September 2023
Town Administrator’s Corner
Message from the Town Administrator
I am not sure about you, but time is sure moving quick! We are at the end of September, Fall is here and budget season has begun!
We recently sent out requests for capital improvement projects to departments and look to update our current plan for review and approval. A capital improvement program provides a blueprint for planning a community’s capital expenditures and coordinates community planning, financial capacity, and physical development.
Budget schedules and process for submittals are all being defined. You can tune into Finance Board meetings and learn more. There are multiple ways to view, you can attend in person (meeting calendar), watch on Channel 9, stream online, or watch afterwards on our YouTube Channel. This year departmental requests will be available to the public right on the website in January. Residents, and those interested, will be able to see what the departments have requested and can follow along as we go through the process . We are working on the Fiscal Year 2025 budget and this will be presented to the voters for approval at the Annual Town Meeting (ATM). A fiscal year runs from July 1st to June 30th. Annual Town Meeting, per our bylaw, is held on the last Monday in April. This year ATM will be held on April 29, 2024.I will have much to share in the coming months and will provide links to information and updates.
One last matter I wanted to highlight this month was the Comprehensive Master Plan. We are nearing completion and we need your input! What is the purpose of a Master Plan & why is it important?
While the plan has little direct authority, it is an expression of Groveland’s intention for the future and provides guidance to accomplish that vision.
The benefits for having a plan include:
- Consistency in decision making: The plan gives decision makers a steady point of reference for taking action.
- Ability to make informed decisions: The plan provides facts on existing conditions and trends, enabling decision makers to better understand the impact of their decisions.
- Achieve predictability: The plan describes where and what type of development the community desires. This information allows for the zoning, purchase and use of land consistent with community goals.
- Wise use of resources: The plan includes information from different departments and sources. This information can be used in deciding and prioritizing which projects to undertake (such as promoting brownfield redevelopments, buying land for parks, or applying for grants for affordable housing, etc.) It also can be used to direct the location of utility extensions and road improvements.
- Preserving community character: The plan describes the Town’s vision for the future and establishes its existing and intended growth. It permits the community to identify what is important and how it should be protected.
- Produce positive economic development: Planning for a community helps existing residences and businesses better predict the future development of an area. This prediction creates a comfort zone of knowing what to expect on neighboring properties. It also encourages new businesses and residential developments because they also know what to expect. In addition, the planning process allows a community to consider workforce, education and local infrastructure capacity, among other factors, so that appropriate economic development strategies can be developed.
Upcoming Events
Town Projects
Uptack Culvert. The Uptack Culvert project is complete! The culvert looks fantastic! The project provides a new concrete box culvert and guard rails to meet modern traffic safety device standards and provides safe conditions for both motorists and pedestrians .The culvert is designed to pass peak flood conditions and will improve climate change resiliency along a vital transportation route within the Town of Groveland. We are thankful to our design engineers TEC, Inc. and the contractor Kodiak Corporation. We are also thankful to all our residents that were impacted by the detour. The total cost of the budget was $1 million and was made possible through the MassWORKS Infrastructure Program.
Housing Production Plan. We held a virtual engagement session on September 28th. The presentation for Groveland can be found here. We discussed what work is underway to tackle housing challenges on the local level, as well as the tools and strategies that can be used to create further housing opportunity in Groveland. We will be holding an in person engagement session in the Spring. We will have more information to share on the date and location of that meeting in the next few months.
Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Grant. The Town of Groveland has been awarded a $143,666 Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grant. The grant will be used for the continuation of the Johnson Watershed Flood Resiliency Project. The project involves implementing flood mitigation at several locations in the Johnson Creek Watershed, which will then provide wildlife passage and habitat, stream and bank restoration, water quality benefits, increase resiliency, and improve public safety during future storms. The Johnson Watershed Flood Resiliency Project is one of 79 projects across the state that was awarded funding.
150 Center/ Strawberry Field Feasibility Study. The Town of Groveland was awarded funding from a Community One Stop for Growth – Site Readiness Program grant in the amount of $191,050. These funds were used for a feasibility study, planning, civil engineering, market analysis, and master plan for a 62-acre parcel of commercial and industrial-zoned town-owned land.
Nitsch Engineering, Innes Associates, RKG Associates and LEC Environments, was the project team retained and have been working on this project since January of this year. The team engaged various stakeholders and performed various public engagement by way of online survey, in-person meetings, virtual meetings and had a presence at Groveland Day. The group presented their initial findings to the Select Board on September 25th. A copy of the presentation can be found here. A final report will be released in the coming month.
Please visit our Grants and Project page for more information on the projects mentioned above and others.
Department Spotlight:
Economic Development Planning & Conservation Department
The tool most used in the Economic Development, Planning, and Conservation Department is MIMAP, the online GIS viewer for Groveland, which is managed by the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission (MVPC). A GIS (geographic information systems) viewer is essentially an online mapping tool that can be used to provide and visualize many different types of spatial data. This type of data can range widely, including information such as water bodies, traffic signals, drainage structures, trails, and even as specific as locations of utility poles. Because much of the work performed in this Department is spatially related, especially to the Conservation Commission and Planning Board, MIMAP has become a vital tool for day-to-day work.
