Manchester Village Council Makes Officer Nichols Full-Time, Hires New Custodian

The Manchester Village Council approved two staffing changes that will directly affect day-to-day services: Officer Nichols was moved to full-time hours and Abby Freeman was hired as the new community building custodian. Council accepted the resignation of longtime custodian Billy Strunk and voted to fill the post, with Council member Christine Henderson recorded as abstaining on the hire.

Mayor Billie Jo Goodwin presided over the council’s first meeting of 2026, which also addressed committee organization, payroll questions and a street department equipment request. Zollie Gardner made the motion to convert Officer Nichols to a full-time schedule; the motion was approved by the council. No first name, salary details or effective date for Officer Nichols’ change were reported at the meeting.

Committee chair assignments were set as part of the organizational session, though the council did not release a full roster of chairs or committee memberships at the meeting. Payroll wage adjustments were tabled and referred back to committee for further study, leaving compensation changes unresolved for the moment.

Operationally, the council returned a request for funding to purchase a welder for the street department to the street commissioner, asking for clarification on the tool’s intended use before any appropriation is approved. That step underscores a cautious approach to capital spending as council balances upkeep of public facilities with budgetary constraints.

The council also formally recognized “Casen’s Day,” scheduled for Saturday, January 24, in honor of Casen Gullett, who is bravely battling DIPG. The recognition places the village alongside residents and families rallying support for local causes and highlights the council’s role in community morale as well as municipal administration.

Present at the meeting were council members Diana Brown and Zollie Gardner, both re-elected in November 2025; Christine Henderson; Mandi Thompson; and newly seated members Cody Lewis and Jane Wilson, each beginning their first term following the November election. The mix of returning and new councilors frames the year ahead as one of transition and close attention to personnel and budget matters.

For residents, the immediate impacts are practical: a full-time officer may alter patrol coverage and response capacity, while a new custodian affects availability and upkeep of the community building for events and rentals. The council’s deferral of payroll adjustments and the request for clearer justification on the welder mean voters should expect follow-up discussions in committee and in future meetings. Watch for published minutes or the next council packet to see vote tallies, salary figures and committee chair assignments as the village finalizes these decisions.