LANCASTER TWP — Lancaster Township is under new management.

Supervisors unanimously appointed Butler Township native and Mars resident Bonnie Forsythe as the township’s new manager during a meeting Monday, Feb. 16.

Forsythe, who will begin her tenure March 2, brings with her a decade of experience in municipal government, most of that coming as a secretary and treasurer for Mars.

She most recently served in a combined role as Harmony Fire District administrator and director of the Southwest Butler Stormwater Authority, a position she resigned from earlier this month.

Bonnie Forsythe was appointed as the new Lancaster Township manager during a meeting on Monday, Feb. 16. Hunter Muro/Butler Eagle

“This was just an opportunity that kind of presented itself,” Forsythe said. “They (the supervisors) approached me, and I was very happy to talk about it and just explore the opportunity.”

Forsythe takes over for Mary Hess, who resigned in January after more than two years in the role.

Supervisors said they held about a half-dozen executive sessions over the past month, many of which focused on interviewing three viable candidates, chairman Greg Kessler said.

Out of those options, Forsythe consistently stood out throughout the process.

“I can tell you that I spent an hour and a half with her, just drilling her on questions and different scenarios,” Supervisor Mike Doban said. “It kept going deeper and deeper and her responses were spot on. I was very impressed.”

Like most of its neighboring municipalities, the township faces numerous challenges in the coming years as residential and commercial development continues to move north.

Another situation Forsythe will have to navigate is Lancaster’s recent acquisition of a property at 600 Perry Highway officials hope to eventually turn into a new municipal campus.

“I’m actually most excited to learn about townships,” she said. “All of my experience is mostly in boroughs. In some ways, I know I’m starting over a little bit, but I’m OK with that because it just means I get to learn all this new stuff. But I also get to bring the experience I have and hopefully make a positive impact.”

In her opening remarks to residents, Forsythe said she was interested in building relationships with residents and listening to their concerns.

“While I don’t currently live here, I would like you to think of me as a new neighbor,” she said. “I want to try to help where I can, provide you with the information, the clarity and the transparency I think a lot of you are looking for.”