Learn more about the City's new Director of Planning – Ben Martorana

BENEDICT F. MARTORANA, P.E., P.P.
NJGovTech LLC/Atlantic GovTech LLC
Since 1976, until my retirement in February of 2008, I  served as the Township Administrator, Municipal Engineer and Municipal Clerk for the Township of West Caldwell in northern New Jersey. Prior to that I was a partner in a consulting engineering firm and also held two other positions in Municipal government as an assistant engineer. Upon my retirement from West Caldwell I formed NJGovTech LLC to provide Professional Land Use and management consulting services to all levels of government and those doing business with government entities. In 2012 I expanded the planned service area to include Maryland, Pennsylvania and the U.S. Government under the auspices of Atlantic GovTech LLC, now based in Cape May County, NJ and Havre de Grace, MD. At the request of the West Caldwell Planning Board, I work part-time as the Planning Board Engineer and as the Class II voting member of the Planning Board, meeting these responsibilities remotely from my home in Maryland, and with approval of the N. J. First Commission.
As Business Administrator, I served as the Chief Operating Officer of the community, responsible for managing all day to day functions, including all personnel management, press and media relations, grant preparation and administration, risk management, labor negotiations,  coordination with law enforcement and emergency management, and the implementation of the policies of the elected governing body and coordination and presentation of those policies to all other levels of government including County, State and Federal. I was responsible for all in house management of MIS and technology systems and have developed and managed a Public Access Cable Television station.  I have personally written grant applications resulting in awards totaling over $10,000,000 during my tenure.
As Administrator I guided the Township toward a founding membership in the establishment of the New Jersey Intergovernmental Insurance Fund in 1991, a public entity insurance pool providing Worker’s Compensation, Multi Peril, Police and Public Official’s Liability, Environmental, Auto and Property insurance for over 40 municipalities and school boards throughout New Jersey.  I was elected to the Executive Board in 1991 and served as Chairman of the Fund from 1999 through 2008.
As Municipal Engineer I managed the Department of Engineering, Planning and Zoning, providing a full range of Engineering services for the Township including feasibility studies, cost estimates, civil designs for projects such as road improvements, water and wastewater resources, storm drainage and flood control measures, recreation and park improvements, site designs, and traffic management, and improvements and construction of municipal buildings and grounds.  I was selected by the Essex County Executive to Chair his Passaic River Task Force, and was able to develop a consensus position among all Essex County communities towards developing flood control solutions. I also managed all preparation of plans and specifications to bring projects to bid, as well as full construction management and project administration. In addition we also provide management and oversight of all private development including residential commercial and industrial, as well as Department Head requirements for the supervision and management of all Planning and Zoning services for the Township.
I am also a licensed Professional Planner and  continue my service as a member of the West Caldwell Planning Board for almost 40 years now through the administration of 4 mayors. In this role I developed the first major reorganization of the land use regulations of the Township since the adoption of the current Land Use Laws of the State of New Jersey.  I routinely take the lead on the most difficult and complex Development and Re-Development applications for Site Plan, Subdivision and Variance applications, and guide in the analysis and examination of technical witnesses during formal hearings.  I also guided the adoption of a new Master Plan for the community in 1978, as well as several successful updates. That plan still stands to this day, and has provided guidance for all land use decisions. Most recently I have joined the Administration of the City of Havre de Grace, MD. as a Member of the Board of Appeals.
As Municipal Clerk I was responsible for a variety of regulatory and licensing functions as well as the oversight of the election process and all records management and codifications for the municipality. I was also a Member of the Wayne Township Open Space Committee. During my tenure, Wayne Township adopted the first formal open space preservation plan for that community.

PROFESSIONAL LICENSES:       Licensed Professional Engineer  (P.E.) –
State of New Jersey
Licensed Professional Engineer  (P.E.) –
State of Pennsylvania
Licensed Professional Engineer  (P.E.) –
State of Maryland
Licensed Professional Engineer  (P.E.) –
State of California
Licensed Professional Planner    (P.P.) –
State of New Jersey
 
CURRENT CERTIFICATIONS:             Certified NJ Instructor – Planning and Zoning
PREVIOUS CERTIFICATIONS:             NJ MUN. CLERK; NJ PUBLIC WORKS MANAGER; UNDERGROUND TANK DESIGN