Select board discusses a wide variety of topics

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by Mary Grow

China select board members discussed a wide variety of topics at their March 11 meeting and made three decisions (in addition to the routine ones, like approving expenditures).

Without dissenting votes, board members:

— Agreed to apply for a Community Resilience Grant to be used for a new trail in Thurston Park;
— Accepted proposed draft ordinances for forwarding to voters in June, conditional on planning board approval when that board met March 12; and
— Accepted the revised 54-page Emergency Preparedness Plan presented by the Emergency Preparedness Committee.

Emergency Preparedness Committee chairman Ronald Morrell and member Stephen Nichols presented the emergency plan. As part of implementation, Morrell said, committee members are arranging for China firefighters and rescue members to tour facilities like the Friends Camp on Lakeview Drive.

The China schools have their own emergency plans, coordinated with the town plan, Morrell said.

The preliminary warrant for the June 11 town business meeting includes the repeatedly-discussed Solar Ordinance; amendments to Chapter 2 of China’s Land Use Ordinance, drafted by town attorney Amanda Meader to implement the 2022 state housing law known as LD 2003; and amendments to the Planning Board Ordinance.

Select board members did not put the warrant in final form. Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood said she might have a final version ready for action at the March 25 board meeting.

Hapgood advised planning board chairman Toni Wall that, according to Meader, the planning board should hold a public hearing on the additions to Chapter 2 of the Land Use Ordinance, but not on the other two items. That hearing is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday evening, March 26.

All proposed warrant articles must be submitted to the town office by Friday, April 12, Hapgood said. The select board will hold a public hearing on the entire warrant; that hearing is not yet scheduled.

Board member Janet Preston, who represents the board to the Kennebec Valley Council of Governments (KVCOG) shared again results of a 2023 survey of China residents’ priorities for a Community Resilience Grant.

Board members said the China Lake Association already has grant money for the top priority, erosion control at the South China board landing. They were unenthusiastic about the second priority, providing transportation for senior citizens (Preston suggested buying an electric car and hiring a driver).

The third priority was building a planned new trail in Thurston Park, the town-owned recreation area in northeastern China. Board members voted to apply to KVCOG for a grant for that project.

Board chairman Wayne Chadwick, seconded by Brent Chesley, had one objection to the whole process: they wish grants would help fund maintenance of existing facilities, instead of providing new ones for local taxpayers to maintain.

“You got to look at the whole picture, not just the initial cost,” Chadwick summarized.

In other business March 11, Morrell told select board members boat trailers parked at the east end of the causeway by the boat landing hang out into the roadway, sometimes interfering with traffic.

At the west end of the causeway, he said, boaters park in the church parking lot, especially during bass tournaments on China Lake. They are welcome, except on Sunday mornings and when the church is hosting a wedding or other event.

Morrell would like a system to make people aware they are using church property, and with tournaments to require advance notice. Select board members could see no way the town could help, but they offered individual suggestions, from posting signs to arranging to have vehicles towed away.

Hapgood said public services director Shawn Reed hopes the public works crew will have time to put in the docks at the boat landing by April.

The manager listed dates to remember: a select board meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, March 25; a road committee meeting at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 26; a planning board meeting at 6:30 p.m. March 26; a board of appeals meeting at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 28; and the second half of 2023-24 property taxes due by the close of business at 4:30 p.m. Friday, March 29.

Albert Church Brown library receives handicapped access grant

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Albert Church Brown Memorial Library in China Village.

by Mary Grow

The China Library Association (CLA) has received a $10,000 grant to improve handicapped access at the Albert Church Brown Memorial Library in China Village.

Librarian, Miranda Perkins, and CLA president, Louisa Barnhart, shared the news early in March.

The grant is from the American Library Association (ALA), under a program called Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC): Accessible Small and Rural Communities.

The goal is to “begin or continue projects that will improve library access for thousands of library users,” a March 4 ALA letter says. Typical projects make it easier for residents with physical or intellectual disabilities to use library services.

Gerry Boyle, speaking for the CLA’s building committee, said the money will support the trustees’ handicapped access plan, which starts with “a symmetrical handrail and half wall to the front of the building,” connecting to a platform in front of the front door, level with the floor inside.

There will be a ramp, built to Americans with Disabilities standards, on the south side of the platform and steps on the north side. “An electric door is on the wish list,” Boyle added.

Interior renovations are to include widening doors to allow wheelchair access and, in the future, a handicapped-accessible bathroom and an emergency exit with a ramp, tentatively from the south side of the ground floor.

