MANCHESTER – Last week marked fond farewells for two familiar faces around the township, Recreation Director Tracey Lynch marked her last day on April 24 while Council President Roxy Conniff announced her resignation during a Township Council meeting.
In a tearful farewell, the council president noted her departure from the council and thus her position of council leadership due to her moving to Tuckerton. Township residency is a requirement to serve on a municipal governing body.
She was elected four years ago to the council and was appointed as council president. She ran with then mayoral candidate Robert Arace who last year left that position to run for Ocean County Commissioner, which he won. Her fellow council running mate, Joseph Hankins, was appointed as mayor in 2025.
Conniff works for the Ocean County Public Affairs Office based in Toms River. She was expected run for reelection with Hankins who is seeking a full term as mayor and Councilwoman Sandra Drake who was appointed to fill the council seat occupied by Hankins when he became mayor.
“For so many of us a town isn’t just where we live, it defines who we are. I was born and raised here in Manchester – the town that shaped my values, my sense of community and how I see the world. It is where I learned to help those in need, take pride in where you come from and to give back whenever you can,” she said.
She noted Manchester “was always where I imagined building my future. That is what makes this so difficult. Life doesn’t always unfold the way we planned. Over the last year I have had to make tough decisions to prioritize my well-being and my future and in so doing I had to face the reality so many people are facing right now.” She referenced the state of the housing market and noted life “forces you to make choices you never thought you would have to make. To leave all this beyond is not by choice but by circumstance. It is something I would not wish on anyone.”
“I want to make clear about something: I am genuinely proud of the work we have done here and the thoughtful and difficult decisions we have made in the interests of the town. I am grateful to the residents of Manchester and I am equally grateful to dedicated employees of town hall who show dedication and care every single day,” she added. She also commended the mayor and her council colleagues and professional staff, “police officers, first responders, EMTs and firefighters, you represent the very best in what a community should be. It was such an honor to work alongside of you.”
Commissioner Arace came to the meeting to say goodbye and to wish her well. “The leadership she has provided the town has always come from the standpoint of trying to truly do what is right. A lot of decisions of the town happen very rapidly and there are people like Roxy and the mayor and administrator who have to make a decision very quickly. I want to commend Roxy for the decisions she has made over the last four years.”
Lynch told The Manchester Times prior to the council meeting that she “worked for Manchester Township for 26 years. I began in Public Works in July of 2000 and remained there until 2012. In September of 2012, I became the Director of Recreation, a role I’ve proudly served in for the past 13 plus years.”
“During my time in Public Works, I had the opportunity to assist with all of the veterans monument and park dedications, beginning with the Veterans War Memorial erected in 2003 at Manchester Town Hall, followed by Tuskegee Airmen Park, POW/MIA and the WWII Memorial Park,” Lynch added.
Lynch said she also “hand-painted murals at two of the parks, one of which still remains at the POW/MIA location on the rock near the basketball court. Over the years, I helped organize fundraising efforts for our veterans, including poker runs, golf outings, can shakes and the paver and banner programs.”
She also served on the Veterans Advisory Committee alongside “our veterans, helping to organize many of the Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies and parades throughout the years, and that work has continued through today. Those events have always meant a great deal to me.”
“What I will miss most is the people I work with and the community as a whole. I moved to Manchester when I was a junior in high school and later raised all three of my children here. It truly is a great town. I’ll miss seeing everyone come together at events, whether it was Manchester Day, the Easter Egg Hunt, summer concerts, or even those chilly Christmas tree lightings,” she added.
Lynch said she especially “loved creating what felt like a live Hallmark movie at Christmas in the Pines; those moments of community, tradition, and holiday spirit were always something special. Watching people enjoy themselves and create memories has always been the most rewarding part of the job.”
“I want to extend my sincere thanks to the Mayor and Council, past and present, and Township administrations for their support over the years and for allowing me the freedom to use my creativity and bring so many visions to reality. I have truly appreciated the opportunity to serve the residents of Manchester Township and to work alongside such dedicated individuals,” Lynch said.
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