BUTLER TWP — Township manager Ed Kirkwood has a new assistant manager after a months-long process that settled on a township resident and former natural gas services company employee for the position.

Kirkwood said the township had hired Cheryl McNeill, after a “methodical and deliberate” process that had him vet dozens of applications and hold two rounds of interviews.

Her hiring was announced Monday night at the township meeting.

Kirkwood said McNeill’s first day was Monday, and it will take him about a month to train her and begin giving her the full slate of duties. McNeill’s annual salary is $50,400.

Kirkwood said McNeill has more than 20 years of experience in human resources and fiscal administration.

Her duties at the township will include monitoring and overseeing tax documents, assisting in human resources administration, and overseeing and administering the township’s insurance coverages.

McNeill also will be given the authority to act in Kirkwood’s absence, but that will take another month because the commissioners need to amend the township’s ordinance regarding the manager’s duties and powers.

In other action Monday, the commissioners appointed township resident Fred Vero to serve on the township planning commission. He will replace former chairman Mark Swift, who resigned last month because he will move out of the municipality.

Vero will serve the remainder of Swift’s term, which ends in July 2019.