Latest news with #TomDeVivo
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Budget Referendum: Voters hit polls today to approve, fail budget
WILLIMANTIC — Voters will have the opportunity to hit the polls today to decide whether they approve the proposed budget for the Board of Education, General Government and operating expenses for the Willimantic Taxing District Board of Directors. The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Board of Education proposed $53,044,332 in operating expenses and $1,337,000 in capital expenditures. The General Government proposed $21,068,961 in operating expenses, while the Willimantic Taxing District Board of Directors is proposing $13,405,869 in operating expenses. Town Manager Robert Zarnetske said the proposed budget was designed to accomplish two goals: reduce the burden on taxpayers and make strategic adjustments to all programs to set the town on a path toward stable taxes in the future. 'I think we substantially achieved both goals,' Zarnetske said. 'If the budget passes as is, the tax increase for most property owners will be minimal — about $40 to $100.' Zarnetske added the increase would be even less for those who only pay taxes on their automobiles. Windham Mayor Tom DeVivo said he feels good about the proposed budget, which he believes provides the community with the services people want in Windham. 'The Town Council has made staff cuts and accepted difficult choices to the workflow in town hall as proposed by Town Manager Robert Zarnetske,' DeVivo said. 'The council is committed to the town selling many of the vacant properties the town owns and controls.' DeVivo believes those properties could contribute revenue to the town and alleviate the burden on homeowners. 'I urge all voters to vote 'yes' on May 20, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at their usual voting spot, and keep Windham moving forward,' DeVivo said. Council member Bill Sayers said this budget is an absolute bottom-line budget. 'I believe every board did their due diligence to craft budgets that were solid, but responsible to the taxpayers,' Sayers said. 'I hope that when people go to the polls to vote, they will vote 'yes' on all three budgets. I sincerely believe that Windham voters will realize that the work was done and vote to approve.' Polling places for voters will be at the VFW, Elks Lodge and the Windham Center Fire Department. If unsure of your polling place, call 860-465-3016 or 860-465-3013.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Casella Unveils MRF Upgrade to Drive More Customer Circularity and Sustainable Recycling
John W. Casella Speaks from Podium Casella Presents UConn Office of Sustainabillity with Check John Casella and Tom DeVivo Shake Hands RUTLAND, Vt., May 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Casella Waste Systems, Inc. ('Casella') (Nasdaq: CWST), a regional solid waste, recycling, and resource management services company, opened the doors of its newly renovated Willimantic, Connecticut materials recovery facility ('MRF') with nearly 100 guests in attendance on Monday, May 19. The facility upgrade is complete with state-of-the-art equipment and the goal to drive more efficient recycling, helping Casella's customers and communities achieve more circularity and move closer to their sustainability goals. The event included remarks from Windham Mayor Tom DeVivo, as well as leaders from Casella and MRF technology provider, Machinex. Remarks concluded with a check presentation to the UConn Office of Sustainability which will use the donated funds to support a graduate fellowship for a zero-waste coordinator at the University. Prior to the upgrade, Casella's Willimantic MRF processed approximately 60,000 tons of recyclables annually and expects now to be able to double that amount, while simultaneously improving efficiency and quality. 'As we continue to look at new ways to advance the amount of material we are able to process, we are thrilled to invest in this new technology in Connecticut,' said Casella Chairman and CEO, John W. Casella. 'While we only began doing business in this state just five short years ago, this MRF, the adjacent mattress recycling facility, and our hauling operations in the market are key components to our continued success in serving our customers and communities.' The upgrades included a new sorting system, power infrastructure, lighting, a replacement tipping floor, new pavement, and enhanced fire suppression system. In addition to the upgraded sorting technology deployed, Casella also partnered with Eversource to enhance the facility's electrical efficiency and minimize its energy usage. 'We are proud to partner with forward-thinking companies like Casella in achieving their energy efficiency and sustainability goals,' said Eversource Vice President of Energy Efficiency and Electric Mobility Tilak Subrahmanian. 'Through our collaboration, we helped Casella improve its operations while reducing energy use and costs. This partnership demonstrates what's possible when sustainability and operational goals align through energy efficiency solutions, creating lasting value for our customers and the communities we serve.' The facility was previously converted to a single-stream MRF in 2008. The recent upgrades unveiled represent a nearly $20 million investment into the facility and follow more than $50 million in investments by Casella in its Resource Solutions operations over the past three years. 'The ongoing advancements of the circular economy depend on all stakeholders to do their part to make recycling more accessible, more convenient, and more efficient,' Casella said. 'With these upgrades we continue to do our part in moving more material out of the waste stream and putting it to a higher and better use.' ABOUT CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. Casella Waste Systems, Inc., headquartered in Rutland, Vermont, provides resource management expertise and services to residential, commercial, municipal, institutional and industrial customers, primarily in the areas of solid waste collection and disposal, transfer, recycling and organics services in the eastern United States. For further information, investors may visit the Company's website at ABOUT MACHINEX Internationally recognized for its innovative sorting solutions in the waste and recycling industry, Machinex is dedicated to creating solutions for a sustainable tomorrow. Proudly based in Plessisville for over 50 years, this 100% Québec-owned company engineers, manufactures, and installs its own recycling technologies using optics, robotics, mechanics, and artificial intelligence to create the most advanced sorting solutions on the market. Machinex has quickly established itself as a global authority in designing and