Cassetti Touts Progress In First 100 Days

Editor’s Note: Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti sent the following press release Wednesday (March 12) about his first 100 days in office. Click the play button on the video to see remarks Cassetti made to the Board of Aldermen March 11.

Today marks my 100th day in office and I wanted to share some of our early accomplishments. I can say that it has been an exciting 100 days. Our administration has started off fast. We have only just started. I am happy with what we have accomplished so far but it is not enough. We are going to make Ansonia the premier small city in the State of Connecticut.

Finance

  • Our budget lowers the Mill Rate! The budget the Board of Alderman passed will save the residents of Ansonia money by lowering their taxes and not sacrificing city services. I will continue to work diligently to reduce Ansonia’s onerous tax burden.
  • We are looking to make the proper pension investments in the Old City Pension” plan. The plan has been neglected many years. My team and I can confidently say to the custodians and secretaries of the Board of Education that Ansonia will look to rewrite a plan and begin making responsible decisions and investments.
  • We have a new effort to collect back taxes and it has already been successful. We have collected over 200k in back taxes to date. These taxes were delinquent for many years. This aggressive approach to tax collection will also help to relieve the tax burden our residents have had.

Economic Development

  • I want my message to be crystal clear. Ansonia is OPEN FOR BUSINESS. This is more than a statement or slogan. It is a fact have focused my efforts on retaining and attracting new businesses
  • Better Packages is coming to Ansonia. It is a well-established company with over 40 employees and is moving from Shelton where it has resided for over 90 years.
  • Ansonia will also be the new home to several new restaurant/retail establishments including Mustang Sally’s and LA Copper Photography.
  • My Administration and I are concentrating our redevelopment efforts on retaining Farrel Corporation and working with the former Ansonia Copper and Brass.
  • We also have potential additional interested tenants for Hershey Park
  • Our ACA Building will be the new home to Workplace Inc. and TEAM.
  • I have consolidated positions and saved taxpayer money and achieved this without compromising services.
  • Our new Economic Development Director has years of experience and brings expertise in redevelopment and brownfields to the table.

Education

  • Education is a top priority for me and will continue to be. Our children are our future and we will look to continue to support our Board of Education and its teachers and administrators as evidenced by my proposed budget.

Recreation

  • Our Recreation Department continues to be more active with a new adult softball league and a new youth basketball league. We will have a fully funded summer camp for kids age 7 – 14 for 5 weeks.
  • We will celebrate our 125th Anniversary of Ansonia in style. We have put together a team of individuals who are organizing events to highlight the best Ansonia has to offer. This will be a yearlong celebration highlighting our great City.

Teamwork

  • Finally I have a dedicated and diligent Staff, Board of Aldermen, and volunteers who serve on Boards and Commissions for the City of Ansonia who selfishly give of their time and effort to make our City better. We can only improve through hard work, dedication and teamwork and we have that.

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