Town Meeting rejects dam repair, ballfield plan

Town Meeting · Meeting of May 2, 2026

Groton's Annual Spring Town Meeting approved a $55.9 million fiscal 2027 budget but rejected the $4.85 million Cow Pond Brook Fields renovation, a specialized stretch energy code, and a $752,500 West Groton Dam repair. The dam repair failed 125-182, short of the two-thirds majority required, after extensive debate pitting the historic mill pond against river restoration advocates who cited a roughly 95 percent state grant reimbursement rate for dam removal. The ballfield project, pushed by consultant Meg Buzinski and backed by a $1 million federal grant, failed 203-230 after critics cited a $769,000 cost overrun.

Police Chief Mike Luth said "the police department does not have a plan" for public oversight of Flock Safety cameras before an amendment trimmed $20,000 from that funding, 228-206. The average tax bill rises $518, or 4.6 percent, to $11,771.

In the full story:

• The Full Story
• Why It Matters
• Key Motions & Votes
• Source
• Groton's community access TV: Town Meeting meeting, May 2, 2026
• The complete report: 1,047 words

Source: the Town Meeting meeting of May 2, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.