Vassalboro: Town meeting scheduled for June 4

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source: http://www.vassalboro.net/

Vassalboro voters will make 2018-19 spending decisions and choose budget committee members at their annual town meeting, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 4, at Vassalboro Community School. Local elections and any other written-ballot items will be decided on Tuesday, June 12, with polls open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the town office.

Town Clerk Cathy Coyne announces nomination papers are available Monday, March 5, for the following positions: one three-year term on the board of selectmen (the late Philip Haines’ term, being filled by John Melrose, ends) and one three-year term on the school board (Jolene Clark Gamage’s term ends). Signed nomination papers must be returned to the town office by noon Friday, April 13, for candidates’ names to appear on the June 12 ballot.

VASSALBORO: Committee begins budget process for FY 2018-19

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source: http://www.vassalboro.net/

by Mary Grow

Vassalboro Budget Committee members used their March 1 organizational meeting for a preliminary, partial review of the proposed 2018-19 municipal budget developed by Town Manager Mary Sabins and town selectmen.

As the meeting ended, they tentatively scheduled future meetings for March 8, primarily to talk with town department heads (Road Foreman Eugene Field, Transfer Station Manager George Hamar, Police Chief Mark Brown, Fire Chief Eric Rowe or a representative, First Responders Chief Dan Mayotte); March 20 with the school board; and March 22 with representatives of three nonprofit organizations asking for town funds.

  • Interested residents are welcome at all budget committee meetings – especially, Selectman Lauchlin Titus said, residents who might seek election to the committee in June. John Melrose’s seat is vacant, because he was elected to the board of selectmen in last November’s special election.

Likely topics for the March 8 discussion include new vehicles for the public works department and the police chief, a new roof for the Riverside fire station and mileage reimbursement for First Responders.

Sabins said Field is ready to buy a new truck while the one he drives has trade-in value; selectmen prefer to wait a year. The police cruiser raises the same question: replace it now, or wait until next year (and increase the 2018-19 maintenance budget). Firefighters want $25,000 for a metal roof on the Riverside station, including replacing the fairly new shingles on the addition so snow sliding off the metal won’t damage them. Titus said a complication is that the town does not own the building, though he said the fire department might consider turning over ownership. Budget committee member and firefighter Donald Breton said the department’s deed says if the department ceases to exist, the land reverts to the previous owner’s heirs, but he does not know whether any are still alive.

Sabins said the first responders answered more than 300 calls last year. They request $3,500 for mileage reimbursement (not for stipends). Newly-elected budget committee Chairman Rick Denico said he recently witnessed a traffic accident and was pleased at how quickly Vassalboro First Responders and firefighters reached the scene.

Budget committee members will probably not ask to hear from representatives of non-profit organizations and social service agencies that received funds for the current year and submitted written requests for 2018-19. They would like to meet on March 22 with people from 47 Daisies, The Town Line newspaper and the China Region Lakes Alliance.

According to its website, 47 Daisies is a community farm on Webber Pond Road offering naturally grown produce (the web site lists vegetables, berries and mushrooms) and flowers, educational programs and public access to the property. The organization asks for $2,500 in town support, its first request. (ep)

The Town Line has applied for town funds previously, but not for the last few years, so its request for $3,000 is being treated as new. The China Region Lakes Alliance is open for discussion because Sabins and selectmen recommend only one-third of the requested $15,000 and because at least one Vassalboro resident has expressed interest in talking with the budget committee.

Other points from the March 1 meeting:

  • The selectmen and Sabins present different recommendations for the 2018-19 administration budget, primarily because Sabins recommends three percent employee raises and selectmen recommend two percent.
  • Sabins reported that the new Fiberight plant will not be ready to receive waste from Vassalboro’s transfer station by the scheduled April 1 opening date – the delay might last most of 2018. In the interim, she said, Vassalboro’s waste will go to the Crossroads Landfill in Norridgewock, at the same tipping fee ($70 per ton) and a lower trucking fee ($200 per load versus $225) because of the shorter distance.
  • The Cemetery Committee is asking for $40,000, mostly for mowing and to begin computerizing cemetery records. Sabins said she is applying for the second time for a grant to help with the records and expects a decision before the town meeting warrant is final. Meanwhile, she said, Vassalboro “has no cemetery records to speak of”; a volunteer census in the 1990s compiled lists of names, but without tying them to graves.
  • Sabins reported discouragingly low ridership on the Kennebec Valley Community Action Program (KVCAP) buses serving Vassalboro and China, despite a survey that found transportation the most needed service in town. Nonetheless, she recommended continuing the program for another year. KVCAP has asked for $1,450, she said. She added that FAVOR (Friends Advocating for Vassalboro’s Older Residents), prime mover in starting the bus service, will sponsor a second senior service fair in May, in the planned community center in the former St. Bridget’s Church in North Vassalboro.

