New Council Member Sworn In

New Manchester Councilwoman Michele Zolezi is joined by family members while being sworn in to office by Township Clerk Sabina Martin during a recent council meeting. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)

  MANCHESTER – Michele Zolezi officially joined the Township Council during a recent meeting. Joined by family members, she took the oath of office administered by Township Clerk Sabina Martin.

  She replaces Robert Hudak who now sits across from the dais as mayor of the township. He had replaced Kenneth Palmer who resigned in mid-June to assume a judgeship in New Jersey Superior Court.

  The new council member said that while this was a period of change for the township, noting that along with a new council member and mayor, it was also seeing a new police chief, Robert Dolan and new acting business administrator, Brandon Umbra, that these were positive changes

  “I’ve been hearing from the public that they are quite concerned that there has been a lot of change. Sometimes I think we see change as a negative thing. We need to realize the changes in our town have all been a positive thing. Our mayor went on to a wonderful opportunity so we have a new mayor who I am looking forward to working with and who I have worked well with in the past on the planning board,” she said.

  “I am very honored and humbled to be here. I have lived here in town my entire life. I have served our town on the planning board which I have chaired for the last five years and have worked with some amazing people including the professionals we have here today,” Zolezi added.

  She called her experience on the Planning Board and various municipal bodies, including the Open Space Committee and Master Plan Committee, “extremely fulfilling and rewarding. Continuing my public service in the role of a Township Council Member would be the perfect forum to utilize my experience, knowledge, and talents for the betterment of our community,” she said. “I’m very honored and humbled to be here.”

  Zolezi was appointed to the position until December 31. She will be required to run in the November 2 general election should she wish to fulfill the remainder of the unexpired term. She  is an Environmental Division Manager and Corporate Environmental Affairs Executive, currently employed by Earle, with over 25 years of environmental consulting, material management and regulatory compliance experience. Her job involves working in local, state and federal regulatory compliance related to environmental issues surrounding real estate.

  Mayor Hudak offered his congratulations on her appointment saying, “Ms. Zolezi and I worked well together during our time on the Planning Board, and I look forward to continuing that working relationship.”

 “There is no better place to raise a family,” she said. “With my two children, we have been involved in Pop Warner Football and Cheerleading, school academics and sports, clubs, Veterans Day ceremonies, holiday tree lightings and a host of wonderful events over the years.”

  Martin mentioned that officially, Zolezi was sworn in prior to the regular meeting in order for the council to have a quorum. Council President Craig Wallis and Vice Council President Joan Brush were absent from the session. Councilman Sam Fusaro ran the meeting in their absence.