CLINTON — During Wednesday night’s Clinton Select Board meeting, town officials expressed renewed commitment to redeveloping the long-neglected ITT Surprenant Wire & Cable site at 172 Sterling Street, calling it a top priority and a major economic opportunity for the town.
Philip Duffy, the town’s community and economic development director, said the site is behind schedule but emphasized that work is underway to address outstanding issues—including environmental remediation, legal deficiencies in the deed, and preparations for issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP).
“We’re still in the process of selecting the qualified environmental professional for that project,” Duffy told the board. “When that person is on board, we will have an understanding after a process of what the scope of remaining remediation is going to be on that site.”
Duffy noted that legal corrections are needed before the town can convey the property to a developer.
“There are deficiencies in the deed that need to be corrected,” he said. Later adding, “Effectively the meets and bounds description no longer describes the current property that we own. Some of it was subdivided out…There’s also language that’s required by MassDEP making reference to the activity and use limitation that somehow fell out of the deed.”
To accelerate progress, Duffy suggested two additional steps: hiring an appraiser to determine the fair market value of the land, and forming a committee of residents to help define priorities and guide redevelopment terms.
“I honestly feel this process may be well served by opening it up to a greater number of people in the community,” he said. “There are more variables in this property. And in terms of how we weight them, I’d actually consider appointing a committee to work that through.”
Board members responded with strong support and a sense of urgency.
Select Board Vice-Chair Matthew Kobus said the site’s condition is one of the most frequent complaints he hears from residents.
“You drive through Sterling Street and it is post-apocalyptic looking in that neighborhood,” Kobus said. “I think it’s a great opportunity for the town. You’ve discussed many different options and proposals of what it could be, and I think it’s time—let’s close this out.”
Select Board Chair Julie Perusse agreed, saying it’s time to stop delaying and move forward: “Outside of The Strand, it’s probably the question we get the most—is what’s going on across from Sterling Street.”
Kobus then expressed support for Duffy’s recommendation to create a list of potential committee members for a subcommittee to address the matter and establish a more structured timeline.
“I think we can work simultaneously to get everything that we need to do that we can do,” Kobus said. “And then if there are things that are outside the town’s control or outside your control, then we’re at the mercy of it. But at least everything we can do to get everything lined up—let’s make it happen.”
Duffy acknowledged the delay but said he’s committed to progress.
“I’ve been slowed to get it out,” he said, referring to contracting the next phase of site remediation. After confirming that a remediation plan is in place, Duffy explained that post-remediation sampling is typically part of the process. “That’s part of the process—then they do post-remediation sampling, and then they do the report and you’re done,” he said.
Surprenant, Duffy said, is “one of the most important projects we have on the horizon.”