The China Appeals Board will meet Thursday

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CHINA — The China Appeals Board will meet on Thursday, March 8, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Office Meeting Room to hear a request to reconsider the decision of the Board of Appeals dated February 20, 2018 on two appeals from Bio Renewable Fuels, Corp. for a property located at China Tax Map 29 Lot 15.

VASSALBORO: Meeting on dissolving AOS #92 planned for March 6

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source: http://www.vassalboro.net/

by Mary Grow

Two major Vassalboro boards meet simultaneously Tuesday evening, March 6.

The Vassalboro School Board has scheduled a public informational meeting on plans to dissolve AOS (Alternative Educational Structure) #92 for 7 p.m. at Vassalboro Community School. The meeting will be preceded by a two-hour supper meeting to discuss 2018-19 budget requests; the budget discussion is also open to the public. A week later, on March 13, Vassalboro, Waterville and Winslow voters will vote on dissolving the AOS. Vassalboro polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the town office.

The Vassalboro Planning Board meets at 7 p.m. March 6 in the town office. Its agenda lists four applications:

  • From Leo Barnett to add an indoor growing facility on his Old Meadow Road property, off Riverside Drive;
  • From Joseph Presti III to dissolve the Country Way subdivision on Ilona Drive, off Crowell Hill Road;
  • From Jeffery and Erica Bennett to build two residences in the shoreland zone on Sheafer Lane, both more than 100 feet from Webber Pond; and
  • From Kevin Luczko for an automobile repair and sales business plus a beauty shop at 270 Main Street, on the south edge of East Vassalboro.

The Vassalboro Budget Committee was scheduled to meet March 6, but latest information from the town office is that the meeting has been canceled so budget committee members can attend the school board’s informational session.

The budget committee will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 8, in the town office meeting room, after that evening’s selectmen’s meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. The selectmen’s agenda includes a discussion with planning board members of proposed changes in Vassalboro’s building permit ordinance.

CHINA: Breton appointed to planning board; protest filed by other candidate

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by Mary Grow

China selectmen spent almost half an hour of their Feb. 20 meeting debating whom to appoint to a vacant planning board seat – and the question might not be resolved, because the loser has questioned the process.

The planning board has five members, one chosen from each of four districts and one from anywhere in town (at large), plus an alternate member, elected (or appointed between elections) from anywhere in town and entitled to vote only in the absence of one of the five full members. The vacant seat is the at-large voting position.

Tom Michaud has resigned from the at-large seat. Former board member and chairman Ronald Breton and former member and chairman and current alternate member Jim Wilkens both asked to be appointed.

Neither man ran for planning board in the November 2017 election. Wilkens announced he was retiring, but was elected by write-in votes to the alternate position and accepted the post. Breton ran unsuccessfully for selectman.

Wilkens told selectmen after 14 years on the board, he would like to be a voting member again. Breton said he wants to continue to serve the town.

Selectman Irene Belanger suggested moving Wilkens to the voting position and appointing Breton the alternate member. Breton said he would not accept the non-voting position.

The four selectmen present agreed both candidates were qualified. They discussed procedure at length, ending with three motions on the floor, none seconded: Belanger’s to appoint Wilkens the voting at-large member, Jeffrey LaVerdiere’s to appoint Breton to the position and Chairman Robert MacFarland’s to table the issue until a full board was present.

At that point the missing selectman, Neil Farrington, walked in, surprised by the acclaim with which he was greeted.

After more discussion, MacFarland seconded LaVerdiere’s motion to appoint Breton, arguing that Wilkens should stay in the seat to which he was elected. Breton was appointed on a 4-1 vote, with Donna Mills-Stevens joining Farrington, LaVerdiere and MacFarland in the majority and Belanger opposed.

Later that evening, Wilkens emailed Town Manager Daniel L’Heureux, asking whether the at-least-occasional precedent of making the alternate member a full member when there was a vacancy should be followed; what the appeal process is; and whether Farrington should have voted on an issue discussed in his absence.

