China Planning Board meeting canceled

The China Planning Board meeting scheduled for May 9 was canceled; board members were not ready to continue work on draft ordinances. The next regular meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 24.

China broadband committee continues talks with Unitel, Direct Communications

by Mary Grow

At their May 4 meeting, China Broadband Committee (CBC) members continued discussion of working with Unitel and Direct Communications to bring expanded broadband service to China residents. CBC Chairman Robert O’Connor planned to present an interim report to China Select Board members at their May 9 meeting.

As at their previous joint discussion April 6 (see The Town Line, April 14, p. 3), everyone was enthusiastic about a cooperative endeavor – and how to pay for what CBC members envision remained a problem.

After voters defeated a request to borrow money through a bond in November 2021, CBC members have been determined to develop a plan that would not require financial support from taxpayers. They expect a combination of grants, user fees and other to-be-explored sources to cover costs.

CBC member Jamie Pitney summarized the committee’s relationship with Unitel: “We contacted all these people [from other broadband and telecommunications companies, including those already serving China residents] and the most promising are sitting right here.”

Michael Akers, Unitel’s Director of Network Operations, said he and Lead Communications Technician Scott Turgeon toured about half of China’s roads and confirmed and expanded information collected by last summer’s survey by Hawkeye Connections.

Notably, they found areas on main roads and camp roads where new facilities would be needed. The necessary construction would be “fairly straightforward,” Akers said, parts of it easy and parts hard.

In sum, the Unitel experts were “not supersurprised” by their findings. They concurred with Hawkeye’s cost estimate of around $6.5 million for work China would need.

They also agreed that under current guidelines and definitions for federal and state broadband grants, China could expect about $850,000, leaving a substantial amount needed from other sources.

Unitel and Direct Communications would contribute, amounts unknown. And, several people mentioned in discussion, grant guidelines will not be final until the fall of 2022 and might change to China’s advantage.

Another possible plan would be to expand China broadband incrementally over several years, starting with service to currently unserved and underserved areas.

The group agreed that CBC members should encourage China residents to do repeated speed tests on their current broadband service. Demonstrations of limited service should help show the need for change. Direct Communications, based in the small town of Rockland, Idaho, specializes in providing rural towns with broadband service. Unitel, based in Unity, Maine, is now a member of Direct Communications. Unitel’s Director of Internal/External Support, Jayne Sullivan, and Akers said they will forward a description of the local financial situation to Idaho.

Pitney asked James Dougherty, from consultant Mission Broadband, to draft a work plan for the CBC based on the May 4 discussion. After discussion of how much time would be needed, the next CBC meeting was scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 25, in the portable building behind the China town office.

Vassalboro planners approve four applications

by Mary Grow

Vassalboro Planning Board members unanimously approved all four applications on their May 3 agenda. They also discussed increased town permit fees, an item that will appear on the May 12 select board agenda.

Two shoreland permits were approved, for John Northrop to replace a house at 78 Three Mile Pond Road with a similar house close by and to add a garage; and for Jeffrey and Erica Bennett to build two houses at 21 Sheafer Lane, on Webber Pond.

Property-owner Raymond Breton, representing Amber French, of China, received a permit to open a lashes extension business – eyelashes, Breton explained – in an existing building at 913 Main Street, in North Vassalboro.

The fourth action was approval of a six-month extension of the permit issued June 1, 2021, for a solar array off Cemetery Street, in North Vassalboro. The original license was issued to New England Solar Gardens; the new company name is Maine 1 Vassalboro Cemetery.

Codes Officer Ryan Page presented a list of proposed fee increases for permits issued by his office, including but not exclusively those needing planning board approval. His goal was twofold, to bring many-year-old fees into the present day and to more adequately represent the time invested in permit review.

Planners took no formal action, but in discussion they supported his fee schedule and in some cases recommended increases.

Two board members summarized the two philosophies involved. John Phillips said when he asks town employees for a service, he thinks his taxes have paid for their help and there should be no additional charge. Paul Mitnik said that since he has not applied for a permit in years, his taxes are subsidizing residents who do need the codes officer’s help.

The next Vassalboro Planning Board meeting should be Tuesday evening, June 7.

China select board holds public hearing on proposed budget

by Mary Grow

The May 9 China Select Board meeting began with a half-hour public hearing on three of the items to be submitted to voters on June 14: the Large Scale Solar Facilities Moratorium Ordinance (Art. 37), the updated town comprehensive plan (Art. 38) and the 2022-23 municipal budget (Arts. 2 through 21, and indirectly Arts. 22 through 25 and 27 through 35).

