Salem — The group home on Witch Meadow Road, which was a source of controversy following neighborhood break-ins by a resident earlier this month, will be closed. The three remaining residents will be relocated and the house will be sold.

In a release sent out Thursday evening, First Selectman Kevin Lyden said the remaining residents will be relocated within the next 60 days. He said the "isolated and unfortunate incident" at the Witch Meadow group home, operated by Key Human Services, will not affect the other group home currently in town or any group homes that may come to Salem in the future.

At a special town meeting called last week to address neighbors' concerns, Lyden and residents of the Witch Meadow neighborhood said it was mismanagement that allowed for the break-ins on May 2 and another similar incident in December.

Representatives from Key Human Services could not be reached for comment.

Lyden said that, while he had not requested the group home be closed entirely, he is pleased Key took action.

"I think they decided it was best just to close and relocate to another place and I don't disagree. It is more than I asked for, but that's their choice," Lyden said.

He called the closure bittersweet, saying that neither he nor the Witch Meadow neighbors wanted to displace the remaining residents of the group home, but the move has provided peace of mind to the neighbors whose homes were broken in to.

Lyden quoted an email from a neighbor, saying "I'm grateful Key decided this is the best thing for the community and (that they are) following through with it, but it's unfortunate their gross failures make it necessary."

j.hopper@theday.com

Twitter:@JessHoppa