Barnhart credited assistant librarian, Karel McKay, with helping the trustees investigate grant possibilities. McKay, Barnhart and CLA treasurer Thomas Parent developed the application; Barnhart is the grant administrator.

“We are delighted everyone will be able to access community and library services,” Barnhart said.

According to the March 4 ALA letter, the grant was part of $3.6 million the organization awarded to 310 small and rural libraries in 45 US states. The letter said 62 percent of the libraries receiving grants serve communities of fewer than 5,000 people.

Fifteen other small Maine libraries, scattered all over the state, received grants similar to China’s. This was the second round of these grants; a third round opens in the fall.

New South China library offers unlimited possibilities

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South China Library (photo by Roberta Barnes)

by Roberta Barnes

What if there was a place that was full of books to use for research and enjoyable reading in all genres, without price tags? There is, it is a library.

The South China library that has been in the process of changing locations since 2016 is now nearing its finish line. Set in a quiet location at 27 Jones Rd., with ample parking space, this new library is the perfect place to research topics, learn new skills, or enjoy the captivating stories in fiction books. When you walk through the doors, you are met with the freshly painted walls encasing a well-lit bright space filled with books.

Looking at the timeless non-fiction and fiction books organized neatly on shelves you can feel them welcoming you to absorb all the shared knowledge and fantasy tucked within their covers. In addition to the knowledge within the books is the knowledge of the volunteer librarians who will help you to find what you need or want.

While historical buildings are cherished, and the South China library’s history dating back to 1830 is fascinating, the older library was lacking in certain areas. This new library has extra space for a printer, computers, and restrooms.

Books are still being transferred from the old library and things such as Wi-Fi connections are being installed. However, in this transition period, which will soon end, you can enjoy all this new library has to offer on Wednesdays 10 a.m. – 4 p.m, and Saturdays 10 a.m. – noon.

As you scan all the shelves of countless books you might be drawn to the children’s section that includes chairs if needed, or the section filled with books printed in large fonts.

The shelves not only include books in varying genres of fiction and non-fiction, but CDs, and DVDs. Within this newly constructed building to house all these books, and more, you can see the endless possibilities available to you at no cost. Once you have your library card, all that is required is that you return what you borrow in good condition.

The 2018 photograph and article about the groundbreaking for the new South China library shows this has taken a great deal of different volunteers’ time and work, beginning with researching for a suitable location. Other articles in The Town Line have given an outline of all the volunteers’ research in finding possible grants, writing the grant proposals, and the generous donations of time, work, and money by individuals and business for construction of a fully functioning building and its interior.

I am one of Maine’s published authors, who has donated his or her book(s) to the library. My children’s book What Tail?, by R.R. Barnes, is an example of how books can spur the imagination beyond what is found in movies or online. The imagination can be thought of as the workshop that has created much of today’s technology. The main character in What Tail? requires a reader’s imagination. It is an animal that when you are looking at him you know what he looks like. But, when you are not looking at him you forget to remember what he looks like, no one can remember how long his tail is or even if he has a tail. This book, like others within the library, allows the reader’s imagination to see what others cannot.

Albert Einstein, the E = mc2 guy, said, “The imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”

You can read more of Einstein’s quotes, and read his history by borrowing various books at the new library quietly located at 27 Jones Rd. A visit to the new South China library can help you find answers that you can fact-check while you are there, and take you on no cost journeys to wonderous, and mysterious places hidden within a book’s pages.

While you might find information on certain subjects in other places, fact-checking is important. In libraries, for free, you can go one step or further to research how authors gained their information. Non-fiction books will list the resources the author used in writing his or her book or article. Having multiple books available to you is extremely helpful in verifying that certain information found in one location is reliable and truthful.

If you cannot find what you were hoping to find on the shelves, the trained volunteer librarians can help you. Even if the South China library does not have a certain book on its shelves, the librarians will search for it in other libraries, have it shipped to the South China library, and you can then read it in the library or borrow it to take home.

ICE OUT 2024? Take a guess. Win a prize!

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SEND US YOUR BEST ICE OUT GUESS FOR 2024

Write down your best guess (one per person) and send it to The Town Line, PO Box 89, South China, ME 04358, or email us at townline@townline.org with the subject “ICE OUT 2024“. If more than one person guesses the correct date, a drawing will be held to determine the winner. Get your guess to The Town Line office by noon, Friday, March 15, 2024.

Email: townline@townline.org. Or use our Contact Us page!

