Clifton Town Meeting

Clifton Town Meeting is the official community council of the Clifton neighborhood.

In Spring 1961, a group of Clifton residents began meeting to explore how a community within the city could express its needs and goals within the framework of city government. The result was the Clifton Town Meeting–an official community council recognized by the City of Cincinnati. CTM, as it is commonly referred to, is the planning and policy organization for the residents of Clifton. The impetus for the establishment of CTM was the flight of people from the area to the suburbs, caused at that time primarily by interstate highway construction. The founders of CTM wanted to keep and improve what they had inherited in Clifton. This goal is still reflected today in the CTM Bylaws, which state that “the object of the organization is to preserve and develop the community of Clifton. The founders of this organization recognized that Clifton is one of Cincinnati’s first suburbs and has a traditional charm; and that the unique character of Clifton should not be left to chance. On the contrary, its growth and development should be guided by actively interested residents.” Some of the issues that the founders of CTM were concerned with continue to be concerns of Clifton residents in the 21st century–streets and traffic patterns, an attractive and vibrant business district, and of course, the preservation of Clifton’s gas lights.