COMMUNITY COMMENTARY: Igniting the spark through volunteering

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by John Kleindienst
DAV National Voluntary
Services Director

My personal journey into volunteering began in 2013 when I flew home to Texas to be by my grandpa’s side before he died.

Grandpa was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars and was forever changed by service. His kidneys and liver were shutting down because of the effects of toxic exposure. He knew his time was short, and wanted to spend his remaining time at home, not in a hospital.

We set him up with home hospice care. He died peacefully not long after. It was then, sitting by his side, that I realized how meaningful it is to be with people during their final moments. After he passed, I began volunteering in a hospice facility to sit with veterans who faced dying alone.

That sparked my passion to find more ways to help veterans in my personal life. I didn’t have to look far. In my hometown, I found motorized scooter batteries in need of changing, dangerous tree limbs to cut, and overgrown lawns to trim before residents faced eviction. Although these were simple tasks, they meant the world to the veterans who couldn’t do these things on their own.

Realizing that just an hour of my time really could make a difference in a veteran’s life, and feeling good about giving back, I knew I wanted to give that gift to others. Luckily, I can do that in my role as the national voluntary services director for DAV (Disabled American Veterans). DAV is a nonprofit that provides a lifetime of support to veterans of all generations and their families at no-cost.

DAV Community Impact Day is that opportunity to give back. On Saturday, April 5, we invite folks to give an hour of their time helping a veteran in the local community. Folks can pledge their time at communityimpactday.org.

April is National Volunteer Month, so for folks who are not able to participate on April 5, can still make the pledge and give back at a different time. On the website, interested volunteers can also find resources and ideas on how to volunteer for veterans in their community and how to get connected with local DAV Chapter events.

As I’ve learned, giving back doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. It could include mowing a lawn, driving a veteran to a medical appointment, going grocery shopping or writing letters thanking veterans for their service.

At DAV, we know the most valuable gift you can give someone is your time. Regardless of how a person decides to give back, research shows – and I learned firsthand – that the physical and mental benefits are as valuable for the volunteer as they are for the recipient.

And who knows, perhaps this will be your spark to do even more, like my Grandpa was for me.

John Kleindienst is the national director of voluntary services for DAV and an active volunteer. Kleindienst is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served from 1996 until he was medically discharged in 2003 as a result of service-connected injuries. That same year, he joined DAV’s professional staff and was appointed to his current position at National Headquarters in 2014. Learn more about DAV’s resources for veterans at dav.org.

COMMUNITY COMMENTARY: Tariffs to dramatically increase energy burden on Maine families

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by Lucy Hochschartner
Maine Conservation Voters’ Climate and Clean Energy Director

In the early hours of the morning, President Trump enacted 25 percent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, with 10 percent tariffs on Canadian energy imports. These tariffs are poised to have a devastating effect on Maine families who are already struggling to keep up with rising energy costs. Half of Maine families rely on oil for heating, and 80 percent of Maine’s heating fuel and gasoline is imported from Canada. Regionally, the New England grid operator anticipates $66 million in import duties to import Canadian electricity that will have to be passed on to customers. These tariffs will affect all energy costs, from heating to electricity to gasoline at the pump.

President Trump’s tariffs are going to hurt us. Whether it is you who is impacted, your family, your neighbors, or your friends – these tariffs will increase energy costs dramatically at a time when we must do the opposite. It is time for all of us to take care of each other, regardless of whether we voted for the same person or share the same views. The only way forward is to lean on each other, and into the future of a clean, Maine-made energy system.”

In the long term, Maine can look to Maine-made renewables like onshore wind, offshore wind, and solar to avoid this kind of dependency on volatile global fossil fuel markets. In the meantime, customers should look to local Community Action Agencies, their town’s general assistance program, or their utility company for help if they are struggling to pay. Mainers can get connected to local assistance programs now by calling 2-1-1.

COMMUNITY COMMENTARY: Open meeting vs. secret ballot

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by Sheldon Goodine
China resident

There’s a lot of talk around town about having a traditional town meeting with a moderator, with a required quorum in attendance to conduct business, or a day-long secret ballot meeting. Each has its pros and cons. Since I have been a resident of China for more than 60 years, during which the town has grown from less than 2,000 residents to more than 4,000, my perspective may or may not muddy the waters.

