Councilman
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P R O V E N L E A D E R S H I P
WHO IS COUNCILMAN BEALE?
Councilman William H. Beale Brings Leadership and Experience
Former fire chief has served our town as our councilman since 2007
Councilman William H. Beale has served the residents of the Town of Wappinger since January 1, 2007 after first running for public office in 2005 at the age of 29.
Running against an eighteen year incumbent, Beale's first campaign ended in a deadlocked tie, after 93 days of recounts. After a special election in 2006, he was successful in unseating the nineteen year incumbent with 62% of the vote. Councilman Beale was subsequently re-elected in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021, and has served as Deputy Town Supervisor under four separate administrations from 2008 to 2012, 2016 to 2017 and 2021 to 2022.
As the first ward councilman, Beale represents the north-
western parts of the Town of Wappinger, including two thirds of the Village of Wappingers Falls. Beale regularly works with Village leaders to share ideas and services. He has sponsored several local laws improving public safety and quality of life for our residents, and directly oversees emergency ambulance service within our town.
Among Beale's proudest accomplishments is leading the effort to build the Sgt. Mark Palmateer 9/11 Memorial Park, located at the corner of Route 9 and Old Hopewell Rd. This park was dedicated on the 10th Anniversary of 9/11- September 11, 2011. The park is named in honor of a former town resident, who was the first soldier killed in the War on Terror from Dutchess County. The focal point of the park is a 2,700 pound piece of World Trade Center steel, recovered from Ground Zero.
Beale's community roots are in the volunteer fire service in which his leadership qualities led him to be elected the youngest Fire Company President in New York State at age nineteen. Continuing his progress within the Department, he was later elected Fire Chief at age 24, counting him among the youngest Fire Chiefs in Dutchess County history. As Chief of the Hughsonville Fire Department, Beale established the department’s first responder program in which firefighters respond to life-threatening medical emergencies with lifesaving medical equipment, including a heart defibrillator. Multiple lives have been saved from this program, including that of an infant.
Beale worked for five years as an emergency medical technician and emergency ambulance dispatcher with the former Sloper-Willen Community Ambulance from 1995-2000. Beale credits his experience in commercial EMS with the successful implementation of the fire department first responder program.
Since 2014, Councilman Beale has been employed full-time as Dutchess County's Emergency Management Coordinator. In this position he is responsible for disaster and major emergency prevention, preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation within Dutchess County. Beale has led the effort to train citizens throughout Dutchess County in Citizens Preparedness. During COVID, Beale was responsible for PPE and mask distribution distribution county-wide. He was promoted to Director of Emergency Management in 2022, overseeing public health integration.
Beale has been decorated with multiple life saving commendations over two decades, and was presented with Dutchess County's Firefighter Heroism Award and a New York State Legislative Commendation for rescuing a town resident from her burning home on Old Hopewell Road.
Councilman Beale has been awarded the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce Forty Under Forty "Mover and Shaker" Award and has been inducted into the Dutchess Community College Hall of Fame.
In 2022, Councilman Beale was named 'Grand Marshal' of the 2023 Dutchess County St. Patrick's Parade, held annually in the Village of Wappingers Falls. Beale has served as Master of Ceremonies for this parade for the past 25 years.
Beale is a graduate of Roy C. Ketcham High School and Dutchess Community College. He holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Public Administration from Marist College.
Councilman Beale is married to Erin, a decorated police sergeant (ret.). They have a 5 year old son, Liam, and recently welcomed their second son, Sean in February, 2021. Bill and Erin own a home located off of Osborne Hill Road.
