Over 24 years, Paul Dietrich has handled a myriad of duties for Upper Township
PETERSBURG — Township Committee bid adieu June 26 to longtime engineer Paul Dietrich, who has taken a position with Cape May.
City Council hired the Ocean City resident on May 15 for three years as full-time city engineer. His duties will include supervising the performance of projects, oversight of the Community Ratings System — which affects flood insurance rates for homeowners — and serving as flood plain administrator and municipal housing liaison. He will be paid a salary of $130,000 per year.
Dietrich was scheduled to begin July 6 but had been visiting City Hall on Wednesdays to complete flood certificates.
The 54-year-old is a 1987 graduate of Ocean City High School. He earned his undergraduate degree from Northeastern in Boston and settled in Dennisville to raise his four children — ranging in age from 27 to 20 – with his wife, Cindy, a 1988 OCHS grad.
“We moved back here because this is where our family was,” Dietrich said, noting both he and his wife’s parents, as well as his grandparents, lived in Upper Township.
He has served as township engineer for 24 years, 21 as an employee of the township after first working with a consulting firm.
“It’s always been more than a job. Growing up here, it’s about family and friends,” he said. “It has been a great privilege to work here.”
Dietrich said Cape May has a lot of projects under way or coming up and wanted someone in-house to oversee them all.
“They do not have a staff engineer and I think they saw the need to have somebody in the building to help coordinate projects and really be responsive to residents,” Dietrich said. “I hope to continue the positive direction.”
Township Committee presented Dietrich with a proclamation honoring his years of service.
“Paul has outlasted many, many administrations here,” Mayor Jay Newman said. “I think we can attribute that to Paul’s character and what he has done for the township. He has taken the job to new heights, has done a phenomenal job for the township for 24 years.”
Newman pointed out Dietrich’s “seemingly infinite amount of energy,” listing the multiple positions that he filled.
Dietrich served as the engineer for the Planning and Zoning Boards and performed numerous other duties in the township, including computer operations director, stormwater management coordinator, assistant zoning officer and housing official, municipal housing liaison, air quality control officer, superintendent of Public Works, floodplain manager, Community Rating System coordinator and construction/zoning supervisor.
“I think that doesn’t even go far enough,” Newman said, noting Dietrich filled in to operate the video system during that evening’s Township Committee meeting.
“Everybody I’ve talked to has said, ‘I don’t know what we are going to do without Paul.’ Whoever does fill your shoes, they have an immense challenge ahead of them,” Committeeman Victor Nappen said.
“Call Paul,” is what everyone told him on nearly every topic, Committeeman Mark Pancoast said, noting Dietrich was “instrumental in getting the (Office of Emergency Management) operations center working.”
Deputy Mayor Kim Hayes said when she was elected, Dietrich was the “first one to pick up the phone and ask what I needed. He was always just a phone call away.”
“The first thing I said when I learned Paul was leaving us is that someone needs to figure out what Paul does,” Hayes said. “I hope Cape May appreciates what they are getting in you, and if they don’t you can always come back.”
Committeeman Curtis Corson said he had interviewed Dietrich for the job almost a quarter-century ago.
“It’s been an honor. Paul has been involved in every department in the township over the 24 years,” Corson said.
“We appreciate your assistance over the years and you giving your 110 percent best every time,” Newman added.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff