Groton meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Groton Council advances short-term rental committee; water main work, roof contract on tap

The Groton Committee of the Whole voted 5-0 on Aug. 10 to move the creation of an ad hoc committee on short-term rentals to the Sept. 8 Mayor and Council meeting. The committee would research whether and how to regulate short-term rentals, but would not make decisions. The council also entered executive session for Public Works personnel matters (5-0) and adjourned (5-0). The sale of city properties at 0 Central Blvd. and 0 Island Ave. was discussed but no action was taken.

Recent decisions

The ad hoc committee on short-term rentals will research potential regulation but will not make decisions. The motion to forward its creation to the Sept. 8 meeting carried 5-0. No other votes were taken on the property sale.

Other recent meetings

Several meetings took place in the past two weeks, but most were agenda-only or cancelled. The Aug. 17 Mayor and Council meeting was cancelled, as was the Aug. 20 PACT meeting. The Youth Advisory Committee met Aug. 11 to review City Day survey results and plan events. The Beach and Parks Committee met Aug. 12 with no agenda items listed. The Beautification Committee met Aug. 17 to discuss a mission statement and review the flagpole project at the beach. The Planning and Zoning Commission held a final review of zoning regulations update sections 2-9 on Aug. 18. The Economic Development Commission met Aug. 19 to review Minor Façade Grant submissions from Thames St. I LLC and Shoreline Sugaring, and to discuss grant program revisions. The Groton Utilities Commission met Aug. 19 to consider a $325,600 purchase order for Wright-Pierce Engineering for watermain replacement engineering, but no vote was recorded on the agenda.

Coming up

• **Aug. 24 – Committee of the Whole:** Will consider a $325,000 purchase order to Wright-Pierce for engineering on the Military Highway, Grove Avenue, and Fairview Avenue water main replacement, renewal of a safety consulting contract with First Choice Safety Solutions, LLC, and reappointments to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
• **Aug. 24 – Mayor and Council (special meeting):** Will vote on a contract with Friar Architecture for up to $48,540 for roof structural analysis and design, an audit services award to PKF O'Connor Davies for $87,000 for FY 2025-2026, and reappointments of Paul Kunkemoeller and Robert Boris to the Planning and Zoning Commission until 2029.
• **Aug. 26 – Bozrah Utilities Commission:** Will vote on a third amendment to the power supply agreement with Airgas Merchant Gases, LLC, and discuss the Senior Housing Project and Bozrah Office Building status.

Groton Council Set to Vote on $54,000 Playground Upgrade and Parking Permit System; Recent Meetings Addressed Fire Chief Appointments and Wastewater Costs

Groton's Mayor and Council will vote August 3 on a $54,039.90 contract for new playground equipment at Washington Park and a resident-only parking permit system covering more than 30 streets. The meeting is the most consequential item on the town's current calendar, with several other recent meetings focused on appointments, zoning reviews, and budget monitoring.

Mayor and Council — July 20

The council's July 20 agenda included resolutions to appoint Kevin Price and Christian Grivalsky as battalion chiefs in the Fire Department. The body was also scheduled to act on a new parking fine and fee schedule under Ordinance 250, authorize a $98,825 change order for wastewater sludge removal, and accept a $950 donation for the street flag program. Minutes from this meeting have not yet been published, so outcomes are not confirmed.

Planning and Zoning Commission — July 21

The commission was scheduled to review zoning regulation sections 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9, and to discuss MUDD Regulations (Section 5) and short-term rental regulations. No minutes have been published, so it is not known what actions, if any, were taken.

CMEEC Budget and Finance Committee — July 23

The committee was set to review year-to-date second quarter 2026 operating results, capital project status, and the meeting schedule for the 2027 budget. Minutes are not yet available.

Beautification Committee — July 20

The committee's agenda called for reviewing and potentially adopting a draft mission statement. Members were also scheduled to discuss completed rain garden and flower bed projects at the Eastern Point Beach entrance, plans for City Day involvement, and the use of social media for outreach. No minutes have been published.

Cancelled and Procedural Meetings

The Zoning Board of Appeals meeting scheduled for July 28 was cancelled, with no items listed. The Committee of the Whole met July 27, but the agenda contained only procedural boilerplate with no specific items for decision or discussion.

