Demolition debris fees to be raised at China transfer station

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by Mary Grow

A majority of China Transfer Station Committee members recommended at the Aug. 24 meeting that selectmen increase fees for disposal of demolition debris, and selectmen agreed at their Aug. 30 meeting.

Committee members reviewed the current fee schedule (available on the town website, www.china.govoffice.com) with two goals in mind: to ensure that fees cover disposal costs, including staff labor; and to ensure that China’s fees are not so much lower than other towns’ that China attracts out-of-town waste.

They added that any 2021 increase should cover costs for some years into the future, to avoid the need for annual reviews and updates.

Committee member Ashley Farrington had collected information on fees from 15 other Maine towns for 71 different items. Committee Chairman Larry Sikora had narrowed the list to make a spreadsheet for comparison.

There was still the complication that some towns measured by weight and others by volume.

China’s contract with Palermo requires six months’ notice to Palermo before any fee increase is effective. Town Manager Becky Hapgood calculated that if selectmen approved a change at their Aug. 30 meeting, the increase could take effect April 1, 2022.

After discussion, transfer station committee members voted 6-1, with Sikora opposed, to recommend increasing demolition debris fees from six to 10 cents a pound for China and Palermo residents and from eight to 15 cents a pound for non-residents. The increase, they added, is subject to review after further study of costs and would be effective six months after selectmen’s approval.

At the Aug. 30 China selectmen’s meeting, board members unanimously approved a three-part motion that said:

— Demolition debris disposal fees for China and Palermo residents will increase from six to 10 cents a pound, effective April 1, 2022;
— Demolition debris disposal fees for residents of all other municipalities will increase from eight to 15 cents a pound, effective Jan. 1, 2022; and
— Hapgood is to notify Palermo officials that the price Palermo residents pay for bags for mixed waste will increase April 1, 2022, with the new price to be recommended by the transfer station committee and approved by the selectboard.

Transfer station committee members will also continue to discuss charges for bulky items, like furniture, mattresses and tires, having come to no decision on Aug. 24.

In other business, they unanimously adopted the state-required policy on remote participation, created by the legislature as the pandemic emergency rules end. The policy allows limited exceptions to the rule that public boards and committees must meet in person.

Hapgood reported rumors that the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags allowing admission to the China transfer station are being lent to people who are not residents of China or Palermo.

The tags, read by a scanner at the station, succeeded the window stickers used until a few years ago. Stickers had license plate numbers on them; if the sticker number did not match the vehicle license plate, attendants could question the driver.

Hapgood and committee members discussed whether a different identification system is needed. They decided first to try to get more information on the extent of the problem and thus the extra burden on China taxpayers.

Transfer station committee members scheduled their next meeting for 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12.

China TIF committee spends lots of time on legal issue of remote meeting policy

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by Mary Grow

Members of China’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee spent much of their Aug. 23 meeting trying to understand the state-required policy on board and committee meetings that are not entirely in-person.

Pre-Covid, Town Manager Becky Hapgood explained, the state right-to-know law assumed, and required, that when a board or committee met, members and the public were in the meeting room interacting face to face.

During the pandemic, emergency provisions allowed remote meetings. The emergency has expired, and the legislature has passed a law returning to almost the pre-Covid normal. However, there are now two exceptions, Hapgood and TIF Committee member Jamie Pitney explained:

— An entire board may meet remotely in an emergency, like a pandemic or a blizzard; and
— A member, with notice to the chairman who in turn notifies as many other members as possible, may participate remotely in case of “illness or temporary absence that causes a board member significant difficulties in travel.”

The Maine Municipal Association distributed information to municipalities that Hapgood said repeated the legislative wording and said that each separate board and committee must adopt the policy, or something similar enough to be legal.

A member participating remotely who qualifies for one of the exceptions to personal attendance is counted as part of the quorum and may vote, Hapgood said. If the TIF Committee did not have a remote meeting policy and a renewed shut-down prohibited in-person meetings, the committee could not meet.

Qualification to participate remotely was the issue. There was consensus that someone who tried to Zoom in because he or she did not feel like driving to the meeting, or because he or she had child-care responsibilities at home, did not qualify.

When TIF Chairman Tom Michaud is spending the winter in Florida, there was agreement he has difficulty traveling to a meeting in the China town office. But, Pitney, pointed out, Michaud chooses to go to Florida; so maybe he should not be allowed to participate remotely.

Committee members debated a hypothetical case: a committee member calls the chairman to say he or she has to work late, either can drive to the meeting but is unlikely to arrive before it adjourns, or can Zoom in from the office. They did not decide whether the situation authorized remote participation.

