With the new township manager settling in the job, Middletown Township has filled its assistant manager role with a familiar face.
The Middletown Township Board of Supervisors announced they had appointed Isaac Kessler to the role of assistant township manager and in-house engineer.
Credit: Middletown Township
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Kessler, a licensed engineer, served as the township’s contracted engineer through the firm Remington and Vernick Engineers for several years.
Kessler steps into the assistant township manager job vacated earlier this year when Nick Valla departed to become the township manager in New Britain Township.
The dual role incorporates a new in-house engineering position set in the municipality’s 2026 budget.
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According to township officials at the time, the engineering post was created to “reduce the cost to develop and implement infrastructure maintenance and improvement projects.”
“With the addition of an engineer, extra attention will be focused on designing improvements that maximize resources,” the budget document states.
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Middletown Township spent nearly $200,000 on engineering services in 2025.
While the municipality has other engineering expenses, those costs are financed through developer-funded escrow accounts or non-taxpayer fees, according to public records.
“Isaac is certainly no stranger to Middletown,” township officials said in a statement. “Through his previous role serving as the Township’s engineer, he has worked closely with Township staff and leadership on numerous projects and initiatives throughout our community.”
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Officials added that Kessler brings extensive knowledge, experience, and familiarity to the municipality.
Bernadette Hannah, chairperson of the Board of Supervisors, said she is “so greatful” for Kessler’s hiring.
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Township Manager Christopher Hoffman started in his role in August, filling a vacancy created by the firing of former Township Manager Eden Ratliff.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
Speaking at the meeting, Hoffman said that township leadership is starting budget discussions.
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The new township manager said he has spent his first weeks holding internal meetings with staff and described his early time as a “pretty singular career and life experience.”
“The right way to start was to focus a lot of time internal to this organization,” Hoffman said, offering thanks to the township workforce.
