Rhode Island Clean Water Finance Agency Welcomes New Executive Director, William Sequino, Jr.

PROVIDENCE, RI – The Rhode Island Clean Water Finance Agency (RICWFA) announced today that William Sequino, Jr. has been hired as the next executive director of the agency, following the retirement of longtime director, Anthony Simeone.  Sequino has been the Town Manager of East Greenwich, R.I. for more than 25 years and has more than 40 years experience in municipal management and administration.   He replaces Anthony Simeone, who has served as Executive Director of the RICWFA for 19 years.

The Rhode Island Clean Water Finance Agency was created in 1989 by the State of Rhode Island to administer financial assistance for certain Federal and State programs relating to municipal or community wastewater and drinking water improvements.   The agency is governed by a Board of Directors with five members.

“The success of the Clean Water Finance Agency over the years has been due in large part to the leadership and hard work of Tony Simeone,” said Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee.  “Rhode Island’s waterways and our Bay are better and cleaner today thanks to Tony and the agency.  We appreciate his years of service.”

“I wish Bill Sequino all the best in his new position, and look forward to working with him in continuing the Agency’s tradition of excellence,” Gov. Chafee added.

“Tony Simeone established the Rhode Island Clean Water Finance Agency as one of the most effective agencies in the state,” said RICWFA Board Chairman James Hagerty.  “During his 19 year tenure, the Agency grew from $102 million to over $1.3 billion in assets.”

The Agency’s clean water and drinking water loan programs have also maintained “AAA” ratings from all three major rating agencies, Hagerty added.

“Tony is leaving a sound foundation for Bill Sequino to build upon.  The Agency has a great team of employees, strong relationships with its regulatory partners at EPA, DEM and the Health Department and proven effectiveness in obtaining cost effective infrastructure financing for all of its borrowers,” Hagerty added.  “The stature of the Agency, both nationally and in Rhode Island, is attributable to Tony’s effective leadership.”

Mr. Simeone announced in January that he would retire July 1, 2013 at the end of Fiscal Year 2013.   During his tenure as executive director, Mr. Simeone was responsible for overseeing the financing of dozens of water pollution abatement and drinking water improvement loans to cities, towns and water and sewer authorities around Rhode Island. The Agency provided Clean Water and Drinking Water loans totaling over $1.5 billion during Simeone’s tenure. The Agency’s Clean Water and Drinking Water programs have consistently maintained AAA ratings from Fitch, Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s. In 2007, the Agency earned two prestigious awards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  The first award was for “exceptional creativity in designing projects that promote sustainability and protect public health.” The second was for the establishment of the innovative Community Septic System Loan Program.  This program has provided, through cities and towns and in partnership with Rhode Island Housing, over $10 million for homeowners around the State to replace failed or failing septic systems.

“The Agency’s record of success over the past 19 years is a testament to the expert staff and consultants that make up our team, and the wonderful partners we have had at the federal, state and local level,”  said Simeone.  “I have been privileged to serve as the Agency’s executive director, and I wish my successor the very best.”

As the town manager for East Greenwich for more than 25 years, William Sequino, Jr. was responsible for helping the town receive the highest bond rate (Aa+) in the state, according to Standard and Poor’s.   His other accomplishments include: producing and adopting a development impact fee ordinance to be used for new infrastructure, open space, recreation and municipal buildings;  creating a program with bond writers for local residents to purchase town bonds/notes; negotiating with the New England Institute of Technology to relocate their university campus to East Greenwich; and negotiating an agreement with the State for an ultra violet disinfectant system and a nitrogen removal system at the town wastewater treatment facility.   The ultra violet system was recognized for its innovation by the Environmental Council of Rhode Island.

“After serving the Town of East Greenwich for more than 25 years, I am looking forward to this new and challenging opportunity,” said Sequino.  “I look forward to working with the communities of Rhode Island to ensure that they are able to provide cleaner drinking water, as well as more efficient and effective waste water systems to protect our environment.”

In addition to his role in East Greenwich, Sequino serves as the chair of the Woonsocket Budget Commission and an adjunct professor of public administration at Roger Williams University.   He holds a Masters from the University of Rhode Island, an undergraduate degree from Roger Williams University, and completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government as a Hassenfeld Family Foundation Fellow.

Sequino will begin his new post on July 8, 2013.

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