PRIZE: To be determined

The records below, of ice out dates on China Lake, were provided by China residents Bill Foster, Captain James Allen and Theresa Plaisted.

Bill Foster brought in the ice out dates from 1874 to 1883. They came from a 215-page log/diary. In the log/diary are recorded the comings and goings from 1870 to 1883 of the F. O. Brainard Store, as well as personal notations of special and everyday events.

Captain James Allen brought in the ice out dates from 1901 to 1948. They had been recorded on the outhouse wall of the old Farnsworth house, also located in China Village.

Theresa Plaisted brought in the ice out dates from 1949 to 1991. She explained to us that a friend and neighbor, Ben Dillenbeck, had kept the record on his cellarway wall until his death on December 12, 1987.

Theresa transcribed Mr. Dillenbeck’s record and has kept the record up to date ever since.

This year, we will be checking China Lake to determine the official date for “Ice Out” in 2024. We will not be looking in hard-to-access areas for that very last crystal to melt, so the definition of “Ice Out,” for the purpose of this contest, is: “When, to the best judgment of the assigned viewer, the surface of the lake appears to be free of ice.” The judge’s decision is final.

Can you guess the day The Town Line declares China Lake free of ice?

Ice Out dates for the last 150 years!

1874 – April 22
1875 – May 6
1876 – April 30
1877 – April 16
1878 – April 12
1879 – May 3
1880 – April 21
1881 – April 19
1883 – April 29
1901 – March 27
1921 – March 28
1932 – April 27
1933 – April 20
1934 – April 19
1935 – April 25
1936 – April 4
1937 – April 20
1938 – April 20
1939 – May 4
1941 – April 16
1945 – April 2
1947 – April 12
1948 – April 8
1949 – April 6
1950 – April 14
1951 – April 9
1952 – April 19
1953 – March 19
1954 – April 19
1955 – April 13
1956 – April 27
1957 – April 10
1958 – April 16
1959 – April 22
1960 – April 21
1961 – April 30
1962 – April 20
1963 – April 22
1964 – April 21
1965 – April 18
1966 – April 18
1967 – April 29
1968 – April 13
1969 – April 23
1970 – April 23
1971 – April 30
1972 – May 1
1973 – April 8
1974 – April 2
1975 – April 23
1976 – April 11
1977 – April 18
1978 – April 21
1979 – April 12
1980 – April 10
1981 – March 18
1982 – April 22
1983 – April 1
1984 – April 17
1985 – April 6
1986 – April 8
1987 – April 6
1988 – April 6
1989 – April 22
1990 – April 11
1991 – April 8
1992 – April 15
1993 – April 21
1994 – April 20
1995 – April 9
1996 – April 5
1997 – April 23
1998 – April 9
1999 – April 2
2000 – April 4
2001 – April 27
2002 – April 6
2003 – April 21
2004 – April 14
2005 – April 16
2006 – March 26
2007 – April 23
2008 – April 17
2009 – April 11
2010 – March 19
2011 – April 17
2012 – March 21
2013 – April 6
2014 – April 19
2015 – April 22
2016 – March 15
2017 – April 17
2018 – April 23
2019 – April 12
2020 – March 27
2021 – March 30
2022 – April 2
2023 – April 12
2024 – ????????

China & Vassalboro presidential primary results

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China Town Clerk Angela Nelson reported the following results from Tuesday’s primary election.

Two hundred and two Democratic votes were cast, with Joseph R. Biden, Jr., receiving 164, or 81 percent. Dean B. Phillips got 19 votes; declared write-in candidate Stephen P. Lyons got 17; and two ballots were left blank.

On the Republican side, 461 ballots were cast, 358 (78 percent) for Donald J. Trump. Nikki R. Haley got 91 votes (20 percent). Trailing well behind were Ron DeSantis with four votes; Vivek G. Ramaswamy with three; blank ballots and write-ins with two votes each; and Ryan L. Binkley with one vote.

Nelson called the 663 votes “a lower than normal turnout for China,” but, she said, “it was a nice steady flow all day.” Unexpected visitors included Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and a reporter from Channel 6 News, who stood outside the polling room under an umbrella.

* * * * * *

Vassalboro town clerk Cathy Coyne reported 523 presidential primary ballots cast in that town, 367 Republican and 156 Democratic.

Donald J. Trump got 284 Republican votes (77 percent), followed by Nikki R. Haley with 80 (22 percent) and Vivek G. Ramaswamy with two. There was one blank ballot; no one voted for Ryan L. Binkley or Ron DeSantis.

