July 2024
Town Administrator’s Corner
Message from the Town Administrator
As the month of July comes to an end, almost as fast as it arrived, we work to close out the 2024 fiscal year. The year end process is mainly a function of the Town Accountant, but all departments play a role.
To ensure local officials, such as the Finance Board and Select Board, have accurate financial data in adequate time to make necessary budgetary decisions, the Town must properly close its books promptly after the fiscal year ends which runs from July 1st to June 30th. Failure to adhere to a timely schedule delays the completion of closing entries, trial balances, reconciliations, account analyses, and financial reporting. As an important reserve, the Town’s annual free cash cannot be certified if there are delays in year-end schedules.
Free cash is a revenue source that results from the calculation, as of July 1, of a community’s remaining, unrestricted funds from its operations of the previous fiscal year based on the balance sheet as of June 30. It typically includes actual receipts in excess of revenue estimates and unspent amounts in departmental budget line items for the year just ending, plus unspent free cash from the previous year. Unpaid property taxes and certain deficits reduce the amount that can be certified as free cash. As a nonrecurring revenue source, free cash is restricted to paying one-time expenditures, such as funding capital projects, or replenishing other reserves.
Speaking of capital projects, the Capital Improvement Program planning process begins next month. Which means, budget season has arrived!
As we head into the last few weeks of summer and begin back to school shopping, I hope you all are able to enjoy the sunny, warm days while they are here.
Upcoming Events
Check out the Langley-Adams Library Event Calendar.
Newburyport Chamber Music Festival . July 29th through August 11th. See HERE for more details.
Actors Studio of Newburyport’s (TASN). August 10th 7:00 P.M. See HERE for more details.
Town Projects
Housing Production Plan (HPP). A Housing Production Plan helps municipalities better understand local housing need and demand, development constraints and opportunities, and their future for affordable housing and sometime market-rate housing. Housing Production Plans must be updated every 5 years. The Town of Groveland’s Plan has expired. The Planning Board approved the draft Plan and the Select Board issued endorsement of the Plan at their July 22nd meeting. A final draft of the report can be found on the Grants & Projects Page HERE.
Community Preservation Project. Grant project update can be found on the Community Preservation Project page HERE.
Grant Awards
Fire Department. Georgetown, Amesbury, Merrimac, and Groveland received a FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) for the purchase of portable radios. Groveland is receiving approximately $185,000. The Town provided a cash match of $18,500. This was done utilizing free cash reserves and a vote was taken at the 2024 Annual Town Meeting. Groveland will purchase 25 dual band radios with chargers and spare batteries. This will allow Groveland to communicate with all of Essex County, and other bordering communities including southern New Hampshire.
Council on Aging. The Groveland COA received two Service Incentive Grants (SIG) from the Massachusetts Councils on Aging.
- $825: Field Demonstration Project Area: Other Innovative Programming
- $4,000: Field Demonstration Project Area: Development and Implementation of Outreach Programs
Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Jail/Arrest Diversion Grant Program. Groveland Police Department continues to be a part of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Jail/Arrest Diversion Grant Program and we are excited to continue working alongside Clinician Robin. This program includes Rowley, Boxford, Georgetown, and Newbury. The Clinician was made possible in collaboration with Beth Israel Lahey Health Behavioral Services. The Jail Diversion Clinician assists in co-response for behavioral health calls, performs brief assessments to determine appropriate service connections, facilitates diversion from arrest where appropriate, and assists in increasing competencies within the police departments; ultimately strengthening each agency’s response to behavioral health crisis.
Volunteer/Employee Spotlight:
Meet Claire Walsh
Claire Walsh is a long-time resident of Groveland and a staple of community events and preserving Groveland’s history. She has been instrumental in the accomplishment of many Town events and initiatives over the years. This spotlight will highlight only briefly all she has done for the Town.
While Claire grew up in Little Compton, Rhode Island, she has been a Groveland resident for about 35 years with her husband, dog, horse, and chickens. She was a nurse for many years and worked with her husband at their funeral parlor business.
