During the commission’s annual reorganization meeting, Matt Riggins, of Moorestown, was sworn-in as the commission’s newest member, and commissioner Troy Singleton was elected the new chairman, replacing Republican John Comegno, who had led the agency since 2007.

PALMYRA — The Burlington County Bridge Commission has a new member and a new chair.

During the commission’s annual reorganization meeting, Matt Riggins, of Moorestown, was sworn-in as the commission’s newest member, and commissioner Troy Singleton was elected the new chairman, replacing Republican John Comegno, who had led the agency since 2007.

Both moves reflect the new era of Democratic control of Burlington County’s government, though Singleton and Comegno both stressed that the change in leadership would have no impact on the way the commission is governed or operates.

The commission owns and operates the Tacony-Palmyra and Burlington-Bristol toll bridges over the Delaware River, as well as several smaller bridges in the county and the Palmyra Cove Nature Park on Route 73. It also serves as the county’s improvement authority and oversees regional planning and economic development for the county.

“Nothing changes on the mechanics of how this works. The nameplates may move around but our objective is still to work as one unit to make sure the operations of the (Bridge Commission) are a success,” Singleton said Wednesday.

Singleton, who is also a state senator and leader with the carpenters union, has served on the commission since 2008. Until Wednesday, he was the lone Democrat on the commission’s three-member board. But with Democrats taking majority control of the county Board of Freeholders this year, they gained the authority to appoint a second Democrat.

Riggins, a Democrat, was appointed by the freeholders last month and replaces Republican James Fattorini, a Lumberton attorney who served on the commission since April 2011.

By law, at least one of the three commissioners must come from the minority party, but Democrats had to wait until Fattorni’s term expired this fall to appoint the extra Democrat.

With two Democrats serving on the commission for the first time in over four decades, the change in the chairman’s post appeared likely, though it was not required.

Comegno nominated Singleton for the leadership post and voted in support of him taking the commission’s reins. During the meeting he also praised his longtime colleague and predicted the board would remain unified.

“We are dear friends and colleagues. The public and our team often hears about the confidence we express in one another as commissioners. That’s not just lip service. Votes here happen unanimously not just as a courtesy,” Comegno said. “You’ve seen that in the past and I know that sense of teamwork will continue.”

Singleton was also effusive in his praise for the former chair, who took over leadership of the commission just weeks after its chief spokesman and lobbyist admitted in federal court that his former government-relations firm deliberately overbilled the agency from 1997 to 2002.

The scandal was likely the most difficult incidents in the commission’s history and resulted in several reforms, among them a move to eliminate the salaries and benefits of the appointed commissioners.

Singleton said he would seek to live up to the example Comegno set.

“John and I talked when I first got put on the Bridge Commission. We had a very sincere and honest conversation about how the commission works and his leadership as chairman, the example he set, is one I’ll try everyday to emulate,” he said. “It’s one of always putting the Bridge Commission above any self-interest or any particular inclination. Our focus is to keep our bridges safe and make sure we honor the mission of this Bridge Commission.”

During the reorganization, Riggins was sworn in by Freeholder Director Tom Pullion and cast his first votes. He was also named the commission’s new vice chair.

The Moorestown Democrat previously served as a staffer for former Rep. Rob Andrews, D-1 of Haddon Heights, and is now director of strategy for his family’s business, Riggins Oil, New Jersey’s largest petroleum supplier.

“Public service is embedded in him,” Singleton said about Riggins. “This has been his calling. He’s someone who is willing to give of himself to try to make things better.”

Riggins responded that he had a lot to learn but was committed to the Bridge Commission’s mission.

“I was brought up to think about investments and the assets and the things that are passed down from generation to generation,” he said. “As a fourth generation business person, what the generation before us left to us, it’s our responsibility to leave that better off than when we received it.”

In addition to electing new leadership, the meeting featured several votes to designate meeting dates, appointments and contract awards for professional services, including engineers, auditors and legal counsel.

Philadelphia-based Pennoni Associates will continue to provide resident engineering services and Haddonfield firm Remington and Vernick will provide on-call construction management and inspection services.

Cherry Hill-based Malamut and Associates will remain the commission’s solicitor, general counsel and bond counsel, and Voorhees-based Bowman & Co. will serve as auditor and accountant.

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