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
Renovated Tuskegee Airmen Park Re-Opens
Thank you to everyone who joined Mayor Joseph Hankins, members of the Township Council, Public Works employees, Manchester Police officers, and Veterans Advisory Committee members for the grand re-opening ribbon cutting ceremony at the remarkable Tuskegee Airmen Park this afternoon! It was inspiring to see our community gather to celebrate the renewed park, named in honor of the heroic African-American [...]
Energy Aggregation Info Session: October 6, 2025
Manchester Township invites all residents to attend our in-person information session to learn more and ask questions about the MCEA Round IV Program on Monday, October 6, 2025, in the Manchester Civic Center in the Basement of Manchester Town Hall. Drop in any time between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.!
Zoning Board Meeting Cancelation September 29t, 2025 Explained
Due to a publishing error and not meeting statutory requirements for notice, the Special meeting scheduled for Monday, September 29th, 2025 has been cancelled. The meeting scheduled for October 30, 2025 will be held subject to proper notice. EXPLANATION FROM COUNSEL HERE
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
In recognition of , Mayor Joseph Hankins and the Township Council were honored to welcome Monica Vermeulen of the Ashley Lauren Foundation for a proclamation presentation. The proclamation reads, in part, "that we, Mayor Joseph Hankins and the Council of Manchester Township, do hereby recognize and honor the outstanding work of the Ashley Lauren Foundation and do officially declare the [...]