DAN DEPEW

PUBLIC SERVICE CAREER

 

2017 - Present

Deputy County Manager, Sullivan County, New York.

​

2012 - 2017

Town of Wallkill Supervisor and CEO. Currently serving third two-year term as Supervisor of Orange County’s fastest-growing town, receiving more than 85 percent of the vote in three elections. Oversight and creation of a $24 million budget, 12 departments, and 250 employees and working with five school districts and seven volunteer fire agencies to provide services for 30,000 residents. 

 

2013 - Present

Keynote Educator for 207-C and Workers’ Compensation reform for the New York State Association of Towns and the New York State Association of Cities and Mayors.

 

2006 - 2012

18th District Legislator to the County of Orange. Elected to two four-year terms. Chairman, Public Safety and Emergency Services Committee; Chairman, Health and Mental Health Committee; Chairman, Green Buildings and Government Efficiency Committee.

 

2002 - 2006

Town of Wallkill Town Board, Councilperson, Fourth Ward. Served two terms, the second as Deputy Supervisor.

 

PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYMENT

 

2007 - 2011

Property Manager, Airport Manager, and Project Manager. Highlights include:

• Directed complete restoration of Historic Wurtsboro Airport, the oldest glider airport in the U.S. In conjunction with the FAA brought compliance to aircrafts, operation, and flight school. Engaged local community with events and youth aviation education. 

• Administered more than $200,000 in grant-funded safety and security upgrades.

• Oversaw successful construction and completion of a 27,000-square-foot Homeland Security complex in Town of Crawford. 

• Assembled team of professionals to complete financial impact and feasibility study for proposed convention center, resort, and water park at Holiday Mountain, Monticello. 

2004-2007

Gander Mountain, Middletown, NY. Positions included Personnel Director, Department Manager, and Acting Store Manager of Gander Mountain’s largest and most profitable store in the U.S. Served on Sales Efficiency Task Force for stores in the Northeastern region.

 

Additional employment prior to college graduation

Landscaper and heavy equipment operator, Maples Farm and Garden Center; Tom’s Bait Shop; service staff, Kuhl’s Highland House; farmhand and agri-entrepreneur.

 

EDUCATION

 

B.A. Political Science and International Relations, State University of New York at New Paltz, New Paltz, NY. Special Project: Senior thesis on National Security Law

Associate of Arts, Orange County Community College, Middletown, N.Y. President, Student Senate

Graduate, Pine Bush High School, Pine Bush, N.Y. President, Student Council; Recipient, Families Assisting Music Education scholarship (FAME)

 

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND AFFILIATIONS

 

Northern Orange County Representative, Orange County Transportation Council (OCTC)

Board of Directors, Orange County Cooperative Extension

Guest speaker, Leadership Orange

Advisory Board, Enlarged City School District of Middletown Academy of Finance and Technology

Guest Instructor, Pine Bush High School Law and Leadership Academy

Founder, Pine Bush High School Aviation Academy

Member, Occupations, Inc. Annual Gala Committee

Additional memberships: Hudson Valley Boy Scouts Nominating Committee, Advisory Board of the Wallkill Boys and Girls Club and Chairman, 2012 Boys and Girls Club Celebrity Dinner.

 

Member, New York State Municipal Insurance Reciprocal 

Orange County Legislature Airport Advisory Committee

 

Member, New York State Municipal Workers Compensation Alliance Best Practices Committee

 

 

AWARDS

 

2016 Most Valuable Partner, Economic Development, Orange County Partnership

 

2016 Paul Harris Fellow Award, Rotary Foundation International, Wallkill East Chapter

 

2014 G. Jeffrey Haber Leadership Award, New York State Association of Towns and the Compensation Alliance in recognition of the successful implementation of policies resulting in dramatically reduced Workers’ Compensation costs.

 

Recognized in 2013 by Warwick Properties and Occupations Inc. for championing the development of apartment complex for people with disabilities.

​

​

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS WALLKILL SUPERVISOR

 

Open, Customer Service-based, User-Friendly Government

• Delivered town’s first power point budget proposal for residents to view online and TV (to view, click “videos” at www.townofwallkill.com.)

• Created new websites for the town and police department that are easier to navigate and enable residents to pay bills, ask questions, and make comments. 

• Created electronic notification system to keep the public informed in emergencies and of general town information.

• Implemented customer service training in all departments.

