Longtime Doylestown Township Supervisor Ryan Manion Steps Down

DOYLESTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA - The Doylestown Township Board of Supervisors at its December meeting gave Ryan Manion a standing ovation for her past 12 years on the board.

Manion, whose term expired at the end of 2023, was first elected to the board in 2011 and again in 2017. She chose not to run for re-election for a third term in 2023.

Barbara Lyons, the chairman of the board of supervisors, called Manion?s departure from the board ?bittersweet? and joined the board in presenting her with a plaque and a proclamation thanking her for her dedicated service to the township.

In recognizing Manion?s contributions to the community, Lyons spoke first about Ryan?s service to the nation through the national Travis Manion Foundation, which she founded in memory of her brother who was killed in Iraq in 2007.

?She leads a national movement inspiring audiences from every walk of life to become the best versions of themselves through service to others,? said Lyons. ?She speaks to taking our strength of character to improve personal well being and create the opportunity for broader change. Her message is, ?Every human will struggle in life. Our challenge is to struggle well.??

Reading from a proclamation issued by the board of supervisors, Lyons then recognized Manion for her 12 years of service to the township, including a stint as vice chairman from 2020 to 2022.

According to Lyons, Manion has served as liaison to the Bike and Hike Committee, the Dog Park Advisory Committee, Friends of Kids Castle, the local Traffic Advisory Committee, Parks and Recreation Board, Public Water and Sewer Advisory Board, the Telecommunications Advisory Board, and the Veterans Advisory Board.

During her tenure on the board, Manion saw the addition of bike and hike trails, installation of play equipment at Kids Castle, construction of the amphitheater at Central Park, the planting of hundreds of trees in Central Park, the completion of the Pebble Ridge Sewer Project, the installation of public sewer and water in the Pebble Ridge-Woodridge area, the celebration of the township?s Bicentennial, the building of the new township building, and the groundbreaking for the Community Recreation Center and park improvement project.

Manion also received citations from State Senator Steve Santarsiero and State Rep. Tim Brennan recognizing her service to the township.

?It?s an honor for Tim and I to be here tonight to recognize your service to the township,? said Santarsiero. ?The fact that you were elected both times is a recognition by your constituents that they understood your dedication to the township.?

Manion thanked the board of supervisors and the state lawmakers for the recognition.

?Twelve years ago I took an oath to serve as a Doylestown Township Supervisor. And tonight I?m going share a little secret. I had no idea what I was doing at the time," said Manion. "But I did know a couple of things. I did know that I wanted to serve my community. I knew that I wanted to make decisions based on the best outcome for Doylestown Township, not a political party."

She continued, "During my time as a supervisor, some big things have happened. This building that we stand in tonight was just an idea. And as my time comes to an end I?m proud of the role I played in bringing the new community center and park renovations to where they are.

?I?m proud of the work that we accomplished together to make Doylestown Township an amazing place to live,? she said.