Groton Seeks Meeting With State Over Closure Of Mystic Education Center

The Groton Town Council will ask to meet with the state Commissioner of Administrative Services to discuss the upcoming closure of the Mystic Education Center and tour the property, the council decided Tuesday.

The state sent Groton a letter Aug. 1 saying that as of Sept. 30, the property would be shut down to save money and declared a surplus.  The decision would save state taxpayers $200,000 this year and $400,000 in later years, according to a letter by State Management Services Director Douglas Moore.

Groton has used the facility for years to house recreational programs, including all of its aquatics programs, six gymnastics classes and five levels of swim lessons.

“This town needs a pool,” Town Councilor Harry Watson said.  “How many times have I said this?”

“This is kind of shocking, what’s happened,” Councilor Paulann Sheets said. “They give us 60 days and we’re out of there … We should be, not unpleasant, but what the heck’s going on here?”

Douglas Ackerman, director of administrative services for Groton, said he has contacted the University of Connecticut at Avery Point and Groton will move some swim programs there on weekends. The pool at Avery Point is used for competitive lap swimming and is kept at about 80 degrees, so it will different from the Mystic Education Center pool, which is kept at 90 degrees, he said.

Ackerman said the town will be able use the pool for fall and winter swimming programs from midday until 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

The recreation department will move gymnastics programs to William Seely School, and ballroom dancing to the Groton Senior Center.

Councilors are expected to argue during their meeting with the state that the education center campus should not be closed until there is a plan for its future use.

Town Manager Mark Oefinger said town officials have asked for 30 years for community involvement in some kind of plan. The property, roughly 45 to 50 acres, includes parking lots, fields, and large buildings that have deteriorated. The area is zoned for single-family residential homes, so zoning may become an issue depending on its future use, he said.

When a property is declared surplus, the first step is typically to offer it to the host community, Oefinger said. The property would be appraised first; this may be a negative number, because buildings have not been properly maintained, he said.

“No matter whether we think we want the property or not, we’re going to be living with the reuse of this property for many, many, many years,” he said.