We are also party to two real estate leases with Casella Associates, LLP, a Vermont limited
liability company owned by Messrs. John Casella and Douglas Casella. These leases relate to our corporate headquarters in Rutland, Vermont, and our Montpelier, Vermont facility, and provide for aggregate monthly payments by us of $28,877, subject to
an annual escalation provision based on increases in the consumer price index, through their expiration in August 2023.
From 1977 to
1992, we operated an unlined landfill located in Whitehall, New York, owned by Bola, Inc., a corporation owned by Messrs. John Casella and Douglas Casella, which operated as a single-purpose real estate holding company. We paid the cost of closing
this landfill in 1992, and have agreed to pay all post-closure obligations. From January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018, we paid an aggregate of $13,560 pursuant to this arrangement. As of December 31, 2018, we had accrued $48,478 for
costs related to those post-closure obligations.
In connection with Mr. Douglas Casellas service as President of Casella Waste
Management, Inc., our wholly-owned subsidiary, in fiscal 2018 we granted Mr. Douglas Casella a restricted stock unit award with a grant date fair value of $120,609 and paid $8,845 for life insurance premiums.
Michael Casella, the son of Mr. John Casella, is employed by the Company as a general manager. From January 1, 2018 through
December 31, 2018, Mr. Michael Casella earned $160,026 as salary, bonus, and other benefits related to his employment and received a restricted stock unit award with a grant date fair value of $8,011.
Elizabeth Casella, the daughter of Mr. John Casella, is employed by the Company as Director of Development &
Coordination. From January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018, Ms. Casella earned $167,020 as salary, bonus, and other benefits related to her employment and received a restricted stock unit award with a grant date fair value of
$10,001.
We have entered into employment agreements with certain of our officers. See Executive and Director Compensation and
Related Matters Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control Employment Agreements.
Communicating with the Independent
Directors
Our Board will give appropriate attention to written communications that are submitted by stockholders, and will respond if
and as appropriate. Our Lead Director, with the assistance of our Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel, is primarily responsible for monitoring communications from stockholders and for providing copies or summaries to the other directors as
he considers appropriate.
Communications are forwarded to all directors if they relate to important substantive matters and include
suggestions or comments that our Lead Director considers to be important for the directors to know. In general, communications relating to corporate governance and long-term corporate strategy are more likely to be forwarded than communications
relating to ordinary business affairs, personal grievances and matters as to which we receive repetitive or duplicative communications.
Stockholders who wish to send communications on any topic to our Board should address such communications to: Board of Directors, Attn:
Corporate Secretary, Casella Waste Systems, Inc., 25 Greens Hill Lane, Rutland, Vermont 05701.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
We have adopted a written Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees, including our principal
executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer,
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