Select Board votes to seek CPC funds for dam repair

Select Board · Meeting of March 13, 2026

GROTON — The Groton Select Board voted 3-0 to pursue Community Preservation Act funding for the Squanacook River Dam repair before its $502,500 low bid expires. Town Manager Mark said the town received eight bids, three near $502,500 and five above $1.1 million, and requested a $250,000 contingency, pushing the total borrowing request to $812,500. Community Preservation Committee Treasurer Bruce warned the committee rarely funds two bonded projects at once and noted a competing $3.1 million Cow Pond Brook request.

Board member Allison opposed the out-of-cycle request, saying "I'm certainly uncomfortable with kind of the approach that this rule this time doesn't apply to us," while a finance representative called Community Preservation Act funds "the cheapest way thinking about taxes for the town." If the committee declines March 23, the board will weigh an April 6 debt exclusion ballot question ahead of the May 2 town meeting.

In the full story:

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• Groton's community access TV: Select Board meeting, March 13, 2026
• The complete report: 862 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of March 13, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

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