On the agenda: Groton approved_minutes_2026-10-19_id-17655.pdf — Flock Camera (Nov 6)

SELECT BOARD MEETING MINUTES
MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2026
APPROVED
Select Board Members Present: Peter Cunningham, Chair; Nick Degaitas Jr., Clerk; John Reilly; Matt
Pisani; Becky Pine, Vice Chair;
Also Present: Mark Haddad, Town Manager; Kara Cruikshank, Executive Assistant to the Town Manager;
Patricia DuFresne, Assistant Director of Finance/Town Accountant; Fran Stanley, Groton Housing
Coordinator.
Chair Cunningham called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM and reviewed the agenda.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mr. Degaitas announced that he attended a Groton Lakes Association meeting, found it informative, and
appreciated all the work they do to preserve the lakes.
Ms. Pine said the Groton Herald ran an article about the Affordable Housing units owned by the Groton
Housing Authority at Sandy Pond. She said the article was based on minutes from about a year ago. She
explained that there has been further development over the past year, and that Russ Harris will write an
updated article. Ms. Pine also explained that Ken Martin, since taking over the management of the Groton
Affordable Housing is bringing in a lot of grant money.
Mr. Cunningham said there has been significant discussion about the MDM Transportation Study. He
announced a public forum on Thursday, November 19th, at the Marion Stoddart Building at 7:00 p.m. to
discuss the Report's findings in more detail and gather public feedback. He asked residents to take a
moment and allow the public process to move forward.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD - Zoom
None
TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT
1. Consider Ratifying the Town Manager’s Appointment of Mary Clay to the Greenway
Committee.
Mr. Reilly moved to ratify the Town Manager’s appointment of Mary Clay to the Greenway
Committee, with a term expiring on June 30, 2027. Ms. Pine seconded the motion. The motion
carried unanimously.
2. Update on the Approval of the Groton Charter by the Legislature and Governor.
Mr. Haddad announced to the Select Board and Groton residents that Governor Healey signed into
law Chapter 234 of the Acts of 2026 into law, “An Act Amending the Charter for the Town of
Groton.” He thanked the Charter Review Committee, Senator Cronin, and Representative Margaret
Scarsdale for their efforts in getting the Charter approved. Mr. Haddad then reviewed the major
amendments now in effect:
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October 19, 2026

Regular Session

1. One member of the Select Board and the Town Manager can now sign all payroll and expense
warrants.
2. The Town Manager will appoint the Police Chief, Fire Chief, and Town Clerk, pursuant to Select
Board Policy and subject to ratification by the Select Board.
3. The Town Manager now appoints members of the Boards and Committees, subject to Select
Board ratification, rather than nominating them for appointment by the Board.
4. The position of Principal Assistant Assessor is retitled Principal Assessor to conform with state
law.
5. The Personnel Board is eliminated.
6. The Town Manager’s Capital Budget is now due on January 31, at the same time as the
Operating Budget.
Ms. Pine further explained that the appointment policy for the Police Chief, Fire Chief, and Town
Clerk is designed to require collaboration between the Town Manager and the Select Board
throughout the process. Mr. Haddad said the Town Clerk is preparing printed copies of the updated
Charter, which will also be posted on the Town website.
3. Update from Town Manager on Fall Town Meeting Follow-Up.
Now that the Fall Town Meeting has concluded, Mr. Haddad wanted to update the Board on the
actions his office took in response to the votes and decisions made at Town Meeting. He took a
moment to recognize and thank his Executive Assistant, Kara Cruikshank, for her exceptional
attention to detail, organizational skills, and coordination. He said her contributions are greatly
appreciated. Mr. Haddad addressed the electronic voting, explaining that additional protocols and
testing procedures are now in place to prevent a recurrence of the electronic voting issues. He said
that Moderator Jason Kauppi and Town Clerk Grace Bannasch were well prepared to handle any
challenges that arose. He added that, thanks to their planning and quick response, Town Meeting
continued with very little disruption. Mr. Haddad thanked them both.
Mr. Haddad reviewed several articles from the Fall Town Meeting and summarized the actions
taken. The Town Manager's Report is included with these minutes for reference and further
explanation.
Article 2- Budget Amendments/Appropriation
The Board approved the job description for the part-time Economic Development Director position
(15 hours per week, $25,000 appropriated on a trial basis). The position will be advertised, and Mr.
Haddad will form an interview committee.
Ms. Pine moved to approve the job description for a Part-Time Economic Development Director.
Mr. Degaitas seconded the motion.
Discussion
Jeff Gordon of the Destination Groton Committee asked whether a few members could join the
Economic Development Director interview committee. Mr. Haddad said absolutely.

