Human Services Director David Melillo has announced his intention to retire in July. The town will begin the search for a replacement.

At the March 15 Town Council meeting, Town Manager Karl Kilduff announced that Melillo would retire on July 14.

“We will start the hiring process now,” Kilduff said.

Kilduff also noted that the Human Services Commission wishes to have some overlap with the eventually newly hired director and Melillo.

“I’ve been doing this job for 47 years now. There are some things I’ve been working on I’d like to see go forward between now and July, but I’m ready for a rest,” Melillo told the Harbor News about his decision to retire.

Melillo said that, in particular, he will miss the kids he’s gotten to work with both as a therapist and the kids who participate in different clubs and programs the department runs, such as the REACT club.

“The kids whose minds are bubbling with new ideas I’m really going to miss,” said Melillo.

Melillo was hired in Clinton in May of 2018. Prior to his arrival in Clinton, he had held the same job in neighboring Madison for 33 years. Since his time in Clinton, Melillo has helped spearhead several programs that he is quite proud of.

Asked what stands out from his time in Clinton, Melillo replied, “I would say probably the Clinton Community Conversations program. We’ve been getting the issue of suicide to be discussed in a direct way and in a problem-solving way. It’s a very important issue in Clinton.”

Beyond that program, Melillo also said he was proud of his work to bring money into the department via grants and projects funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.

Between now and his last day in mid-July, Melillo said he is looking to get two more programs up and running. One, in conjunction with the Henry Carter Hull Library, is a program aimed at helping people with technology issues overcome that obstacle.

“I think the pandemic helped reveal the difference between people who were comfortable with technology and those who aren’t or couldn’t get online,” said Melillo.

A second upcoming program is a partnership between the department and the school system that hopes to tackle chronic absenteeism among students.

While he may be leaving the department soon, Melillo said that he hopes that people still realize the amount of work remaining for the department to do and the positive effect it can have.

“I hope that along with all the fantastic things kids are doing, people realize what kinds of needs there are for the kids, and I don’t know if people realize the amount of families we help here in town and that need will still exist when I’m gone,” said Melillo.

With retirement still three months away from press time, Melillo said that his plans for what to do in retirement are not set in stone.

“I’d like to travel as much as possible, and I have two kids that live out of state, too,” said Melillo.