Coming Up

August 3 — Mayor and Council: The council will consider five items: a memorial bench for Jan A. Miller at a location to be determined; a $54,039.90 contract with New England Recreation Group for Washington Park playground equipment; designation of resident-only parking permits for 30-plus streets including Allen Street, Baker Avenue, and Benham Road; an amendment to Ordinance 250a to update and consolidate parking regulations; and approval of minutes from the July 13 and July 20 meetings.

August 4 — Eastern Point Historic District Commission: Meeting cancelled. No business scheduled.

August 4 — Conservation Commission: Meeting cancelled. No business scheduled.

All recent meeting summaries above are based on agendas only. Minutes have not been published for any of the July meetings listed, so final outcomes, vote tallies, and any amendments are not yet part of the public record.

Groton council approves $300,000 sludge disposal contract; fire chief appointments, parking fines on deck

The Groton Mayor and Council approved a three-year sludge disposal agreement with Wind River Environmental worth up to $300,000 at its July 6 meeting, the largest dollar item among recent town decisions. The vote was 4-0-0.

Mayor and Council — July 6

The council took six recorded votes, all passing 4-0-0:

• Accepted a $25,000 donation from the Connecticut Sun Foundation for Washington Park playground equipment.
• Approved temporary alcohol use at Eastern Point Beach for the September 5 City Brew Run.
• Authorized purchase of one 2026 Dodge Durango Pursuit SUV for $41,645.
• Authorized purchase of two 2026 Dodge Durango Pursuit SUVs for $116,980.
• Approved a purchase order to Kllen Group America for $165,344.30 in transformers.
• Approved the three-year sludge disposal agreement with Wind River Environmental, capped at $300,000.

Harbor Management Commission — July 6

The commission's agenda listed consideration of approximately $5,000 for safety markers and $15,000–$20,000 to update the Harbor Management Plan. Members were also set to review draft sections of the plan, conduct a budget review, and discuss a research proposal on PFAS. Minutes have not yet been published, so no decisions are confirmed.

Conservation Commission and Eastern Point Historic District Commission — July 7

Both the Conservation Commission and the Eastern Point Historic District Commission canceled their July 7 meetings. No items were discussed or decided. The Conservation Commission had been scheduled to approve minutes from May 5 and June 2 and take up water quality and air quality as new business.

Committee of the Whole — July 13

The committee discussed the potential sale of four city- and town-owned vacant lots at 0 Central Boulevard. Other agenda items included acceptance of a $27,815 Nuclear Safety Emergency Program (NSEP) grant for police equipment and training, a proposed $98,825 change order for sludge removal at the Wastewater Treatment Facility, the appointment application of William "Tony" Patterson to the Beach and Parks Committee, and a review of the parking fine and fee schedule. Minutes are not yet published.

Youth Advisory Committee — July 14

The committee's agenda included updates on Project Oceanology, a Groton Soccer Club gear swap, the TOG Pump Track, and a survey for City Day at Marine Science. New business covered upcoming Connecticut SUN events. Minutes are not yet published.

Groton Utilities Commission/WPCA — July 15

The commission considered authorizing a $98,825.00 change order for Purchase Order 72617 to Hi Stone & Son, Incorporated for sludge removal at the Wastewater Treatment Facility. The agenda also listed discussion of transformer pricing changes, a digester update, and a review of the July 4, 2026 storm response. Minutes are not yet published.

PACT — July 16

The Police and Community Together Committee reviewed minutes from May 21, 2026, and discussed old business including mobile meetings, investigations, and cameras. The next meeting was scheduled for August 20, 2026. Minutes are not yet published.

Coming up

• **July 20 — Beautification Committee:** Will consider adopting a draft mission statement and review completed rain garden and flower bed projects at Eastern Point Beach.
• **July 20 — Mayor and Council:** Will consider appointing Kevin Price and Christian Grivalsky as battalion chiefs, approve a parking fine and fee schedule for Ordinance 250, authorize the $98,825 sludge removal change order, and accept a $950 donation for the street flag program.
• **July 21 — Planning and Zoning Commission:** Will review zoning regulation sections 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9, and discuss MUDD Regulations and short-term rental regulations.