Whitehall Township Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr. and township Commissioners Phillips Armstrong, Philip Ginder, Dennis Hower and Jeff Dutt took their oath of office Monday. Magisterial District Judge Robert Halal presided over the brief ceremony.

A changing of the guard took place as Armstrong, 66, was elected unanimously as president of the board, succeeding long-term president Linda Snyder, who chose not to seek reelection.

Armstrong, a retired social studies department chairperson at Whitehall High School, will serve his first four-year term as elected, having previously served as a commissioner in an appointed capacity.

Hower, reelected as a commissioner in November, had been the board’s secretary but was elected vice president Monday night. Ginder, the board’s former vice president, made the motion for Hower’s new office.

Commissioner Thomas Slonaker was chosen as the board’s secretary.

The vote on the three above positions was unanimous. Commissioner Gerald Palagonia was absent.

Armstrong, in brief remarks on taking the chair, thanked Snyder for her service as both board president and commissioner.

The commissioners, in a brief business session, retained as solicitor the Allentown law firm of Gross McGinley, whose staff member Charles Fonzone has served as the board’s longtime chief counsel. Commissioners approved a $125-an-hour rate, $110 per hour for an associate.

Attorney Donald Lipson was retained as counsel for the tax appeals board at $120 per hour.

Frank Clark of Keystone Consulting Engineers Inc. was also retained.