[The following is a listing of General Laws and Special Acts accepted by the Town of Groton and acts of the General Court applicable to the Town.]
Accepted/ Voted
Statutory Reference
Subject
1875
MGL C. 24, §§ 23 to 31
Establish Fire Department
1899
Ch. 466, Acts of 1898
School Committee given authority to form union with another town and to employ a Superintendent of Schools
1901
Ch. 154, Acts of 1882
Authorization to lay out public parks
1907
MGL C. 101, §§ 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Transient vendors
1909
MGL C. 25, § 22
Abutters assessed 1/2 cost of watering streets
1909
MGL C. 34, § 19
Elect Municipal Lighting Board
1911
Ch. 634, Acts of 1911
Accept county retirement for town employees
1912
Ch. 503, Acts of 1912
Provide pensions for employees of town
1913
Ch. 807, Acts of 1913
Workmen's compensation
1913
Ch. 671, Acts of 1913
Pension for employees of fire district and water district
1915
MGL C. 11, § 336
Elect Highway Surveyor for 1 year
1916
Ch. 104, Acts of 1916
First day of January legal holiday
1920
Ch. 240, Acts of 1920
Sports and games on the Lord's day
1920
Ch. 282, Acts of General Court of 1915
Sports and games on the Lord's day
1922
MGL C. 54, § 6
Divide town into 2 precincts
1923
MGL C. 39, § 20
Establish precinct voting
1924
§§ 1, 2 and 3, Acts of 1923
Selectmen appoint Finance Committee
1926
MGL C. 41, § 55
Selectmen authorized to appoint Town Accountant and abolish office of Town Auditor
1934
MGL C. 41, § 73
Selectmen to constitute a Board of Survey
1934
MGL C. 45, § 19
Take by public domain land for town forest
1934
MGL C. 131
Accept referendum to amend §§ 105A, 105B, 105C and 114A (liquor and pari-mutuel betting)
1935
MGL C. 111, § 27A
Form Union Health District
1935
MGL C. 41, § 2
Reduce School Committee from 6 to 3 members
1937
MGL C. 152, § 69
Appropriate tax moneys for town's share of County Tuberculosis Hospital
1938
MGL C. 54, § 103A
Provide for absentee voting at regular town elections
1938
MGL C. 41, § 97
Establish Police Department under direction of Selectmen
1939
MGL C. 40, §§ 25 through 30
Appointment of committee of 5 to draft zoning regulations
1939
MGL C. 94, § 120-A
Slaughtering
1939
MGL C. 152, §§ 69 through 75
Exclude police and firemen from terms "laborers, workmen and mechanics" in town employees
1942
MGL C. 85, § 11A
Registration and operation of certain bicycles
1944
MGL C. 164, § 57
Excess of Electric Light Department returned to Treasury
1946
MGL C. 32, § 22(7)(c)(ii)
Establish contributory county retirement system
1947
Ch. 403, Acts of 1936
Exclude police and fire force from Workmen's Compensation
1947
MGL C. 71, § 40
Equal pay for men and women teachers
1947
MGL C. 41, § 81A
Establish Planning Board
1947
Ch. 584, Acts of 1946
Establish Veterans Agent
1950
MGL C. 117, §§ 44, 45 and 46
Establish Welfare District disbursement of funds
1950
MGL C. 638, §§ 14 and 14A
Establish Regional School District Planning Committee
1952
MGL C. 41, § 1
Increase School Committee from 3 to 5 members
1952
MGL C. 39, § 10
Submission of any Article for the Special Town Meeting Warrant requires a petition with 100 signatures
1953
Ch. 624, Acts of 1952
Increase pension of retired town employees
1959
MGL C. 45, § 14
Establish Recreation Commission
1960
MGL C. 40, § 5B
Establish Stabilization Fund
1960
MGL C. 32B
Provide group life insurance, group accident and group hospital/medical
1962
Ch. 737, Acts of 1960
Establish gas installation inspection
1962
MGL C. 40, § 8A
Establish Development and Industrial Commission
1962
Ch. 223, Acts of 1957
Establish Conservation Commission
1962
MGL C. 180 and C. 94
Milk regulations
1963
MGL C. 40, § 21, Clause 17
Adopt earth removal bylaw
1964
MGL C. 40C
Establish Historical District
1965
MGL C. 71, §§ 16 through 16I
Establish Regional Vocational School District
1965
MGL C. 58, § 7A
Adopt Stake Assessment System
1965
MGL C. 40C
Establish Historical District Commission
1966
MGL C. 40, § 63
Police uniforms
1966
MGL C. 40, § 6J
Stormy weather clothes for Highway Department
1966
MGL C. 149, § 33A
Overtime pay for Highway Department
1966
MGL C. 41, § 1
3-year terms for Town Clerk, Tax Collector, Moderator, Highway Surveyor and Treasurer
1966
MGL C. 71, § 14
Regional School Planning Commission
1967
MGL C. 71, § 15
Establish K-12 Region
1967
MGL C. 166, § 32
Wiring Inspector
1967
MGL C. 40, § 44A
Regional Solid Waste Committee
1968
MGL C. 43B
Police Chief tenure
1968
MGL C. 43B
Exempt Plumbing Inspector from civil service.