Select Board Chairman Ronald Breton briefly explained each item and invited questions from the audience, on line and in the meeting room. There was one: Lawrence Sikora asked why money for China’s volunteer fire departments appeared in two different articles.

Breton explained that Art. 9 asks for $166,755 to keep the fire departments and rescue unit operating, funding their buildings and equipment and related expenses. Art. 12 asks for $92,000 for 11 “community support organizations,” donations or gifts to help in-town service organizations. The fire departments’ appropriations are intended for each department’s chief to distribute among the volunteer members in appreciation of their work.

Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood said town meeting information, including the proposed ordinance and the revised comprehensive plan, are on China’s website, china.govoffice.com, under the elections tab on the left side of the page. A paper copy of the lengthy comprehensive plan may be borrowed from the town office.

During the meeting that followed the hearing, select board members approved two school-related questions for voters to answer on June 14. They will be on two separate ballots. One asks voters to approve or reject the 2022-23 school budget that will have been approved in an open meeting May 19. The other asks voter approval to apply to the state’s School Revolving Renovation Fund.

Carl Gartley, China resident and Superintendent in Regional School Unit (RSU) #18 (Belgrade, China, Oakland, Rome and Sidney), said the proposed 2022-23 budget is 1.57 percent, or about $643,000, higher than the current year’s budget. China’s share is projected to increase by 0.96 percent, or about $48,000.

On Thursday, May 19, interested voters from the five RSU #18 towns will meet at 6 p.m. at the Messalonskee High School Performing Arts Center, in Oakland, and vote on the amount in each of the 18 articles that make up the budget. On June 14, voters in the five towns will vote yes or no on re-approving the total that was approved May 19, the annual school budget referendum vote.

The formula that determines how much of the total RSU budget each town pays is currently based 75 percent on property valuation and 25 percent on student population. Gartley said that a new 15-member committee – three people from each town, appointed by the select boards – that will decide whether to continue or to amend the formula is scheduled to be organized this fall.

Also on June 14 is the state primary election.

China’s polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 14, in the former portable classroom behind the town office. Hapgood reminded the audience that the town office will be closed all day, because staff will be at the polls.

Town and state absentee ballots will be available at the town office Monday, May 16, and the RSU ballots will be available Friday, May 20.

In other business at the May 9 meeting, select board members reviewed seven bids for paving town roads. They unanimously accepted the low bid of $86.90 per ton of paving mix, from All States Construction, of Richmond, with the proviso that Hapgood and the China Road Committee will decide what roads to repave with asphalt and what roads to chip seal, as they evaluate the need and the funds available.

Steven Goulas, Paving Coordinator/Estimator for All States, explained that a chip seal surface is a layer of emulsion with hard stone spread on top and packed down, and then swept to move any loose stone into the ditches. Chip seal costs less than repaving.

Depending on the road, different size stone can be used, and either one or two layers applied, Goulas said. He estimated a chip sealed surface would last on average around five years, compared to an average of around seven years for an asphalt repaving. Chip seal is more durable now than it was 30 years ago because of the change in weather, he added.

Shawn Reed, China’s newly-titled Director of Public Services (combining management of the public works department and the transfer station), reminded the audience that South Road was chip sealed and is holding up well. His opinion is that it would be better to do as much as possible of the planned 5.1 miles of resurfacing this summer, using both methods as road committee members advise, than to postpone all work hoping for lower prices in 2023.

The China Road Committee, including Hapgood and Reed, was scheduled to meet Wednesday morning, May 11.

Reed’s report to the select board, presented by Hapgood, said his department has just added two new employees, one for public works and one for the transfer station.

Hapgood reminded those present that new transfer station hours take effect the week of May 16. So far, she said, she has heard only approval of the change. The new hours are on the town website and posted at the transfer station.

Select board members accepted the lowest of three bids for 18 months of mowing (to switch the contract from a calendar to a fiscal year), $47,225 from AK Enterprise, Alex Sargent’s landscape company, in Chelsea.

They approved a renewed two-year dispatching contract with the City of Waterville’s police department. The price is a little over $19,000 for the first year – already in the proposed 2022-23 budget, Hapgood said – and likely to increase slightly in the second year.

Robert O’Connor, chairman of the China Broadband Committee (CBC), updated board members on committee discussions with representatives of telecommunications companies since his report last November. CBC members are currently optimistic about prospects for expanded broadband service through Unity-based Unitel and Unitel’s new partner, Direct Communications of Idaho (see related story here).

