PfH Picks Replacement for Hurd

The Partnership for Haddonfield, the borough's tax-funded business improvement district, has chosen Remi Fortunato as its next retail recruiter, Commissioner Jeff Kasko said in a public meeting this week.

Fortunato will replace Lisa Hurd as a recruiter of businesses for Haddonfield if she is approved by the full PfH board next month. A biography on Fortunato was not immediately available.

Kasko and borough Administrator Sharon McCullough said they expected Fortunato to start on April 15.

"I don't want to say it was slim pickings but it didn't seem to me like there were six great candidates," Kasko said. "That's not the feedback I got from everyone after the first round of interviews. The bigger issue was to get someone who lived closer, was from this area and had knowledge of Haddonfield and doing business here, with a real-estate experience. It's kind of a hard mix."

Fortunato will be paid $32,500 annually for 21 hours of work weekly, according to the PfH budget which was introduced last month. Hurd was paid $44,257 for 28 hours weekly and her title was retail coordinator.

Hurd was highly regarded by local officials, including Mayor Tish Colombi, who . But borough solicitor Mario Iavicoli said Hurd didn't feel like she had enough support from the business community.

"," Iavicoli said. ". She said it affected her. I think you're going to miss your former director." 

"I think so too," Kasko said. "But what can I do, she's gone."