Despite the lack of clarity, TIF Committee members adopted the policy on a 6-0 vote.

They spent less time on tax increment financing business. Hapgood said the state Department of Economic and Community Development has not yet approved the amended TIF program local voters adopted at the June 8 town meeting, so no money has been disbursed under it.

No accurate fund balances are available, because the audit for the fiscal year that ended June 30 is not finished.

The causeway project is done and paid for, Hapgood said, except for one minor step that cannot be done until late in the fall. She updated board members on the single outstanding loan from the Revolving Loan Fund that is part of China’s TIF.

Michaud’s wife Marie has resigned her secretarial duties; when no one volunteered to replace her, Michaud proposed members take turns preparing minutes, starting with himself. He also asked for a vice-chairman to run meetings when he is unavailable. James “J. J.” Wentworth was elected unanimously.

The next TIF Committee meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20.

CHINA: Town receives two bids on Lakeview Drive lot

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by Mary Grow

China selectmen had two bids on the town’s Lakeview Drive property to review at their Aug. 30 meeting.

Voters at the June 8 town meeting authorized them to sell the almost 40 acres of land on the east side of the road opposite The Cottages at China Lake. A group called People’s Park, led by Lindsey Harwath and others, promptly organized to raise money to buy the lot for a park.

At their Aug. 16 meeting, selectmen voted to contract with Lucas Adams, of Adams Realty, in China, to handle the sale. Town Manager Becky Hapgood signed the contract last week, and Adams attended the Aug. 30 meeting to discuss the two offers.

Confidentiality considerations prevented Adams and the selectmen from sharing all details with the audience. Adams said one bid was $10,000 from a group planning a park; the other was $80,000 from someone whose tentative plan is to split the lot and sell part of it to the People’s Park organization.

Earlier, Adams had valued the land at between $80,000 and $100,000, and selectmen had settled on $90,000 as their base price. Adams said he had had other inquiries, but so far no other offers, he thinks because much of the lot is wetland.

After discussion, selectmen voted 4-1 to authorize Hapgood to make a counter-offer to the higher bidder, negotiate with him, her or them and sign relevant documents.

Selectman Janet Preston, a supporter of the park plan, voted no. Her earlier motion to accept the lower bid was not seconded.

On another issue, China’s Broadband Committee (CBC) had asked selectmen to put a question on the Nov. 2 local ballot asking voters to authorize a bond issue to build new internet infrastructure in town. By Aug. 30, the CBC’s question had been rewritten by an attorney – not town attorney Amanda Meader, Hapgood said, but a “bondwriting specialist” Meader had consulted.

Selectman Wayne Chadwick did not like the result. It sounded to him, he said, as though if voters approved the article, selectmen would have no choice but to issue the bond and go ahead with construction.

CBC members have repeatedly said that if too few residents sign up for the proposed new service the expanded infrastructure will provide, or if the grants expected to cover some of the cost do not materialize, the project will be canceled and the bond will not be needed.

Despite the evening hour, Hapgood tried to reach Meader, without success. Since the Nov. 2 ballot must be final by Sept. 3 – the day nomination papers for local elective office are due – selectmen agreed to a short special meeting at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2, expecting a clarification before then.

Hapgood said none of the ordinance amendments China Planning Board members have discussed for months will be on the Nov. 2 ballot, because she has been unable to get final copies in time.

Jeanette Smith, Chairman of the Thurston Park Committee, attended the meeting to explain why committee members want to contract with Scott Childs to do $23,350 worth of work in the park, without seeking other bids. Childs heads SD Childs and Sons Excavation, Inc., of Palermo.

Last year, she said, Childs worked on two main trails in the town-owned park in northeastern China. Heavy rains in the fall showed that ditching some sections and installing a culvert are needed, to avoid dealing with repeated damage.

Childs gave them the estimate, which includes other projects, last fall. Committee members intend to use part of the $35,000 allocated from China’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) fund to pay him.

Meanwhile, they were told they should get at least three estimates. Committee member Steve Nelson has found no other contractor with the time or inclination to bid on the project.

Smith asked selectmen’s approval to go ahead with Childs as planned. Despite general belief in the value of multiple estimates, they approved in this case; Chadwick pointed out that this year is unusual. The vote was 4-1, with Blane Casey opposed.

Chairman Ronald Breton added that since China apparently has no policy saying when proposed expenditures are to be bid out, the board should develop one.

