The assembly room in Bedford's town house was packed Wednesday afternoon for the swearing in of several elected officials, both old and new.
With the new year, oaths of office were administered to new Supervisor Chris Burdick, new Councilwoman Mary Beth Kass, returning Town Justice Erik Jacobsen and returning Westchester County Legislator Peter Harckham, whose district includes the town. Councilman Francis Corcoran and Town Clerk Boo Fumagalli, who were each re-elected in November, were unable to attend.
Burdick, who took over from Lee Roberts, mentioned family presence, including of his mother who was a former mayor in New Jersey. The new supervisor called her a “great inspiration.”
Burdick also thanked Roberts, who he served with on the previous town board when he was a councilman, for her help in the transition. As an example, he mentioned an email that she left the day before regarding upcoming snow.
Roberts was present at the ceremony, along with former Deputy Supervisor Peter Chryssos. Other attendees included state Sen. George Latimer and Don Scott, who was Burdick's opponent in the supervisor's election in November.
Although the town's officials ran on separate party lines, the inauguration day was one where party distinctions were irrelevant. It was noted that Bedford's Republican and Democratic committees each contributed to the event's refreshments.
Burdick and Harckham ran as Democrats, while Kass, Corcoran, Jacobsen and Fumagalli ran under the Republican ballot line.
Lewisboro Town Clerk Janet Donohue swore in Jacobsen, who in turn swore in Kass. Fellow Town Justice David Menken swore in Burdick and Harckham.
The new town board is scheduled to meet on Jan. 7. This will involve a work session, according to Burdick, and include discussion of the process for filling his former council seat. Additionally, Burdick stated that David Gabrielson, who is a councilman, will be deputy supervisor.
Video with highlights of the oaths of office for the officials is attached to this story.
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