WINDSOR: Assessors give approval to tax abatements and supplemental tax warrant

by The Town Line staff

At their August 30 meeting, the Windsor Select Board, suspending as the select board, and convening as the board of assessors, unanimously (3-0, Ronald F. Brann had yet to arrive), approved the abatements and supplemental tax warrant, as presented by Assessor’s Agent Vern Ziegler, as follows: Abatement of $301.40 for David and Angela Nelson, for an omitted homestead; The Colwell Family Revocable Trust, in the amount of $1,213.82, The Colwell Family Revocable Trust for $1,178.20, and the Colwell Family Revocable Trust, in the amount of $1,243.96, all for error in land. Also, the Supplemental Tax Warrant for the Colwell family in the amount of $1,724.83, because of a lot merge omitted from assessment.

Ziegler distributed the 2022 municipal valuation return and was accepted by the select board, in a 3-0 vote.

The members then suspended as the board of assessors and reconvened as the select board.

The board then authorized Town Manager Theresa Haskell to send a request for a contract to review the town re-evaluation.

A tree reportedly ready to fall on the Hunts Meadow Road was referred to Central Maine Power Co. who said they would send someone out to look at it.

Road Supervisor Keith Hall reported the state of Maine has received funding for road shim, but Windsor was at the bottom of the list. Hall is going to talk to the Maine Department of Transportation about Route 105 and what can be done before winter.

In other business, Haskell noted that the town will need to renew three existing junkyard permits and wanted to know if the select board wanted to hold a public hearing. The select board decided that since they are existing junkyard permits and nothing has changed, and they have received no complaints, there is no need to hold a public hearing.

Select board member Richard H. Gray Jr., was absent from the meeting and Ronald F. Brann arrived at 6:25 p.m.

Sheepscot Lake Association end of season report (2022)

by Maria O’Rourke
SLA President

The Sheepscot Lake Association has been busy throughout the season working to help keep our beloved lake as healthy as it can be. The Courtesy Boat Inspection Program had a busy and successful season inspecting boats at the impressive new boat launch at the Fish and Game Club. The three inspectors (two steady and one alternate) worked weekend shifts checking boats both entering and leaving the lake for invasive plants and other species. With 178 inspections conducted, no invasive plants/species were found. This is an important program, not only to keep unwanted non-native species from entering the lake, but also for the educational aspect. The inspectors not only check for plants, but inform boaters of the importance of doing so while demonstrating how it is done. This is imperative as the inspectors are not always at the launch and when they are not present we hope to encourage self-inspections. We all play a part in keeping Sheepscot the healthy lake that it is! Thank you to our 2022 inspectors, Wyatt McKenney, Alex Reitchel, and Brody Worth on an outstanding job!

Another program that helps to keep the lake healthy is our LakeSmart program. After being dormant for a number of years, our LakeSmart “team” is now up and running again and looking forward to conducting more evaluations in 2023! LakeSmart is run by the Maine Lakes Society in conjunction with Lake Associations throughout the state. Homeowners who are interested in helping stop erosion on their properties can sign up for an evaluation to determine the property’s LakeSmart status. Our team will come to your property to conduct an evaluation determining the extent, if any, of erosion and the “best practices” suggested to combat it, including planting natural vegetation, constructing appropriate walking paths, and diverting rainwater runoff. An extensive checklist is adhered to, established by Maine Lakes, and then the evaluation is sent to them for official review. If your property is determined to be LakeSmart you will be awarded a plaque in recognition, but more importantly you will know you are doing all you can to help keep the lake healthy. That is the best reward we could all wish to receive! Please email us at sheepscotlakeassoc@gmail.com if you are interested in having your property evaluated for LakeSmart status in 2023. The water quality team has been conducting water testing bi-weekly throughout the summer.

Water is tested for its clarity, dissolved oxygen levels from the surface down to the deepest part of the lake, and phosphorus levels, and then sent off to Augusta DEP for evaluation/results. So far this summer we have been getting great results and the numbers indicate that Sheepscot is a healthy and vibrant lake. The latest testing was done the first week of September. Using the Secchi disk, testers were able to see more than 6 meters down from the surface! In comparison, another local waterbody with serious algae blooms has less than 2 meters of water clarity, so the 6+meter reading indicates a healthy lake. SLA held two events this year. Our annual boat parade was held on July 4, with over 32 boats participating, our best parade yet. The SLA annual general membership meeting occurred in July with good attendance. If you were present, thank you for coming! If you were unable to attend, we hope that you can join us next year. It is a great way to hear about our programs, sign up to help with any that interest you, purchase some of our merchandise or a raffle ticket, vote for our new slate of board members, and renew your membership. If you were unable to attend and would like to renew your membership, or join the association, you can do so by going to our website at https://sheepscotlakeassociation.com/. This year our guest speaker was Matt Scott from the Lake Stewards of Maine who discussed our water quality, what constitutes a healthy lake, and the issue of PFAS.

