An incumbent Manchester Township Councilwoman took her Oath of Office and the governing body’s President and Vice President for the new year were appointed during the annual Reorganization Meeting held in the Municipal Complex Courtroom on Tuesday, January 2, 2018.

To start the meeting, Councilwoman Joan Brush was sworn in to fill the remainder of the unexpired term left vacant when Councilman Brendan Weiner resigned in February of 2017. Mrs. Brush was appointed to the seat on March 27, 2017, and this past November was elected to serve the remainder of the term, which ends on December 31, 2018.

Continuing the proceedings, Mr. Craig Wallis was elected to lead as Council President and Mrs. Brush was elected Vice President. In public remarks, Mr. Wallis thanked Manchester Township’s employees for their continued dedication to providing exemplary services to residents on a daily basis and outlined his goals for 2018. Among them, Mr. Wallis plans to explore working with an outside grant writer to help Emergency Services bring in more funding; continue working toward improving Township infrastructure including roadways; growing the Police Department; and potentially working with the new Governor on making the school funding formula more fair to Manchester Township.

“For the next year, I hope that we have a great, productive year,” Council President Wallis said.

Also present at the meeting was Mayor Kenneth Palmer, who spoke about continuing to invest back into Manchester Township, by paving roadways, maintaining water systems, refurbishing parks, and finding better ways to deliver services to our residents. In aiming to keep the municipal tax rate flat, Mayor Palmer said it is important to continue searching for grant and state funding opportunities, as well as to increase the tax base through bringing in more business to town.

The complete composition of the Township Council for 2018 is: President Craig Wallis, Vice President Joan Brush, Councilman Samuel Fusaro, Councilman James A. Vaccaro, Sr., and Councilman Charles L. Frattini, Sr.

Other items at the Reorganization Meeting included the appointment of Manchester Township’s professional services and establishment of meeting dates for 2018. Information about Manchester’s Township Council, its members, meeting agendas, and minutes can be found at www.ManchesterTwp.com/town-council.