Citizen involvement needed

Date: 6/22/2010

June 23, 2010.

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

HOLYOKE -- Holyoke is looking for a few good men and women with ideas about two different subjects.

Mayor Elaine Pluta is seeking residents and business owners to volunteer their time and thoughts on how to keep the city cleaner.

She told Reminder Publications there is already an effort to address litter and dumping along main thoroughfares such as High, Main and Maple streets, but would like to expand cleaning to other areas.

She noted there has been a single day dedicated to cleaning in the past, but would like to develop programs to continuously pay attention to the issue.

Pluta said these new ideas should center on litter and trash removal as opposed to code violations.

Holyoke Clean City Initiative will be meeting with the mayor on a monthly basis. People wishing to participate should call the mayor's office at 322-5510.

The Holyoke Redevelopment Authority is recruiting residents to serve on a citizen participation committee to guide the Urban Renewal planning process.

The Urban Renewal Plan focuses on redeveloping downtown, South Holyoke, Churchill and the Flats areas of the city and implementing the Center City Vision Plan.

If interested in serving, resident should send a letter to the Holyoke Redevelopment Authority, Citizen Participation Committee, One Court Plaza, Holyoke, Mass., 01040.

For more information, call 322-5655.