The next regular China Select Board meeting is scheduled for Monday evening, May 23.

Windsor select board approves article to purchase firetruck

by The Town Line staff

By a vote of 3-1, with Ray Bates opposing (select board member Richard Gray Jr., was absent), the Windsor Select Board approved the purchase of a new E-One/Freightliner Tanker Truck including transaction costs and other expenses reasonably related for the sum of $354,000, with $54,000 being expended from the unassigned fund balance at the time of purchase, and with any shortfall or additional amount needed at the time of purchase in excess of $354,000, to be expended from the Fire Safety Capital Reserve Fund, and authorized the treasurer and the chairman of the select board to issue, at one time or from time to time, general obligation securities of the town, including temporary notes in anticipation of the sale, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $300,000. Also delegated to the treasurer and chairman the authority and discretion to fix the date(s) maturity, denomination, interest rate, place of payment, call for redemption form and other details of securities, including execution and delivery of securities against payment, and to provide for the sale, and undertake such refunding as they may deem appropriate in the future.

By a vote of 4-0, the select board approved the draft Utility Scale Solar Facilities Moratoriam Ordinance and bring to the town for approval.

The board also unanimously approved to appropriate $22,500 from the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds – aka American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA Funds) – received by the town from the federal government to provide premium pay for employees performing essential work during the COVID-19 pandemic who meet ARPA eligibility requirements and who work in the administration office, public works department, transfer station department, animal control department, codes enforcement department and cemetery department. The premium pay will not exceed $13 per hour in addition to the regular wages or other renumeration the eligible employee receives and not to exceed $25,000 in total over the period of the performance.

In other business, certificate of appointments for election clerk/ballot clerk were approved. For the Democrats, approved were Allane Ball, Stephen Ball, Nancy Fish, Theresa Haskell, Kathryn Kellison, Carl Pease and Margaret Pease. Republicans are Debra French, Diana Gardner, Carolyn Greenwood, Deborah Gray, Thomas Reed and Moira Teekema.

Animal Control Officer Kim Bolduc-Bartlett told the board that 75 percent of the unregistered dogs list is complete and no issues resulted from the serving of the letters for unlicensed dogs.

With Juneteenth (June 19) now being a federal holiday, the select board voted to close the town office on Monday, June 20.

Near the end of the meeting, William Appel Jr. asked if Andrew Ballantyne would be running for re-election since his term will expire this year. Ballantyne gave no definite response.

The next meeting of the Windsor Select Board was held on April 12.

Vassalboro select board talks about upcoming town meeting

by Mary Grow

Vassalboro select board members had a varied agenda at their April 28 meeting, discussing topics that included the upcoming June 6 and June 14 annual town meeting; town committees; PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances) that might have been in sludge that might have been spread in the 1990s; and upcoming celebrations.

Board members unanimously approved the town meeting warrant. The meeting will be in two parts, as usual.

The open meeting, where voters assemble and vote by show of hands, begins at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 6, at Vassalboro Community School. Those attending will elect a moderator (Article 1) and act on Articles 2 through 39, which include election of five budget committee members, action on two proposed amendments to Vassalboro’s Marijuana Business ordinance, the 2022-23 municipal budget, municipal policy questions and the 2022-2023 school budget.

On Tuesday, June 14, polls will be open at the town office for voters to endorse or reject the school budget approved June 6; elect members of the select board and school board; and answer a non-binding straw poll asking if they want town officials to draft an ordinance to regulate solar arrays in town.

A PFAS survey was board member Chris French’s idea, reacting to reports of farms in Fairfield, Unity and elsewhere in Maine whose products cannot be used because the chemicals in the soil have contaminated them.

Town Manager Mary Sabins shared a list of five sites in Vassalboro and one in China near the Vassalboro town line for which sludge-spreading licenses were granted between 1980 and 1994. Whether sludge was spread under the licenses is a separate question that was not answered, except that select board Chairman Robert Browne is sure no sludge was spread on the two pieces of land belonging to his family. The stench was a deterrent, he said.

French’s suggestion was that Vassalboro Conservation Commission members try to find out where sludge was spread and arrange to have sites, if there are any, tested for PFAS. Federal ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) might pay for the testing, he said.

PFAS tests cost $300 or more and are not done locally, French said – the nearest laboratory he knows of is in Massachusetts.