PFAS are man-made chemicals known as per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances. They are a byproduct of plastics that resist degradation to the extreme that they are referred to as “forever chemicals.” They are linked to a number of health problems, and they are showing up in well water and in food supply around the world. PFAS have become an issue in several townships in Maine, including ours. We have been able to have the lake tested for PFAS and our lake water is considered clean with a PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid) reading of 1 ppt (parts per trillion), below which the EPA considers the minimum reporting level threshold of 4 for presence of PFAS. This is outstanding and further emphasizes the health of Sheepscot Lake! You can learn more about PFAS by reading the article written by Pamela McKenney in The Town Line, as well as on the Town of Palermo website. For further information see the EPA’s guidelines.

This year we launched our SLA online store with two different shirt designs, both offered in many color options in men’s, women’s and children’s sizes as well as a tote bag. If you are interested in supporting our programs while sporting some cool tee shirts please visit the site here: https://www.bonfire.com/store/sheepscot-lake-association/. They make great holiday gifts for all of the lake-lovers in your household! If you are interested in purchasing a hat or visor, please come to our annual meeting next year!

Sheepscot is one of nearly 6,000 lakes and ponds in Maine, but it is certainly number one in our hearts. Keeping the lake healthy is our goal, and that cannot be done without the help and stewardship from the community – and that means you! Thank you to our members for your support!

Enjoy the fall and we look forward to another wonderful summer season on Sheepscot in 2023.

VASSALBORO: Two applications approved by planners

by Mary Grow

Vassalboro Planning Board members unanimously approved both applications on their Sept. 6 agenda, a new business and an extension of a solar development permit.

Elijah Bunten has approval to open a diesel mechanic shop in the smallest of several barns near his home at 203 Dunham Road, between Dunham Road and Riverside Drive, provided he gets any other necessary permits.

The business might need a Maine Department of Transportation highway entrance permit to continue using the Riverside Drive end of the driveway that runs through the property from one road to the other, because Riverside Drive is state Route 201.

Bunten might also need a DOT permit for the business sign he intends to put on the highway.

Because the business is close to his house, Bunten said he does not intend to accumulate vehicles in the yard. Planning board members approved a limit of 10 operating vehicles and two unregistered. Most will be diesel pick-up trucks, Bunten said, with a few tractors and similar small to medium-size vehicles.

Operating hours will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Waste oil and other fluids will be stored inside the building and disposed of properly. Bunten plans to have no employees “in the foreseeable future”; he does not intend to add a waiting room or plumbing.

The second application was from Sun Vest Solar for a six-month extension of its permit for a solar farm on Webber Pond Road. Board chairman Virginia Brackett said Sun Vest’s project, like others, was waiting for approval to connect to Central Maine Power Company’s grid.

Board members talked briefly about the proposed solar moratorium ordinance that select board members are scheduled to discuss at their Sept. 15 meeting, with the intention of asking voters to approve it at the polls Nov. 8. Planners agreed that until they see the wording of the draft ordinance, they cannot tell whether it will affect requests to extend previously-approved permits.

The next regular Vassalboro Planning Board meeting will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4. Paul Mitnik, temporarily reverting from board member to his former job as Vassalboro codes officer, said the agenda is likely to include applications for commercial solar developments.

EVENTS: Windsor Historical Society to offer evening talk

Windsor Historical Society at Windsor Fairgrounds

The Windsor Historical Society is offering an evening talk with John Bunker who will share his knowledge of Maine apple trees on Wednesday, October 12.

John Bunker is an apple historian, gardener and orchardist. In 1984 he started the cooperative mail-order nursery Fedco Trees. In 2012 he founded the Maine Heritage Orchard, in Unity. His recent book, Apples and the Art of Detection recounts his 40 years of tracking down, identifying and preserving rare apples. He lives with Cammy Watts on Superchilly Farm, in Palermo. To contact John or to learn more about John and Cammy’s activities, go to outonalimbapples.com.

There is no fee to attend but seating is limited. The talk will take place in the Malta Room, on the Windsor Historical Society grounds, Windsor Fairgrounds, at 7 p.m.

Please see the Windsor Historical Society page on Facebook for contact information.

