VASSALBORO: Board updated on school summer improvements

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Vassalboro Community School (contributed photo)

by Mary Grow

Vassalboro School Board members began their fall/winter meetings on Aug. 29 with the usual updates on summer improvements; approval of new staff and other appointments for the coming school year; and financial report.

Superintendent Alan Pfeiffer summarized the work done on the exterior of Vassalboro Community School (VCS) by Standard Waterproofing, of Winslow: a complete power-washing (“You could just see the difference,” interjected assistant principal Tabitha Brewer), resealing joints, repairs where needed and a silicone spray that should last six years.

The superintendent called the work “long overdue.” He had not received a final bill, but expected the cost to be around $195,000.

Pfeiffer praised the VCS custodial crew for their work on the building interior over the summer, and thanked principal Ira Michaud, Brewer and special education director Tanya Thibeau for the many hours they’ve put in since classes ended in June.

Michaud’s report to the school board listed multiple training sessions for teachers, showing that they, too, have been working over the summer. He mentioned successful pre-school events already held, and thanked Don and Lisa Breton and the people who donated school supplies to the drive the Bretons organized.

School board members approved new hires, including a school nurse and two sixth-grade teachers. VCS still needs a part-time Spanish teacher (to succeed Monica Fallaw, who resigned to accept a high-school position, Pfeiffer said), and there are a few openings for educational technicians.

Finance director Paula Pooler summarized unaudited year-end balances for FY 2022-23, which ended June 30. Of Vassalboro’s $8.722 million in proposed expenditures for last year, all but $5,421.88 was spent, she reported – very close budgeting, but still in the black.

Revenues were lower than expected, so the school department had to use some of the funds allocated from the undesignated fund balance. The undesignated fund still totals more than $1.2 million.

The VCS food service program, which ran a deficit for many years, showed an excess of revenue over expenditures in 2022-23 for the second year in a row, Pooler said.

For the new fiscal year that began July 1, Pooler sees no budgetary problems so far.

School board members re-elected Jolene Gamage board chairman and Jessica Clark vice-chairman, and reappointed members of board committees.

The only item of new business on the Aug. 29 agenda was review of proposed updates to the document called “Vassalboro Community School Strategic Plan Goals.” Pfieffer asked board members to be prepared for discussion at their Sept. 19 meeting.

He offered two other items for that meeting agenda: the 2023-24 school board meeting schedule, including tentative 2024 dates for reviewing the 2024-25 budget with the budget committee; and preliminary discussion of cooling upstairs classrooms at VCS.

New staff members will be invited to meet board members at 5:45 p.m., on Sept. 19, at VCS, and the board meeting will begin at 6 p.m.

China select board sets tax rate at 12.26 mils, up from 12.05 mils

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by Mary Grow

At their Aug. 28 meeting, China select board members, in their capacity as assessors, set the town’s 2023-24 tax rate: 12.26 mils, or $12.26 for each $1,000 of valuation.

The current rate is 12.05 mils, or $12.05 per $1,000, Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood said.

Kelly Grotton, assistant to the assessor’s agent, said residents who were approved in 2022 for the seniors’ property tax stabilization program should not be affected by the increase; their 2023-24 bill should be the same as their 2022-23 bill.

The Maine legislature has repealed the tax stabilization program. District #62 State Representative Katrina Smith recently summarized legislative actions expanding other programs that assist taxpayers aged 65 and over (see the Aug. 17 issue of The Town Line, p. 8).

Hapgood said she hopes town office staff will have tax bills in the mail by Friday, Sept. 8. She and Grotton both said office employees have been extremely busy in the last few weeks.

By town meeting vote, the first half payment of local taxes is due at the town office by Friday, Sept. 29.

Select board members also approved the warrant for Nov. 7 local voting. There will be only elections on the town ballot. Board members and planning board co-chairman Toni Wall talked about three possible ordinances, including the long-discussed solar ordinance, and decided nothing can be ready for voters’ action that soon.

Instead, select board members agreed by consensus to try to schedule a zoom meeting with planning board members, Hapgood and town attorney Amanda Meader to talk about at least the solar ordinance.

Wall said China’s planning board ordinance, last amended in June 2008, and the 2017 ordinance banning retail marijuana establishments need attention, and probably other ordinances. Select board member Brent Chesley recommended considering a medical marijuana ordinance.

The next town vote will be in June 2024, in conjunction with the annual town business meeting and the state-wide primary elections. Hapgood said any ordinances to be presented to voters in June 2024 should be ready for legal review by Jan. 1, 2024.

On Nov. 7, China voters will elect two select board members, three planning board members and three budget committee members. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., in the former classroom behind the town office on Lakeview Drive.

