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 […]
by Mary Grow Note: “The first article in this Kennebec Valley series appeared in the March 26, 2020, issue of The Town Line. Having completed a three-year run, your writer intends to take a few weeks off.” Since this historical series started in the spring of 2020 as a way to distract writer and readers […]
by Mary Grow After a March 9 budget workshop, Vassalboro select board members had their recommendations for 2023-24 municipal expenditures ready to go to the budget committee for its members’ review and recommendations. The budget committee’s 2023 organizational meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., Thursday, March 16, following a 6 p.m. select board meeting. The […]
by Mary Grow Vassalboro School Board members began review of the 2023-24 school budget at a special meeting March 7, with information on four cost centers. The easiest category was ELL – English Language Learners. Superintendent Alan Pfeiffer said there are no ELL students this school year and none expected next year; he and finance […]
by Mary Grow Vassalboro planning board members have sent to the town select board the long-discussed ordinance amendment that has for convenience been referred to as a solar ordinance. After another two hours’ review at their March 7 meeting, planning board members decided they are satisfied with the draft they have worked on for months […]
by Mary Grow Members of China’s transfer station committee are going to reconsider their recommendation that the town buy a Polaris Ranger 500 utility vehicle for transfer station staff use. Since their March 7 action (see the March 9 issue of The Town Line, p. 3), they have new information and a new, higher price, […]
by Mary Grow China Broadband Committee (CBC) members will try again to get a grant to expand broadband service to China residents who are currently underserved or not served at all. They will again work in partnership with Direct Communications, the Idaho-based company that now owns UniTel, in Unity, with assistance from Mission Broadband, the […]
by Mary Grow China select board members spent most of their March 13 meeting on plans for the June 13 annual town business meeting. Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood gave them a first draft of the town meeting warrant articles, which will be decided by written ballot. Most articles are the familiar ones: appropriations for the […]