When Daniel Nye began working for the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson, first with the Department of Public Works and then with the Water Department, he had a clear vision. He switched departments because he saw a path to move up the promotional ladder. His ultimate dream was realized when he was named superintendent of the department in August. Other candidates were interviewed, but the Board of Trustees saw his 16 years of experience as invaluable.

“I love what I do,” Nye said. “It’s second nature to me sometimes. There’s still a lot to learn, but I’m moving in the right direction.”

Nye, a Cornwall High School graduate, grew up in the Town of Cornwall, but currently resides in New Windsor. In June 2008, he was hired as a summer helper for the DPW, but six months later was asked to come aboard full-time, as part of the sanitation team, when an issue arose with another employee.

When Nye’s son was born in 2010 he quickly realized it was difficult to get up early in the morning while helping to raise an infant. Seeking something with steadier hours, in April 2011, he transferred to the Water Department, eyeing a clearer path for promotions. “I saw with the current employees at that time, at the 20-year mark I would be the only one left.”

As it worked out, Nye received a promotion nearly every three years as he continued to learn and took on more responsibilities. He obtained his Grade D water license and then went to water treatment school to obtain his water treatment license. He currently holds a 2A, 2B, C, and Grade D water license. Nye also put himself through Commercial Driver’s License training and obtained his Grade B CDL. The village eventually paid for his Grade A training. In March 2019, Nye was named water maintenance leader, a position he held until the latest promotion.

Nye didn’t make it to the top by himself, however. He attributes some of what he learned from his predecessor, Michael Trainor, as well as Don Bryde, Matt Clancy, and Ed Hembree, Jr. He credits his wife, son, stepdaughter, and his parents for being his biggest supporters.

“There are many holidays I missed, many birthdays I missed because of work, [as well as] late night phone calls. “It’s something I signed up for and I love doing it, but my family is my number one supporter.”

As the superintendent, Nye’s responsibility, first and foremost, is providing quality water to the community and making sure he meets the standards set by the Orange County Health Department, New York State Health Department, Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Environmental Conservation, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the American Waterworks Association, as well as follows village code.

He’s currently responsible for seven employees, including a secretary, and must make sure staff is available at any given time. Nye must also ensure the infrastructure is up to date and respond to any emergencies including water main breaks and leaks, as well as address customer complaints and concerns.
Nye plans to continue moving forward, building on the work Trainor did to bring the water system up to date, especially with meters which can be read remotely. Of the roughly 2700 meters, only 30 need to be read manually. Following the water master plan, Nye plans to bring infrastructure up to date, install new water mains, and update pressure regulator pits.

The Water Department recently completed a project with the town to install 400 feet of eight-inch water main on Shore Road. The department also has a couple of FEMA projects related to the July 9, 2023 storm, as well as Tropical Storm Ida.

In his spare time, Nye enjoys spending time with his family, being outdoors, and following his favorite baseball and football teams.