1969
Ch. 401, Acts of 1966
Workmen's Compensation
1969
MGL C. 147, § 17B
40-hour week for police
1969
MGL C. 149, § 1781
Negotiating attorney for School Committee
1971
MGL C. 147, § 17A
Police holidays
1971
MGL C. 41, § 111D
Police vacations
1972
MGL C. 31, § 48
Civil Service Police
1972
MGL C. 40, § 8E
Establish Youth Commission
1973
MGL C. 40, § 6C
Use of appropriated money to remove ice and snow from private ways
1973
Ch. 344, Acts of 1970
Revolving fund for police officers established
1973
MGL C. 40, § 8D
Historical Commission established, 5 members
1973
MGL C. 143, § 3
Adopt 1- and 2-family building code
1973
MGL C. 40D, § 2
Industrial Development Financing Authority
1974
MGL C. 40, § 15C
Scenic roads provisions
1975
MGL C. 40, § 8B
Council on Aging
1975
MGL C. 40B, § 7
Montachusetts Regional Planning District
1975
MGL C. 164A
New England power pool
1976
Ch. 775, Acts of 1975
Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company
1977
MGL C. 48, §§ 42, 43, 44
Fire Department under control of Chief appointed by Selectmen
1978
Ch. 808, Acts of 1975 (includes a new Ch. 40A)
Zoning Act
1979
MGL C. 148, § 26C
Automatic heat and smoke detectors in apartment buildings
1980
MGL C. 40, § 6N
Streets and ways
1981
MGL C. 258, § 13
Indemnification of municipal officials
1982
MGL C. 40, §§ 39A through 39G
Establish water supply system
1982
MGL C. 40, §§ 42A through 42F
Collection of water rates
1982
MGL C. 41, § 69A
Establish Board of Water Commissioners
1982
MGL C. 41, § 69B
Authority and duties of Board of Water Commissioners
1983
MGL C. 40, § 4G
Advertisements for bids or contract proposals
1984
MGL C. 59, § 5, Clause 17C
Increase exemptions for widows, minors and those over 70
1984
MGL C. 59, § 4, Clause 41B
Increase allowable income for those over 70
1984
MGL C. 597, § 1
Exemption of former POW's from Motor Vehicle Excise Tax
1985
MGL C. 71, § 40
Increase teachers' salaries
1985
MGL C. 40, § 8J
Establish Handicap Commission
1986
MGL C. 40, §§ 42G, 42H and 42I
Special assessments to meet costs incurred by laying of pipes by Water Department
1986
MGL C. 59, § 5, Clause 17D
Exemptions for those over 70
1986
MGL C. 59, § 5, Clause 41C
Increase estate limit for over 70 abatement
1986
MGL C. 90, § 20A
Regulating parking violations procedures and establishing position of Parking Clerk
1988
MGL C. 188, § 12
School Improvement Act of 1985
1989
MGL C. 83
Sewer District established
1990
MGL C. 44, § 53D
Revolving fund established for the deposit of receipts received in connection with the conduct of self-supporting recreation and park services and the expenditures therefrom
1991
MGL C. 40, § 21D
Noncriminal disposition of violations
1991
MGL C. 272, § 73A
Authorization for the removal of gravestones for repair
1991
MGL C. 148, § 26G
Installation of automatic sprinkler systems in certain buildings
1991
Ch. 473, Acts and Resolves of 1990
Compensation of Town Clerks who serve as registrars of voters
1991
Ch. 291, § 8, Acts and Resolves of 1990
Police Department
1991
Ch. 383
Relating to Groton/Pepperell boundary line
1991
Ch. 533
Establishing Groton County Club Authority
1992
MGL C. 40, § 22F
Authority of municipal boards and officers to establish fees and charges for permits, licenses or certificates they issue
1992
MGL C. 40, § 57
The granting or renewal of any application for or revocation or suspension of any local license or permit, including renewals and transfers, issued by any board, officer or department for any person, corporation or business enterprise who has neglected to pay any local taxes, fees or assessments, betterments or any other municipal charges
1993
Ch. 98, Acts of 1993
Providing for recall elections in the Town of Groton
1994
MGL C. 44, § 53F 1/2
Authorizing cities and towns to establish enterprise funds and establishing an enterprise fund for the Groton Water Department and the Groton Sewer Department
1995
Ch. 115
Groton Country Club Authority amendment
1996
MGL C. 148, § 261
Sprinkler systems in residential buildings containing four or more dwelling units
1996
MGL C. 59, § 57c
Authorize the implementation of quarterly tax payment system
1996
MGL C. 40, § 8G
Authorize town to enter agreements with other cities and towns to provide mutual aid programs for police departments
1998