In those early years, town meetings were important social events where community business was conducted. Folks looked forward to getting together each spring at the end of a long winter. They could “catch up” with old friends as well as greet new neighbors. They discussed and decided warrant articles until lunch time, then recessed and enjoyed sharing a great lunch prepared by the ladies. After the meal, they completed the warrant articles to end the day. The meeting closed in peace and harmony, and everyone left happy.

At this time, town business was managed by a select board, which met at the home of town clerk Mary Washburn. As the town grew, the brick portion of the town office was built and the select board increased from three to five members. Soon thereafter, a town manager was hired, and the annual town meeting gradually became less important. Fewer voters turned out to conduct the community’s business, and many became upset that only a few people were making the decisions. even though these same people didn’t take the time to participate.

Although I was not in agreement to legislating participation, an article was approved that required 10 percent of town voters (quorum) to be in attendance to both open and conduct the annual meeting. For many years the town met in the multi-purpose room at the China Middle School. When the current RSU (Regional School Union) was created this venue was no longer used since many felt that it was too much of a disruption for the children.

As a result the current secret ballot form of conducting town business was instituted, resulting in many more residents voting on both the warrant articles and the election of town officers. I have been a regular annual participant in each of these legislative methods. During much of this time, it was difficult to stay informed of the ever increasing number of expense of managing town affairs. Fortunately, with new technology this information is now available to all in a variety of ways. Select board meetings are televised, with an opportunity for the public to participate. These are also recorded for anyone to access after the fact. The Town Line newspaper is printed and distributed weekly with excellent articles of each business meeting, prepared by Mary Grow, which are both accurate and comprehensive. The town manager has created a monthly newsletter with other details of town activities.

My question is how many voters are in favor of each of these most recent forms of conducting town business:

a) Return to the in-person annual town meeting, requiring a minimum number of voters in attendance and, possibly, the construction of a building large enough to accommodate the growing number of participants; or
b) Continue with the current system of voting by secret ballot during the day at the town office.

I hope this is useful and, at the very least, encourage more discussion on this topic and a form of government that will best meet the needs of our ever growing and changing community.

With my thanks to all.

OPINIONS: Open letter to Vassalboro residents

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COMMUNITY COMMENTARY

by Christopher French
Selectboard member Town of Vassalboro

To the respective Voters of the Town of Vassalboro:

In addition to the Presidential election this upcoming November the [Vassalboro] selectboard has presented three referendum questions for your consideration and support. The purpose of my letter focuses on the two questions seeking permission to allocate funds towards a bridge repair.

In the Fall of 2023 engineers connected with the State of Maine alerted the town of the most recent inspection report of the “Dunlap” bridge located on Mill Hill. This culvert-style bridge traverses Seven-mile Brook connecting Webber Pond to the Kennebec River. The report stated, “The culverts are deteriorating at an accelerated rate, and they have dropped from fair condition to serious condition in just a couple of years.” The engineers strongly recommended that the town take action to replace the bridge. Additionally, the engineers advised the town that it may be necessary to “post” the bridge or restrict the maximum weight to as low as “3-tons”. Due to the minimum amount of traffic on this bridge it does not qualify as a state responsibility and replacement falls squarely on the shoulders of the Town.

In the wake of the report the town has taken the following steps.

• Established a committee of local citizens to assess our options.
• Opened communication with our partners at the state level.
• Allo­­cated American Rescue Plan Act funds and hired an engineer to present bridge replacement options.
• Option #1: $1.8 million full span bridge, designed to last 75 years.
• Option #2: Dirigo Timberland design estimated cost $700,000.
• Option #3: Replace the bridge with the existing twin culvert style estimated cost $500,000 and expected to last 30 years.
• The selectboard and budget committee recommended establishing a capital expense fund budgeting $40,000. This request was approved at the annual town vote in June.
• Secured a $200,000.00 grant. This grant may only be used if the town chooses to construct either option #1 or option #2.
• Applied for additional grants, including Federal based.
• Public works removed debris and cut back any jagged or distorted portions of the culverts
• The town has negotiated a contract in the amount of $58,000 with a local engineer pending voter approval.

In June/July 2024 our state partners identified Seven-mile Brook as a crucial spawning ground for migratory fish, to include Salmon and Alewives, catapulting our grant request to the top of consideration. A qualifying factor requires the town to have access to the matching $360,000 in funds which cannot be spent until Vassalboro accepts and signs the grant paperwork.

Referendum #1 authorizes the selectboard to spend up to $360,000 from funds already collected through taxation.