Claire was instrumental in the success of Groveland’s 150th Parade Celebration in 2000. She was the treasurer of the 150th Committee that coordinated a Kick-off Celebration, Family Picnic at the Pines (where the photo of Claire was taken), a House & Garden Tour, a Town Parade, and ending the year with a holiday party. These events were an immense success and truly define the spirit of Groveland.Â
Claire also spearheaded the effort to restore Washington Hall, believed to be the first community center in the country. The restoration efforts took many years to complete, from securing the funds to make the project possible, to ensuring that contractors were keeping as much of the original character as possible. The Groveland Historical Society now houses their museum at the Hall and hosts a variety of events there, such as their annual wreath making class, antique appraisal, and various talks. Claire has received funds from the Community Preservation Commission to begin the process of adding Washington Hall to the National Register of Historic Places.
Yet another event that Claire tackles is the annual Pines Speedway Reunion at the Pines Recreation Area which celebrates the park’s history as a racetrack. She is able to bring together folks who had raced at the tracks and others who bring their vintage cars. The event is a great reminder of what Groveland’s landscape used to look like.
Claire is also the chair of the Friends of Veasey, a non-profit organization that helps to raise money for Veasey Park. As part of the Friends, she works to put on the Fairy House Festival, the annual Flea Market, Winter Fest, and the Wine and Art Festival, and other events that take place at Veasey.
Claire’s continued dedication to Groveland’s history is not only inspiring but highly valued. She is the go-to person for any question about Groveland’s history and has important insight for a variety of projects. We are incredibly thankful for all that Claire has done for Groveland.
What You Might’ve Missed:
Latest News
COA Newsletter. July/August newsletter here.
New to Hires. We want to give a warm welcome to the new Projects and Programs Manager Arthur Markos. Arthur joins us from the Town of Tewksbury. He worked as the Project Manager in the Engineering Division. He formerly worked for the Town of Reading as an Assistant Civil Engineer.
We also want to welcome Meray Eady as the new Administrative Assistant in the Water and Sewer Department. Meray has an extensive background in customer service.
Public Safety Shoutout! Congratulations to Sergeant L’Italien who was promoted on July 1st. Sgt. L’Italien joined the department in 2015 as a Reserve Officer and Dispatcher, following his graduation from the MLETA Reserve/Intermittent Police Academy. He joined the department as a full-time officer in 2017 after graduating from the Northern Essex Community College (NECC) Methuen Police Academy.
Highway Shoutout! Have you seen the new drainage at Washington Park and behind Washington Hall? The Highway crew did an amazing job. Both sites are functioning as designed. We appreciate the hard work!
The 175th Celebration of Groveland is approaching! Volunteers needed! We are working to continue the efforts of Tracy Gilford and prepare for the upcoming celebration. We have a few folks assisting with preparations but as always more is needed. If interested in helping with these efforts please contact Annie Schindler, Executive Coordinator at 978-556-7205 or ASchindler@grovelandma.com.
Since it is almost August and all the stores are putting out Fall décor…..let’s talk about PumpkinFest! The group is working on planning efforts and has proposed a location change for more room right next door at the Pines Recreation Area. Save the Date October 16th, rain date of October 17th.If interested in helping with these efforts please contact Annie Schindler, Executive Coordinator at 978-556-7205 or ASchindler@grovelandma.com.
Department Spotlight:
Dr. Elmer S. Bagnall School
WELCOME Derby!
The Professional Therapy Dog
Derby is our newest staff member at Bagnall School. For the past year Derby has been training in Kansas to learn how to help support our students and staff. In June, Derby arrived at his new home in Groveland and will begin working at Bagnall on Monday 8/26.
Derby’s role at Bagnall: Derby will be part of the school community and will be as present and visible as possible. He will be at arrival, dismissal, recess, school events and classroom visits. Derby is a certified professional therapy dog. His trained purpose is to provide therapeutic support for those in need.
How do professional therapy dogs actually help?
- Reading to a dog has been proven to improve reading performance
- Interacting with a therapy dog may improve speed and accuracy of cognitive function.
- Motor skills among preschool aged children improved while interacting with a real dog as compared to stuffed animals or humans.
- Derby will help when students are in crisis, preventative behavioral supports, facilitating social relationships, and supporting staff well-being.
We are very excited to welcome Derby to our Bagnall School Community!
Principal Jim Day | day@prsd.org | 978-372-8856