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October 19, 2026

Regular Session

The motion carried unanimously.
Article 10- Cow Pond Brook Fields
The low bidder for this project is M.J. Cataldo. Mr. Haddad explained that the contract is being
prepared and a kickoff meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 22nd. Work is projected to
begin on November 1st. The state grant contract has been received and covers up to $1 million in
eligible costs for the $3.9 million project. Mr. Haddad said the project must be completed by
December 31, 2027.
Article 11- Country Club Irrigation System/Course Improvements
National Lawn Sprinkler, Inc. is the low bidder on this project, and the Contract was awarded to
them. Mr. Haddad said the work is expected to begin at the Country Club by December 1st, so the
irrigation system will be operational and the course can open on time in April 2027.
Article 12- Means Tested Senior Citizen Property Tax Exemption
The Town has filed the special legislation with the state delegation. Mr. Haddad clarified that the
exemption would be funded through the overlay, rather than shifting the cost to other residential
taxpayers. When setting the tax rate, Tammi Mickel, Principal Assessor, would recommend setting
the percentage at 50% of the circuit breaker amount for the first year, with the Board able to reevaluate it annually. Mr. Haddad said it would run for three years and would expire unless renewed
by Town Meeting. He reiterated that this will not raise residents’ taxes more than allowed under
Proposition 2½.
Article 16-Citizens’ Petition- Study of Housing Opportunities
Mr. Cunningham thought resources might be available to prepare a report. Ms. Pine has been
considering who could bring the Committee together and move the effort forward. She spoke with
a Planning Board member, who said they are beginning to revise the existing multifamily zoning
bylaw, potentially creating more opportunities. Ms. Pine suggested involving the Housing
Partnership and possibly meeting with Russ Harris, the Citizen Petitioner. Mr. Cunningham agreed
that the Housing Partnership could lead the study. Mr. Degaitas asked whether representatives
from various committees and boards could lead it. Mr. Haddad advised Mr. Degaitas to contact
various boards to find volunteers, then bring a group of members back to the Board to formalize
the group. Mr. Cunningham will contact the Housing Partnership members and begin the process.
4. Fiscal Year 2028 Update.
The Town Manager stated that the Select Board will meet with the Finance Committee in joint
session next Monday, October 26, at the Groton Center to establish Budget Guidance for Fiscal
Year 2028. He sent a memorandum to both the Select Board and the Finance Committee under
separate cover in advance of the meeting, and it will be included in next week's packet.
Ms. Pine took a few moments to review ballot questions #5, #6, and #8, noting that they would
significantly affect the Town’s Budget.
5. Update on Select Board Schedule through the End of the Year.
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October 19, 2026

Regular Session

Monday, October 26, 2026Monday, November 2, 2026Monday, November 9, 2026Monday, November 16, 2026Thursday, November 19, 2026-

Provide Budget Guidance to the Town Manager
Regularly Scheduled Meeting
No Meeting
Regularly Scheduled Meeting
Public Hearing on Main Street Study (PAC)