Referendum #2 makes a minor change to the 2014 TIF ordinance that allows for the selectboard to divert existing TIF dollars (currently in the ballpark of $170,000) to environmental projects.

Supporting the selectboard recommendations will provide the town with the necessary financial support to move forward with bridge replacement without negatively impacting the property taxes.

The voters can expect the following distribution of town funds

• $115,000 in accrued interest from our surplus account,
• $170,000 from the TIF account
• $40,000 from the bridge capital expense account
• $200,000 in allotted grant funding.

The total amount of $525,000 will satisfy the required grant match and allow the selectboard to hire the engineer to begin necessary groundwork ahead of construction. If we are not successful in receiving the grant we will be in a healthy position to move forward with option #2.

It is important that the town assumes a proactive position with the replacement of the DUNLAP bridge. I hope you will support the selectboard’s recommendation of voting yes. I would encourage anyone who has questions or requires further information to contact the Town of Vassalboro at 207-872-2826 or email the Town Manager Aaron Miller AMiller@vassalboro.net.

OPINION: Town elder concerned about seniors in China

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COMMUNITY COMMENTARY

by Sheldon Goodine

The Rise of Senior Homeless in Maine?

We cannot let this happen in the China area. Maine folks are tough and try to go with the flow as long as possible, then it may be too late to solve the problem.

We tell our young children and adolescents, that if they see something wrong or are bullied themselves to “tell somebody”. That should apply to seniors as well. It may be very difficult to talk with a family member or maybe they don’t have a family member to talk to. “Tell Somebody”, the help you need may be as close as the town office. China Town Manager Becky Hapgood has agreed to act as a soundboard on a temporary basis and she can get you the help that is needed. Talk to her, tell her your problem and she will listen and find a solution. Some of the problems may be as follows:

Homelessness, elder abuse, food insecurity, transportation issues, medication, energy assistance, balance checkbook or paying bills, companionship and scams.

The list is long and varied. So do not carry the problem alone. “Tell Somebody”. Bottom line, you are not alone, there is help out there – start with Becky!

Good luck and God bless.

OPINIONS: No more property tax stabilization program

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COMMUNITY COMMENTARY

by Katrina Smith
State Represenative
District #62
China, Palermo, Somerville & Windsor

What can our Seniors do now?

The popular state tax assistance for seniors entitled the “Property Tax Stabilization Program”, which allowed those over the age of 65 to freeze their property taxes, has been eliminated during this past legislative session. (A vote for the budget was a vote for this program to be eliminated. Personally, I voted against the budget for this and other reasons.) Many seniors are asking, “What now?” The good news is that several State of Maine programs have been expanded that will hopefully assist our Seniors with their finances.

The first program to be expanded is the Property Tax Fairness Credit. The property tax fairness credit provides that Eligible Maine taxpayers may receive a portion of the property tax or rent paid during the tax year on the Maine individual income tax return whether they owe Maine income tax or not. If the credit exceeds the amount of your individual income tax due for the tax year, the excess amount of credit will be refunded to you. The program increased the credit from $1,500 to $2,000 for individuals 65 or older. To take advantage of this program you need to file a ME1040 and a Property Tax Fairness tax form.

The second program is the Deferred Collection of Homestead Property Taxes. The State Property Tax Deferral Program is a loan program that can cover the annual property tax bills of Maine people who are ages 65 and older or are permanently disabled and who cannot afford to pay them on their own. The loan program allows Maine’s most vulnerable community members to age in place and ensures that property taxes are still delivered to municipalities, requiring repayment of the loan once the property is sold or becomes part of an estate. The program was updated to double the income threshold to $80,000 a year and also the liquid asset threshold limit to $100,000 for individuals and $200,000 for couples. There are a few other guidelines for this program, but to see if you qualify you must file an application with your local municipal assessor between January 1 and April 1.

I hope this information is useful to our Seniors and helps them to afford to live out their golden years by relieving some of the stress involved with property taxes. I am happy to help direct anyone to other resources and can be reached at katrina.smith@legislature.maine.gov.

OPINIONS: Internet access for many may be at risk

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COMMUNITY COMMENTARY

by Kim Lindlof
President, CEO Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce

In response to our nation’s increased reliance on high-speed Internet, both the Trump and Biden Administrations have taken important steps to provide connectivity to those that need it, particularly in rural areas. An invaluable program that’s been created in recent years to enable this is the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which over 18 million American households are currently enrolled in. The ACP enables eligible Americans to overcome the obstacle of affordability by providing a monthly voucher which can be used on the cost of an Internet subscription. When combined with the low-income offerings made available by many of the nation’s leading providers that participate in the program, the voucher can make the cost of a subscription free for qualifying low-income families. Here in Maine, over 82,000 households are enrolled in the ACP, while another 150,000 are eligible to enroll.

