Middletown Hires Next Township Manager After Search

Middletown Township will soon have a new municipal manager.

Christopher Hoffman, who currently works as manager of Lower Moreland Township in Montgomery County, will join the workforce for the 19th-most-populous municipality in the state next month.

The Middletown Township Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Monday night to hire Hoffman at a salary of $215,000 per year.

Hoffman, who has served as the township manager of Lower Moreland Township since 2013, will officially start his new job on Monday, Aug. 17. He is scheduled to be sworn in at the supervisors’ next public meeting on Monday, Aug. 10.

Hoffman’s contract with the township will run through Jan. 1, 2028.

The hiring is the last step in a recruitment process led by Interim Township Manager Stephanie Teoli Kuhls and Roseann McGrath, a human resources consultant who has worked with municipalities.

The search drew 18 qualified candidates, which Teoli Kuhls described as a stronger pool than the township’s search last year when she retired.

“We had strong interest, really, really strong interest — significantly more than a year ago,” Teoli Kuhls said.

In a statement, Hoffman said he appreciated his years working in Montgomery County and he is looks forward to his new role in Bucks County.

“I am honored to join Middletown Township’s staff and Board of Supervisors in serving the Middletown community,” Hoffman said. “I will look back on my time in Lower Moreland with gratitude for the relationships we built and the trust we sustained together. At the same time, I am excited for the opportunity and challenge ahead in Middletown, where I know a strong foundation already exists.”

Hoffman will fill the vacancy left by former Township Manager Eden Ratliff, who was fired earlier this year. An investigation by LevittownNow.com into Ratliff’s termination uncovered internal friction and complaints about his leadership.

After the firing, the supervisors appointed Teoli Kuhls to fill the role on a temporary basis and to post the job listing.

The job listing sought candidates with proven leadership, a collaborative approach, and substantial municipal management experience.

The selection process was narrowed from 18 applicants to five for initial interviews, and then to three finalists.

The final round of evaluations included tours of municipal facilities, interviews with department heads, sessions with the township’s management team, and an in-depth interview with the supervisors, officials said.

Supervisor Chairperson Bernadette Hannah said there was positive feedback from both Middletown Township department heads and Hoffman’s current staff in Lower Moreland Township, which played a major role in the board’s decision.

“It’s really important to us that we have somebody who fits into Middletown and provides service and has a servant leadership mindset for our staff and most importantly, our community,” Hannah said.

Supervisor Ryan Leighton said gathering input from municipal employees was a priority for the supervisors during the final stretch.

“Something that I wanted to prioritize, and I’m glad that we did, was having staff feedback and really gauging how they felt about some of the individuals that we thought would be a good fit for the role,” Leighton said. “While we have to deal with the manager pretty often, our amazing staff here have to deal with them every single day for eight-plus hours a day.”

Supervisor Mike Ksiazek pointed out the “high quality” of the finalists made the township’s final choice a difficult one to make.

“When we narrowed it down, it was a really difficult decision because really of the high quality of those candidates,” Ksiazek said. “I’m thrilled that Chris will be stepping into this role. I think he’s going to be a fantastic manager here in Middletown Township.”

“We are excited to welcome Chris to Middletown Township and are confident his  leadership and management style will be a tremendous asset to our organization,” said Supervisor Dana Kane. “Chris has  accomplished great things during his time in Lower Moreland Township, and we look forward to seeing the experience, ideas, and best practices he brings to Middletown as we continue moving our community forward.”

Hoffman brings more than 15 years of municipal management experience to Middletown Township.

Hoffman’s professional references during the background check were “spectacular” and “really off the charts,” Teoli Kuhls said.

Officials said he began his career in Lower Moreland Township after graduate school. He worked as assistant township manager before being promoted to township manager 13 years ago. He also worked as the project coordinator for the Lower Moreland Township Authority, which led infrastructure planning.

Hoffman holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Saint Joseph’s University and a Master of Public Administration and a city manager’s certificate from Villanova University. Hoffman is an active member of the Association of Pennsylvania Municipal Managers, the International City/County Management Association, and serves on the executive committee of the Delaware Valley Workers’ Compensation Trust.

Ksiazek thanked Teoli Kuhls for stepping in to lead the transition and search.

“I want to thank Ms. Teoli Kuhls for coming back as an interim manager, which really saved us in a large way and helped really restabilize this organization,” Ksiazek said.