Joseph R. Biden received 128, or 82 percent, of the Democratic votes. Dean B. Phillips received 14, and there were 14 blank ballots. No Vassalboro voter chose Stephen P. Lyons.

China GOP to caucus

There will be a Town of China Republican Caucus on Thursday March 14, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. The purpose of a Maine Republican town caucus is to elect delegates and a delegation chairman to the Maine Republican State Convention to be held April 26 and 27, 2024; to elect representatives to the Kennebec County Republican Committee; to elect the officers of the Town of China Republican Committee; and to review and ratify bylaws for the town committee. Republican candidates for state and local offices present will be given an opportunity to speak. Any registered Republican voter in the Town of China can participate. The caucus will convene in the portable building behind the town office at 6:30 p.m.

China select board reviews, amends 2024-25 budget

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by Mary Grow

China select board members spent another two hours March 4 reviewing and amending their draft 2024-25 town budget, in preparation for a budget committee meeting to be held March 5.

They recommended reductions in several accounts. Board chairman Wayne Chadwick expects a hefty tax increase and wants to minimize spending as much as possible.

However, board members realize that prices of many commodities and services essential to running the town have risen. For example, transfer station manager Thomas Maraggio told them the bill for changing the hydraulic oil in one of his machines is now $2,000.

Reductions agreed to at the March 4 session included:

— Eliminating Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood’s proposed new position of community recreation director and reducing the copier account by $1,000, saving $23,800 in the administration budget;
— Reducing the amount suggested in the public works budget for road sand and salt by $20,000;
— Deleting a $3,000 contribution to The Town Line newspaper; and
— Deleting a $100 contribution to the Maine Public Broadcasting Network.

Chadwick said select board members will review the budget committee’s recommendations before preparing a final budget to be submitted to China voters at the June 11 annual town business meeting.

China planners refer solar ordinance back to town attorney

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by Mary Grow

China planning board members prepared for future action on two issues on their Feb. 27 agenda.

After considering questions about the draft Solar Energy Systems Ordinance raised at the Feb. 26 select board meeting, they referred the document back to town attorney Amanda Meader, asking her to recommend different language for one section.

Select board member Brent Chesley called the section confusing and misleading. Everyone realizes Meader charges for her time, but, planning board member Michael Brown opined, “It’s worth a little more money to get it right.”

Board members scheduled a March 12 public hearing on the application for a community solar farm in a gravel pit off Windsor Road (Route 32 South) (see the Feb. 22 issue of The Town Line, p. 3). Project managers Nick Lacasse, of Perennial Sand Pit Solar, in Hallowell, and Andrew Johnston, of Freeport-based Atlantic Resource Consultants, were present.

Board chairman Toni Wall thanked them for providing a complete application by “sending mega-materials” and updates that board members requested at their Feb. 13 meeting. Lacasse and Johnston replied to board member Elaine Mather’s questions about one document in the lengthy application.

Wall said it is likely the board will act on the application on March 12, after the hearing.

Codes officer Nicholas French said there are tentatively two other items on the March 12 agenda: continued review of Chris Harris’s application for a subdivision off Route 3 (see the Nov. 2, 2023, issue of The Town Line, p. 3); and an application for timber cutting in a resource protection zone off Lakeview Drive.

French said he continues to remind residents running small businesses from their homes that they need a home occupation permit. The application process is simple and not expensive, he said.

The March 12 planning board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., either in the town office meeting room or in the former portable classroom behind the office building. Wall said the public hearing will be early on the agenda.

CHINA: Organizations answer questions about budget requests

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Hikers on Bridge in Thurston Park (Photo courtesy: Town of China)

by Mary Grow

China select board members discussed the 2024-25 budget for much of their Feb. 26 meeting, and scheduled another meeting for 6 p.m. Monday, March 4, to continue the topic.

At this stage, they are reviewing Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood’s recommended figures and requests from various committees, organizations and other recipients of town money. They will forward the resulting draft budget to the budget committee for its members’ input.

Final decisions will be made by voters at the annual town business meeting, scheduled as a secret ballot vote on Tuesday, June 11.

More than a dozen town employees and residents attended the Feb. 26 meeting, most to answer select board members’ questions about budget requests.

Select board members are interested in minimizing the tax increase they foresee for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Preliminary proposals to reduce spending in the draft budget included cutting anticipated tipping fees for demolition debris disposal (from the transfer station section of the budget) and cutting the contribution to the fire departments’ capital reserve fund (public safety).