Ch. 225
Groton Country Club Authority amendment
1998
Ch. 387
Groton Country Club Authority amendment
1999
MGL C. 40, §§ 6J and 6L
Purchase and rental of work clothes for Town employees
2000
MGL C. 59, § 5K
Allow Town to adopt a senior citizen property tax work-off abatement program, abatements to begin in Fiscal Year 2002
2000
Ch. 17
Allowing Town to construct senior housing on a parcel of land less than five acres in size
2001
Ch. 64
Authorizing Conservation Commission to impose outside consultant fees
2002
MGL C. 41, § 108L
Career Incentive Pay Program for the Police Department
2002
Ch. 73, § 4, Acts of 1986
Allow an additional property tax exemption for Fiscal Year 2003 for those persons who qualify for certain property tax exemptions under MGL C. 59, § 5
2002
MGL C. 59, § 5(54)
Allow Town to exempt from taxation certain personal property and to establish a minimum value of $10,000 for personal property subject to taxation
2002
MGL C. 44, § 53E 1/2
Renewing the revolving account for the purpose of utilizing receipts and fees received under Chapter 198 of the Code, said receipts and fees to be credited to said account and expended by the Earth Removal Advisory Committee, with the maximum amount to be expended not to exceed $10,000 for Fiscal Year 2003
2002
Ch. 460
Increasing Board of Selectmen to five members
2003
MGL C. 44 § 53E 1/2
Renewal of revolving account to utilize fees and receipts received under Chapter 198, Soil Erosion and Sediment Control, for expenditure by Earth Removal Advisory Committee
2003
MGL C. 59 § 5, cl. 1C
Adjustment of eligibility factors for senior citizens property tax exemption
2003
MGL C. 40 § 4A
Authorization of agreement with Groton-Dunstable Regional School District for operation of District's public water supply system by Groton Water Department
2003
Ch. 46, § 116, Acts of 2003
Early retirement incentive program for one Class I employee in the Police Maintenance Department and one Class 4 employee in the Electric Light Department
2004
MGL C. 140, § 139
No license fee for dog owned by person aged 70 or over
2004
MGL C. 44B, §§ 3 - 7
Establishment of Community Preservation Fund
2004
MGL C. 59, § 5, cl. 50
Property tax exemption for improvements to property to provide housing for persons aged 60 or over
2004
Ch. 73, § 4, Acts of 1986
Additional property tax exemption for fiscal year 2005 for persons who qualify for exemption under MGL C. 59, § 5
2004
Ch. 118
Relating to Groton/Pepperell boundary line
2005
Ch. 73, § 4, Acts of 1986
Additional property tax exemption for fiscal year 2006 for persons who qualify for exemption under MGL C. 59, § 5
2006
Ch. 533, § 8, Acts of 1991, as amended
Approving budget of Groton Country Club and Recreation Authority
2006
MGL C. 32B, § 18
Transfer of retirees to Medicare Extension Plan
2006
Ch. 73, § 4, Acts of 1986, as amended
Additional property tax exemption for Fiscal Year 2007 for certain persons who qualify for a property tax exemption under MGL C. 59, § 5
2006
MGL C. 44, § 53E 1/2
Renewing the revolving account for the purpose of utilizing receipts and fees received under Chapter 198 of the Code, said receipts and fees to be credited to said account and expended by the Earth Removal Advisory Committee, with the maximum amount to be expended not to exceed $10,000 for Fiscal Year 2007
2006
Ch. 10
Authorizing transfer of portion of Town forest to West Groton Water Supply District
2007
Ch. 533, § 8, Acts of 1991, as amended
Approving budget of Groton Country Club and Recreation Authority
2007
Ch. 73, § 4, Acts of 1986
Allow an additional property tax exemption for Fiscal Year 2008 for those persons who qualify for certain property tax exemptions under MGL C. 59, § 5
2007
MGL C. 44, § 53E 1/2
Establish revolving account for the purpose of utilizing receipts and fees received for agricultural or silvicultural activities conducted on Town-owned conservation lands, said receipts and fees to be credited to said account and expended by the Conservation Commission for oversight and management of conservation lands owned by the Town, with the maximum amount to be expended not to exceed $10,000 for Fiscal Year 2008
2007
MGL C. 39, § 23D
