Site Plan Review For OLD FIRE STATION Requested For July; Town to Engage Realtor To Market Town-Owned Property

The sale of the old Groton Center Fire Station to Dan and Lori McElroy is closer to becoming a reality as Selectmen voted to approve the Purchase & Sale Agreement for the property. The sale award follows the bidding process whereby the McElroys were chosen based on their proposed use for the building in the Town Center Overlay District as well as having submitted the highest bid. Sum for the purchase is $100,000, with an initial $15,000 deposit, and the balance of $85,000 due at closing.

Attorney Bob Collins, representing the McElroys, advised the Board that they would be meeting with the Land Use Department in June and had already contacted the water and sewer departments. He added that the plan is to request the Site Plan Review in July.

Town Manager Mark Haddad said he hoped that the old station would be vacated in July, moving equipment to the new station and that the town would then be ready to close on the property. In addition Haddad suggested to the Board that the $100,000 received from the sale would be put into a special reserves account and be used to offset debt service on the new fire station for one year.

Haddad also advised the Board that the committee that was looking into marketing town-owned real estate has recommended that the town engage the use of a realtor to help market these structures, specifically Prescott School and Tarbell School. By hiring a realtor, Committee member John Amaral pointed out they would be able to have access to a large number of on-line sites used by realtors and those looking to purchase property.

Selectman Josh Degen pointed out that the town is still required by law to advertise the buildings in the Central Register and to follow the public bidding process.

The Board supported Haddad's recommendation and he will move forward on the hiring of a realtor.