China Village fire chief Joel Nelson said he foresees two major expenses, replacing air packs and repairing or replacing the fire station roof. He is seeking grants, with no guarantee of success.

Select board members deleted the stipends for themselves they had tentatively approved at an earlier meeting. They reduced that line (in the boards and committees section of the budget) from $12,500 to Hapgood’s recommended $1,500 for training and similar expenses.

A request for Thurston Park funding, also in the boards and committees account, drew the longest and hottest debate of the evening.

Select board chairman Wayne Chadwick opposed the $12,675 Jeanette Smith, chairman of the Thurston Park Committee, requested for supplies and maintenance.

Chadwick, while appreciating the enthusiasm of the volunteers who support and maintain the park, questioned the value of the area, which he said many China residents cannot even locate.

Smith said the park brings recreationists to China, where they are likely to spend money in local establishments. If the park is not well known, that is because town officials do nothing to promote it, she said.

Selectman Wayne Chadwick said on his most recent visits to Thurston Park he met no one. Thurston Park Committee member Scott Monroe said he meets families in Thurston Park.

Chadwick said on his most recent visits to Thurston Park he met no one; and he prefers the unmaintained trails at Lake St. George State Park. Thurston Park Committee member Scott Monroe said he meets families in Thurston Park, and prefers maintained trails.

Chadwick made a motion to cut $10,000 from the Thurston Park appropriation. Board member Janet Preston amended the reduction to $2,500. Preston’s amendment was approved, supported by herself, Blane Casey and Jeanne Marquis and opposed by Chadwick and Brent Chesley.

The motion to cut $2,500 was then defeated, with Preston and Marquis voting for it and Chadwick, Chesley and Casey opposed.

Casey’s motion to recommend $8,500 for Thurston Park under the boards and committees account was approved unanimously.

The revised total of $84,220 for the boards and committees account was unanimously recommended to the budget committee.

China’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) fund was the other budget line on which board members made final recommendations to the budget committee. They approved nine appropriations recommended by the TIF Committee at its Feb. 5 meeting (see the Feb. 8 issue of The Town Line, p. 2).

Select board members lacked information to act on three non-budget items on their Feb. 26 agenda.

Hapgood shared a draft of the proposed new Solar Energy Systems Ordinance. Chesley had questions, which planning board chairman Toni Wall said the planning board would address at its Feb. 27 meeting.

Hapgood said town attorney Amanda Meader has not finished preparing suggested revisions to the town’s Land Use Ordinance that will incorporate required parts of the new state housing law, LD 2003.

The manager is investigating a senior check in service as something the town might offer, but she needs more time to collect information. She described it as a program for which seniors could sign up to ask a town employee to call at intervals to make sure the resident was all right.

5th annual China Lake ice fishing derby huge success

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Anglers from the area came out for a fun day of fishing and camaraderie during the ice fishing derby. (photo by Cindy Senkbeil)

by Sandra Isaac

Left to right, China Four Seasons Club President Tom Rumpf, sponsor Deisel Dan and Trevor Yorke, winner of the Lunker of the Day prize. (photo by Cindy Senkbeil)

The China Four Seasons Club and the China Village Fire Department co-hosted the 5th Annual China Lake Ice Fishing Derby, on Sunday, February 18, during Maine’s Free Fishing Weekend.

“It was an amazing day of fun, families, and fishing,” said China Four Seasons Club President Tom Rumpf. “We were a little concerned about ice conditions, but everyone used caution and the Fishing Derby went off without the fire department doing a cold-water rescue.”

Rumpf continued. “We also had the children’s fishing division catch our greatest number of perch to date with over 140 brought to the fire house for counting.” The first-place award went to Blake Owens with 56 total perch. Perch, which have inundated hundreds of water systems where they don’t belong, tend to proliferate, stunt, and overwhelm ecosystems. Each year the derby committee checks in with the local biologists to make sure they are still able to hold the children’s category as described, with awards going to the most perch caught by count.

“One of the derby committee’s goals is to emphasize the importance of youth and family getting out and enjoying the great outdoors. This year we added a special prize, that any youth under 15 years of age who brought a fish to the firehouse caught during derby day was entered in drawing for a lifetime Maine residential fishing license to promote future sportsman. We are proud to say we gave our first lifetime license away this year to Daxton Carbollo,” said Rumpf.

