News
From Beacon Hill Roll Call News Service
If approved by voters and later implemented by the Legislature, a newly certified statewide ballot proposal would replace locally developed zoning plans with uniform statewide standards, bringing potential changes to Groton and other Massachusetts towns.
A...
Construction on the planned UMass Memorial Health satellite emergency facility in Groton is already visible, and the project is moving quickly through the local permitting process, Planning Board members learned at their January 8 meeting.
Planning Board Administrator and Land Use Director...
by Russ Harris
Last week’s analysis suggested that persistent property tax pressure may have less to do with tax rates or spending decisions than with how many households are available to share the cost of largely fixed public systems, including schools, roads, and core services.
This week’s...
Shorty: It’s easy to forget that Groton once had one church — and that keeping it that way nearly tore the town apart. This wasn’t a polite theological disagreement; it was a full-blown civic meltdown, complete with Town Meeting showdowns, accusations of fraud, locked doors, pamphlet wars, and...
by Russ Harris
Groton’s property tax bills have become a familiar source of strain for many residents. Each year brings renewed debate about budgets, overrides, and rising costs, often accompanied by the feeling that no matter how much residents pay, the answer is always the same: more money. Over...
Groton Explorer Post 4879 will be picking up Christmas Trees in Groton the weekends of January 3 and 4 and again January 10 and 11. They are asking for a $10 donation to be used to purchase needed uniforms and equipment. If you would like to have your tree picked up, please call 978-391-9627 and...
A Different Starting Question
The second part of our news analysis series begins with a simple but unfamiliar question: is Groton’s tax challenge really about tax rates being too high—or about too few taxpayers sharing the cost of running the town?
For years, debates about growth focused on...
An extended 48-minute discussion at the December 23, 2025 Conservation Commission meeting highlighted ongoing challenges with municipal permitting processes, culminating in rare public apologies from multiple board members who acknowledged they "screwed up" their handling of a stone wall...
by Connie Sartini
Facing growing pressure to fund both municipal services and the Groton-Dunstable Regional School District, Town Manager Mark Haddad warned the Select Board last week that balancing the FY2027 budget under current guidance could require staffing reductions and service cuts.
At...