Former City of Elizabeth Planning and Community Development Director and 15-year governmental veteran to emphasize economic development and implementation of initiatives and policies on behalf of Freeholder Board and County Manager
ELIZABETH—William Reyes, a resident of Mountainside and a 15-year governmental veteran who led the City of Elizabeth’s Planning and Community Development Department, has become the new Deputy County Manager.
Reyes, 39, is a native of Elizabeth and lifelong resident of Union County who resides in Mountainside with his wife, Cheryl, and two children.
“I am truly honored and thankful to the Freeholder Board and County Manager Faella for being given the opportunity to serve the residents of our County in the capacity of Deputy County Manager,” Reyes said. “I look forward to assisting the Board and County Manager in their mission to provide strong governmental services and the implementation of policies that will chart a course for County government moving forward.”
Reyes began his career in 1999 in the City of Elizabeth’s Office of Public Information and served as the Office’s Director of Public Relations before becoming the Director of Planning and Community Development several years ago.
Reyes was responsible for the management of the Community Development Block Grant Program (distribution of more than $3 million in funds), the Economic Development and Public Information Bureaus, the Elizabeth Home Improvement Program and the Office of Relocation.
Reyes graduated from Union Catholic High School in Scotch Plains, and Rutgers University- New Brunswick, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Spanish.
Among his accomplishments in Elizabeth were:
*The retention of Wakefern in Elizabeth, partnering with the County to recruit Federal Stimulus financing to help the company expand and create over 350 jobs;
*Working to secure $40 million in State funds for the renovation and reconstruction of the Midtown Elizabeth NJ Transit Train station;
*Secured environmental funding to remediate lots and improve the Midtown area;
*Oversaw the completion of Phase 1 of the Rivertrail in Midtown Elizabeth, and the start of its second phase;
*Worked with real estate developers to expand Fedex and Seafrigo facilities– creating dozens of new employment opportunities.
Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter welcomed Reyes to County Government, and added the Board looked forward to working with him.
“Bill has a proven track record as a respected administrator in the City of Elizabeth, and has strong leadership qualities that should enable him to serve well in County Government,” Carter said.
Faella, who selected Reyes, praised him as someone who is a sharp, personable and innovative administrator who gets the job done and does not shy away from challenges.
“Bill is a man of great integrity and vision who developed a reputation as “a go to” administrator, solved issues and developed programs in the City of Elizabeth,” said Faella, who also formerly served as the Director of Community Development for the City of Elizabeth in the ‘90s. “He has an outstanding knowledge of local government, and is ready for the next step in County Government.”
Faella, pointing to the pending implementation of major initiatives regarding the Union County Golf Division, the jail, economic development and he noted that the timing was right to select Reyes as Deputy County Manager, filling a spot left vacant by the retirement of M. Elizabeth Genievich approximately two years ago.
“We are going to have to roll up our sleeves and get to work,” Faella said. “Bill will be able to greatly assist in these endeavors.”