China tax rate set at 12.05 mil

by Mary Grow

China’s property tax rate for the 2022-23 fiscal year, which began July 1, will be 12.05 mils ($12.05 for each $1,000 of valuation).

After a series of frustrating delays caused by computer issues, the new rate was approved unanimously by the board of assessors (also the select board) at a special meeting Sept. 6.

By June’s town business meeting vote, which select board members cannot change, the first half payment of local taxes is due at the town office by 4:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 30.

Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood said bills would go to the printer as soon as possible. If the printer is speedy, they might be in the mail by Sept. 9 or Sept. 12. They will also be on the town website, china.govoffice.org.

The 2022-23 rate is a decrease of 2.35 mils, or $2.35 per $1,000, from the 2021-22 rate of 14.4 mills ($14.40 for each $1,000 of valuation).

The lower rate does not mean everyone’s taxes will go down. Taxes are based on valuation multiplied by mil rate; some valuations will have increased, either through assessor William Van Tuinen’s adjustments as prices change or because property-owners have made improvements.

China’s tax rate is usually set by mid-August. The computer problems made other municipalities using the program that China uses send their bills closer than usual to due dates, Hapgood and assessing assistant Kelly Grotton said.

Interest will be charged on late payments, again by a town meeting vote that selectmen cannot override. Grotton said the interest rate is low enough so that for most property-owners, a few days’ interest will add only pennies to the bill.

Next year, Hapgood said, the warrant article for the annual town business meeting will be reworded to allow for unexpected delays – making the first due date either a fixed date “or 30 days after the tax commitment,” for example.

Hapgood said expenditures from taxes will rise in the current fiscal year, for the town, the school department and Kennebec County. An increase in valuations more than offset the increased spending, making the lower tax rate possible.

VASSALBORO: Review of solar moratorium ordinance on agenda

by Mary Grow

One agenda item at the Vassalboro select board’s Thursday, Sept. 15, meeting is a review of a solar moratorium ordinance that board members intend to ask voters to approve on Nov. 8.

At their Aug. 11 meeting, select board members voted unanimously to have the town attorney draft a moratorium ordinance. The purpose would be to postpone action on requests for commercial solar developments in town until after voters approve regulations specific to such developments.

Planning board members have already approved several commercial solar projects, adapting provisions of the existing Site Review Ordinance. Discussions have pointed out the desirability of additional rules for solar, like a requirement that the developer provide a plan and funding to restore the property after the solar panels’ useful life ends.

Planning board member Douglas Phillips said that the town can either adopt a separate new ordinance to govern commercial solar projects, or add rules for such developments to the Site Review Ordinance. He prefers the second route.

The select board meets at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 15 in the town office meeting room.

China select board approves one consultant; postpones another

by Mary Grow

At their Sept. 12 meeting, China select board members discussed hiring consultants for two different projects. They postponed action on a municipal building consultant until they know the price, and approved a consultant to assist with meeting state Department of Labor regulations.

They also talked about town committees, appointed and elected. Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood gave them the list of candidates on the Nov. 8 local ballot.

Sheldon Goodine has served 62 years on the South China Volunteer Fire Department. (The Town Line file photo)

Municipal Building Committee Chairman Sheldon Goodine presented another revision of the plan for a new storage building to contain the overflow of town records. This plan calls for a room on the south side of the town office, off the meeting room, 12 feet by either 22 or 24 feet.

In July, B. R. Smith Associates, Inc., of Presque Isle, proposed translating committee sketch plans into a formal plan and, if town officials approved, assisting with permitting and overseeing the process of getting construction bids.

Hapgood explained in an email that Keith Whitaker, a consulting engineer with BRSA, designed the new section of the present town office – hence the reach to a northern Maine company.

Selectmen favored the revised plan. They unanimously accepted Hapgood’s recommendation that they ask BRSA for a cost estimate for the company’s proposed services.

Last fall, select board members contracted with Lynn Gilley Martin, of Fire Service Compliancy Associates, to help bring town facilities and departments into compliance with state labor regulations. Now, Hapgood said, China’s three fire departments and China Rescue needed similar assistance.

To work with the fire and rescue chiefs, she recommended another contract with Martin. The consultant told select board members last October that she works with, but not for, the Department of Labor, offering municipalities advice on complying with labor laws and regulations.

Hapgood said for a fee of $1,850 per department, Martin would advise them for a year, including providing each department with a $450 manual with information on training requirements, record-keeping and other necessities. Money would come from the fire departments’ and China Rescue’s reserve funds, she said.

Select board members Blane Casey and Wayne Chadwick and board chairman Ronald Breton asked if the town could save money by treating the four departments as one. Hapgood said her discussions with the chiefs indicated a combination would not work.

