MILFORD, Del. - The City of Milford has announced that Christopher Coleman will become its next city manager, starting Aug. 4. Coleman has over 30 years of experience in municipal government, most recently serving as town administrator in Westwood, Massachusetts.
“His deep experience in local government and his strong commitment to community-centered leadership will be invaluable as we continue to grow and improve city services.” said current City Manager Mark Whitfield.
Coleman began his career as a summer intern in Marblehead, Massachusetts, and has since held a variety of key roles, including treasurer/collector, assistant town administrator, director of human resources, and assistant town manager. In 2019, he took on the role of town administrator for Westwood, a community of 16,000 people with a $116 million budget.
"I am deeply honored to have been selected as the next City Manager for Milford, and to follow in the footsteps of such a respected leader and individual as Mark Whitfield.” said Coleman.
During his time in Westwood, Coleman led several major projects, including the development of a new elementary school, the town’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, labor contract negotiations, and infrastructure improvements such as planning a new fire headquarters. He also helped secure and manage over $4.9 million in federal American Rescue Plan funding according to the city.
This announcement comes after Milford officials voted to approve a hefty contract of $195,000. The approval comes with criticism from Milford residents over whether or not it is a necessary use of city money and was compared to the recent controversy over Rehoboth Beach's recent city manager hire.