Town of Groton

The new business section detailed the filing period for various Town offices, including Selectman, Town Treasurer, Planning Board, and others, spanning January 21 through January 29, 2026. The board discussed the 2026-2027 Rumney Fire & EMS contracts, noting a significant decrease in the Fire Contract due to the absence of a one-time truck payment from the previous year, and motioned to sign the agreements. Additionally, the board approved an abatement application for Map 7 Lot 20, reducing the assessment, and approved the denial of an abatement application for Map 6 Lot 63-10 based on Avitar's recommendation.

The Select Board addressed new business items, including approving a prorated assessment abatement for Map 5 Lot 4 following a fire incident on December 6, 2025, based on the recommendation from Avitar. The Board also reviewed and signed the annual review for year one of the Hazard Mitigation Plan, following its review by the Emergency Management Director. The Highway Department reported on recent activities, primarily plowing and sanding.

The meeting addressed concerns regarding recycling services with Casella, including material destinations, contamination issues, and various cost structures for recycling versus trash disposal. The Board received and reviewed three bids for the North Groton Road Project and two bids for the Sculptured Rocks Road Project, deciding to table the award decisions for a subsequent work session. Approvals were granted for Class VI Road maintenance requests for Nedeau Lane and Orange Road with conditions. A change order for the Atwell Orange Brook Bridge project was signed to allow concurrent paving, but the Select Board voted not to reduce the retainage from 10%. The Board also approved drafting a letter to the Governor regarding flooding near the Town Garage, authorized a tax abatement for New Hampshire Fish and Game Department property, and approved several building permits and a local septic approval. An elderly exemption application was approved after required documentation was submitted.

Key discussions included accepting the State's plans for work on Orange Road, a Class VI road, which required notifying the Town for monitoring purposes. The Board approved an abatement application for Map 3 Lot 6-3 due to an error in a prior timber tax bill. A Land Use Change Tax Abatement request for Map 5 Lot 140-3 was denied based on Avitar's recommendation. The Board approved the 2020 Avitar Terra Mapping Services Agreement, which included an annual increase. They also approved the 2020 certificate for exemption of Federal Diesel Tax for Dead River and the 2020 holiday schedule, pending confirmation regarding Transfer Station operations for certain holidays. The Board reviewed letters from the North Country Council regarding grant opportunities for Solid Waste Management, including technical assistance for operational plans and options for Household Hazardous Waste, Tire disposal, and Electronic Waste collections, requesting further review from Norm. In Select Board Items, plans were set for the annual Food and Clothing Drive, and it was noted that the Children's Gift Tree would not be organized by the Town this year. Updates were provided regarding the Highway Department's plowing efforts and requests for residents regarding snow clearance and sand bucket limits. The Cemetery Committee noted fence repair work and requested care during plowing. Finally, questions were addressed regarding open Transfer Station gates and grading stakes for future construction planning across from the Transfer Station.

The primary discussion focused on the future of the Groton Police Department following the retirement of an officer, with options debated including maintaining the department, abolishing it in favor of State Police or Sheriff's Department contracts, or maintaining a reduced presence. Concerns raised by the public included response times, familiarity with local issues, and budgetary allocation. The Board agreed to continue coverage via the Sheriff's Department until the Town Meeting in March. Other agenda items included the approval of cardboard breakdown requirements at the Transfer Station effective January 23, 2019, a decision to proceed with legal action regarding a junkyard violation, addressing new requirements for property data verification mailings from Avitar, accepting the resignation of Selectman Kyle Andrews effective January 31, 2019, approving a Veterans Tax Credit application, and announcing filing deadlines for Town Offices. Committee updates were provided for the Building Committee, Road Committee, and Zoning Board, which adopted an appeal form.