code: public static PropertyManager getInstance() {
          if (instance == null) {
              try {
                  initializePropertyManager();
              }
              catch (StartupException e) {
                  // should not reach here, as the property manager should be
                  // initialized by now
                  throw new RuntimeException(e);
              }
              // container property manager will never hit this
          }
          return instance;
      }
docs: returns the handle to the property manager
  
  @return PropertyManager