Written by No one likes litter. It’s dirty and demoralizing. And, in a town like Clinton — one that’s struggling to attract business and the expanded tax base that comes with it — litter, pollution and blight send a clear message to the outside world that we don’t care how our town looks.
If elected to the Board of Selectmen, one of the first things I’ll do is start an effort to keep our streets clean and our sidewalks clear. It’s an easy way to restore community pride and appearance, and to keep Clinton walkable for all residents. Most important, it sets an example of service and responsibility to our children, our neighbors, and anyone who visits here.
As selectman, I would work to organize regular town-wide cleanup days, and initiate Clinton’s participation in the Great Massachusetts Litter Cleanup project. I’d also work with the Board of Health and DPW to make sure citizens know what is expected of them regarding litter, sidewalk maintenance and snow removal.
Speaking of snow removal, I’d take a page from a number of other communities and team up with the Council on Aging and School Department to establish a program to identify and assist people who need help with snow removal.
It’s a model that’s worked well elsewhere, and a great example of how we could look to other cities and towns for good ideas that can be implemented in Clinton. In addition to keeping seniors safe and our sidewalks clear, cross-generational programs like this have the potential for many other benefits.
- In Nutley, NJ, Mayor Alphonse Petracco says their Shovel Out Seniors program connects the town’s teens with their elders, encouraging new types of communication between the generations.
- In Hingham, participants in the Good Neighbors Volunteer Shoveling Program report that the friendly contact during storms provides a boost to seniors who might otherwise be snowbound.
Do you have an idea about cleaning up Clinton? Leave a comment below or send me an email at kerriganforclinton@gmail.com. I’d love to hear from you!
Sean Kerrigan, Clinton Select Board 