Hapgood said at least one person is circulating nomination papers for every board/committee position except budget committee District 3 (southeastern China). Friday, Sept. 8, is the deadline for returning signed papers to have one’s name on the ballot.

Select board members unanimously appointed Elaine Mather to the District 3 planning board position, to finish Walter Bennett’s term. Hapgood said Mather is circulating nomination papers to be elected to the seat after her interim term ends Nov. 7.

Board members postponed action on several other items on their Aug. 28 agenda.

Hapgood reported that the public works crew can probably find time to do groundwork for the planned new storage vault attached to the south side of the town office building. Discussion of how to proceed from there was postponed until after select board member Blane Casey confers with building committee chairman Sheldon Goodine.

Whether China’s senior fuel fund, paid for with ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) money, can legally continue for another year without a new approval from town voters remains undecided. Hapgood has discussed the question with a Maine Municipal Association attorney, but has no definitive answer yet.

Proposals to amend China’s town logo, a project initiated by summer intern Bailee Mallett, whose term has ended, can go on the back burner for now, select board members agreed.

The next regular China select board meeting is scheduled for Monday evening, Sept. 11.

WINDSOR: LS Power discussion leads to ordinance suggestion

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by The Town Line staff

At their August 1 meeting, the Windsor Town Manager Theresa Haskell wanted to give an update on the meeting that took place with LS Power, at the Windsor Fairgrounds.

Select board member Andrew Ballantyne wanted to share his views on the subject. He feels the town should have more say in what happens with the town land and how it is utilized, even in the future when big outfits like LS Power plan to run an extension of the corridor through the town. There was discussion of perhaps having ordinances in place to safeguard the town from allowing or restricting certain acts by the corridors.

In other business, select board member Thomas McNaughton presented a small community grant request from a member of the community. He brought it before the board to be sure he wasn’t missing something. There are two criteria that needed to be met to qualify for the grant. First, it must impact any body of water, and second, it must be a public nuisance. Since neither of the criteria were met, the select board agrees that the small community grant be denied. The decision will be relayed to the respective party.

Public Works Supervisor Keith Hall and the town manager have been working on the E-911 project. They have been out measuring driveways and roads, also looking for properly posted road signs. Because of these updated measurements, some addresses may need updating.

An update presented on the Choate Road Bridge stated that the Maine Department of Transportation has deemed it safe. When work is due to be done in the future it was not clear what kind of work may or may not be needed. Hall said he would follow up with DOT on perhaps placing a weight limit on the bridge to extend the life of the old span.

With the Conservation Committee reconvening, Moira Teekema expressed interest in serving on the committee. Haskell provided a handout regarding the Parke Property and short discussion was held on what the conservation committee can and can’t do and how many people will be part of the committee. She noted there are many files with lots of information regarding Parke property available to the committee for review when it reconvenes.

There was a lengthy discussion, questions and answers regarding the town’s bank accounts. Haskell recently had a long meeting with the town’s current bank, Kennebec Savings Bank, and obtained information to share. She discussed combining six CDs to four CDs and moving four accounts to money market accounts. The select board agreed. They also discussed with the Windsor Volunteer Fire Department moving accounts to money market accounts. To do this the fire department will need to keep the accounts at $20,000. They will need to bring the forest fire account to $20,000 to be able to move to a money market account. They currently will need to add approximately $285 to make the $20,000 limit.

The board also will be looking into the cost to place a roof/cover over the roll off containers at the transfer station. The 45 x 60-foot area is currently uncovered. Select board member Ray Bates has reached out to Fowler’s Roofing, but was told to speak with McGee Construction.

The next board of selectmen meeting was scheduled for August 15.

Vassalboro select board sets 2023-24 tax rate at 12.72 mils

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by Mary Grow

At their Aug. 17 meeting, Vassalboro select board members set the 2023-24 tax rate, discussed pending changes and distributed a bit of praise.

The new tax rate will be 12.72 mils, or $12.72 for each $1,000 of property valuation. The figure is slightly below the range assessor Ellery Bane recommended, and will provide less money in the overlay account than Bane suggested.

Overlay is used to pay for tax abatements or refunds. The 2023-24 account will have about $30,000, which select board members expect will be enough.

The current mil rate is 14.40 ($14.40 per $1,000). Because board members earlier accepted Bane’s recommendation to increase all valuations by 20 percent (see the June 29 issue of The Town Line, p. 2), an average tax bill will go up, despite the lower rate.

Town Manager Aaron Miller expected to commit the taxes Aug. 21. Bills will go out as soon as they can be prepared for mailing. By town meeting vote, the first quarterly payment is due by Monday, Sept. 25.

