal Hall.

Monday’s meeting was a work session, which typically does not include formal votes on resolutions or ordinances, but does feature discussion on policies and procedures.

Mario Iavicoli, the longtime borough solicitor, advised the Kasko and the two commissioners-elect that they could make decisions on agenda items if they retroactively approve the decisions once officially sworn in.

The new Board of Commissioners agreed on Monday to change the starting time of work sessions to 6 p.m. from 5 p.m. Kasko said he hoped to have shorter meetings, which may not require a meal. Work sessions are typically held on the first and third Monday of each month.

The group also agreed to name Kasko the new mayor of Haddonfield. Traditionally the top vote-getter is awarded the largely ceremonial position of mayor. He will also remain the borough director of revenue and budget. Moscatelli will be the new director of public works and Rochford will be the director of public safety.

There was a notable difference in the style of the meeting, with Ed Borden, who was defeated in a bid for a third term in an election last Tuesday, and Letitia “Tish” Colombi, who had been a commissioner for the past 28 years, both gone.

Kasko took a seat at the head of a rectangular, wooden conference-room table in a small room on the second floor of the Municipal Hall where work session meetings are often held. He switched positions with Sharon McCullough, the borough administrator, who had in the previous administration sat at that end of the table.

"I wanted to do that because I didn't want to have my back to people who might attend or the media," said Kasko, 48, a state Department of Health official entering his second, four-year term as a commissioner.

There was also no food, which the previous administration often ordered for the meeting held during the dinner hour. Commissioners and some others attending the meeting would often eat salads, sandwiches or snacks during meetings.

Check back with Patch today for pictures from the swearing in ceremony.