Cutting red tape, not corners

When Governor Charlie Baker announced Phase 2 of the state’s Reopening Plan, many restaurants were caught by surprise. Early speculation predicted restaurants would be restricted to 25 percent capacity, but the official plan nixed all indoor dining, allowing outdoor table service only.

While some Clinton establishments had outdoor seating already, in most cases it wasn’t enough to justify opening. And many others had no established outdoor seating whatsoever, leaving them wondering how long it would take to secure the necessary permitting and permissions.

That’s why I’m proud our Board of Selectmen, as the local licensing authority and superintendents of the public ways, granted emergency powers this past week to our director of community and economic development and town administrator, giving them the freedom to work with local business owners and give them every tool available to get back to work safely.

This isn’t cutting corners. It’s cutting red tape. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything, so why can’t it change the way we do business in Clinton — for the better?

For the next 90 days, High Street will be a laboratory for low-risk, high-reward change. Already, Clinton’s Bar and Grill has worked with the DPW to block off some parking spots and expand its outdoor seating. Others will certainly soon follow. And shutting down part of High Street altogether for a Friday night or Saturday has been suggested, and I think it’s a great idea to try.

Because that’s the point: This state of emergency has forced us to try new things and, if we’re afraid to take some smart risks or make some responsible mistakes, we will miss a great chance to make our downtown truly someplace special, and maybe lose some dedicated local businesses in the process.

You deserve local leadership that is daring enough to try something new, brave enough to get out of the way, and humble enough to admit that local merchants might have some ideas that we haven’t thought of. Instead of micromanaging, let’s step back and think seriously about how we can make a resilient Clinton that will still be standing tall when this crisis is over.

If you’re a local business owner with questions about expanding open dining, or other aspects of the governor’s reopening plan, contact the Office of Community and Economic Development, or leave me a note and I’ll get you in touch with someone who can help. Together, we’re going to make it through this thing.