PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 13, 2020
TOWN OF GROTON – COVID-19 UPDATE
At the regularly scheduled meeting of the Groton Select Board held on Monday, April 13, 2020, at the request of the Town Treasurer/Tax Collector and the Board of Assessors, the Select Board voted unanimously to extend tax deadlines, waiver of interest and penalties, and deadline for exemption applications as follows:
a. The date real estate, personal property and water district taxes are due is extended from May 1, 2020 to June 1, 2020.
b. The Select Board has waived payment of interest and penalty in the event of late payment of any excise tax, betterment assessment or apportionment, water rate, annual sewer use, or other charge added to a tax for any payments with a due date on or after March 10, 2020, and that this waiver may only be given if payment is made after its due date but before June 30, 2020.
c. Pursuant to Chapter 53 of the Acts of 2020, the Select Board adopts the local option to extend due date applications for Real Estate exemptions from April 1st to June 1st.
In addition, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has issued new guidelines for Grocery Stores. Effective immediately, “grocery stores shall limit occupancy to 40 percent of its maximum permitted occupancy level as documented in its occupancy permit on record with the municipal building department or other municipal record holder in order to provide for in-store social distancing while preserving sufficient access for the public to supplies of food and necessities. Stores with a maximum occupancy of 25 persons or less are exempt from this requirement. Local boards of health should consult with these stores to ensure appropriate protections are in place.”
The Town of Groton and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are taking unprecedented steps in order to reduce the rate of spread by working proactively to reduce transmission and promote public health recommendations. We urge all citizens to exercise appropriate measures in order to reduce the risk of infection. Additional information regarding risk and containment can be found on the CDC website https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/.
Thank you for your immediate attention and cooperation with this. We will continue to update the community as information becomes available. Please keep checking the Town of Groton website and social media outlets for updates as they become available.
Sincerely,
Mark W. Haddad
Town Manager
