Jerry Deily, who has guided the Northampton Borough Municipal Authority through some of its most dramatic changes, is retiring.

The 66-year-old soft-spoken Deily is recognized by his peers as the catalyst for many major projects, including the state-of-the-art water treatment plant in North Whitehall Township, just outside of Cementon, and the campus setting of its offices and maintenance operations on Lerchenmiller Drive.

Deily has been with the NBMA since 1997. He will officially step down as the NBMA's principal executive Dec. 31.

Deily was retained by the NBMA as a consultant. Taking the reins as general manager in 2015 will be Deily's assistant, Steve Kerbacher.

Deily is proud of the quality of water, which has won many awards over the years.

NBMA serves Northampton, North Catasauqua, North Whitehall Township, Coplay, much of Whitehall Township and Allen Township.

"With the new water treatment plant that opened in 2004, we were able to go from a million-gallon plant to 4 million," Deily said.

"We are in good shape," he said. "We continually look to replace our infrastructure, pipes, before we have trouble."

Looking to the NBMA's future, Deily said growth will occur in North Whitehall and Allen townships.

Borough Manager Gene Zarayko praised Deily's skills in maintaining water rate levels, serving as head of an earlier commission that ran the recreation center and his position with the Northampton Memorial Community Center.

"Jerry [Deily] is an excellent general manager and ran an outstanding operation," Zarayko said.

NBMA President and Whitehall Township Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr. also lauded Deily.

"Jerry was a dedicated employee," Hozza said. "He did an outstanding job and was excellent with customer service, excellent with the budget that kept the rates low. Jerry helped refinancing two bond issues that lowered rates."

Hozza also noted Deily's work with the new offices, garage and new water treatment plant.