Mr. Haddad briefly discussed the Main Street Study by MDT Transportation and emphasized that it
was just the start. Ms. Pine said that, based on the Study, they believe the Town meets the criteria
for a traffic light. Email questions and comments to [email protected]. Comments
will be forwarded to MDM for response. The Board suggested a Q&A handout for the public forum
would help share information.
Monday, November 23, 2026Monday, November 30, 2026Monday, December 7, 2026Monday, December 14, 2026Monday, December 21, 2026Monday, December 28, 2026Monday, January 4, 2027Monday, January 22, 2027-

Regularly Scheduled Meeting
No Meeting
Regularly Scheduled Meeting
Regularly Scheduled Meeting
Regularly Scheduled Meeting
No Meeting (Christmas Holiday)
No Meeting (New Year’s Holiday)
Regularly Scheduled Meeting

ITEMS FOR SELECT BOARD CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL
1. Consider Appointing Carole Carter and Doug Dubois to the T.R.E.A.D. Committee.
Mr. Pisani moved to appoint Carole Carter and Doug Dubois to the T.R.E.A.D. Committee, terms
expiring on June 30, 2027. Mr. Degaitas seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
2. Consider Request from the Groton Housing Authority to Waive Fees Related to Project at
Petapawag Place.
The Board received a letter from Ken Martin, Executive Director of the Groton Housing Authority,
requesting a waiver of local board and committee fees for several projects underway at Petapawag
Place. Mr. Haddad explained that while the Housing Authority is not a Town department, it is a
governmental entity, like the Groton Dunstable Regional School District and the West Groton
Water District. Because the Board's fee waiver policy does not specifically include the Housing
Authority, he brought the request to the Select Board for approval. The waiver would cover only
filing and review fees charged by boards such as the Historic District Commission and the Planning
Board—not building permit or electrical fees. The project, funded with approximately $3 million in
state funds, includes an elevator, door upgrades, and parking lot and accessibility improvements.
Ms. Pine moved to waive the Groton Housing Authority fees related to the Petapawag Place project.
Mr. Pisani seconded the motion.
Discussion
Ms. Pine explained that Ken Martin has been an incredible asset.

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October 19, 2026

Regular Session

The motion carried unanimously.

OTHER BUSINESS
On-Going Issues
A.
PFAS Issue – Letters were sent last week to 84 residents in the towns of Groton and
Dunstable. The inspection process is underway to determine how to connect the
properties that must be connected. He said contractor DeFelice and engineer Apex will
conduct site visits at individual homes with Water Superintendent Dan Stoneking and DPW
Director Brian Callahan.
B.
UMass Satellite Emergency Facility – On October 6th, Congresswoman Trahan and the
Governor visited the facility. The facility is scheduled to open on February 1st.
C.
Fire Department Staffing – None
D.
West Groton Dam Removal-None
E.
Main Street Study –None
F.
Flock Cameras – None
SELECT BOARD LIAISON REPORTS
Ms. Pine reported that the Non-Profit Council met last week and was very well attended.
Approval of the Regularly Scheduled Meeting of September 28, 2026.
Mr. Reilly made a motion to approve the minutes from the regularly scheduled meeting on September 28,
2026. Mr. Pisani seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Approval of the Prior Meeting to Town Meeting on October 3, 2026.
Mr. Reilly made a motion to approve the minutes from the Prior Meeting to Town Meeting on October 3,
2026. M. Pisani seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Approval of the Special Meeting on October 13, 2026.
Mr. Reilly made a motion to approve the special meeting on October 13, 2026. Mr. Pisani seconded the
motion. The motion carried unanimously.

Ms. Pine moved to move into Executive Session and not return to open session. Mr. Reilly seconded the
motion. Roll Call: Pine-aye; Reilly-aye; Degaitas-aye; Pisani-aye; Cunningham-aye.

The Select Board adjourned at 7:03 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Kara Cruikshank, Executive Assistant to the Town Manager.

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October 19, 2026

Regular Session