Groton City prevails in highway dispute with town
Groton — A panel appointed to settle the dispute between Groton City and Groton Town over highway funding has found in favor of the city.
Town councilors cut the city's funding request for roads by nearly half in April 2015, igniting a battle on both sides and prompting calls for the city to become financially independent from the town. The city had asked for $1.92 million for road maintenance, and the Town Council cut $830,292.
Groton City challenged the decision under a state law that allows it to be reviewed by a panel that includes one person each chosen by the city mayor, Town Council and the state Commissioner of Transportation. The panel recently voted 2-1 to award the city the money that the Town Council had cut, minus the amount the city highway department came in under budget.
"We're very pleased at the decision," City Mayor Marian Galbraith said.
The award would not require an additional town expense, because the town set aside money in its budget to prepare for a decision either way.
"The Groton Town Council has expressed its disappointment in the decision recently issued by the panel appointed to settle the dispute" over appropriate road funding, said a news release by the town manager's office.
The panel also directed the town and city to look at their road maintenance standards and costs, figure out why the costs are different, and come up with a solution.
"The outcome of this proceeding was determined by the absence of any quantifiable basis on which to reduce the city budget," Department of Transportation Deputy Commissioner Anna M. Barry wrote. "However, failure to engage in an effort to provide usable information could change the inferences that support the finding."
Galbraith said the city looks forward to discussing with the town the tasks the city is doing and costs behind them.
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