Unfortunately, the ACP faces an existential threat that could eliminate Internet access for the over 18 million American households that rely on the program – its funding will run out sometime in 2024. Extending its funding to ensure that the program continues to exist should be an urgent priority for lawmakers regardless of partisanship.

A CNBC poll earlier this year found that the significant majority of Republicans and Independents support the program, and its expiration would be a blow to constituencies of both parties, as data from the Technology Policy Institute reflects that enrollment is essentially equivalent for both Republican-represented and Democratic-represented Congressional districts.

Politics aside, an end to the ACP would set us back years in our effort to overcome the affordability gap, a barrier that accounts for two-thirds of our nation’s digital divide. By not having an effective solution in place to assist Americans struggling to afford an Internet subscription due to level of income, we will more or less be fighting this fight with one arm tied behind our back.  In Maine, 39 percent of households with income less than $20,000 have no connectivity. Closing the digital divide is an effort that we must be successful in, as analyses of the issue have indicated that allowing millions of Americans to continue to be without connectivity will have grave repercussions for the American economy at large. A 2021 study from Deloitte found that a ten percentage-point increase in broadband penetration in 2016 would have created more than 806,000 additional jobs in 2019.

The persistence of the digital divide will continue to mean untapped prosperity for the American economy, and it’s not hard to understand why. Seemingly every industry stands to benefit by having access to high-speed Internet and all of the essential resources that come with it. This means not only capabilities for remote working, but also access to information, so those working in sectors that are more hands-on and less computer-intensive can still utilize the Internet to yield better results. An example of this could be a farmer in Clinton that relies on online resources for market prices, weather forecasts, farming techniques, and agricultural research, or a small business owner in Waterville that utilizes online platforms to advertise its product and grow its brand.

Overall, I am hopeful that federal policymakers understand that combatting affordability barriers is an integral part of getting Americans online, but I also hope that this understanding will translate into tangible action that specifically acknowledges the need to prolong the Affordable Connectivity Program. With the program set to expire next year, we need to find a funding solution in the near future that keeps this critical program intact.

OPINIONS: A “yes” vote urged on broadband ARPA warrant article

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COMMUNITY COMMENTARY

by Bob O’Connor
China Broadband Committee

The China Broadband Committee was formed in 2017 to find a way to bring the best Broadband internet solution to China. Last year we chose Axiom Fiber to build that system. The selectboard and townspeople voted down our proposal last November because of the risk that it could potentially adversely affect property taxes due to repayment of the $6 million bond if not enough townspeople signed up for this service.

As a committee, we went back to the drawing board to look at all possible solutions again. We reviewed proposals from our incumbent providers, Spectrum Charter, and Consolidated Communications. We found the Spectrum bulk proposal too financially risky for the town. Consolidated was not interested in expanding into China because we are in “Classic” China Telephone territory. The company might consider expansion in the distant future, seven or more years from now.

Unitel, of Unity, Maine, has been in the telephone business since 1904, about the same time that the China Telephone Company got its start. Unitel first offered fiber internet to the home in a limited area starting in 2015. Late last year, Unitel was acquired by Direct Communications, a larger family-owned company that offers fiber to the home in a few rural areas in a few US states.

Our broadband committee started working with Direct Communications (DC) shortly after they acquired Unitel last year. Unitel/DC are looking to expand to towns around Unity with the help of the current grants and funds. These grant funds can be spent to cover areas of our town that the Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA) defines as “Least Served” and “Unserved”. This includes about 25 percent of homes in China that typically have DSL or no service.

MCA now classifies the rest of town as “Underserved”, meaning that their service does not meet the minimum speed of 100/100 Mbps. This includes those with cable service from Spectrum. All new internet projects funded by MCA must be built to the minimum 100/100Mbps standard.

Our currently proposed project with Unitel/DC is to build a fiber backbone in town that is strong enough, that is, has enough fibers, to serve the whole town while initially serving the Least Served and Unserved areas. After this project is complete, Unitel/DC will continue to expand to the rest of the town, the underserved folks.

Town funding from this project is from the TIF fund of $30,000/year for 10 years for a total of $300,000. This expenditure was previously approved by the voters in 2021. Also, we are requesting $70,000. from a part of the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that China has received.

