by Roland D. Hallee Groundhog day was a little over two months ago. However, this is the time of year when they usually start to make their appearance, emerging from their dens following a long winter of hibernation. Groundhogs, Marmota monax, also known as woodchucks, are a rodent, belonging to the group of large ground […]
by Mary Grow China Planning Board members approved one application on their March 28 agenda and postponed everything else, instead making their recommendation on the amended Board of Appeals ordinance that will be on the June 13 town business meeting warrant. Natasha Littlefield has a permit to open a 24-hour gym and fitness center at […]
by Mary Grow Vassalboro select board members got lots of legal advice at their March 30 meeting from attorney Stephen E. F. Langsdorf, of the Augusta law firm Preti Flaherty. Joining the meeting virtually, Langsdorf answered questions from board members and Town Manager Aaron Miller about possible amendments to the town’s Marijuana Business Ordinance, and […]
by Mary Grow Vassalboro school officials – primarily Superintendent Alan Pfeiffer, Principal Ira Michaud, and Special Education Director Tanya Thibeau – led school board members through the proposed 2023-24 budget at a March 29 workshop meeting. Board members raised some questions during the workshop and were encouraged to send more as they reviewed the figures […]
by Mary Grow China and Vassalboro planning board members have created a joint two-town subcommittee to draft a new ordinance that, with voters’ approval, would be identical in each town. Its working title is “An Ordinance Prohibiting Any More Town Ordinances or Ordinance Amendments Until the Year 2050.” China’s planning board has five members – […]
by Mary Grow Vassalboro School Superintendent Alan Pfeiffer doesn’t know yet how much larger next year’s school budget will be compared to this year’s, but he expects an increase. One item on the school board’s March 21 agenda was continued review of sections of the draft 2023-24 budget (see The Town Line, March 16, pp. […]
by Mary Grow The Vassalboro budget committee’s March 21 meeting with select board members began with – and sometimes reverted to – a broad question about what townspeople want for their town and how much they are willing to pay. Budget committee member Dallas Smedberg raised the question, in terms of whether the budget committee […]
by Mary Grow “We’re spending a lot of money tonight,” China select board member Blane Casey commented as the board’s March 27 meeting wound down. They spent much of it on two pieces of equipment, a side-by-side for the transfer station and a plow truck for the public works department. Decisions were unanimous as board […]
by Mary Grow Vassalboro select board members covered varied topics at their March 16 meeting. Matthew Weaver, chief investment officer at The First Bancorp, in Damariscotta, updated board members and Town Manager Aaron Miller on Vassalboro’s investment funds. Last year was “a very difficult year,” he said, and Vassalboro lost money, primarily because bonds had […]
by Mary Grow Vassalboro budget committee members held their first 2023 meeting March 16, unanimously electing Peggy Shaffer chairman and reviewing the draft 2023-24 municipal budget with select board members and Town Manager Aaron Miller. The draft is subject to change, because some costs are not yet firm. Budget committee members have not seen the […]