PETERSBURG – Township Engineer Paul Dietrich told the Upper Township Planning Board, May 18, that he had only one more meeting as the township’s engineer before he leaves to take a similar position in Cape May.
His announcement, which is known to the township administration, prompted Mayor Jay Newman to say the township is in the process of deciding if it wants to hire another engineer or contract with an engineering firm, as most towns do.
“We don’t know which way we want to go yet,” said Newman, who serves as a Class I member of the Planning Board. “We don’t know if we will hire a firm or in-house.”
Newman said some firms had expressed interest in working with the township. Newman, however, told the Planning Board that it need not use the same engineer the township or Zoning Board hires. Dietrich, who was described at the meeting as a “catch-all,” served as engineer for each of those entities.
Planning Board member Ted Kingston asked if it was necessary to hire an engineer only for the Planning Board. He said if the township had two engineers, they could offer opinions on the same matter and the township might be better off.
“That is this board’s decision,” Newman said.
“How do we do it?” Kingston asked.
The question has not come up at the Planning Board for almost 24 years. Dietrich was contracted as a consultant in 1999 and hired on staff in 2002. Board Chairman Christopher McGuire said the position would be advertised and they would conduct interviews. He said it would be possible that the Planning Board would prefer the same engineer the township hires.
Dietrich, who is also a professional planner, worked with the township on the zoning ordinance and the township’s Master Plan.
Kingston said one of his concerns was the structure for paying professionals. Dietrich was paid a salary by the township. Firms contract for services but there are often additional charges beyond the contract amount. He said the pay should not be based on the number of applications handled.
Deputy Mayor Kim Hayes, a Class III member of the Planning Board, said under state law, the residents cannot be responsible for the cost of the applications.
