Town Government
Groton Town Departments
Finding the Right Department
Most of what residents need from the town runs through a department, not an elected official: paying a bill, pulling a permit, reporting a problem, registering to vote. Under Article 4 of Groton’s charter most of these department heads are appointed by the Town Manager and confirmed by the Select Board, so their names are not on a ballot and the Town Manager is the person the board holds responsible for their work. The Police Chief and the Fire Chief are the exception: the board appoints them, choosing from candidates the manager puts forward.
The directory below covers the departments residents contact most, with the head the town names on its own department pages. For the full list, hours, and staff, visit the town’s Departments page. Town Hall is at 173 Main Street.
Department Directory
| Town Clerk | Records, licenses, vital records, the town census, and elections. Town Clerk Grace Bannasch. 978-448-1100. |
|---|---|
| Public Works | Streets, water, snow plowing, and the town’s roads. DPW Director Robert T. Delaney. 978-448-1162. |
| Police | Public safety and non-emergency response. Chief of Police Michael Luth. 978-448-5555. |
| Fire | Fire suppression, prevention, and emergency response. Fire Chief Arthur Cheeks. 978-448-6333. |
| Council on Aging | The Groton Center, outreach, and programs for older residents. Director Nicole Sarvela. 163 West Main Street. |
| Building | Building permits, inspections, and zoning enforcement. Building Inspector Christopher Rogers. 978-448-1109. |
| Land Use | Planning, zoning, conservation, and economic development, staffed together under one office. Land Use Director and Town Planner Takashi Tada. 978-448-1105. |
| Conservation | Protects the town’s wetlands, rivers, and open space. Conservation Administrator Charlotte Steeves. |
| Treasurer and Tax Collector | Tax bills, payments, and town cash management. Treasurer and Tax Collector Katie Kazanjian. |
| Assessors | Property valuation, abatements, and exemptions. Principal Assessor Tammi Mickel. |
| Electric Light Department | The town’s own municipal electric utility, run by a Manager and governed by three elected Light Commissioners. Manager Jonathan Patterson. 23 Station Avenue. |
| Veterans’ Services | Benefits, claims, and services for Groton veterans and their families. Meg Murphy, at the American Legion Hall, 75 Hollis Street. |
Emergencies are 911. For non-emergency help the Police business line is 978-448-5555 and the Fire business line is 978-448-6333.
Town departments carry out state and local law. See how Massachusetts government connects to your town.