Sabins expects state agencies will pay for PFAS tests, though not necessarily this year. After discussion with Peggy Horner of the Conservation Commission and other audience members, select board members postponed action until they see what state officials propose.

Resident Amy Davidoff asked select board member to create a new town committee, as recommended in Vassalboro’s strategic plan, to work with Transfer Station Manager George Hamar on recycling and on updating the transfer station facility. Its recommendations would be advisory to the select board.

Board members discussed current uncertainties associated with waste disposal, especially whether the Municipal Review Committee will succeed in reopening the Hampden waste-to-energy facility in a reasonable time and whether prices paid for recyclables will go up again.

They asked Davidoff and others interested to develop a mission statement for the committee. Davidoff said the strategic plan calls for eight members; she knows of three or four interested people already.

Other Vassalboro residents, especially those knowledgeable about solid waste and recycling issues, are invited to contact her at (207) 284-3417 or at adavidoff@une.edu.

Pending celebrations board members discussed included:

  • May 1 through May 7 is the 53rd annual Professional Municipal Clerks Week (see The Town Line, April 28, p. 11). Board members signed a proclamation to that effect and thanked Vassalboro Town Clerk Cathy Coyne for her good work.
  • On May 19, a celebration of the return of alewives to China Lake via Outlet Stream will be held on the east bank of the stream at Olde Mill Place in North Vassalboro, beginning at 4 p.m. Sabins said Landis Hudson of Maine Rivers, leader of ARI (Alewife Restoration Initiative) that removed stream barriers, is coordinating the event. Governor Janet Mills and state and organizational environmentalists are scheduled to attend, Sabins said.
  • Resident Tom Richards said the Vassalboro Legion Post’s Memorial Day observance will include a flag retirement ceremony, illustrating the respectful way to dispose of United States flags too worn to be displayed. Interested people can get details from Richards or other Post members.

The next regular Vassalboro select board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 12, in the town office meeting room.

China planners discuss revised ordinances they hope to ask voters to approve

by Mary Grow

China Planning Board members spent a second meeting the evening of April 26 mostly discussing new and revised ordinances they hope to ask voters to approve in November (see The Town Line, April 21, p. 3).

They made two unanimous decisions about ordinance revisions.

  • One recommended change, in the Land Use Ordinance, will be to limit lot coverage in the shoreland zone to 15 percent for structures plus 5 percent for other impervious surfaces, like driveways and parking areas.
  • A second change, to the draft Solar Energy Systems Ordinance, will be to exclude commercial solar developments from the Stream Protection Zone and the Resource Protection Zone. They are already excluded from the Shoreland Zone.

After board members have agreed in principle on all revisions they recommend, they will develop wording to be presented to voters as proposed ordinance amendments.

Codes Officer Jaime Hanson had learned that state regulations set no limit on the amount of a lot covered by man-made structures and surfaces in rural zones, a topic discussed at the April 12 board meeting. There was consensus, but no formal decision, on a 30 percent limit instead of the present 20 percent limit.

Hanson pointed out that new state laws intended to promote affordable housing are likely to increase housing density, by encouraging duplexes, mother-in-law apartments and similar expansions of single-family residences.

Turning to the proposed Solar Energy Systems Ordinance, board members discussed a variety of issues it needs to cover, including minimizing effects on neighbors, making sure construction debris is cleaned up, controlling stormwater run-off and guaranteeing funds to restore the land after the solar farm reaches the end of its useful life. Board member Michael Brown volunteered to look into possible compatible uses of land under a solar array, for example for raising some type of crop.

Subject to landowner approval, board members plan to visit the solar farm on Route 32 North (Vassalboro Road), if possible immediately before their May 10 meeting.

Hanson and board Chairman Scott Rollins brought up another potential ordinance, one that would govern short-term vacation rentals. A major concern is that building-owners around China’s lakes are renting to large groups of people, potentially overloading shoreland septic systems.

The topic will be on a future agenda.

Vassalboro budget could show a slight decrease in mil rate

Majority does not support lowering taxes

by Mary Grow

At their April 19 meeting, Vassalboro Budget Committee were faced with a proposed 2022-23 budget, including municipal and school requests and an estimated Kennebec County tax, which (if approved by voters) would be expected to result in a slight decrease in the town tax rate.

The current rate is 14.48 mils ($14.48 for each $1,000 of property valuation). Town Manager Mary Sabins’ preliminary calculation showed that because of increased revenues from other sources, Vassalboro’s $7 million budget could be covered if the tax rate were reduced to 13.93 mils.

