CAPE MAY – Cape May City Council unanimously voted Tuesday, Dec. 5, to select city engineer Paul Dietrich as the new city manager beginning Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. Dietrich will assume the role as current City Manager Michael Voll retires at the end of this year.
Under the form of government in Cape May, the city manager is the municipality’s chief executive officer, with the council serving as its legislative body. All city departments report to the city manager, who is charged with the administrative management of the municipality.
Dietrich joined the city in June following a long stint as municipal engineer in Upper Township where he spent 24 years. Dietrich lives in Ocean City. He and his family have lived in Cape May County since 1966. He is a graduate of Ocean City High School. He then went on to receive his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.
Mayor Zack Mullock said, “Working with Paul over these last few months made it clear to all of the City Council that Paul Dietrich is the right person to lead our great city.”
At the council meeting, Mullock added that the city conducted a rigorous review of the 13 applicants for the position. “This was a thorough and well-vetted process,” he said. The applicants included many well qualified individuals, he said, adding, “They wanted this job.” He said that was a testimony to the attractiveness and prominence of the city as a historic resort.
One of Dietrich’s first tasks as the new city manager will be to present a city budget to the council for 2024. The council can then make any changes it feels are necessary. The budget is then adopted by the council. At the meeting, Dietrich said that the budget process was underway.
Dietrich will continue to handle his current duties relating to floodplain management and land use. Several council members, including Mullock, said they support having Dietrich hire a deputy city manager.
Cape May is scheduled to hold its annual reorganization meeting Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024, which would be the first council meeting at which Dietrich would appear as city manager.
Contact the author, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.