In other business Feb. 20, selectmen signed the official warrant for the March 24 annual town business meeting, scheduled for 9 a.m. at China Primary School.

They unanimously authorized L’Heureux to sign a contract with A. E. Hodsdon, the Waterville engineering firm, to act as China’s representative overseeing the planned construction of a replacement bridge at the causeway at the head of China Lake.

In November 2017 China’s TIF (Tax Increment Finance) Committee had cost estimates from A. E. Hodsdon and Wright-Pierce, the contractor for the new bridge. Wright-Pierce’s proposed fee for the work was $23,475; A. E. Hodson’s was $21,172 for oversight.

Selectmen plan to invite landowners Tom and Marie Michaud to discuss the new fire pond on the Michauds’ land on Neck Road. They authorized L’Heureux to take “necessary and prudent” steps to continue development of the pond.

Resident Linda O’Connor responded to questions selectmen asked in January about the LakeSmart program, in relation to the March 24 warrant article asking if voters want to use up to $20,000 in TIF money for the program. After a discussion of the relationship among LakeSmart, the China Lake Association (CLA), the China Region Lakes Alliance (CRLA) and the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC), O’Connor asked selectmen to send further questions and suggestions directly to CLA President Scott Pierz and CRLA President Jim Hart and “get me out of the middle.”

Selectmen unanimously approved a consent agreement recommended by Codes Officer Paul Mitnik, fining a contractor $150 for putting in a garage foundation without the inspections Mitnik is required to make under MUBEC (Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code).

The Feb. 20 meeting included an executive session discussion of legal issues with attorney Amanda Meader of Ellis and Meader, in Augusta. The session lasted almost an hour and a half; no action was taken afterward. L’Heureux said Meader has a contract to advise town boards when town attorney Alton Stevens is not available.

To accommodate board members’ travel schedules, the next regular selectmen’s meeting is scheduled for Wednesday evening, March 7, instead of the usual Monday evening. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. Jim Dinkle, executive director of the Kennebec Regional Development Authority that runs FirstPark, plans to talk with selectmen.

Williams to retire as chief of Maine State Police

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Col. Robert Williams, China resident and chief of the Maine State Police

China resident accepts position as director of security at Colby College, in Waterville

Robert A. Williams, of China, head of the Maine State Police for the past seven years, has been named director of security at Colby College. His appointment follows an extensive national search. In his 33 years in law enforcement, Williams rose through the ranks, from trooper to ultimately being nominated by Governor Paul LePage to become colonel in 2011. Williams comes to Colby with extensive experience in emergency response planning, personnel management, and organizational development. He begins his work at Colby March 12.

“At a time when the security issues facing colleges and universities are increasingly complex, having a seasoned leader with experience in every aspect of protecting our communities will position Colby for continued strength,” said Vice President for Administration and Chief Financial Officer Doug Terp. “Bob also demonstrates a keen ability to build relationships, which is an important element of this role. We look forward to welcoming him to Colby.”

Williams began his career in law enforcement in 1983 as a trooper for the Pittsfield Police Department. He later became a state trooper in Skowhegan, for 11 years, before rising to the position of sergeant. In 1998 he became lieutenant in the communications unit, and in 2000 he rose to major, overseeing nine units. In 2007 Williams was named lieutenant colonel. His professional development experience includes crowd control and event security, team building and ethics, and extensive leadership training.

“As a native of central Maine, I have watched Colby continue to rise,” said Williams. “I am drawn to Colby’s commitment to excellence, something that I have continually worked toward as a member of the Maine State Police. After a full career in law enforcement, I am excited about the opportunity to interact with a whole new community.”

A graduate of University of Maine, Augusta, Williams earned a master’s degree in criminal justice administration from Husson University, in Bangor. He also attended the FBI National Academy, in Quantico, Virginia. He is a longtime member of the Vassalboro Fire Department, where he has served on the board of directors since 1992.

At Colby, Williams will lead a staff of 40 employees and will manage and administer safety programming, facility security, compliance, training, emergency preparedness, and critical incident management. He will work collaboratively with students, faculty, staff, and other constituents to promote a safe and secure environment.

A resident of China, Maine, Williams and his wife, Joyce, are the parents of two adult daughters with careers in healthcare.