Casey asked Goodine his opinion on the issue. Goodine, who said he started his 63rd year as a member of the South China volunteer fire department May 1 (and who celebrates his 86th birthday on Sept. 16) replied that volunteer fire departments all over the country are having trouble getting members, and complex regulations don’t help, but the department will follow the rules.

Board members unanimously approved the contract with Martin.

When they turned to the agenda item titled “How to increase participation to join committees?” Hapgood said the local transfer station and comprehensive plan implementation committees and the Regional School Unit #18 cost sharing committee all need members.

Selectmen started by volunteering themselves for various positions. Then they discussed how the town committees relate to the select board – are they sub-committees, or advisory committees, or something else? – and whether it was a conflict of interest for a select board member to serve on a committee that reported to the select board.

Hapgood’s list of candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot revealed pending vacancies on elected boards, too.

For Planning Board, she said, at-large member James Wilkens is on the ballot; there are no candidates for the District 2 and District 4 seats.

Timothy Basham and Elizabeth Curtis are seeking re-election to the budget committee, and Trishea Story has said she will accept re-election as secretary if she gets the most write-in votes. There is no candidate for the currently vacant District 2 seat.

District 2 is the northeastern part of China. District 4 is the southwestern area.

Any China resident interested in being considered for membership on any town committee is invited to contact the town office.

Hapgood said on Nov. 8, there are three candidates for three seats on the select board, incumbents Blane Casey and Janet Preston plus Brent Chesley.

The only contest on the Nov. 8 local ballot is for one of China’s two positions on the Regional School Unit #18 board of directors. Incumbent Dawn Castner seeks re-election; Wallace Pooler III and Darrell Stevens are also on the ballot, Hapgood said.

In other business, Hapgood said applications for Maine’s new property tax stabilization program are keeping town office staff busier than usual. (See the front page of the Aug. 4 issue of The Town Line for an explanation of this program, aimed at stabilizing property taxes on qualifying senior residents’ homesteads.)

Staff has already received 150 applications from current residents, Hapgood said. Because the program allows homesteads in multiple Maine municipalities to count toward the required 10 years’ residency, town office staff members also need to check former residents’ tax records for information the residents’ current municipalities need.

The next China select board meeting, on Monday, Sept. 26, will be preceded by two public hearings, beginning at 6 p.m. in the town office meeting room. Hapgood said one hearing will be on the local referendum questions for Nov. 8; the other will be the annual hearing on adjustments to the appendices to the general assistance program.

Windsor select board approves assessor’s municipal tax assessment warrant

by The Town Line staff

At their August 16 meeting, at the suggestion of Windsor’s Assessor’s Agent, Vern Ziegler, the select board unanimously voted on the Assessor’s Certification of Assessment, 2022-2023 Municipal Tax Assessment Warrant, certificate of commitment and certificate of assessment to be returned to the municipal treasurer of the state of Maine.

There was also discussion on the draft utility scale solar energy facility ordinance which was continued to the next meeting to give the select board more time to read the draft.

The select board also voted unanimously to authorize Town Manager Theresa Haskell and board chairman Ray Bates to sign the general obligation bond for the town to finance the purchase of a new E-One/Freightliner Tanker Truck as approved at the annual town meeting. The amount is not to exceed $300,000 and would be payable on August 17 of each year of the next six years. The bond was awarded to Kennebec Savings Bank at an interest rate of 3.89 percent. The bond qualifies as being tax exempt.

In other business:

  • The board gave approval for the town manageer to move $10,000 from the cemetery fund interest account to the cemetery fund interest account CD. This was done because the CD maturity date is September 5, 2022.
  • The board also authorized Haskell to move $978.93 from the administration line to the planning/codes enforcement line that was overspent because of additional plumbing permits that were issued but not budgeted enough. This will not change the bottomline total expenditure spent which was approved at town meeting by the voters.
  • Resident Moira Teekema distributed a photo of what the new food pantry sign, which she designed and donated, will look like.

Select board member Ronald Brann mentioned that the Lincoln County News had an article on a solar ordinance from the town of Whitefield posted if the select board wanted to read it and compare to the draft utility scale solar energy facility ordinance, in Windsor. There was some discussion of what happens when taxes are not paid. Who is responsible – landowner or solar company. Brann suggested the town obtain a copy of the lease agreement, and maybe ask the Kennebec Valley Council of Governments (KVCOG) about their thoughts on the subject.

The next meeting of the select board was scheduled for August 30.

Webber Pond one of six Maine lakes at high risk for toxic algae bloom

Blue-green toxic algae bloom.