manufacturing high-quality sorting systems. Over the years, Machinex experts have designed and installed hundreds of turnkey systems in partnership with major waste management companies in Canada, the United States, Europe, and Australia. To learn more about Machinex, visit ABOUT EVERSOURCE Eversource (NYSE: ES), celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, is recognized as the #1 U.S. utility on TIME's List of World's Best Companies for 2024. Eversource transmits and delivers electricity to 1.28 million customers in 149 cities and towns, provides natural gas to 254,000 customers in 85 communities, and supplies water to approximately 217,000 customers in 59 communities across Connecticut. Eversource harnesses the commitment of more than 10,000 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. The #1 energy efficiency provider in the nation, the company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like a first-in-the-nation networked geothermal pilot project, solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles and battery storage, into the electric system. For more information, please visit SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT Certain matters discussed in this press release, including, but not limited to, the statements regarding our intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, the Willimantic materials recovery facility ("MRF"), are 'forward-looking statements' intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified as such by the context of the statements, including words such as 'believe,' 'expect,' 'anticipate,' 'plan,' 'may,' 'would,' 'intend,' 'estimate,' "will," 'guidance' and other similar expressions, whether in the negative or affirmative. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the Willimantic MRF, the industry and markets in which the Company operates and management's beliefs and assumptions. The Company cannot guarantee that it actually will achieve the financial results, plans, intentions, expectations or guidance disclosed in the forward-looking statements made. Such forward-looking statements, and all phases of the Company's operations, involve a number of risks and uncertainties, any one or more of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in its forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include or relate to, among other things, the following: the upgrade to the Willimantic MRF may not perform as expected, it is difficult to determine the timing or future impact of a sustained economic slowdown that could negatively affect our operations and financial results; the Company may be required to incur capital expenditures in excess of its estimates; the Company's insurance coverage and self-insurance reserves may be inadequate to cover all of its risk exposures; fluctuations in energy pricing or the commodity pricing of its recyclables may make it more difficult for the Company to predict its results of operations or meet its estimates; disruptions or limited access to domestic and global transportation or the imposition of tariffs could impact the Company's ability to sell recyclables into end markets; the Company may not be able to successfully integrate and recognize the expected financial benefits from acquired businesses; and the Company may incur environmental charges or asset impairments in the future. There are a number of other important risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These additional risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, those detailed in Item 1A. 'Risk Factors' in the Company's most recently filed Form 10-K and in other filings that the Company may make with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the future. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Investors: Brian J. Butler, CFAVice President of Investor Relations(802) 772-2264 Media: Jeff WeldVice President of Communications(802) 772-2234http:// Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: A video accompanying this announcement is available at: in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Terry Court complex to receive state aid
WILLIMANTIC — The Connecticut Department of Housing and the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority have signed financing agreements for 12 developments that will contribute to constructing or preserving 1,279 housing units. These developments will include affordable housing units for low- and moderate-income renters, designated as permanent supportive housing. One of those developments is located in Willimantic at Terry Court. The Willimantic Housing Authority owns the 68-unit affordable community at Terry Court in Willimantic. It will undergo significant rehabilitation and add new accessible units. The project's scope includes hazardous materials abatement, new windows, doors and siding and the reconstruction of eight homes to create ADA-compliant apartments. The upgrades will extend the life of the 1949-built community while better serving individuals and families. 'As Tony the Tiger says, 'it's great!' Terry Court was built after World War II for low-cost housing for our veterans at a time when construction of housing included using hazardous materials,' Windham Mayor Tom DeVivo said. 'This is a good opportunity. Willimantic public housing suffered from decades of neglect caused by funding shortfalls.' DeVivo added the town has been supporting CBDG funding for the last six or seven years to help improve the housing options infrastructure, and this funding will boost these endeavors. 'I would like to thank Representative [Susan] Johnson and Senator [Mae] Flexer for their leadership in acquiring this much-needed grant,' DeVivo said. As part of the state's effort to revitalize the state-sponsored housing portfolio, the redevelopment is supported by $4.49 million in grants from DOH, $3 million in financing and $500,000 in HTCCs from CHFA. 'Every investment in affordable housing is an investment in stronger, more resilient communities,' said Seila Mosquera-Bruno, Connecticut Housing commissioner. 'These developments reflect our commitment to preserve and expand housing options – whether it's building new homes or adding quality affordable rentals.'
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Windham has slight decrease in grand list
WINDHAM — Windham's 2024 Grand List had a .04% decrease from the 2023 Grand List. 'Loss of value in the Grand List is one of the primary reasons this year's budget has been so challenging,' Mayor Tom DeVivo said. 'It points out the difficulties we have raising the money needed to continue to provide the level of government services Windham residents have come to expect.' The total assessments for the 2024 grand list are 1,394,347,495, a decrease of $726,815.
