Council Has New Vice President; President Begins Fifth Term

Now, when he attends council meetings, Brendan Weiner will take a seat to the left of council president Craig Wallis.

Weiner, who has been on the  since 2006, was approved at a reorganization meeting Friday morning for the vice president spot held by council member Warren Reiter last year.

The council also voted to give current president Craig Wallis, who was also elected in 2006 his fifth term as its leader.

"He's very deserving of it," Reiter said of Weiner's appointment.

The new vice president spoke to township officials in attendance.

"Thank you for all that you've done to keep Manchester moving in the right direction," he said. "There have been a lot of sacrifices that we've come across, but you've kept us on the right track."

Wallis thanked township personnel in attendance and offered some words of optimism for the upcoming year as the township continues to battle against a rough economy.

"I think it's going to improve a little bit," he said.

Township CFO Dianne Lapp echoed Wallis' remarks.

"Hopefully this year will be slightly better than last year," she said. "It's going to be very tough with the 2 percent cap, but we know that."

Township attorney Steven Secare, who has worked with other municipalities, said that Manchester's governing body is "one of the hardest working councils I've worked with."

"It's great working with you guys," he said.

Deputy Clerk Jodi Pellicano had one request of the council as the new year begins.

"This year, please, speak into the microphones," she said.

The council will next meet at 6 p.m. on July 18 at the municipal complex on Colonial Drive.