Newcomer D'Alessio sworn in, LoStracco and Partha named board president and VP
A new year has brought the first leadership shakeup in a decade to Hatfield Township.
The township’s commissioners swore in new member Karla D’Alessio, then voted Monday night to name Democrats Jen LoStracco to be board President and Shahidul Partha Vice President, ending the decade-and-a-half tenure of Republican Tom Zipfel leading that board.
“Change is good. Change comes, and change can be good,” said Zipfel.
Back in November voters chose D’Alessio over Republican challenger Erin Blanc for the seat that had been held by Republican Bob Rodgers, and reelected Zipfel to his fifth four-year term on the board. Those two received their oaths Monday night from District Judge Andrea Duffy to cheers and applause in a packed public meeting room, then took their seats alongside fellow commissioners LoStracco, Partha and Gerry Andris.
“It’s a real, emotional moment for us, it’s a big responsibility, and we’re thrilled that we could share it with you,” Zipfel said after swearing his oath for the fifth time. D’Alessio thanked her friends and family for their support, before vowing: “I look forward to serving this community to the best of my ability.”
First, the leadership posts: once the two commissioners were sworn in, township Manager Aaron Bibro took a roll call, then asked for nominations for board president for the upcoming two years.
“We do: I would like to make a nomination, as president of the board of commissioners: commissioner LoStracco,” Zipfel said, ceding the center seat he had held since February 2011. Partha seconded, all five commissioners approved, and LoStracco added her own thanks to the friends and family in attendance.
For the post of vice president, D’Alessio then nominated Partha, all but Andris voted in favor.
LoStracco announced board committee assignments for 2026: planning and zoning topics will be handled by D’Alessio, finance by LoStracco, public safety by Partha, public works by Zipfel, parks and recreation by LoStracco and pool advisory committee by D’Alessio.
First among professional appointments was a motion to approve an updated employment agreement with Bibro, the township’s manager since 2013, and LoStracco drew from her predecessor in noting the manager’s importance.
“Tom always says you’re lightning in a bottle, and I want to think of a different adjective, but haven’t come up with one yet, because there’s really nothing better than that,” she said.
The final action item drew more discussion from the board, when LoStracco asked for a motion directing staff to prepare and advertise a request for proposals for a new solicitor and engineer for the township, the first change since the then-Republican board ousted a Democrat-linked solicitor in 2012; a 2008 solicitor switch prompted sparring by the then-commissioners over whether that process had been done properly and publicly.
“In the interest of unity in particular, I’m interested in having an RFP process. Periodically, we have these for different positions. Obviously, there’s been a new member, a change in the board, change in structure, it makes sense to have some version of RFP process,” Zipfel said.
Sandra Levine said she’s lived in the township since 1987, and made a request of the rest of the board: “I am challenging the next board to consider that in this community, that partisan politics are not going to advance our community. We live together as neighbors, we’re very diverse, and please keep in mind that it’s not party we’re working for.”
“We are working for the citizens who live here, for what’s best, how todo the best with our tax money, and I challenge you to continue that sense of community that Tom has worked so hard to foster all these years,” she said.
“Everyone’s going to hit their stride. We’re all going to keep moving ahead, the way Hatfield always has. It’s going to be fantastic,” Zipfel said.
Hatfield’s board of commissioners next meets at 7 p.m. on Jan. 14 at the township administration building, 1950 School Road. For more information visit www.Hatfield.org.
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