Council Fills Empty Seat In Manchester

MANCHESTER, NJ — A former Berkeley Township council member has been sworn in to the Manchester Township Council.

Judith Noonan was sworn in May 26 to fill the seat vacated by Roxanne Conniff, who resigned April 27 after moving out of Manchester.

Conniff's term was due to expire Dec. 31, 2026, and will be up for election in the nonpartisan contest in November.

Noonan was chosen by the remaining members of the council, including Michele Zolezi, who was voted president after Conniff's departure; James A. Vaccarro Sr., Craig Wallis and Sandra Gravatt-Drake, whose term expires Dec. 31 as well.

Noonan served on the Berkeley Township Council from 2010 until she resigned in August 2020, and since moving to Manchester has been a vocal advocate for the senior communities and senior services.

She had been a confidential aide to Mayor Joseph Hankins before she was appointed to the council.

She also volunteers with the Ocean County Senior Services Advisory Board where she pushes for finding solutions to concerns about rising utility costs.

"Thank you all for your support. I appreciate it, and I will do the best I can for all of you," Noonan said during her swearing in.

Noonan resigned from her seat in Berkeley amid ongoing disputes with then-Mayor Carmen Amato and other members of the council, she told Jersey Shore Online.