Wildwood Names New Solicitor, Engineer

WILDWOOD – Wildwood’s new commissioners didn’t waste time making changes in their first two months in office. 
The new administration, led by Mayor Peter Byron, replaced some of the city’s most visible officials, including its engineer and solicitor.
“We took a look at all of our professionals, and we wanted a new set of eyes. Most of the professionals who had been here under the previous administration had been here for a number of years. No disrespect to any of those individuals, they all did a fine job, but we wanted to move in a different direction,” Byron said, in an interview with the Herald.
John Hess, of Consulting and Municipal Engineers, will be the new city engineer. 
Louis DeLollis, of the firm Monzo Catanese, Hillegass, will be the new solicitor.
Jim Oris, who had been the city’s engineer, with Remington and Vernick, will finish out current projects, some of which may continue for a few years, and help Hess transition. Hess will get new projects.
“To their credit, they’re working seamlessly together. We appreciate the professionalism (they) are showing,” Byron said of the two engineering firms.
Byron said he believes Hess’s firm fits more with his vision for the city.
Hess did not return an e-mail or phone call requesting an interview.
“Engineer is a very important position. They touch on a lot of different things. We wanted an engineer that we could work a little more closely with, relative to being pro developer,” said the mayor. “We just felt, at this point, this particular engineer was the best for our long-term vision in Wildwood.”
The commissioners knew they would have to find a new solicitor almost immediately after being elected when Mary D’Arcy Bittner submitted her resignation.
“We knew that Bittner wasn’t interested in coming back, and we knew we had to move in a different direction anyway,” Byron said, adding that he appreciated former mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. allowing him to put requests for proposals and requests for quotes out while Troiano was in office, expediting the process.
Bittner was a full-time city employee. As a cost-saving measure, Byron and Commissioners Steve Mikulski and Krista Fitzsimons decided to retain an outside law firm to provide counsel to commissioners.
DeLollis, backed by a Court House law firm, was selected for the job. Byron called him a “young energetic attorney.”
“We wanted someone who wanted to get a reputation, and I felt that kind of individual was going to work harder than a more established individual would. He has a very established firm behind him, so we think it’s a perfect match for us,” said the mayor.
DeLollis declined to be interviewed, saying that he believes “at this early point in the new administration, the focus should be on the commissioners.” 
“Lou (DeLollis) is doing a tremendous job. It’s like any new position, you have to learn the players. He has to get to know the administrator, number one, who he has the most interaction with, as well as the individual commissioners,” Byron said. “He’s a quick learner, and he’s never not picked up his phone. Lou has been everything we hoped for and more and is going to be a tremendous asset for Wildwood.”
Byron said his administration also replaced the auditor and the redevelopment council. The administrator, Carl Groon, came aboard in July. Byron said he is not considering more changes.
“I felt that we needed to move in a different direction and have better representation at the administrator position. I didn’t feel (former administrator) Chris Fox brought to the table the representation the city needed to move forward, and that’s why I supported him being dismissed and also supported bringing in Carl Groon,” Byron said.
The new professionals are on one-year contracts.
“In the past, some of the appointments were multi-year. We feel we have the best people in each of these positions, but by giving everybody the one-year contract, that gives us a chance just to make sure, from a comfort level, that whoever we have in these positions truly is the best fit for the town,” said Byron.
To contact Shay Roddy, email sroddy@cmcherald.com.