‘Boot’ program resumes for tax delinquents in West Haven

‘Boot’ program resumes this month for tax delinquents in West Haven

WEST HAVEN, April 6, 2023 — Residents who are delinquent on their taxes are urged to pay their overdue taxes as soon as possible.

West Haven’s “boot” program resumes this month, and tax delinquents risk their vehicles being immobilized with a wheel-locking boot.

TaxServ Capital Services LLC of Hartford is the city’s vendor that administers the program in cooperation with Vioalert Systems LLC of West Haven.

A vehicle-mounted ID system that is part of the program uses an infrared license plate scanner to target tax scofflaws. Vehicles are released of the boot once their owners pay all delinquent taxes and the boot fee.

The boot, however, may be on a vehicle that does not owe back taxes because the scanning system recognizes delinquent taxes linked to the vehicle owner’s name, according to city Tax Manager Rachel A-Massih.

Residents can check if they owe back taxes and make a payment at My Tax Bill. They can also pay in the tax office on the first floor of City Hall, 355 Main St.

A-Massih said delinquent personal property taxes for city business owners who have not paid their taxes have also been turned over for collection. Properties with delinquent real estate and sewer bills are in the process of being liened, and collection proceedings are beginning, she said.

Taxes accrue additional interest on the first day of each month.

Trash program wants to hear from residents Tuesday

WEST HAVEN, April 6, 2023 — Don't like the trash program?

Join us for the third of four feedback and Q&A sessions at 6 p.m. Tuesday on Zoom.

Representatives from Waste Zero and the South Central Regional Council of Governments will be in attendance.

Sign up for the virtual meeting at Zoom Registration.

Volunteer ‘tree tenders’ set Earth Day cleanup of West Haven park

Volunteer ‘tree tenders’ set Earth Day cleanup of Shingle Hill Park April 22

WEST HAVEN, April 6, 2023 — The West Haven Volunteer Tree Tenders Group is holding an Earth Day cleanup of Shingle Hill Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 22.

The cleanup, at Allings Crossing and Shingle Hill roads, will include the park’s new trail system.

Those interested in volunteering are encouraged to attend.

Participants are asked to wear long pants and sturdy shoes and bring gloves, water and snacks. The city will supply other materials.

To register for the event, email city Tree Warden Leo Kelly at lkelly@westhaven-ct.gov.

Proof of residence must be provided. No commercial or business drop-offs will be accepted. The tire drop-off is for West Haven residents only.

Marchers sought for West Haven Memorial Day parade

Marchers sought for Memorial Day parade on May 29

WEST HAVEN, April 6, 2023 — The city and the West Haven Veterans Council are seeking veterans, civic groups, fraternal organizations, service clubs and marching bands to participate in the annual Memorial Day parade, which steps off at 10:30 a.m. May 29.

Participants must register and list required special accommodations for the procession, which has no rain date.

The city will provide transportation for veterans who are unable to walk the 1 ½-mile parade route, which follows Campbell Avenue from Captain Thomas Boulevard to Center Street. To make arrangements, call the mayor’s office at 203-937-3510.

The parade grand marshal is Mark Levine, a Vietnam Army veteran.

Download a Participation Form.

Forms are also available for pickup in the mayor’s office at City Hall, 355 Main St., where they are due May 8.

Completed forms must be faxed to 203-937-3705 or mailed to the West Haven Memorial Day Parade, Office of the Mayor, 355 Main St., West Haven, CT 06516.

Take 5 Oil Change celebrates Route 1 opening in Allingtown

Take 5 Oil Change marks Route 1 opening in Allingtown

WEST HAVEN, March 27, 2023 — (Pictured): Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, holding oversize scissors, cuts the ribbon with Frank Buffone, the director of operations at Take 5 Oil Change, center right, to mark the business’s grand opening at 1083 Boston Post Road on March 24.

Shown with them are, from left, City Council members Gary Donovan, D-at large, and Colleen O’Connor, R-at large; Take 5 owners Adam and Jeff Kimberly; and Simon McDonald, the director of membership and marketing at the Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Take 5 is on Allingtown’s bustling Route 1 corridor, just east of Meloy Road near the Orange line.

According to the Kimberly brothers, the new business’s specialty is a 10-minute oil change, where customers stay in their car while the oil is changed. During each service, under-hood fluids are replenished and air filters and wiper blades are checked.

Take 5 offers a range of oils, including economy, premium and advanced packages, along with discounts for veterans and rideshare drivers.

It is open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

(Geiger/West Haven Chamber)

Food scrap bags sold at retail sites

WEST HAVEN, Feb. 24, 2023 — Residents who need more green and orange food scrap bags can buy them at the following retail locations ($1.05 for five green bags and $1.55 for five orange bags):

• Krauszer’s Food Store, 10 Jones Hill Road (Babybrook Shopping Center, corner of Ocean Avenue)

• Krauszer’s Food Store, 911 Campbell Ave. (corner of Spring Street)

• Krauszer’s Food Store, 377 Campbell Ave. (corner of Brown Street)

• Krauszer’s Food Store, 191 Platt Ave. (near the WHHS entrance)

• Nazar Halal Meat & Market, 39 Elm St. (West River Plaza)

• Greatway Food Store, 502 Sawmill Road (across from Walmart)

• Best Gas & Food Mart, 161 Boston Post Road (near the Allington Green)

• Noble Gas Station, 941 Boston Post Road (corner of Farwell Street)

West Haven heralds launch of state’s largest food-to-clean-energy program

WEST HAVEN, Nov. 14, 2022 — West Haven is the first city in the state to offer a citywide curbside food scrap diversion option to all single-family residents, Mayor Nancy R. Rossi announced.

Rossi said the program allows all single-family homes — one, two and three families — to easily separate food scraps and have them collected at the curb in the same container now used for residents’ trash collection.

The city has received a $1.3 million Sustainable Materials Management grant from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to develop and launch a food-to-clean-energy program.

Grant Coordinator Doug Colter, who secured the funding for the city, said the state is facing a solid waste disposal crisis, as traditional options for disposing of municipal solid waste are diminishing or becoming more expensive. With fewer and rapidly aging disposal options in Connecticut, residents and municipal leaders can expect disposal costs to increase at the remaining waste incineration facilities “as well as out-of-state landfilling,” Colter said.

On Nov. 7, the West Haven Food to Clean Energy program launched a nine-month pilot project for curbside food scrap diversion. Participation in the program comes at no cost to the 16,000 eligible households.

Colter said the funding covers the purchase of special color-coded bags for trash and for food scrap separation for the nine-month pilot. It also covers the cost of educational materials — mailers, a website and a Connect mobile app — along with personnel to sort the bags and the shipment of food scraps to Quantum Biopower in Southington, where the food will be converted into clean electricity, he said.

More details at Food Scrap Recycling.

Informational Materials

The Downsizing Donation Guide: A Resource for Residents of New Haven County (PDF)

What’s In? What’s Out? A Guide to Recycling (PDF)