By Sherry Anders At the Groton Town Meeting on May 2nd, an article to appropriate $752,500 to fund the repair of the Squannacook River Dam was placed before voters. The article required a two-thirds majority vote to pass. It failed with 125 votes in the affirmative and 182 in the negative. Included in the article was language that would have allowed special legislation to be filed to pursue a taking of the Shirley half of the dam, which is privately owned but currently in tax title. Those in favor of the repair advocated for the preservation of the mill pond and dam as historic relics of Groton’s mill history, uniquely contributing to the character of West Groton. Concern was also expressed about what would happen to the existing ecology in the pond and oxbow. Environmental advocates echoing the consensus position of regional environmental organizations argued, however, that the ecological benefits of removing the obsolete structure outweighed these concerns. Liability considerations came to the fore when a question regarding insurance was posed to Groton Town Manager Mark Haddad, who replied: “There is no insurance. We cannot get insurance on the dam, so we assume 100% liability.” The dam is classified as “High Hazard,” indicating that failure would likely result in loss of life and serious damage to homes, buildings, or other structures – a heavy risk for a town to shoulder. Bruce Easom, who serves on both the Groton Conservation Commission and the Community Preservation Committee, called attention to another serious problem. The article called for $133,000 of the total funds requested to be appropriated from the Community Preservation Fund Historic Reserve. The requirements of the Office of Dam safety, however, would require changes to the dam that would not adhere to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, putting the funding at risk. With a clear “no” on the repair, what comes next? The Town of Groton has sent a letter expressing a commitment to remove the dam to the State’s Department of Ecological Restoration (DER). This expression of commitment is required for DER’s assistance in seeking the permitting and funding to catalyze removal, a process that is likely to take 2-3 years before the removal can actually begin.

By Katie Aponte The Ayer Shirley Regional High School girls’ track and field team captured the MIAA Division 6 State Championship this past weekend, delivering one of the strongest all-around performances in program history. The Panthers were led by two individual state champions. Lorelai Levy won the 100-meter hurdles with a personal best time of 15.20 seconds, while Roxanne McKenzie claimed the 100-meter dash title in 12.41 seconds. Both athletes added crucial points that helped secure the overall team victory. Ayer Shirley also earned a state title in the 4×100 meter relay, with J’Aliyah Mayes, Roxanne McKenzie, Abby Stull, and Lauren Gaudet racing to first place in 49.94 seconds, setting a new school record. Mayes added to the team’s medal count with a second-place finish in the long jump, marking her second silver of the meet. Following their championship performance, the Panthers returned home to a police escort back to the high school, where they were greeted by a welcoming crowd of families, friends, and supporters. Cheers, signs, and applause filled the parking lot as the community celebrated the team’s historic achievement. The championship reflects the depth, determination, and teamwork of the entire roster, with strong contributions across sprints, hurdles, relays, and field events. Congratulations to the Panthers on an outstanding state championship performance.

By Janet Tice Long-time Shirley resident Dave Swain has been appointed as Shirley Water District Commissioner, replacing Milton Westover, who passed away in March. He joins existing Commissioners Butch Farrar and Kevin Johnston on the SWD three-member board. At the SWD Annual Meeting on May 6, the commissioners invited anyone interested in filling the open position to submit a letter of interest and promised to make their selection by month-end. In spite of its name, the Shirley Water District isn’t part of Shirley’s town government. Rather, it is an independent governmental body administered by a board of three “commissioners” who function much as a Select Board does for a town. According to SWD bylaws, the existing board can appoint a new commissioner to fill an open position, with the appointee serving until the next election, in this case, in May 2027. I asked Dave to tell us a bit about himself, his family, and what led to his interest in becoming a Water District Commissioner. The story is a long one, beginning 39 years ago when he and his wife Dorry moved to Shirley, shortly after getting married. They were raised in the area and wanted to live in a community similar to where they grew up. Their two children, now adults, both went through the Shirley/Ayer school systems. Once settled in Shirley, Dave started donating time and effort in support of the Shirley community, a habit that has continued to this day. Early on, he joined the Finance Committee, where he served for 10-plus years, assuming the role of chairperson four times. During this period, he mastered the ins and outs of municipal finance and, with his fellow committee members, worked to present balanced budgets to the Town during what he describes as “some very difficult budget times.” After stepping down from the Finance Committee, Dave was elected as an Assessor and served a two-year term. He resigned after being elected to the Select Board, where he served for nine years. During his tenure, the Select Board worked to eliminate the “structural deficit” the Town was incurring on a regular basis. According to Dave, the Board “increased the revenue the Town received, for example, by selling surplus property like the old Town Hall and Library buildings on Lancaster Road and putting them back on the tax rolls.” Following his stint on the Select Board and a well-deserved hiatus, Dave was next appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals, where he is now serving his second term. His tenure has spanned the challenging period during which the ZBA successfully worked through Shirley’s first 40B development on Benjaman Road and embarked on its second, still in the planning stages (on Parker Road at the intersection with Great Road). And, as if the ZBA weren’t enough, Dave is currently serving his second term as a member of the Shirley Sewer Commission and also sits on the Shirley Meeting House Board of Directors. So why the Water District? Dave’s answer was simple and convincing: “I felt my background in municipal finance would be an asset to the Commissioners. Plus, my knowledge of the sewer system would be an added bonus I could bring to the SWD.” In conclusion, Dave summarized what he hopes to accomplish as a Water District Commissioner: “There are numerous challenges we are facing, including increasing Department of Environmental Protection requirements, the ongoing drought situation, increasing water demands of current users and new development, and ongoing upkeep of the infrastructure. I’m looking forward to working with the other Commissioners, SWD staff, and the residents of Shirley to meet these challenges.”