BY MICHAEL RICONDA

Suffern – The Village of Suffern on Monday evening swore in its new mayor Patricia Abato, along with a number of other officials.

Abato, who replaced former Mayor Dagan LaCorte, was sworn in along with fellow trustees Matthew Byrne and Frank Hagen. Fellow trustee Jo Meegan-Corrigan was appointed deputy mayor, while Virginia Menschner will serve as village clerk with Kathy Van Sickle as her deputy.

Other new appointments include Terry Rice as village attorney with Robert Magrino as his assistant, Stephanie Furgang Adwar as acting village justice, Joanne Cioffi as tax collector, Thomas Zordan as treasurer and Craig Long as village historian. In other business, the board voted on a retirement incentive program for police, which could save the town $950,000 if all eligible officers participate. Thus far, eight officers have taken the buyout.

Rumors that outgoing mayor and Democratic county executive candidate Dagan LaCorte would be hired as town attorney or treasurer proved false.

Government critics had complained that LaCorte, like other officials, may receive health benefits at the expense of the taxpayer in a post-mayoral job with the village.

LaCorte, now committed full-time to his investment advisory business quipped, “I am looking forward to focusing on my business and paying for health insurance thru COBRA.