The manager reminded budget committee members that the Kennebec County assessment hadn’t been received. And, she said, the final tax rate depends on the town assessor’s property valuations.

Budget committee members were pleased with the news, but a majority did not support lowering the tax rate. Instead, they approved Peggy Shaffer’s motion to endorse the budget, to leave the tax rate at 14.48 mils and to add the difference (around $156,000) to a capital reserve account.

The majority argument was that, given present economic uncertainties, setting aside extra money would cover a variety of possible contingencies. State and federal funding might be cut, or paving costs might increase more than anticipated, for example. Several said they would rather keep taxes level for 2022-23 than lower them and then have to raise them again, maybe substantially, for 2023-24.

William Browne objected, fearing the extra capital reserves could become “a slush fund.”

Some committee members expressed reservations about the proposed municipal expenditures they discussed at their March 31 meeting (see The Town Line, April 7, p. 3). The increased library budget (see The Town Line, March 24, p. 3), money to develop a small park by Outlet Stream and Road Foreman Gene Field’s requested roadside mower were all briefly re-discussed.

Library representatives had asked for time to speak again about their plans, committee Chairman Rick Denico, Jr., said. A majority of committee members saw no need for another presentation.

Most of the April 19 meeting was spent reviewing the proposed 2022-23 school budget with school board members, Superintendent Alan Pfeiffer and resident Paula Gravelle. Gravelle is the Maine Department of Education administrator in charge of calculating the Essential Programs and Services funding model, which determines each school department’s annual state funding. A document called an ED 279 report then tells each superintendent how much state aid to expect.

Gravelle explained that the basis for each school’s state subsidy is based on enrollment (as of Oct. 1 each year), staffing and finances. A complicated formula tells her how to use this information to make sure each school gets its fair share.

The number of applicants for free and reduced-price lunches, determined by parents who fill out a form every fall, has been an important financial input, Gravelle said. But since all lunches became free during the pandemic, few people fill out the forms. The department has been improvising, using three-year averages, and staff are considering an alternative method to evaluate financial conditions.

Gravelle told Browne each school’s allocation is calculated near the beginning of the calendar year. When Browne asked why the budget committee had not received the 2022-23 school budget request until April, Pfeiffer accepted responsibility, saying his time had gone to staffing issues at Vassalboro Community School (see The Town Line, April 21, p. 11).

Budget committee and school board members discussed a variety of budget-related issues, especially salaries and building maintenance needs. Pfeiffer said contract negotiations with several employee groups will start soon. Currently, he said Vassalboro’s educational technicians’ pay is “at the low end” of the area pay range; bus drivers’ and custodians’ compensation is comparable to pay in neighboring school units.

School Board Chairman Kevin Levasseur said as the 1992 school building ages, maintenance needs increase. Pandemic funding has helped with projects like converting the unused industrial arts area into a pre-kindergarten space, he added.

Pfeiffer said Vassalboro has received $1.7 million in extra pandemic funds. Spending the money has been “very restricted” by federal guidelines and timetables, he said. The school department had three months to spend the first installment; it was used for new buses.

“Our bus drivers have been really awesome,” the superintendent added. He praised them for staying on the job and for delivering meals to students’ homes while the building was closed.

Some federal funds have provided additional staff, teachers and a part-time custodian (because of new sanitization requirements). These positions will not become a town responsibility when federal money goes away, Pfeiffer said; it is clearly understood that they are temporary.

Levasseur is not running for re-election to the school board this year, after serving for 21 years. Other residents thanked him for his long service.

Budget committee members unanimously supported the school budget. It will go to select board members at their Thursday, April 28, meeting, with the budget committee’s recommendation, in the form of warrant articles for the annual town meeting. Select board members are scheduled to sign the town meeting warrant that evening.

Voters will make the final decisions on the 2022-23 budget at the open part of the annual town meeting, scheduled for June 6 at 6:30 p.m. at Vassalboro Community School.

Budget committee members are elected at the open meeting. Those whose two-year terms end this year, according to the town website, are Denico, Richard Bradstreet, Douglas Phillips, Mike Poulin and Frank Richards.

The school budget approved June 6 will appear on the June 14 written ballot, where voters will re-approve or reject it. Local elections for select board and school board are also on June 14. June 14 voting will be at the town office from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

China’s Spirit of America awards presented at select board meeting

Clockwise from top left: Ronald Emery, Sandra Isaac, James Lane, Elaine Philbrick, Anita Smith, Scott Pierz. (photos courtesy of Becky Hapgood)

by Mary Grow

The three China Select Board members present at the April 25 meeting unanimously approved new transfer station hours. Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood hopes to implement the change by the middle of May, when summer people begin arriving.