In other business, selectmen made committee appointments as follows:

— Cemetery Committee, Elizabeth Curtis and Jean Dempster; and
— Building Committee, for the planned addition of a storage room on the town office, Ashley Farrington, Debra Fischer, Tiffany Glidden, Sheldon Goodine, Jaime Hanson and Scott Pierz.

After the special Sept. 2 meeting, the next regular China selectmen’s meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 13.

WHY WE OBSERVE: Labor Day celebrated in many nations in respect of the workforce

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by Gary Kennedy

Labor Day is celebrated in many nations in respect of the labor initiative in these countries. Respect for the hard work and the gain a country receives because of it, has never gone unnoticed. There are several people and events that have garnished notoriety because of their place in societies’, great events. From those some adorn with colorful stories and histories. Unfortunately the young among us have never seen this growth through history as the origins were far in the past. We have now evolved to a different growth style which the young will have to write and just attach it to what we leave behind.

One of my favorites was the World War II icon “Rosie the Riveter”. For many years it was believed that Geraldine Hoff Doyle was the actual Rosie the Riveter, however, as time passed and research plugged in we discovered that a mistake had been made and actually Naomi Parker Fraley, 96 years, was the true Rosie, I was pleased to be made aware that the real Rosie was able to take her place in labor and in history.

Rosie was the origin of the women’s labor movement. During the late 1930s and early 1940s men went to war and women had to replace them in the factories and fields. Everyone pulled their weight and filled in the labor voids as deemed necessary. Pride itself was a badge of courage. You didn’t have to go to war in order to do your part in the effort. When women adorned themselves with work pants and sweatshirts, it was with pride and love in their hearts. They would work as hard as those they replaced with blood, sweat and tears. This was America, the pride of the world and everyone who could fill in the voids did so. The world saw who and what we were and relied on us as an example.

Things were different then and the search now is for, why? I am not a visionary but I do have three quarters of a century under my belt. It seems to me that the closer my mind takes me to the source of our great country, the stronger patriotism and work ethic becomes. Think about the many thousands of lives lost on our own ground; given in the name of doing the right thing. As time leapt forward people immigrated here for many different reasons, not necessarily the same reasons the “originals” had.

If you think about it you will come to see what I have grown to believe. You have to love and respect something before you are willing to invest your life into it. Your loyalty and work ethic will grow once you realize what you truly have. If you feel you have a right to it all, you are sadly mistaken.

Eventually you will either mature or be consumed by beliefs that are not of this land we hold so dear. I know my time is now short and I question, did I contribute my fair share? I, like most people, have regrets, but I hope when it comes time to tally, my lot will lean toward the plus side of this equation. God only knows for sure. I could have worked harder and I could have loved with more passion. However, I love my country and family and defend them with my last breath.

Whether it be digging ditches or fighting for the right to do so, we must all give the best of us. That’s the secret and what the entire world has seen from us since the insemination of this great country of ours. This “Labor Day” I dedicate to memory. Remember who and what we are and what we “stand for”. Our true to life history is who and what we are. It must live on in the history books just the way it happened. That is how we evolve in a positive way.

The past will always be our future instruction. Give what you do and who you are a 100 percent and you will know that you have done your best. Rosie was a true to life person. Her love of country gave her the fortitude to roll up her sleeves and replacing the man that went off to war to defend and protect her, our country and way of life. Her strength was a wonderful example for all to follow. Thank you Rosie for showing the way. (Life, Liberty and pursuit of happiness). One way or another the reward will be yours. God bless you all and have a happy and safe “Labor Day”.

The views of the author in this column are not necessarily those of The Town Line newspaper, its staff and board of directors.

Give Us Your Best Shot! for Thursday, September 2, 2021

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To submit a photo for this section, please visit our contact page or email us at townline@townline.org!

I’M HUNGRY: Stephanie Frost’s daughter took this photo of baby robins calling out to their mother for food.

JUST HANGIN’ OUT: Gary Kennedy and his wife Julie, have a regular visitor to their home in Chelsea.

FIRST SIGHTING: Jayne Winters, of South China, said this was the first time a doe had ever wandered into their backyard.