MIMAP allows me to do a “desktop review” of applications for the Conservation Commission prior to an on-the-ground review, so I’m able to get an idea of what I’ll be seeing on site. MIMAP shows approximate wetland delineations and building footprints, which I’m then able to take and use the measurement tool to get an approximate distance between a resource area and work area. Being able to do this preliminary review from the office allows me to answer resident questions and concerns much more quickly than if I had to go to every site someone inquires about.
For the Planning Board, I’m able to answer residents and developer’s questions about properties with more insight and information with MIMAP. For example, when someone comes in the office to ask whether they’re able to divide their property I’m able to quickly pull up approximate dimensions of the parcel, while also taking a look at our Zoning Bylaws on eCode (another very useful online tool!). With this information, I can have a productive conversation with people and try to figure out how we can get their project accomplished, while staying true to the Town’s Bylaws.
I often refer residents to MIMAP because it can be a useful tool for any homeowner. You can see approximate boundary lines (please note that only a survey conducted by a licensed surveyor can provide you with the true and accurate boundaries of your property, MIMAP cannot provide this), if there are wetlands on your property, what zoning district your home is in, and other useful geographic information. To use MIMAP, click HERE. I’ve put some graphics together to help users navigate MIMAP, but as always, if you have any questions, please let me know!
- Annie Schindler, aschindler@grovelandma.com 978.556.7214
What You Might’ve Missed:
Latest News
Council on Aging Newsletter. September / October Newsletter can be found here.
Council on Aging Online Registration/RSVP. Explore the complete list of classes and events on the MyActiveCenter website here. You can still visit the COA or call in to register.
Cultural Council Grant Opportunities. Mass Cultural Council funds and manages a network of 329 Local Cultural Councils (LCCs) across the state, representing every city and town in the Commonwealth. Each council awards money based on individual community cultural needs, assessed and set by LCC members. Groveland has received an FY24 Allocation $6,800. Applicants apply directly to local councils. See here for more information. Visit this link to see applications approved in prior years, Application Deadline: October 17, 2023.
Employment Opportunities
Public Grounds and Cemetery Supervisor. The Town of Groveland is seeking qualified candidates to fill our full-time position of Public Grounds and Cemetery Supervisor. The Public Grounds and Cemetery Division, within the Highway Department is responsible for the daily operation of the Riverview Cemetery and operation and maintenance of Public Grounds in the Town of Groveland.
Senior/Laborer/Operator. The Town of Groveland Highway Department is seeking qualified candidates to fill a full-time position (40-hour week) of Senior/Operator/Driver/Laborer. Interested individuals must be holders of a valid CDL Class B license or greater with air brake endorsement, DOT medical certificate, and a Hoisting Engineer License 2B or greater.
Recreation Summer Program Director. The Town of Groveland is seeking a dynamic Director to lead our Summer Program at the Bagnall Elementary School. Applicants must possess a high energy level, a strong work ethic, and administrative experience. The Summer Program Director will be responsible for extensive planning prior to the start of camp.
More information about these open positions can be found here.
Did you see the new scoreboards at the Pines? We are finally happy to have new scoreboards working after a long hiatus. A huge shoutout, and thank you, to the Groveland Municipal Light Department for their assistance.
Volunteer & Employee Spotlight:
Meet Annie Schindler
Let us introduce you all to our Town Planner and Conservation Agent Annie Schindler!
Annie is a University of Connecticut graduate with a bachelors of science in Natural Resources and the Environment, with a concentration in environmental conservation. She previously work as a Horticultural Assistant for The Trustees of the Bradley Estate in Canton and for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
Annie started with the Town in August of 2021 as the Conservation Agent and in 2022 took on the responsibilities of the Town Planner/Zoning Administrator. In such a short time Annie has brought more efficiency and enhanced collaboration among many boards and committees here in town.
What does she do?
As the Conservation Agent Annie serves as professional staff for the Conservation Commission and performs technical inspection work including field visits, inspections of site work, drafting of Orders of Conditions, attending Commission meetings, and otherwise ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state and local wetlands, stormwater management and erosion control regulations, codes, and bylaws, issuing findings and recommendations.
As the Town Planner Annie performs professional, administrative, and technical support on land use issues for the Town, primarily through the Planning Board. In the absence of a Director, Annie currently manages the Economic Development Planning and Conservation Department and provides technical assistance on all planning issues; reviews and coordinates all aspects of site plan review, subdivision review, special permits, and zoning by-law changes. Acts as the inter-board liaison on land use issues to other Town Boards including the Zoning Board of Appeals, Conservation Commission and other Boards and Committees as required.
Ultimately, planners promote the best use of a community’s land and resources for residential, commercial, transportation, historic preservation, and environmental or recreational purposes.
Annie also assists the Town Administrator with grant management and economic and community development related initiatives.
That is a lot for one person! We are very grateful to have Annie here in Groveland as part of the Team. She truly cares about the work being done and does not skip a beat to help residents and anyone that walks through the door.