Unitel/DC will match our $370,000 contribution to the project.

We are also applying for an MCA “Connect the Ready” grant for about $460,000. The total project is approximately $1.2 million dollars with the Town contributing 31 percent, Unitel/DC contributing 31 percent and the MCA grant covering the remaining 38 percent of the project.

We will only apply for this grant if the townspeople vote in favor of the $70,000 ARPA fund distribution on the Warrant Article on November 8, 2022.

The town selectboard unanimously (5/0) recommended a “yes” vote on this $70,000 Broadband ARPA Warrant article. The Budget committee also recommended a “yes” vote (5/1).

Neither the TIF nor the ARPA funds will raise property taxes, and Unitel/DC would fully own and operate this service with no requirement for involvement from town staff.

Fiber internet service by Unitel / Direct Communications will improve internet speeds and reliability, increase value of your home, encourage economic development in town, allow for online learning, education, work, telehealth, and entertainment at an affordable and competitive price.

We appreciate your support. Thank you.

Read more about China’s broadband initiatives here.

OPINIONS: Protecting a high quality and fully-funded public education system is vital

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COMMUNITY COMMENTARY

by Tom Waddell

The Supreme Court’s Casey vs. Makin decision all but forces Maine to fund private religious education. Now every state’s public school funding is under attack.

Bleeding public school budgets to fund alternative schools, such as private secular, religious, or for-profit charter schools, is often done through voucher programs that claim public taxes do not fund public school systems; they fund students, and the money follows the student to whichever school they choose.

Maine passed a bill last year requiring private schools that accept public funds to follow Maine’s Human Rights Act, the same human rights protocols that apply to Maine’s public schools. Those protocols ban harassment based on race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or disability. Students with physical or learning disabilities must also be accorded the same learning environment as public schools. The bill initially included financial oversight of the annual $56 M taxpayer support Maine gives to private schools but was subsequently removed. Why?

Maine used to have financial oversight of the taxes it uses to fund private schools. However, requiring state-funded private schools to report how those funds were spent was removed from the Government Oversight Committee in 2011. Why would Maine not want to know how the $56 M it gives to private schools, or over half a billion in ten years, gets spent?

The Supreme Court ruled Maine, and every state must fund private religious instruction if they fund private non-religious education but that ruling only applies to states that exclude religious schools. Legislation is moving through Congress that will allow all for-profit charter schools nationwide to bleed every state’s public school budget through a voucher system and receive federal grants without reporting their finances.

When the federal Charter Schools Program proposed new rules that would prevent private, for-profit charter schools from receiving public grant money and require them to report their finances if they receive any public funds, the lobbyists for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools opposed those regulations.

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools wants for-profit charter schools to get public grants and state taxpayer funds and not have to report how those funds get spent. This will leave each state with zero financial oversight of what state-funded charter schools do with public tax dollars.

This is the same as Maine having no financial oversight of private school funding extended to every state and every public school system in America. As a result, public school budgets everywhere will be cut, and the quality of public education across the nation will suffer.

Two congressional candidates and one gubernatorial candidate in the November election support a fully funded public education system. The other congressional and gubernatorial candidates support an unregulated private education system funded by taxpayer school vouchers.

Two congressional candidates and one gubernatorial candidate support financial oversight of private schools and the other candidates do not see the necessity for the Maine Government Oversight Committee to oversee the $56 million Maine currently gives away to private schools every year or over half a billion over ten years.

Your vote will help determine if Maine continues to fund private schools, thereby requiring Maine to fund private religious schools. Your vote will also determine if Maine controls how the half a billion it gives away to private schools over ten years gets spent.

I urge you to make your vote count to protect a high-quality and fully funded public education system that all of Maine’s parents and students expect and deserve. Parents, students, and school faculty are counting on you.

OPINIONS: Let’s move as quickly as possible to renewable energy

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COMMUNITY COMMENTARY

by David Jenney
Vassalboro resident

Vassalboro will have a ballot item in November asking residents if they would like a 180-day, with conditions, moratorium on commercial solar arrays. I urge fellow residents of Vassalboro to vote no on the moratorium.

1.) Climate Impact

To me the one of the biggest and most profound issues facing us as residents of Vassal­boro, the state of Maine and the world as a whole is Climate Change/­Global warming. One of the ways to slow down the pace of this change (in my opinion) is to move as quickly as possible to renewable energy sources which do not pollute in their operation and do not contribute to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions. We are already way too late to address this problem as a species. To me postponing commercial solar array development in Vassalboro is similar to Nero fiddling while Rome was burning. The world is on fire – literally and figuratively. I think sometimes we don’t understand the urgency of this issue due to it at times not being directly in our face.