Providing that members of boards, committees or commissions holding an adjudicatory hearing shall not be disqualified from voting on a matter solely due to the member's absence from one session of such hearing, provided certain conditions are met
2007
MGL C. 43D
Expedited local permitting
2008
MGL C. 44, § 53E 1/2
Renewal of revolving account to utilize fees collected under Chapter 198 of the Town Code
2008
MGL C. 44, § 53E 1/2
Renewal of revolving account to utilize fees collected for agricultural or silvicultural activities conducted on Town-owned conservation lands under care and custody of Conservation Commission
2008
Ch. 73, § 4, Acts of 1986
Allow an additional property tax exemption for Fiscal Year 2009 for those persons who qualify for certain property tax exemptions under MGL C. 59, § 5, not to exceed $1,000
2008
MGL C. 44, § 55C
Affordable Housing Trust Fund
2009
MGL C. 44, § 53E 1/2
Renewal of revolving account to utilize fees collected under Chapter 198 of the Town Code
2009
MGL C. 44, § 53E 1/2
Renewal of revolving account to utilize fees collected for agricultural or silvicultural activities conducted on Town-owned conservation lands under care and custody of Conservation Commission
2009
Ch. 73, § 4, Acts of 1986, as amended by Ch. 126, Acts of 1988
Allow an additional property tax exemption for Fiscal Year 2010 for those persons who qualify for property tax exemptions under MGL C. 59, § 5, not to exceed $1,000
2009
MGL C. 14, §§ 111M and 111N
Leave without loss of pay while incapacitated for emergency medical technicians; indemnification of emergency medical technicians for certain expenses
2010
MGL C. 44, § 53E 1/2
Renewal of revolving account to utilize fees collected under Chapter 198 of the Town Code
2010
MGL C. 44, § 53E 1/2
Renewal of revolving account to utilize fees collected for agricultural or silvicultural activities conducted on Town-owned conservation lands under care and custody of Conservation Commission
2010
Ch. 73, § 4, Acts of 1986, as amended by Ch. 126, Acts of 1988
Allow an additional property tax exemption for Fiscal Year 2011 for those persons who qualify for property tax exemptions under MGL C. 59, § 5, not to exceed $1,000
2010
Ch. 49, Acts of 2010
Authorizing use of revenue from the Groton Sewer Enterprise Fund
2010
MGL C. 90, § 20A 1/2
Parking violations; tags; appearance; failure to appear; adjudication by mail
2010
MGL C. 32B, § 9D
Town payment of 50% of the health insurance premiums of surviving spouse of Town employees or retired employees
2010
MGL C. 32B, § 9D 1/2
Town payment of an additional percentage, above 50%, of the health insurance premiums of surviving spouses of Town employees or retired employees, and setting that percentage at 65%
2011
Ch. 73, § 4, Acts of 1986, as amended by Ch. 126, Acts of 1988
Allow an additional property tax exemption for Fiscal Year 2012 for those persons who qualify for property tax exemptions under MGL C. 59, § 5, not to exceed $1,000
2011
MGL C. 140, § 147A
Enactment of bylaws relative to the regulation of dogs
2012
Ch. 73, § 4, Acts of 1986, as amended by Ch. 126, Acts of 1988
Allow an additional property tax exemption for Fiscal Year 2013 for those persons who qualify for property tax exemptions under MGL C. 59, § 5, not to exceed $1,000
2012
MGL C. 44, § 53E 1/2
Establish affordable housing revolving fund
2013
Ch. 73, § 4, Acts of 1986, as amended by Ch. 126, Acts of 1988
Real estate exemption
2013
MGL C. 41, § 110A
Closure of public offices
2013
MGL C. 59, § 5K
Property tax liability reduced for persons over age 60 in exchange for volunteer services
2014
MGL C. 64L, § 2
Authorization to impose a local sales tax on the sale of restaurant meals within the Town
2014
Ch. 73, § 4, Acts of 1986, as amended by Ch. 126, Acts of 1988
Real estate exemption
2015
MGL C. 32B, § 20
Establishment of the Other Post-Employment Benefits Liability Trust Fund
2015
MGL C. 44, § 53F 1/2
Creation of Enterprise Fund for operation of Local Access Cable Department
2015
MGL C. 53, § 18B
Information for local ballot questions
2015
MGL C. 59, § 5C 1/2
Increasing real estate tax exemptions by 100% to all persons who qualify for property tax exemptions under certain clauses of MGL C. 59, § 5
2016
MGL C. 59, § 5C 1/2
