Just a few yardsfrom the Hockanum River itself , the Town Council created a commission to better use the town’s resource last Tuesday .

The council voted unanimously 7-0 , with two councilmen ( Pitkin and Horan ) absent , to alter ordinances establishing the Hockanum River Commission , essentially ratifying an existing volunteer committee . The commission will be overseen by the Parks and Rec . Department .

“ We’re going to clean up the entire river , ” said Doug Smith , expert on the river , who has been the spearhead of the drive to create the commission in East Hartford . Smith is the head of the Hockanum Watershed Association , which covers nine towns , and has been in existence since 1996 . The river proper runs through Ellington , Vernon , Manchester , and East Hartford , where it joins the Connecticut River .

Smith and other volunteers have been diligently cleaning the river since 2002 , regularly meeting ( when it’s warm ) on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings . They remove tires , shopping carts , fallen trees , and other garbage . Smith said the town recently acquired property along the river near the former Elks Club on Roberts Street , and the main focus will be to create the continuation of the hiking trail there .

“ Their [ the volunteers ] dedication has been wonderful , ” Mayor Melody Currey said . “ Clearly , the river walk does need something , and I think this commission may be the ideal way to address that . ”

“ I think it would be really a good shot in the arm for the town to be able to do a lot more with the river we have here , ” said council chair Richard Kehoe .

“ I remember trudging through there as a kid , ” said councilman Jason Rojas .

The nine member commission will have seven East Hartford residents and no more than two from other towns . Each will serve a three-year term .

Another goal of the group is preparation for a canoe race in East Hartford scheduled for May 4 . It would start at Labor Field and end at Great River Park , however , there are three dams that the canoes would have to be carried around . “ We’ve talked to the owner [ of the property where the dams are ] and he’s agreeable to that , ” said Smith .

In previous years, a canoe race in Manchester ended just over the East Hartford line .

The Hockanum River Linear Park Committee is a subcommittee of the conservation commission in Manchester . Vernon has had a similar arrangement for many years, and another body was recently established in Ellington .

Smith said the formation of the commission is the “ last piece of the puzzle , ” but admitted that part of it is about money .

“ The Manchester canoe race has happened for 30 years, and they’ve never asked us for a nickel , ” said Smith . He said East Hartford officials agreed to the race , but have asked for $ 3 , 500 for police , fire , and parks personnel , as well as insurance . “ The hope is that some of this will go away , once we’re recognized as part of the town , ” said Smith .

Paula Flack , who is the chair of the committee , said it will be able to accomplish more under the umbrella of the town , and that although they hope to receive town funds , the amount is nominal compared to other commissions .

The group has also been searching for grants from area businesses . “ We talked to Cabela’s , ” said Smith , “ and got the biggest brush-off . They said they get a lot of requests and couldn’t help us . We were disappointed . ”

Cynthia Reik said East Hartford hired a city planner in 1924 , who recommended that the river be the focal point of the town .

“ It’s a beautiful resource , and we really need to exploit it , ” said Flack , adding that she hopes to get kids from the summer camps at the community center involved .

“ Let’s get them out of the gym , onto the river , and teach them to kayak , ” she said .