No lakes or ponds have been put on advisory just yet

by Roland D. Hallee

Following the news that a couple of dogs in southern Maine had to be euthanized following their exposure to a blue-green toxic algae bloom, this news was released by Lakes in Maine.

According to them, six lakes in Maine are at high risk for a blue-green toxic algae bloom. In our immediate area, Webber Pond, in Vassalboro, in on the short list of six lakes.

While the algae has been spotted in Maine lakes in the past, this year no lakes or ponds have been put on advisory just yet. However, officials have rated the waterways in the state based on their likelihood of having it before the summer’s end.

Many lakes in Maine see algae blooms every year and officials are closely watching to make sure residents are aware of any blooms that become toxic.

The toxic blue-green algae is actually called Cyanobacteria and it thrives in warm water. This warmer water is not unusual here in the summer, which is why reports of it typically happen in the warmer months. Learn to recognize what this bacteria looks like when you’re checking for toxic algae.

Many lakes and rivers have seemingly foreign objects and foam floating in them. Most of these things are harmless. But the algae that can cause illness is known by its blue-green color. You’ll want to avoid it wherever you can. Children and pets are especially susceptible.

Those topping the list are, in alphabetical order: 1. Annabessacook Lake, in Monmouth, 2. Cross Lake, in Aroostook County, 3. Georges Pond, in Franklin, 4. Sebasticook Lake, in Newport, 5. Trafton Lake, in Limestone and 6. Webber Pond, in Vassalboro. There are plenty of great lakes in the state that are safe for swimming, or just hiking, camping, or enjoying views. Check out more about lakes in Maine that you can feel free to enjoy.

Coming into contact with the toxic algae can cause rashes, skin irritations, and even some gastrointestinal illnesses. You’ll see these symptoms even more severely in children and pets.

Officials urge folks to be mindful of any standing bodies of water. Always do a check for discolored water or “froth” that has a bluish color to it before you swim or come into contact with water. If contact is made, be sure to wash it off with clear and fresh water as soon as possible. You might be worried if you run into toxic algae in Maine, but there won’t be any long-term problems to worry about if you wash it all off right away.

Remember that fish can also be affected. If you fish in any water that might be affected by the blue-green algae, be sure to clean the it well before cooking at a high temperature.

To keep track of the Maine lakes at highest risk of cyanobacteria advisories, check out the official state website.

If you’ve been affected by any of the algae blooms this summer, they would like to hear your experience. Contact them at https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/maine/toxic-blue-green-algae-me/.

China budget committee urges approval on 6 ballot questions

by Mary Grow

China Budget Committee members have recommended voters at the town’s Nov. 8 town meeting approve all six proposed expenditures from federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grants.

All votes but one were unanimous. Select board members have unanimously recommended approval of the expenditures (see The Town Line, Aug. 25, p. 2).

The split vote was on the article requesting $70,000 to expand broadband service to unserved and underserved areas of China. After a brief question and answer session, committee chairman Thomas Rumpf, secretary Trishea Story and members Kevin Maroon, Timothy Basham and Elizabeth Curtis voted to recommend voters approve the expenditure; Michael Sullivan dissented.

The other proposed ARPA expenditures presented to voters, with unanimous affirmative recommendations from both town boards, are:

  • Up to $21,590 to reimburse China Rescue Unit’s reserve fund for the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) the unit bought. Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood said the machine was used frequently for diagnoses during the Covid epidemic, justifying use of ARPA money.
  • Up to $7,000 for improvements to the radio tower at the town office.
  • Up to $22,000 to buy three heat pumps, for the town office, the transfer station office and the scale shack at the transfer station. Hapgood assured committee members the pumps are eligible for Efficiency Maine rebates; she does not know how long it will take to get bids, choose a vender and have the pumps installed.
  • Up to $75,000 for the new 2022-23 fuel assistance program for senior residents.
  • Up to $30,000 to replace or repair fences around China cemeteries.

At the select board meeting following the budget committee meeting, select board members unanimously approved rules for the fuel assistance program. After the previous discussion Aug. 22, Hapgood had checked the 2020 census records; she estimated that 136 households would have been eligible that year.

Select board members left the maximum household grant at $500. They approved maximum income limits – $30,000 for a one-person household, twice that for two people – and a residency requirement. The application process will be as simple as possible; the $500 will be sent to the fuel company, not to the householder.

If voters approve the proposal on Nov. 8, application information will be publicized.

Budget committee members do not plan to schedule another meeting until January 2023, when town officials begin work on the 2023-24 municipal budget.