Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino has announced the upcoming retirement of Robert Balkind, the County’s Commissioner of Public Works, following twenty-two years of service with Dutchess County Government, including the last ten years serving as Commissioner.
County Executive Sue Serino said, “From the start of my time as County Executive, it has been clear how deeply Bob Balkind cares about his Public Works team, as well as the people of Dutchess County. His vision has improved our infrastructure, strengthened our communities, and expanded opportunities for residents across the county. From transformative capital projects to his commitment to efficiency, collaboration, and a more diverse workforce, Bob has left an indelible mark on this government and the residents we serve. I am profoundly grateful for his steadfast leadership, innovation, and his unwavering commitment to making Dutchess County a better place for all.”
Mr. Balkind joined Dutchess County Government in 2004 as the Assistant Director for the Department of Public Works (DPW) Engineering Division, following more than a decade of work at New York State Department of Transportation and the private sector, including Dewkett Engineering in Rhinebeck, where his engineering work of the Reservoir Fence Restoration in Central Park was honored with the Renaissance Award by the Friends of the Upper East Side Historic District.
He was appointed by DPW Commissioner in 2016 by former County Executive Marcus Molinaro, overseeing the County’s broadest department, which includes six divisions: Administration, Highway/Engineering, Parks, Building & Facilities, Airport, and Public Transit. Those six divisions encompass 395 miles of highways, 1.2 million square feet of county-owned and leased buildings, eight County parks, the county government-owned airport in the Town of Wappinger, and the Dutchess County Public Transportation (DCPT) bus system. As Commissioner, he has directed a staff of more than 274 employees and oversees an annual operating budget of nearly $46 million.
As Commissioner, he has also been responsible for the oversight of the public works projects within the $150 million, five-year Capital Improvement Plan, including the county’s $10 million annual highway and bridge improvement program.
During his tenure, Mr. Balkind has overseen the design and construction of multiple transformative County projects including, but not limited to:
Prior to becoming Commissioner, Mr. Balkind was instrumental in the restructuring of DPW in 2012 and 2013, which included improved alignment of Highway and Engineering divisions and bringing the County’s Auto Center into the Department. As Commissioner, one of his proudest accomplishments was making significant strides in diversifying the department and has engaged in various efforts to attract and recruit diverse talent, including his recent CDL trainee program that covered 100 percent of a candidate’s CDL training costs, with the candidate getting paid while splitting their time between school and working with DPW. This program has attracted many new employees to DPW at a time when hiring and retaining CDL-trained employees has been challenging across the state.
Efficiency and collaboration have also been hallmarks of Mr. Balkind’s tenure. He has coordinated multiple energy efficiency projects throughout County facilities that have decreased energy consumption and helped to control costs. He has led multiple shared service initiatives with local municipalities such as coordinating contract purchase opportunities for salt and sand roadway materials at more favorable pricing, establishing a shared Sign Shop program for municipalities, and oversaw the expansion of the Dutchess County Public Transit system when the City of Poughkeepsie sought to eliminate their bus service to reduce expenses for fiscal stability.
Mr. Balkind said, “I will miss the great people that I have worked with over the many years, both within the County and in the various municipalities that we work so closely with. I know the great work at DPW will continue with the dedicated leadership team left in place and I want to thank County Executive Serino for all her support and confidence in my leadership of DPW.”
Mr. Balkind, who resides in the Town of Pleasant Valley, will officially retire on May 22. He plans to travel, garden, ride his Harley Davidson motorcycle, spend time with family, and enjoy time at the coast.
After Mr. Balkind's retirement, DPW Deputy Commissioner David Whalen will serve as acting commissioner.
