Groton — Groton Public Library will remain closed on Sundays during the school year. The Department of Public Works won't always have someone to answer the phone. The Groton Senior Center will make fewer trips for seniors who need weekly rides to shop.

Town departments suffered cuts for the fiscal year that begins July 1, and residents may soon notice the impact of those cuts.

The decisions were made because of a major decline in revenue, and departments including public works and parks and recreation were hit particularly hard.

The overall budget of about $121.6 million represents a 3.3 percent spending cut from last year, but general government departments took the brunt of the reductions.

Town Manager Mark Oefinger asked department heads earlier this month to inform him of the impact of the cuts and how the departments planned to manage them.

The department heads then responded by writing memos and emails.

The Department of Public Works' budget fell from about $6.6 million last year to about $6 million in the 2016-17 fiscal year — a 9.2 percent decline.

The department plans to eliminate four open jobs rather than fill them, including a grant writer, solid waste inspector, maintainer of roads and streets and office assistant who responds to citizen concerns and answers the phone, according to the department memo.

“At times, callers will hear a recorded message to leave a message or email the department,” the department's memo said.

The maintenance staff cut also will affect roadside work such as mowing and removing litter. Crews no longer will remove snow for Mumford Cove, Groton Ambulance and the Old Mystic Fire and Poquonnock Bridge Fire departments, the memo said.

Public works staff will delay removing stumps if crews have to take down a tree along a street this year.

The department also will no longer provide support to outside agencies such as Noank School Public Gardens and the Mystic & Noank Library, the memo said.

The Parks and Recreation Department suffered an 8.4 percent drop in funding, from about $1.8 million last year to about $1.6 million in the 2016-17 fiscal year.

The department, which lost full-time and part-time positions and was forced to increase program fees, opted to reduce transportation for seniors who need help with shopping to manage losses.

Senior Center Supervisor Mary Jo Riley said the center previously offered seniors rides to grocery and department stores two mornings and two afternoons weekly, and opted to cut a morning session.

Mornings tend to be less busy, Riley said.

“We’re trying to do it in a way that doesn’t affect people as much,” she said.

Frances Harkis of Mystic has used the service weekly in the afternoons.

“There were usually 10 of us on that 12-seat bus and every one of us was so thankful,” she said. "I went every single Wednesday. That was my shopping day."

Seniors who live alone and can't drive depend on the service, she said.

Groton Public Library dealt with its cut by remaining closed on Sundays to save about $17,800.

Jen Miele, manager of library public services, said the library typically is busy on Sundays from September through May.

School is in session, adults use the computers, teens show up, other area libraries are closed and the senior center is closed.

"I think that's why we see the volume that we do," she said.

Kay Janney of Groton said she's visited the library on Sundays.

But she said she understands budget cuts, too.

“I think it’s a wonderful service,” she said. “Obviously, if it’s cut, I’ll adjust. You have to.”

d.straszheim@theday.com