Daily Five: The Budget, The Polygraph Machine And A Hike

1.  Today is Friday, March 30.  The National Weather Service predicts sunny skies, a high temperature of 49 degrees and a breeze of 14 mph. Tonight wil be mostly cloudy, with a low of 39 degrees and a 50 percent chance of rain after midnight.

2.  The Town Council's Committee of the Whole will meet at 9 a.m. on Saturday in the Town Hall Annex to begin its budget deliberations. represents an increase of $4.1 million, or 3.5 percent over the current year. If adopted as proposed, the budget would result in an increase of 8.6 percent in the tax rate, from 18.89 to 20.51 mills.

3.  The department's polygraph machine is getting some use. According to the department's February report, Officer Matthew Hammerstrom conducted eight polygraph exams that month. Hammerstrom graduated from the New England Polygraph Institute at the top of his class earlier this winter, and the police department bought the polygraph machine with money from the state. The department plans to use the device when investigating criminal cases and interviewing applicants to the department.

4.  The Groton Open Space Association will guide The hike will start at the trail near the Pequot Health Center on Hazelnut Hill Road, and the program is free. Susan Sutherland wil serve as expert on the hike and point out invasive plant species and ways to control them.  Parking is available at the start of the trail, just beyond the medical center, or at a nearby church.  

5. The Ecumenical blessing of the palms, an annual event, will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday at Mystic River Park, at the corner of East Main Street and the Mystic drawbridge. After palms are blessed, those participating will go to their own churches.