by Mike Dempsey
Groveland Farms
Groveland was always a farming community. Through the years, as more houses have been built and more people have moved to town, farms have taken on a much smaller role in our community. Do we even have any farms left?
We do have some farms that are commercial in scale with the farmers making a living from the activity. However, we also have many small-scale farms or hobby farms where residents raise animals for their own or their nearby neighbors’ benefit.
According to the town code enforcement officer, Groveland residents raise 74 horses, 38 cows, 15 goats, 3 pigs, 3 donkeys, 2 alpacas, and many farm birds.
As towns become suburbs, many times they are forced to severely restrict both commercial and small-scale farming. Will that happen to Groveland? Do we need a new measure to protect farming in town? Does Groveland need a Right to Farm Bylaw?
According to recent discussions at the Select Board, a protective bylaw may be put on the town meeting warrant either this year or next. The bylaw would protect farms and farmers from harassment or neighbor complaints. A dispute resolution procedure would be included. Many residents provided the Select Board with comments requesting such protection at a recent meeting.
Be on the watch at this year’s annual town meeting on April 27 for a bylaw to protect farms in Groveland.
No More Code Red
Groveland used a program called Code Red to notify residents of dangerous situations, missing persons, or imminent bad weather. A message would be sent to any resident providing an email address, cell phone number for texts or phone number for a phone call. The program has been helpful but does have its limits. It also costs the town money to use it.
A new program has gone into effect this past month called the 911 Center Alerts which will replace Code Red. The new program has similar features but also offers new benefits. In addition, it will no longer cost the town to use it. You can sign up to be notified in specific instances on the town website, Grovelandma.com.
Residents may choose to receive Emergency Alerts only, Non-Emergency Alerts only or Both Emergency and Non-Emergency Alerts.
Emergency Alerts include urgent situations such as hazardous material spills, missing persons or children, and other high-priority public safety incidents. Non-Emergency Alerts include important but non-urgent updates such as hydrant flushing schedules, detour notices, water main breaks, trash collection delays, and community event announcements. Sign up now to stay informed!
New Trash Contract
Groveland has signed a new contract for a trash collecting. This is just ahead of the current five-year contract expiring in June. The new contract is with G. Mello Disposal Corp and will be in place for five years. It will begin on July 1 2026.
According to the Town Administrator Rebecca Oldham, trash collection will continue on a weekly basis. Residents will be able to place one 64-gallon container on the curb each week. The town will supply each residence with a single 64-gallon container for trash. Recycling will be picked up every two weeks.
Residents are to use the already supplied 96-gallon container provided last year. Before the new contract begins, residents will be given a new schedule for both trash and recycling pick-up days. The contractor will also allow residents to bring any overflow trash to its new transfer station in Georgetown. All questions about the new contract should be directed to the town administrator at town hall or by calling 978-556-7204. The most exciting part of the new contract is that it will save the town and residents money. We may save up to five hundred thousand dollars over the life of the contract. In addition to the town administrator, much work to accomplish the new contract was provided by the Trash and Recycling Committee.
Town Budget for Fiscal Year 2027
It is that time of year again when we will approve a new town budget for the next fiscal year, 2027. As of March 16, Town Administrator Rebecca Oldham announced that she does not expect that any overrides will be needed to enact a balanced budget. The is great news for residents. Due to cost savings from the new trash contract and the switch to the regional dispatch center for fire and police calls, expenses will be lower. However, education costs continue to rise. Select Board members will continue to request that our state representative and senator help us to provide some relief for those rising costs. ♦