2.) Inconsistent regulation

Of course there are issues related to where the “best” place is to site commercial solar arrays as well as what to do with them at the end of their life. I would point out the same issue exists for any source of energy production – oil, wood, wind, natural gas, coal, etc… To me placing a moratorium on commercial solar arrays in Vassalboro is “having the perfect be the enemy of the good.” Our current standards for where to place them and how to deal with their waste when they reach the end of their useful life certainly can be improved. However, a moratorium on commercial solar arrays in order to have time to create some type of ordinance to address those issues is similar to telling a fire to stop burning, because we don’t have the perfect hose.

We don’t have town ordinances regulating gravel pits, or other extractive mineral operations. We don’t have town ordinances on the placement of gas pipelines, we don’t have ordinances on the placement of cell phone towers, power lines, phone lines, wind turbines, trailer parks, so what’s so special about commercial solar arrays? Please note that I am not ignoring state and federal regulations – just pointing out that we do not have local ordinances related to any of those.

So what’s so different about commercial solar arrays? My best guess is that now people can actually see them, and some people find them unattractive. That’s about the only thing I can think of that is really different. We are so used to seeing telephone poles, power lines, etc., that we almost don’t realize that they are there. With new commercial solar arrays they are often near roads. This makes sense because they are then close to power lines where they can send the electricity that they produce. Only one relatively smaill commercial solar array has been built in Vassalboro. That is the one on Main Street. In reviewing planning board minutes since 2020, it appears that about four to five additional projects have been approved. None of them is in operation, or have starting being built.

3.) Not in my backyard (NIMBY)

I’m guessing that people here in Vassalboro are reacting to something new that is a change which they instinctively don’t like. When I see commercial solar arrays, I see hope and progress. It’s so easy to think that gas which we use for our vehicles as coming from a gas station, because we don’t make gasoline in Maine. Or we may think of heating oil as something that comes from trucks (heating oil is the biggest energy source of winter time heating in Maine) rather than a fracking operation elsewhere in the United States, or a drilling operation in any part of the world.

We all drive or use vehicles that use oil and gas. We are all guilty of contributing to climate change and global warming, but when we are presented with a choice to be part of the solution, which commercial solar arrays are part of, we get upset. I think it’s because we can see the source of the electricity, while we can’t see it with other electricity sources.

We can often engage in black and white thinking – such as all our Maine farmlands are going to be converted to solar arrays, which is utter nonsense. I have yet to see a commercial solar array placed in Vassalboro take over a farm. I have seen a coexistence of a commercial solar array and farm in China at the Three Level Farm. A commercial (community) solar array was placed on the other side of an active farm. The commercial solar arrays that I have seen in Augusta and Waterville (and it’s quite possible I’ve missed some), have been placed on vacant land that wasn’t being used for farming.

4.) Regulating what individuals can and can’t do with their land, without a comprehensive plan

For the most part I do not want the town to make it more difficult for relatively large land owners in Vassalboro to be able to choose what they want to do or not do with their land, especially as it relates to commercial solar arrays. I own about 140-150 acres of land. I like to believe that I am a good steward of the land, the vast majority of it is in tree growth with a forest management plan. I have two hay fields that are used by my neighbor and a wild blueberry field that is rarely used for picking blueberries. If the town decides to say what large land owners can or cannot do with their land, have it done in a planned manner, rather then a reactionary one.

As a town we do not have a comprehensive plan or zoning. To me trying to define where commercial solar arrays can be placed is a backwards approach to zoning. If we are going to pick and choose how we go about deciding on how land is going to be used, then do it right. Look at the town as a whole, not as bits and pieces.

5.) Protecting our Natural Environment

I think our main responsibility in terms of the natural environment is to focus on air, land, soil and water – all of which are impacted by climate change and global warming. I think while we might like some type of regulation placed on commercial solar arrays, that commercial solar arrays be recognized for the positives that they provide for Vassalboro. The regulation/ordinance should not impede the implementation of new commercial solar arrays. I don’t see any compelling need to implement a moratorium on commercial solar arrays as there are so few (if any) active projects in Vassalboro, and I will oppose the moratorium related to commercial solar array development in Vassalboro.