New Mayor Named In Manchester

Robert Hudak takes the oath of office as Manchester Township’s newest mayor on June 28 surrounded by his family. The oath was administered by Township Clerk Sabina Martin. (Photo courtesy Manchester Township)

  MANCHESTER – A new era began on June 28. Surrounded by his wife and children, Councilman Robert Hudak was sworn in as the new mayor of the township.

  Former Mayor Kenneth Palmer resigned recently after the New Jersey Senate voted to confirm his nomination to serve as a judge in the Superior Court.

  Councilman Sam Fusaro nominated Hudak to be mayor. It was quickly seconded by Council Vice President Joan Brush. Council President Craig Wallis and Councilman James Vaccaro provided their yes votes. Hudak left the dais where the council sits and moved over into the audience, where the mayor usually sits.

  “Get out of that chair,” one council member said, joking with Hudak after the unanimous vote was taken. Hudak was the lone nomination.

  Township Clerk Sabina Martin read Palmer’s resignation letter prior to the oath of office where he thanked, “the wonderful employees in our township. They are smart, capable and dedicated to Manchester Township. I want to thank the current Township Council and prior members.”

Photo by Bob Vosseller

  Hudak had to provide his resignation as a member of council. He had begun a new term on the council in January along with Councilmen Fusaro and Vaccaro.

  “I just want to say thank you to everyone. Thank you to my family. To everyone who is here and to the council for their support. I look forward to working with you to do great things for our township,” Hudak said.

  The evening’s meeting marked the first live meeting in some time due to the COVID-19 pandemic conditions. The town hall chambers were nearly filled with attendees. Hudak’s ascendance to the role of township leader comes at a time of transition for several vital changes in personnel. Present at the meeting was Robert Dolan, who until July 1 served as acting chief.

  Dolan will be sworn in as chief replacing Lisa Parker who also recently tendered her resignation. While Parker spent 32 years of her career with the Manchester Police Department, Dolan is only shy a few years as member of the department at 29 years.

  Wallis noted that both Bobs – Hudak and Dolan – had big shoes to fill and challenges ahead. Hudak said he was looking forward to working with Dolan as chief.

Acting Police Chief Robert Dolan speaks to attendees of the first live Manchester Township Council meeting in some time. Dolan will be sworn in as chief, replacing Lisa Parker whose last day is June 30, on July 1. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)

  With Hudak vacating his council role where as part of his duties he was serving on the council’s master plan committee, Wallis asked Vaccaro to fill that role.

  Earlier in the year the township’s business administrator Donna Markulic tendered her resignation. That role is being filled by Acting Business Administrator Michael King. Prior to Markulic’s resignation, Assistant Business Administrator James Gant resigned to take a position as business administrator in a Monmouth County community.

  One of Hudak’s first challenges working along with King and Township Chief Financial Officer Diane Lapp will be to finalize the township’s spending plan that Hudak said he hoped to present before the council in the weeks to come.

  A new council member will be appointed in the weeks ahead to fill Hudak’s vacancy.