Michele Baker Named Wallkill DPW Commissioner, First Woman in Orange County

Michele Baker was appointed commissioner of the Town of Wallkill Department of Public Works on Jan. 21, 2026, becoming the first woman to lead a DPW in Orange County. The selection, made under the town’s new administration led by Supervisor Frank DenDanto, places a longtime municipal employee at the helm of an agency responsible for critical services across the town.

Baker has worked for the Town of Wallkill since 1996 and began her career in the DPW nearly 30 years ago, first serving in administrative roles including as a confidential assistant before taking on expanded leadership responsibilities. In 2015 she moved into a more senior administrative role and was appointed deputy commissioner in 2025 prior to her selection as commissioner. Town officials cited Baker’s institutional knowledge and decades of experience as factors that made her a natural choice to lead the department.

As commissioner, Baker oversees the highway department, water and sewer operations, parks and recreation, building and facility maintenance and grant administration. She supervises approximately 60 employees and is responsible for maintaining more than 165 miles of roadway that serve densely populated neighborhoods, rural areas and commercial corridors. That operational scope places Baker at the center of daily public services and long-term infrastructure planning for Wallkill residents.

Baker also brings a track record of securing outside funding for town projects. Over the course of her career she has helped the Town of Wallkill obtain approximately $37 million in grant funding for road improvements, facility upgrades and other capital needs. That grant expertise is likely to be a focal point as the town balances infrastructure demands with budgetary constraints and competing capital priorities.

Her appointment arrives amid an active winter season. DPW crews were already preparing for a nor’easter forecast to bring significant snowfall. “We’re getting reports anywhere from five to eight inches to as much as 16 to 19 inches,” Baker said. She told crews to monitor forecasts closely and to ensure plow trucks, salt supplies and staffing are ready.

Baker framed her appointment as a breakthrough for representation in public works. “It’s predominantly male driven, so it’s very exciting to be breaking through some barriers,” Baker said. She linked the personnel decision to broader opportunity: “Ability has nothing to do with gender. If you’re the best person for the job, then you’re the best person for the job.”

For Wallkill residents, Baker’s leadership means continuity in operations from a leader familiar with local crews and projects, along with the potential for continued grant-driven capital work. Expect the DPW to focus on winter response in the short term and on executing funded infrastructure projects in the months ahead. Residents should monitor town communications for service updates, road conditions and information on projects that affect local streets, water and park facilities.