Thomas Neff Resigns As Moorestown Manager; Tom Merchel Appointed

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Tom Merchel has returned to the position of Moorestown Township Manager. Merchel was appointed as the manager Monday night after Thomas Neff announced he was leaving to take a position with the state.

“I received an offer to accept a job working on the state budget,” Neff said during Monday night’s council meeting at town hall. “It’s an area in which I have 25 years of experience, and it’s a closer commute for me. I couldn’t say no, but I’m sad to leave Moorestown.”

Merchel, who is also the township’s chief financial officer, previously served as township manager from January 2017 through February 2018, when he resigned as manager due to the pressure of holding both positions.

The township is conducting a search for a new permanent manager, according to Mayor Lisa Petriello. The township put out a request for proposal, and responses are due back in January.
Merchel said he is putting his hat in the ring for the permanent position. His title is Township Manager as opposed to Acting Township Manager because he previously held the position.

Neff was appointed township manager in August 2018 by a majority Republican Council. Petriello was the only Democrat on council at the time, and she abstained from voting on his appointment. When Democrats took over as the majority party in the 2018 elections, the new council decided to keep Neff on as manager.

“I’ve tried to be a straight shooter, and I feel like I’m leaving on good terms,” Neff said. “The township has five council members who really care about this town, and I’ve really seen that from working with them for the last 14 months.”

Much of Neff’s time as township manager was spent dealing with the township’s affordable housing obligation and overseeing projects to fix the township’s water issues.

The one township budget that was passed during his time as manager included a 2.48 percent tax increase, mostly as the result of tax appeals from two tenants at the Moorestown Mall, as well as some increases in the municipal employee payroll.

He leaves as a respected manager that council members praised — and had a little fun with — during their closing comments.

“Tom’s done very well with a split council, which is evident by the fact that no one likes you,” Councilman Mike Locatell joked, adding that he appreciates Neff’s sense of humor. “I sincerely thank you for all your effort and hard work.”

Deputy Mayor Nicole Gillespie thanked him for his help when she was new to council, and Councilwoman Victoria Napolitano recalled warning Neff that he would be put through the wringer and that he was able to handle it. Councilman Brian Donnelly jokingly echoed the sentiment that the council he’s part of didn’t hire him but also didn’t fire him, and thanked Merchel for stepping back into the position.

“It’s been a privilege working with you,” Petriello said. “You managed us all very well. I’d like to thank you and thank your family for all the time you’ve spent with us, away from them.”