Blake Owens (photo by Cindy Senkbeil)

The derby also saw a new record for the lunker of the day, the largest fish caught overall. Trevor Yorke managed to catch a 7.22 pound largemouth bass, beating the former record held by Jeremy Ross and his 6.375 pound catch.

“We also gave away over 56 door prizes all donated by great local businesses,” said Rumpf. “In fact, there were $10,000 worth of donated prizes and fishing awards. The local support is rather overwhelming, and we are very grateful.”

“There was also a great turnout for the Cornhole Tournament as well as the China Ice Day’s activities around town over the weekend. Even if fishing was not your thing, there was something for everyone. We really look forward to this every year and encourage all area groups to be involved”, said Rumpf. If anyone is interested in joining the committee, which also helps coordinate the China Ice Day’s weekend events, please check the China Four Seasons Club website for meeting dates and times.

The China Four Seasons Club maintains a dedicated Facebook page and a website to share information including a list of who won fishing prizes, door prizes, and sponsors.

Please visit https://www.facebook.com/China-Lake-Ice-Fishing-Derby or www.chinalakeicefishingderby.com.

Fishing Prize Winners!

Lunker of the Day – Trevor Yorke with a 7.22 lbs. Large Mouth Bass.

Brook Trout

First Place – Tim Farris 1.48 lbs.
Second Place – Ryan Hamel 1.25 lbs.
Third Place – Mathew Mann 1.06 lbs.

Brown Trout

First Place – Scott White 3.6 lbs.
Secnd Place – Bill Vanwicker 3.26 lbs.
Third Place – Lindsey Witwiki 3.14 lbs.

Large Mouth Bass

First Place – Jeffery Winslow – 5.92 lbs.
Secnd Place- Stephen Vose – 5.6 lbs.
Third Place – Shawn Grant – 5.52 lbs.

Small Mouth Bass

First Place – Brendan Surette – 2.74 lbs.
Secnd Place – Damon Theriault – 2.64 lbs.
Third Place – Abby Violette – 2.6 lbs.

Pickerel

First Place – Courtney Belanger – 4.58 lbs.
Second Place – James Grover Jr. – 4.1 lbs.
Third Place – Val Baker – 3.96 lbs.

Children 15 & under Category – Most Perch (White or Yellow)

First Place– $50 – Blake Owens with 56!
Second Place – $40 Taylor Arsenault with 26
Third Place – $30 Alexis Wentworth with 20
Fourth Place – $20 – Ellie Soule with 18
Fifth Place – $10 – Myles Bradley with 17

(photo by Cindy Senkbeil)

(photo by Cindy Senkbeil)

China planners hear plans for community solar farm

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by Mary Grow

At their Feb. 13 meeting, China planning board members heard preliminary plans for a community solar farm in a gravel pit off Windsor Road (Route 32 South) and, as expected, denied an application to convert a building on China Village’s Main Street to apartments.

The solar development is proposed by Perennial Sand Pit Solar, of Hallowell. The application was prepared by Atlantic Resource Consultants, of Freeport. Nichols Lacasse, from Perennial, and Andrew Johnston, from Atlantic, explained the project.

The 3,442 solar panels will be inside an existing gravel pit on the west side of Route 32 South, at least 800 feet from the nearest residence and shielded from public view by the pit walls.

Like other area solar installations, the panels will be inside a seven-foot-high chain-link fence, “wildlife-friendly” (which means a gap at the bottom sized to admit small animals, but not children, Johnston explained).

Access will be over the existing Pit Road. The 20-foot-wide entrance gate will be locked, with a Knox box to allow emergency personnel admission if needed.

The installation will not include water or a septic system. After construction is done, there will be little traffic, little noise and no lights, solid waste, odors, hazardous materials or other neighborhood disturbances.

Because the project is a community solar farm, local residents will be invited to buy in. Those who do will slightly reduce their monthly electric bills.

Planning board chairman Toni Wall listed other information applicants need to provide. If it is added in time for review at the Feb. 27 board meeting, she said the board could vote the application complete that evening and schedule a public hearing for the first March meeting, which should be Tuesday evening, March 12.

The other application considered Feb. 13 was from Carrol White, to convert the former Grange Hall in China Village to a four-unit apartment building (see the Feb. 1 issue of The Town Line, p. 3). Planning board members found the application was complete and the project meets all ordinance criteria except lot size, for which White needs a variance from the China Board of Appeals.

The finding was expected. White intends to ask for a Board of Appeals meeting.

If the variance is granted and the project approved, China Village resident Daniel Coleman intends to carry it through, he and White told the board in January.