Manley Made Mayor With 3-2 Vote

Verona council members expressed different ideas about who should be the town's next mayor at Tuesday night's Reorganization Meeting.

Councilman Bob Manley, however, received the minimum three votes needed, including his own, and will serve as Verona mayor for the next two years.

Jay Sniatkowski was unanimously elected deputy mayor by the council, which sat on the steps of town hall.

Councilman Michael Nochimson nominated Kevin Ryan for mayor, and the two cast the descending votes against Manley.

Nochimson said he supported Ryan to be mayor given the councilman was the top vote getter in the election, earning 100 more votes than second place finisher Sniatkowski. 

Nochimson called his opposition "symbolic" and said he would support the council's choice for mayor. 

Manley takes over for Frank Sapienza who served as mayor for the past two years and has two years remaining in his term on the council.

Sniatkowski was sworn in for a fourth four-year term on the council. 

This will be the second term for Ryan who previously served a two-year term. 

Before being elected mayor, Manley was sworn-in for a second four-year term on the council. 

"I am committed to fostering an environment of transparency and inclusion," Manley said.