Mayor Bernie Platt

Bernie Platt has been active in our community for the past 40 years. He served as Mayor of Cherry Hill Township from 1979 to 1980 as well as Deputy Mayor from 1976 to 1979 and Councilman from 1980 to 1985. He has served as a member of the Cherry Hill Township Site Plan and Review Board, the Economic Development Committee, Emergency Medical Services Chairman, and organizer of the Save A Life fund drive, which benefited the former Cherry Hill Ambulance Squad. Recently he served as a member of the Camden County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the governing body of Camden County, from 1996-1998.

Bernie has a long record of service throughout the Southern New Jersey region. Through his leadership in a wide variety of organizations, Bernie has worked to enhance our region's quality of life. He has served as president of a number of civic, charitable and community organizations; the Downs Farm Civic Association, the Jewish Geriatric Home in Cherry Hill, Jewish Family and Children's Services, the former West Jersey Arts Center, the Southern New Jersey Council of Jewish National Fund and the Southern New Jersey B'nai B'rith Housing Corporation.

He is a member of the Garden State Rotary, Knights of Pythias, Pannonia Beneficial Association, Colonel David Marcus Lodge of B'nai B'rith, Cherry Hill Lodge of B'nai B'rith, and Cherry Hill Lodge #966 of B'rith Shalom. A Mason, Bernie is a member of Mizpah-Haddon Heights Lodge #191 F. & A. M. He belongs to Temple Beth Sholom and Congregation Sons of Israel.

Since 1977, Bernie has been a member of the Cherry Hill business community. Platt Memorial Chapels, Inc. is a family owned and operated full service funeral home. Bernie's professional affiliations include the West Jersey Funeral Directors Association and the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association.

Bernie is most proud of his family. He and his wife, Judy, raised their four children in Cherry Hill: Allison, Harry (a committeeman and former mayor in neighboring Voorhees Township), Sheryl, and Rena. The Platts have eight grandchildren: Amanda, Lauren, Jaclyn, Zachary, Matthew, Jacob, Joshua, and Samantha. Bernie and Harry were America's first father and son mayors to serve in adjoining towns. Their unique relationship was featured in People Magazine.

Councilman President John Amato

First elected in 1983, Council President Amato is the longest serving councilperson in the history of Cherry Hill Township. A licensed public accountant, Amato is the Business Administrator for the City of Camden Board of Education. He is a graduate of Rutgers University and holds a Master's degree from Kean College. John is active in the Sons of Italy and is former Board President of the Camden County Vocational Schools. He is a Eucharistic minister and lector at the Queen of Heaven Roman Catholic Church and also serves on the board of the Y.A.L.E. (Young Adolescent Learning Environment) School for children with special needs. Mr. Amato and his wife, Marion, have two daughters, Rosemary and Irena, and two grandchildren, Michael and Francesca. Every December, John plays Santa Claus for a number of charitable organizations and at Cherry Hill Mall. Councilman Amato has lived in Cherry Hill's Erlton neighborhood since 1963.

Council Vice President Frank Falcone

Council Vice President Falcone is president and owner of A. Falcone Catering Service. A Cherry Hill resident for more than 40 years, he has a long history of community service and dedication to the Township. Falcone graduated Loyola College in 1979. A longtime Erlton resident, he is a past president of the Erlton North Civic Association. He also has served as a Cherry Hill Township Fire Commissioner and as a member of the Cherry Hill Zoning Board of Adjustment. Falcone currently sits on the Cherry Hill Recreation Commission and the Senior Citizens Advisory Board, and he is active in the Sons of Italy and the Marian Council, Knights of Columbus. He lives in the Barclay Farm neighborhood with his wife Ester and two children.

Councilwoman Shelley Adler

Councilwoman Shelley Adler has been a resident of Cherry Hill for 19 years. She received her A.B. from the University of Illinois and received a J.D. from Harvard Law School. She is a past president of the Stockton School PTA. Ms. Adler is currently co-chair of the Civil Rights Committee of the New Jersey Anti-Defamation League and is a Commissioner of the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission. She has served on the boards of the Jewish Community Center and the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey. Adler is also an independent legal contractor. Shelley has been married to New Jersey State Senator John Adler for 19 years. They have four sons and reside in the Siena neighborhood.

Councilman Dennis Garbowski

Councilman Garbowski was appointed to Council on February 27, 2006 to fill the unexpired term of Councilwoman Pamela Rosen Lampitt, who resigned in January 2006. A resident of the Township's Hinchman neighborhood, Mr. Garbowski is the embodiment of Cherry Hill's heritage of hard work and community service. For nearly 20 years, Dennis has been a member of the Carpenters Local Union No. 393- serving as a Senior Council Representative and as an Executive Board Member. Dennis has also served the residents of the Township as a member of the Planning Board since 2003, during which time the Board oversaw the planning of the Garden State Park redevelopment project.

Councilwoman Marlyn Kalitan

Councilwoman Marlyn Kalitan, a Township resident for more than 25 years, was first elected to Cherry Hill’s Town Council in 1991. She is a Senior Vice President of career management consulting for Right Management Consultants and earned a Bachelor's degree from Holy Family College and a Master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania. A former vice president of her Lakeview neighborhood's Civic Association, Kalitan is Council liaison to the Cherry Hill Human Relations Council. She is also a Board Member of Star Forum, an educational speaker series in Cherry Hill. Kalitan and her husband John have a grown daughter and one grandchild.

Councilwoman Joyce Kurzweil

Councilwoman Kurzweil has lived in the Charleston Riding neighborhood with her husband Bob since 1974. The Kurzweils raised their two sons in Cherry Hill, and Joyce believes the Township’s rich diversity helped equip her family for success. Joyce is a graduate of Dillard University in New Orleans. She entered military service in 1968 and when her Army career culminated, she had reached the rank of Captain. By 1970, Ms. Kurzweil was working in Cherry Hill as an employment counselor for Jewish Family Services. Today, in addition to her work on Council, Joyce is the Executive Vice President for Planned Parenthood of South Jersey. Her work with the organization now spans three decades and various roles. Through her entire life, Councilwoman Kurzweil has emphasized hard work, professionalism, passion for her community, and a commitment to advance the causes of women in American society.

Councilman Steve Polansky

Councilman Polansky and his wife Kathy make their home in the Woodcrest neighborhood and have lived in Cherry Hill for more than 20 years. An attorney, Steve holds an accounting degree from Temple University and a J.D. from Syracuse University. In addition to his professional career, Steve has worked tirelessly to maintain the high quality of life in Cherry Hill for his wife, his three children, and the entire community. For years, Mr. Polansky volunteered his time for various club sports organizations in the Township. As the clubs raised funds, added equipment and facilities, and expanded memberships, Steve led with commitment and a heart for Cherry Hill’s families. Councilman Polansky most recently served as a member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment, working to keep Cherry Hill an attractive place to live and do business.