EVENTS: Windsor Veterans Memorial to be dedicated on Saturday, September 11, 2021

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In 2017, the Windsor Board of Selectmen approved to start raising funds for a new Veterans Memorial Monument for the town of Windsor’s residents who have enlisted to join the Armed Forces. The Board of Selectmen, Town Manager Theresa Haskell, Cemetery Sexton Joyce Perry, and Cemetery Committee members established a Veteran’s Memorial Committee and a Veterans Memorial Fund Raising Committee to begin this project. With an estimated cost of $42,000 for the monument itself, over the years the various boards, volunteers, and many personal and town donations along with anonymous donations $54,000 has been raised towards this project. They have had many fundraisers over the years from pie sales at Hussey’s General Store, silent auctions, flea market/lawn sale, selling of pavers and concerts from Downeast Brass Quintet. The Windsor Ladies Aid served refreshments during the concerts. They will be continuing to raise money for these additional projects, (a three-foot wall behind the monument, new lighting, and landscaping).

The committee thanks the Town of Windsor residents, the dedicated committee members and everyone that has helped make this happen for their hard work and dedication. Also, a special thank you to Downeast Brass Quintet, J.C. Stone for donating the two granite benches, Windsor Ladies Aid, and the several donations throughout the years. Pavers will still be available to purchase at the Town Office 207-445-2998, and during this dedication. (These pavers can be purchased for whatever purpose you choose – a veteran, a loved one, a business, or remembrance of someone special to you.

This memorial has been erected this past November but due to COVID-19, they were unable to have a dedication that this monument so deserved. Everyone is invited to attend the Windsor Veterans Memorial Dedication on Saturday, September 11, 2021, at 2 p.m., on the corner of Route 32 and Reed Road, to honor our veterans from Windsor and loved ones. This dedication is rain or shine and bring a chair if you would like.

See the yellow shirts? Please stop and give a donation

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by Jeanne Marquis

This is a story of a group of people who saw a need in Kennebec County and are rising to the challenge to create their own solution. The local chapter of Young People In Recovery (YPR) have long felt a need for a community recovery center within the county. In Maine, not every county has a recovery community center and Kennebec County, despite being the seat of our state’s capitol, is one of those counties. The need is great, not just in Augusta, but also in the rural areas throughout Kennebec County.

According to the Maine Drug Data Hub, found at mainedrugdata.org, Kennebec County has already had 41 drug overdose deaths between January through July of 2021. To put that into perspective, that number is nearly the total for the entire year of 2019 and we are only half way through the year.

The passage of LD488 “to expand recovery community organizations throughout Maine” spurred the local YPR into action because they understand in order to qualify for future funding they must create a center first. A recovery community center serves as a gathering place for many pathways to recovery and run by independent, nonprofit organizations. Contrary to what some may think, it is not a treatment or residential center. What visitors will receive is peer support from people who understand substance use disorder and a sense of belonging without judgment. Some of the established recovery community centers in Maine such as the Portland Recovery Community Center (PRCC) and Bangor Area Recovery Network (BARN) offer recovery coaches, yoga classes and educational workshops.

As this story unfolds, it’s also a story of organizations combining their efforts toward a common goal. Courtney Allen, a member of YPR, found a potential rental space for the proposed recovery community center. Allen reached out to partner with related area organizations: Maine Prisoner Reentry Network (MPRN), Maine Recovery Advocacy Project (ME-RAP) and Fresh Out Sober Living. These organizations are working together to launch the center under the name Augusta Recovery Re-entry Center (ARRC) to serve all of Kennebec County. The collaboration of these organizations provides the knowledge and structure necessary to run a recovery center.

The remaining immediate need is to generate funding to cover a full year’s rent and programing costs. To accomplish this goal, the local YPR members will be out in their bright yellow shirts every Saturday from 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., throughout September. They will be at the following locations on these dates:

Sept. 4, Gardiner Bridge; Sept. 11, Augusta Target; Sept. 18, Augusta Walmart; Sept. 25, Gardiner Bridge.

Several YPR members were out fundraising in front of the Augusta Walmart on Saturday, August 28. Natasha told us why this project was meaningful to her, “I’m supportive of him (she pointed to her significant other Jacob Foster who is the fundraising lead) I watched him go through it and he has come a long way. I’m very proud of him.”

John Clark explained the urgency for the center, “We are fundraising for a recovery center so people in recovery and also people in active addiction can get help and be around like minded people. We’re trying to get a hold of all the resources all in one facility. When word of mouth gets around, I think we’ll be able to save lives. You have all these people O.D.-ing. It’s just terrible. It’s every week now.”

Bobby Payzant (his friends call him Paco) told us why he was out fundraising, “I’m a person who has been affected by addiction. Not just me, I’ve lost a family member due to addiction. I want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.”

For more information about how to donate, please contact Jacob Foster, YPR fundraising lead, at 207-242-2862. Donate bottles for recycling at Damon’s on Bangor Street in Augusta and label each bag clearly with the number 73.