Increasing the real estate tax exemptions by 100% to all persons who qualify for property tax exemptions under Clause 17, 17C, 17C1/2, 17D, 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E, 37, 37A, 41, 41B, 41C or 43 of MGL C. 59, § 5
2016
MGL C. 60, § 3D
To establish a Town Aid to the Elderly and Disabled Taxation Fund for the purpose of defraying the real estate taxes of elderly and disabled persons of low income; and further to establish a Taxation Aid Committee to consist of the Chairman of the Board of Assessors, the Town Treasurer and three residents of the Town to be appointed by the Board of Selectmen, which Committee shall adopt rules and regulations to carry out the purposes of the fund and to identify the recipients of such aid
2016
MGL C. 200A, § 9A
To establish a procedure that would allow the Town Treasurer to dispose of abandoned funds held in the custody of the Town
2017
MGL C. 41, § 41B
To authorize the payment of salaries, wages, or other compensation by direct deposit to a bank or other financial institution account
2017
MGL C. 40, § 22G
To allocate all funds received from fines assessed for violations of handicap parking to the Commission on Accessibility, with all funds so received to be deposited by the Town Treasurer in a separate account used solely for the benefit of persons with disabilities
2017, 2019, 2020
MGL C. 59, § 5C 1/2
To increase the real estate tax exemptions by 100% to all persons who qualify for property tax exemptions under Clause 17, 17C, 17C1/2, 17D, 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E, 22F, 22G, 37, 37A, 41, 41B, 41C, 41C1/2, 42, 43, 56 or 57 of MGL C. 59, § 5
2017
MGL C. 59, § 5
To allow the Town to reduce the residency requirement from five consecutive years to one year, making certain veterans and their surviving spouses or parents eligible for the property tax exemptions under Clauses 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E and 22F of MGL C. 59, § 5
2018
MGL C. 40, § 3
To allow amounts collected for Town building rentals, other than rental of school buildings, to be credited to a separate account, to be expended without further appropriation for building-related upkeep, and to allow any balance in such account to remain available for such purposes, without appropriation, in future years
2018
MGL C. 64G, § 3A
To impose a local room occupancy excise at the rate of 3%, to take effect on or after July 1, 2019[1]
2018
MGL C. 40, § 8L
To expand the powers and duties of the Agricultural Commission
2018
MGL C. 64N, § 3
To impose a local sales tax upon the sale of recreational marijuana originating within the Town by a vendor at a rate of 3% of the gross receipts of the vendor from the sale of recreational marijuana, marijuana products and marijuana edibles
2018, 2019, 2020
MGL C. 59, § 5C 1/2
To increase the real estate tax exemptions by 100% to all persons who qualify for property tax exemptions under Clause 17, 17C, 17C 1/2, 17D, 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E, 22F, 22G, 37, 37A, 41, 41B, 41C, 41C 1/2, 42, 43, 56 or 57 of MGL C. 59, § 5
2018, 2019, 2020
MGL C. 59, § 5
To allow the Town to reduce the residency requirement from five consecutive years to one year, making certain veterans and their surviving spouses or parents eligible for the property tax exemptions under Clauses 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E and 22F of MGL C. 59, § 5
2019, 2020
MGL C. 59, § 5C1/2
Increases the real estate tax exemptions by 100% to all persons who qualify for property tax exemptions under Clauses 17, 17C, 17C1/2, 17D, 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E, 22F, 22G, 37, 37A, 41, 41B, 41C, 41C½, 42, 43, 56 or 57 of MGL C. 59, § 5
2020
MGL C. 44, § 53F1/2
To allow the Town to establish a Stormwater Facilities Utility Enterprise Fund and to accept the provisions of Chapter 44, Section 53F½ of the Massachusetts General Laws, in order to authorize establishment of an Enterprise Fund known as the “Stormwater Facilities Utility Enterprise Fund” for the Groton Stormwater Facilities Utility, effective in Fiscal Year 2021
2022
Ch. 28, Acts of 2022
Authorizing certain investments by the Treasurer of the Town of Groton
2023
Ch. 45, Acts of 2023
Merging certain voting precincts in the Town of Groton
[1]
Editor's Note: The local room occupancy excise was increased to 6% by Art. 9, ATM 4-29-2019.