Dewey enters independent contractor agreement with Dave Naples

The Town of Dewey Beach entered an independent contractor agreement with Dave Naples of Code Solutions International, a building code consulting and inspection firm, effective April 1.

The one-year agreement, which was approved by town council March 20, authorizes Naples to provide to the town consulting services related to building plan review and town code compliance. It comes amid the town’s search for a new permanent building official after the former official, Daune Hinks, resigned last December.

“Naples is [as] qualified for this role as possible,” Mayor Bill Stevens said.

Hinks, who Town Manager Bill Zolper said was very dedicated, hardworking and qualified, left for another town in the reported face of continuous criticism from some members of the public. Since her resignation, Assistant Town Manager Jim Dedes has filled in, but the town has been looking for a full-time replacement.

Under the new contract, Naples will review all commercial plans and large residential plans for the town. He will then send any documents with his input and recommendations to Dedes, who will look over them.

Smaller projects will continue to be reviewed solely by Dedes.

Naples will be paid $107.50 per hour for his services, with the contract amount not to exceed $35,000 per contract year.

Certified floodplain manager

The commissioners said the goal is still to hire a full-time person for the job, but at this point, they at least need someone temporary to fill the role so the responsibilities aren’t all on Dedes.

“We need somebody today,” Commissioner Paul Bauer said. 

According to Zolper, six people have interviewed for the full-time position, but none has met the qualifications the town is looking for, including being a certified floodplain manager.

This certification, administered by the Association of State Floodplain Managers, requires expertise in flood hazard mitigation, mapping and National Flood Insurance Program regulations.

Naples completed his certification March 25, making him the town’s first certified floodplain manager.

The previous building official was not certified, nor are any other full-time staff members, for which the town has received some criticism.

According to Zolper, the towns of Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Fenwick and South Bethany also do not have certified floodplain managers; Bethany Beach does.

Historically, Dewey has hired outside consultants to provide expertise when needed, as that’s more affordable than hiring someone full time. Since the town has no property tax, Zolper said, money is limited, making it hard to find the funds to hire another full-time official without cutting back on employees in another department.

Naples, who’s worked with the town on a number of projects, including its ongoing multimillion-dollar town hall project, has shown to be very qualified for the position, Zolper said. His new certification only adds to this.

“He’s worked with me for the last couple months off and on, and he’s done a very good job,” said Zolper. 

Commissioner David Jasinski agreed, saying he feels very comfortable with Naples continuing to work with the town and expanding his responsibilities.

Calls to open a bid

Although the vote was unanimous to approve the contract with Naples, some members of the public said they would have rather seen the town open a competitive bid process for the job.

“Competition is what makes everything from restaurants to employees better,” said Jeffrey Smith, a part-time resident and co-founder of the citizen-led coalition Coastal Stewards Delaware. “Let’s employ that. It’s the American way.”

Robert Kopera, another property owner in town, agreed that a bid was the way to go, citing concerns about Naples’ workload. In addition to Dewey, Naples works with the cities of Wilmington, Dover and Harrington, and the town of Cheswold.

“I am concerned that [with] all of the properties that Mr. Naples is looking over, he’s spread a little too thin to be paying attention to us,” Kopera said. 

Others, including resident Marcia Schieck, supported hiring Naples straight away.

“We’ve worked with Naples a long time and he’s done a lot of good work for us,” Schieck said. “I think it’s a really efficient way to address the larger construction projects with someone who’s a consultant, who has [an] elevated level [of] experience, and to let the town concentrate on [minor] construction projects.”

Naples said he was open to the town putting the job out to bid, but the council agreed they need someone now.

Indeed, Bauer said he wasn’t opposed to a bid down the road for a full-time staff hire, but the process takes time and money. The contract with Naples is a temporary solution.

Fellow Commissioner Gary Persinger said Naples is as qualified for the position as possible, and that a bid wouldn’t make sense.

The contract with Naples, Persinger continued, is merely a professional services contract with an hourly rate. It is not a project with a defined scope of work, which is what the town would usually use a bidding process for. 

If either the town or Naples is dissatisfied with the relationship, either party can terminate the contract within 30 days’ notice.

To view the contract or for a recording of the council meeting, go to townofdeweybeach.gov/events/42903.