Palermo residents speak up about Sheepscot fishway

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Submitted by Lynda Pound, member of the Sheepscot Lake Association.

Alewives

Although a major snow storm was bearing down on Palermo, over a hundred town residents assembled in Augusta for a hearing on the bill L.D. 922 on February 7, before the Marine Resources Committee, in Augusta. This bill proposed that Marine Resources would take control of the dam on Sheepscot Lake from the Maine Department of Inland Fish and Wildlife in order to open the fishway to migratory fishes during the spawning season from April 15 to June 30. The fishes that would come up through the fishway would be alewives (to be used as bait fish for the lobster industry), Sea Lamprey, and American Eels. According the Andy Goode, of the Atlantic Salmon Federation, there would be no Salmon.

Testifying before the Marine Resources Committee were members of the Sheepscot Lake Association, a representative from the Palermo Select Board, many concerned citizens of Palermo, legislators and residents of Long Pond, and other concerned Maine citizens….most all in opposition to this bill.

The Sheepscot Lake Association and Palermo residents wanted legislators to know that they are profoundly against this opening for multiple reasons. These include threatened biosecurity of the fish rearing station from alewives entering the lake during spawning season, damage to the valuable self sustaining wild togue (lake trout) population, parasitic sea lamprey entering the lake during spawning season, and potential negative impact on the tax base of Palermo from fluctuating water levels.

Vehement opposition to this controversial bill was in clear evidence. Proponents of L.D. 922 made it clear that they did not think that there would be any problems with opening the fishway during spawning season. During testimony, it emerged that there have been no recent environmental impact studies done for Sheepscot Lake. Thus, it is not known how damaging this proposed opening would be, to either the lake or the fish rearing station. After hearing the lengthy testimony presented to them, the Marine Resources Committee members adjourned, having set a date for an upcoming workshop to vote on the bill.

On February 14, the committee reconvened to discuss L.D. 922. Much written testimony had been given to each legislator and a lively debate ensued. Proponents of the bill felt that opening the fishway during spawning season would not pose a significant risk to the fish rearing station, nor would it negatively impact the deep water fishery or the recreational use of the lake. Written testimony from the opposing side, the citizens of Palermo, contained specific information about past history with the fishway having been opened during spawning season in the era of the late ‘60s, and ‘70s. A proliferation of sea lamprey, who were unable to get out of the lake after spawning, attacked both salmon and togue. According to a written document from Inland Fish and Wildlife, deep water fish caught during this time were scarred with multiple wounds from sea lamprey. More information from Inland Fish and Wildlife outlined the high cost of equipment that would have to be installed in order to protect the rearing station from potential viruses and pathogens, if the alewives and sea lamprey were allowed to enter the lake. After much deliberation, the committee voted 8 – 4, ought to pass. At this point, the bill will be forwarded to the legislature for more debate and a vote.

It should be noted that the Maine Governor, Paul LePage, has written a letter to the Commissioners of Marine Resources and Inland Fish and Game asking them to keep the fishway as it is now, requesting that other bodies of water could be used for raising and harvesting alewives.

Vassalboro selectmen to hear about LED lights; ARI update; department heads for budget discussions

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source: http://www.vassalboro.net/

by Mary Grow

Vassalboro selectmen meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, in the town office meeting room, with four major items on their agenda. Paul Vesel, Director of Business Development with Realterm Energy, is scheduled to attend to discuss converting the town’s streetlights to LED. Representatives of the Alewife Restoration Initiative (ARI) are to update board members on the proposed fishway at China Lake’s outlet dam and related matters. Department heads from the public safety, recreation, solid waste and First Responders will join selectmen to discuss 2018-19 budget requests. And board members will again discuss the increased tax bill for Vassalboro’s gravel pit in China.

The Town of Vassalboro will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, at the town office, to seek public comment on an application for a Community Development Block Grant to help the Vassalboro Sanitary District connect town sewers to the Winslow sewer system. Interested residents unable to attend the hearing may submit written comments to the town office up to the hearing time. Public comments received before and at the hearing will be submitted as part of the application for funds.

China selectmen meeting change due to holiday

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by Mary Grow

China selectmen have scheduled their second February meeting for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, since the usual Monday meeting would fall on the Presidents’ Day holiday. The board meets in the town office.

On Monday, Feb. 19, the China town office and transfer station will be closed for the holiday.