 

Fiscal Achievements

• Cut town cash flow deficit by $2 million and, in the first year, cut expenses by $1.2 million. Town’s current general fund increased to a $6 million fund balance.

• Implemented business practices by shopping insurance and major expenses.

• Cut 10 full-time positions, saving more than $600,000 without reducing services.

• Implemented new accounting and budget practices to better track expenses. 

• Created reserve accounts for spikes in health insurance and retirement costs to stabilize future General and Highway budgets.

• Created restricted accounts with fund balance for capital reserve in Water and Sewer.

• Oversaw implementation of fixed-asset software and hired a Town Comptroller.

• Re-established bulk pick-up without significant impact to the budget.

• Elevated Wallkill’s S&P Bond Rating by three notches to AA with a positive outlook and acknowledgement of strong management.

• Commissioned 25-year master plans in Water and Sewer and reinvested over $7 million in Water and Sewer capital projects.

• Delivered five municipal budgets, all under the tax cap while increasing services.

 

Community Enhancement

• Established the first Town of Wallkill Welcome sign on Future 86 and spearheaded a re-imaging campaign, including new street signs, entranceway signs, and newsletter.

• Refurbished existing highway vehicles and developed a capital plan for fleet rotation.

• Oversaw construction of a salt barn, recreation center, summer camp offices and bathrooms, police department evidence room, and various capital projects.

• Negotiated with New York State DOT to pay for and construct tunnel linking two malls.

• Advanced two major pedestrian sidewalk projects through various grants in Washington Heights and along Route 211 East retail corridor.

• Replacement of Gordon Road Bridge and York Bridge; $1.3 million in investment and refurbishment of the Midway, Mud Mills, and North Galleria Drive bridges.

• Worked with the Town Board to create a Community Events Committee, which raised more than $50,000 for concerts and events.

• Rebranded the town with a Buy Your Street Sign program and Veterans’ Honor Banner program.

 

Open Space

• Oversaw the acquisition of Korn’s Campground as a public camping facility as well as 75 acres throughout the town for preservation and recreation.

• Drafted and adopted the Shawangunk Kill Preservation Overlay zoning law.

• Oversight and award of successful PDR program to preserve and protect Sycamore Produce Farm.

• Managed, maintained, and improved 15 town parks.

• Drafted and adopted town-wide solar farm zoning which allows for solar farms in residential areas but leans heavily on open space preservation.

 

Professional Management

• Restructured management with regular oversight and communication with department heads.

• Implemented a true Town of Wallkill Office of Emergency Management team to respond in a unified way to emergencies.

• Negotiated fair contracts with town employees and, for the first time, required employee healthcare contribution.

• Created a true Office of Human Resources and reduced workers compensation claims from about 35 per year to fewer than 10.

• Negotiated with police union to reduce 207C cases from 25 percent of police officer staff to less than 5 percent.

• All hiring, firing and promotion of staff entirely within protocols set by New York State Civil Service law while working within the confines of multiple union contracts.

• Enacted the only GPS system-verified Closest Responding Ambulance for Priority Calls program in Orange County.

• Oversight of GPS tracking system for all town vehicles.

 

Economic Development

• Held first Route 211 Retail Partners meeting to improve the town’s appearance and to focus on being the cleanest, safest, and most convenient retail location in the Hudson Valley. 

• Held first Town of Wallkill Healthcare CEO Roundtable.

• Worked with business planning and zoning boards to create the fastest commercial approval process in Orange County for properly zoned properties.

• Negotiated PILOTs as part of the Town of Wallkill IDA in conjunction with the Orange County IDA.

• Negotiated a multi-million dollar taxable assessed value agreement stabilizing the tax district affected by the Galleria at Crystal Run.

• Played an influential role in landing and/or assisting in the approvals for the following projects: Valley Agricuticals; Pratt and Whitney; redevelopment of the Caldor Shopping Center; Tractor Supply; Eagle Battery; Old Dominion; Crystal Run Health Care Expansion; Oak Ridge Manor; Access Supports for Living; ORMC expansion; Pillar Inc.; expansion of Middletown Medical; Breamar Assisted Living; and sale and redevelopment of Town of Wallkill’s 211 East property and development of a new Home 2 Suits Hotel.  

• Member of Orange County delegation to Wisconsin Dells to promote county for Water Park development. 

• Member of Orange County’s Lego Land Welcoming Delegation.

• Growth in taxable assessed value in the Town of Wallkill from $529,868,012 to $590,793,451.