City Councilors Pete Tranchemontagne and Cheeny Plante drop off a load of roadside trash at the transfer station. Photo: Tina Tranchemontagne
By Zendelle Bouchard
An effort spearheaded by two city councilors is tackling trash along Sanford’s roadways one stretch at a time. Cheeny Plante and Pete Tranchemontagne are organizing cleanup sessions and seeking volunteers to pitch in for an hour on Saturday mornings.
Plante reported at this week’s council meeting that, to date, the group has filled four pickup trucks with trash from along Route 109 between the Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport and the Wells town line. Last Saturday, 14 people turned out to help. She has started a Facebook group, Sanford Trash Force so interested residents can follow the progress and find out where the next cleanup will be. “Sanford has the potential to be the cleanest city in southern Maine, if not the whole state, if people pitch in,” she said.
The cleanup for April 11 will begin at the intersection of Route 109 and Sam Allen Road and head toward the airport. Anyone who would like to help should be there at 10 am and wear brightly colored clothing. The city will supply the trash bags and bring them to the transfer station. “All we need is your time,” said Plante.
Deputy Mayor Maura Herlihy added that any residents wanting to work on a different section of town should contact Plante so she can post the info to the Facebook group.
The Sanford Clean Air & Water Coalition is also planning cleanups and will decide this week what area to tackle first. John Henkelman, a member of the group, said he will advocate for them to concentrate efforts downtown and around the parks to get Sanford ready for summer.
Tranchemontagne also requested that the council address the buildup of trash on private property that has become unsafe and unsightly. He mentioned the edges of the Walmart and Lowe’s parking lots as well as homeless encampments on private property abutting the trails in multiple locations. Herlihy encouraged property owners to pay attention to their properties, especially vacant land, and intervene early before problems get out of hand. She said either the Property or Public Safety Subcommittee would take up the issue next week.
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