The new hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The transfer station will be closed Sundays and Mondays, as it has been for years, and will also be closed Thursdays.

Total open hours will be 38 over the four days. Hapgood said attendants will have a 40-hour work week, as they come early to get ready to open and stay after closing to finish the day’s work.

Ronald Breton

In another major piece of business April 25, select board Chairman Ronald Breton presented Spirit of America awards for volunteer service to six China residents:

  • Scott Pierz, for helping protect China Lake’s water quality as town codes officer and later head of the China Lake Association and the China Region Lakes Alliance;
  • Ronald Emery, for many years of work with Boy Scout Troop 479;
  • James Lane, for 30-plus years of service in many positions, including as town constable (“I can’t say no,” Lane responded);
  • Sandra Isaac for her work with the China for a Lifetime Committee and the China Village volunteer fire department; and
  • Elaine Philbrook and Anita Smith (who was unable to attend the meeting) for their oversight of the Community Forest at China Schools.

Breton thanked all the recipients for the time and effort they donated to the community.

He also commended Hapgood for earning her certifications as treasurer and tax collector from the Maine Municipal Tax Collectors and Treasurers Association.

Much of the rest of the meeting was spent on preparations for the June 14 annual town business meeting. Select board members certified the wording of the solar moratorium ordinance voters will be asked to approve. Hapgood asked them to review a mailing she intends to send out explaining the June 14 ballot.

Board members will hold a public hearing on the June 14 warrant articles at 6 p.m. Monday, May 9, in the town office meeting room, before their regular meeting that night.

Hapgood listed other important dates leading up the town business meeting:

  • Absentee ballots will be available from the town office beginning Monday, May 16.
  • Public hearings on the Kennebec County budget, of which China pays a share, will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 10, in the Chace Community Forum at the Bill & Joan Alfond Main Street Commons, 150 Main Street,
  • Waterville; and at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 11, in the first-floor conference room at Hill House, 125 State Street, Augusta.
  • The district budget meeting on the 2022-23 Regional School Unit (RSU) 18 budget, of which China pays a share, will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 19, at Messalonskee High School Performing Arts Center in Oakland. This is the meeting at which voters from the five RSU 18 towns (Belgrade, China, Oakland, Rome and Sidney) approve the budget.
  • RSU absentee ballots will be available Friday, May 20.

On June 14, China voters will vote by written ballot on a 38-article municipal warrant; the RSU budget referendum approving or rejecting the May 19 budget; and state primary election candidates. Local elections for members of China boards are held in November.

Polls will be open June 14 in the former portable classroom behind the town office from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Documents for the meeting, including details about the proposed budget, the solar moratorium ordinance (Art. 37) and the revised comprehensive plan (Art. 38), are on the town website, china.govoffice.com, under the Elections tab.

China road committee meets to discuss foreman’s paving schedule

by Mary Grow

CHINA, ME — China Road Committee members met April 12 to discuss Road Foreman Shawn Reed’s proposed repaving schedule for 2022. They expressed no objections.

Reed’s list totals just under six miles in the north end of town. It includes about 1.5 miles on Pleasant View Ridge Road, starting from Lakeview Drive (Route 202); McCaslin Road (about half a mile); Dutton Road (a little more than a mile); Danforth Road (less than half a mile); Causeway Street (also less than half a mile); Peking and Canton streets (less than a quarter mile); a dead-end mile of Neck Road, south of the Stanley Hill Road intersection; and China’s share of Morrill Road (about three-quarters of a mile), which runs into Winslow.

After inspecting town roads this spring, Reed described Pleasant View Ridge Road as “really bad”; Peking and Canton streets as “falling right apart”; McCaslin Road as “terrible”; and the rest of the roads on his list as more than ready for repair.

However, Reed said, until the price of paving mix is known, it’s impossible to predict whether the town can afford to do everything on his list. He recommended select board members authorize seeking bids on paving mix as soon as possible. He plans again to consider bids jointly with neighboring Vassalboro, he said.

Once he has a price, he and road committee members can, if necessary, reconsider the list.

The April 12 committee discussion covered other town roads that will be on future lists; different types of paving; and the procedures for discontinuing existing town roads and for accepting new town roads. No decisions on these topics were expected or made.