Pagano Sworn in as Mayor of Port Chester

Port Chester’s newly elected Mayor Neil Pagano, a Republican, was officially sworn into office at the April 2 Board of Trustees meeting. Pagano's son, Michael Pagano, who is a magistrate in Indiana, administered the oath. 

"Whether as a paratrooper with the 101st airborne, as a green beret, as president of the chamber of commerce, or most recently as the chair of the IDA,  he has shown again and again what I have known and taken as a given for nearly 43 years, my father is an active leader," Michael Pagano said before the swearing in.

The six elected trustees were also sworn in: Democrats Daniel Brakewood and Luis Marino, Republican Joseph Kenner and Conservative Saverio Terenzi who were re-elected, Greg Adams, a Democrat who served once before as a trustee, and political newcomer and Independent Gene Ceccarelli.

The Village Court was packed with friends, family and residents there to watch their new elected officials sworn in. More than 20 people overflowed into the hall outside of the court room, straining to see the ceremony once the room had reached full capacity.

Former mayor Dennis Pilla, who served six-years, and former trustee Bart Didden, did not win re-election and said their farewells at their final meeting on Monday night where they thanked the village staff for their hard work. Pagano presented them both with plaques at the start of his first meeting as mayor on Tuesday night. (Watch Pagano's statement in the video above). 

“I am pretty excited. I am very anxious to get going,” Pagano said at the swearing in ceremony. "The first job we are going to be doing is the budget...We have a lot of work to do on the budget." Pagano set the first budget workshop to be held on April 8 at 6 p.m. at the village conference room.

You can view the city manager's proposed budget here. 

The trustees shared Pagano's sentiments, all said they are excited to be on the board and to start working together.

"I am full of optimism this will be a very productive and congenial board that will get a lot done for the residents of Port Chester," re-elected trustee Daniel Brakewood said. 

Watch the other trustees' and Pagano's comments in the video above.