Groton ― The Town of Groton has a new town clerk.

Marisol Melendez, who has worked in the town clerk's office for 3 years as assistant town clerk, was sworn in Tuesday as Town Clerk.

The Town Council appointed Melendez to fill the remainder of the term of former Town Clerk Betsy Moukawsher, who had been re-elected to a four-year term in 2021 and resigned last month after 14 years in office.

“Groton lost a great public servant when Clerk Moukawsher departed,” Melendez said in a statement. “I will do my best to fill her shoes.”

“I saw the vacancy as an opportunity to give back to this wonderful community I call home,” Melendez said. “It is vitally important that the Town has a clerk that is dedicated to preserving the town's land records, vital statistics, and maintaining the integrity of our elections. I feel incredibly lucky to have the privilege of serving in this role.”

Melendez said she has been a Groton resident for 30 years, is married to retired Navy Chief Juan A. Melendez Sr. and is a mother of three and a grandmother. Former Town Mayor Juan Melendez, Jr. is her son.

Last month Melendez started a two and half year program to become a certified town clerk.

The Town Charter says that the Town Council had 45 days to fill the vacancy by someone of the same party as Moukawsher, a Democrat.

The Town Council interviewed three candidates for the position in executive session on Jan. 30. Town Manager John Burt said one candidate was determined not to be eligible due to a rule that when an elector switches parties they are not entitled to the privileges of party enrollment for three months.

On Feb. 6 the council appointed Melendez to the $75,000-a-year position through Jan. 5, 2026.

k.drelich@theday.com