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<p>NEWPORT TWP. &#8212; Peter Wanchisen was hired Tuesday afternoon as the new township manager on an unanimous vote by the board of commissioners.</p><p>Wanchisen&#8217;s contracted salary will be $35,000. He will start Wednesday, and he will be issued a new one-year contract on January 1, 2017.</p><p>&#8220;Money was not a motive,&#8221; Wanchisen said about applying for the job.</p><p>&#8220;(His salary) is $8,000 less than what we paying the previous manager,&#8221; Commissioner Mike Roke said.</p><p>Board of Commissioners Chairman Paul Czapracki said the board received seven applications for the job. Four of the seven candidates were qualified based on the manager&#8217;s application and township ordinance.</p><p>Wanchisen, who has lived in the Ridgeview section of the township for &#8220;the better part of 25 years,&#8221; was employed with PNC Bank and currently is on the Advantage Consumer Credit Counseling board as well as the board of trustees for Commonwealth Health Systems.</p><p>&#8220;He has a good demeanor, good people person,&#8221; Czapracki said.</p><p>The township has been without a manager since <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/530636/newport-township-left-without-township-manager" target="_blank">Richard Zika resigned</a> following commissioners&#8217; inquiries about missing funds. Officials have said the Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the matter.</p><p>Since Zika resigned, township resident John Elmy has served as acting township manager.</p><p>The board consulted with Elmy and Stephen Phillips, who was also helping the township in Zika&#8217;s absence. The Commissioners have confidence in Wanchisen&#8217;s ability to better the township.</p><p>&#8220;He&#8217;s a breath of fresh air,&#8221; Czapracki said. &#8220;We can only go up from here.&#8221;</p><p>Dane Cooper, a resident of the township at the meeting, shares the &#8220;utmost&#8221; faith in Wanchisen that the commissioners share.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m pleased he has a stake in the township,&#8221; Cooper commented about the fact the Zika wasn&#8217;t a township resident.</p><p>&#8220;We believe in Pete,&#8221; Czapracki said.</p><p>Former administrative assistant <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/top-stories/551450/newport-township-secretary-resigns-leaving-township-without-manager-or-secretary" target="_blank">Kelli Valatis resigned</a> last week, saying she was frustrated over her salary and what she described as a lack of respect by the commissioners.</p><p>The hours for Wanchisen will be 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Wanchisen wants to fill the secretarial position &#8220;as quickly as possible&#8221; and will be looking at ways to &#8220;maximize hours&#8221; of coverage for residents of the township.</p><p>The new manager wants to have one-on-one meetings with heads of departments to go over &#8220;township matters,&#8221; especially when it comes to budgets.</p><p>&#8220;He wants to hold us in line,&#8221; Commissioner John Zyla said.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Wanchisen </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_Wanchisen_mug-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Wanchisen </caption0><photoCredit0>Melanie Mizenko | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_Wanchisen_manager-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Newport Township Manager Peter Wanchisen, left, talks to Commissioners Mike Roke, John Zyla and Paul Czapracki. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_Wanchisen_manager-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Newport Township Manager Peter Wanchisen, left, talks to Commissioners Mike Roke, John Zyla and Paul Czapracki. </caption1><photoCredit1>Melanie Mizenko | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Melanie Mizenko</p><p>mmizenko@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Melanie Mizenko at 570-991-6116 or on Twitter @TL_MMizenko</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Newport Township hires Peter Wanchisen as township manager