Mantua posted a Facebook video message from Mayor Robert Zimmerman on Jan. 18 in which he introduced himself to the community and discussed some of what’s in store for the township.
The video is part of a recent initiative to keep residents informed quickly and simply, rather than posting a long story or article.
“It (keeping the public informed) stems from me being a police chief and working with the public there,” Zimmerman said. “I have always felt that getting out in front of things is an important part of leadership. We felt it better to do the videos since people don’t want to read a lot and would rather watch a short video than read.
“The people are our employers.”
The mayor’s video – also posted on the township YouTube channel – offered details on his law-enforcement background as both police chief and a captain in Pitman. He also served eight years as deputy mayor of Mantua.
Zimmerman replaced Pete Scirrotto, who stepped down after a decade as mayor. The new mayor was inaugurated at the township reorganization meeting on Jan. 2, and Scirrotto is now his deputy.
“I thought it was important for people to know who the current mayor is,” Zimmerman explained. “I don’t want this (the video) to be about me, but about the township.”
Future videos will focus on other officials, as well as prominent people and issues in Mantua. They include the township budget, community events and – in extreme cases – any natural disasters.
The township first created a YouTube channel in September, where it posted videos on the annual 9/11 memorial ceremony, the Mantua VFW 5K Run for veterans and Halloween safety tips from police chief Darren White. Another recent posting on Facebook was a video for residents on healthy lifestyles.
All videos are usually filmed by two part-time employees of the township, Brett Flemming and Josh Cummings. They will supplement the weekly mayor’s message that already runs in local newspapers covering Mantua, including The Sun.
“We are excited about the new tool we have to communicate with the public,” Zimmerman noted.
