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Council approves land‑swap with Bill Memorial Library to support outdoor programming and protect sewer easements
Summary
Council recommended approval of a boundary and easement agreement swapping small parcels with Bill Memorial Library to create outdoor programming space and preserve sewer easements; motion passed 7–0 and acceptance will go to RTM as required.
The Groton Town Council recommended a boundary line and easement agreement with Bill Memorial Library that swaps roughly 0.41 acres of library‑owned property for about 0.52 acres of town land at the former Groton Heights School site.
Town Manager John Burke explained the swap is longstanding in the RFP record for the Groton Heights property and is designed to give the library outdoor programming space while preserving town development rights for the former school site. A 30‑foot sewer easement runs through much of the parcels, limiting building footprints; staff said the library’s intended use is outdoor programming and wiring for events rather than new construction.
Councilor Merritt moved the recommendation; Councilor Fitzgerald seconded. The motion passed by roll call vote (7–0). The council referred final acceptance and the related easement drawings to the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) pursuant to procedure. Staff said attorney review is ongoing for a separate paper‑street issue that does not affect the swap.
The swap is structured to preserve sewer access and allow complementary uses — such as a small playground or parking — while advancing the Groton Heights school redevelopment process.
