Meet Mayor Joseph Hankins
The Manchester Township Council on January 13, 2025, accepted nominations for Mayor and voted to appoint Councilman Joseph Hankins to the leadership role, following the resignation of former Mayor Robert Arace.
Mr. Joseph Hankins initially won his seat on the Manchester Township Council in the December 2022 runoff election and assumed office on January 3, 2023. His term will expire on December 31, 2026.
Joe is a life-long resident of Manchester, raising his family with his wife, Carol Ann here in Pine Lake Park. As a dedicated public servant, Joe has served 25 years as a Manchester Police Officer, keeping our town safe and protecting our community. Their son followed in his footsteps, becoming a Manchester police officer and starting his own family in Manchester.
As a Manchester Police Officer, Joe served our town as a Patrolman, Detective, and Patrol Sergeant. He also served as Fire Chief, Emergency Medical Technician, and SCUBA Captain and is currently the Vice President of the New Jersey State Fireman’s Association. Joe holds a Master’s degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Public Administration. Having an ancestor who fought in the American Revolutionary War and resided in near-by Jackson Township, Joe is also an active member of the Sons of the American Revolution.
A special election to serve the remainder of the Mayoral term, which expires on December 31, 2026, will be held in November of 2025.
With your support, Mayor Hankins looks forward to preserving the quality of life for all Manchester residents and continuing to make our town a great place to live for both retirees and new families, alike.
Email Mayor Hankins: JHankins@ManchesterTWP.com
December 8th, 2025 Special Meeting PUBLIC NOTICE
Please take notice that on the 8th day of December, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. in the Manchester Township Municipal Building located at 1 Colonial Drive, Manchester, New Jersey, the Manchester Township Planning Board will hold a special hearing. December 8th, 2025 Special Meeting PUBLIC NOTICE
ZONING BOARD SPECIAL MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT
Due to the lack of availability of the Manchester Township High School Auditorium on January 22, 2026, Case 24-48- Congregation Mikvah of PLP will not be heard as previously announced at the November 20th meeting. A new special meeting date will be posted and published in accordance with the MLUL, once that date has been determined. The re-organizational meeting and [...]
U.S. Service Member Welcomed to New Home
Last week, Mayor Joseph Hankins, members of the Township Council, and our local elected officials had the honor of joining with our first responders and community partners to welcome First Class Bertalan Gonci and his wife to their new home! Through the Building Homes for Heroes program, Lennar and several local partners teamed up to construct a home [...]
Veterans Day Ceremony 2025
Continuing a proud annual tradition in Manchester Township, our hometown United States Service Members were honored during a moving Veterans Day ceremony held inside the Municipal Complex Courtroom on November 11, 2025. "Our Veterans represent the best of our country. They've stood watch in times of peace and answered the call in times of conflict," said Mayor Joseph Hankins during [...]