Board members agreed to include with each tax bill an opinion survey. They accepted three questions proposed by the town planning board and others suggested at the Aug. 17 meeting, leaving precise wording of the new ones to Miller.

An agenda item labeled “Bog Road detour,” referring to state plans to replace the Bog Road bridge in 2025 (see the July 20 issue of The Town Line, p. 3), led to a wide-ranging discussion of road-related issues.

Miller said he has a draft agreement with the state about detouring on town roads that needs review by the town attorney.

He has invited staff from the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) to talk about repaving Route 32 through North and East Vassalboro. Specific issues include the Vassalboro Sanitary District manholes and the granite curbing in North Vassalboro.

Select board members do not want the granite curbing replaced with higher-maintenance concrete.

The manhole covers are a major problem, residents and public works employee Brian Lajoie said, because the edges are slightly above the pavement level. Lajoie said hitting one with a snowplow brings the machine to a dead stop and often damages the blade, and it isn’t always possible to dodge or to lift the plow in time.

They’re a menace to ordinary traffic, too, resident James Schad said, as drivers stop abruptly or swerve into oncoming traffic to avoid hitting them.

The manholes belong to the Sanitary District, whose officials told select board members they cannot afford to have them redone. MDOT has disclaimed responsibility for them. The town owns neither the covers nor the road, though the town crew plows the road for the state.

Town seeks new codes & animal officers

The Town of Vassalboro is looking for a new codes enforcement officer/plumbing inspector/building inspector and a new animal control officer.

Codes officer Robert Geaghan, Jr., has submitted his resignation effective at the end of October. Animal control officer Peter Nerber plans to be done in November, Town Manager Aaron Miller told select board members at their Aug. 17 meeting.

Additional information is on the town website, vassalboro.net.

Those interested in information about or applications for either position can call the town office at 207-872-2826 or email Miller at amiller@vassalboro.net.

A resident raised yet another road issue: what he called vandalism as drivers deliberately damage town roads by doing donuts, peeling out and otherwise leaving black marks on the pavement. The practice harms the roads, lowers nearby property values and disturbs residents, he said. The Sheriff’s Office told him the problem was the town’s, not theirs.

Other audience members cited vehicle damage to fields and other off-road properties.

The resident asked select board members to draft an ordinance that would set penalties. Lajoie found a Somerville report saying that town’s officials sent an offender a letter threatening an injunction and a suit for damages; he did not know whether Somerville had a local ordinance.

Lajoie summarized 2023 paving plans for select board members. He expects the work to be done toward the end of September.

Now that the public works department has bought a new trailer (under budget, Miller said), Lajoie asked whether to trade in the old one or try to sell it. Select board members authorized a trade-in.

On a different subject, board members considered the only bid received for painting the North Vassalboro fire station roof, and expressed concern about spending more than $14,000 and getting only a one-year warranty. After discussion, they asked Miller to seek price quotes for replacing the roof instead of repainting it.

Another expenditure was approved cheerfully: board members unanimously contracted with Darrell Gagnon, owner of Attention to Detail Lawn Care, in North Vassalboro, to continue to mow town properties for another five years. Gagnon had built in small price increases over the life of the contract.

Board members are satisfied with his work and said they had received no complaints. Asked about the new Eagle Park, on Route 32, Gagnon said he is already mowing it. Recreation Director Karen Hatch praised his care of the town ballfields.

Gagnon also mows for Vassalboro’s school department. His contracts do not include town cemeteries, which are done by Scott Bumford. Gagnon praised Bumford’s work, and Lajoie agreed.

Select board members congratulated Vassalboro librarian Brian Stanley on the $24,999 grant the library received this summer. He explained the money will be used to turn two storage rooms into rooms where individuals or small groups can use computers in private for work, zoom meetings, telehealth and other purposes. He plans also to strengthen the library’s wifi signal.

Items now in storage will go into a separate building, for which the public works crew is preparing a pad, Stanley said. He expects the storage building to be in place this fall and an electrician to work during the winter.

Another project, removing tree limbs hanging over the library building, has been completed, and a resident donated money to cover the cost, Stanley reported.

Stanley shared with select board members excerpts from the library by-laws, which say they can come to library board meetings and can vote.

In other business Aug. 17:

  • Miller recommended transferring management of the Vassalboro website to TownCloud Group, based in Broomfield, Colorado, least expensive of several companies that offered quotes. Select board member Michael Poulin asked for a demonstration; Miller will make arrangements. The manager praised current webmaster David Jenney.
  • Miller is still exploring ideas for supplying select board members with laptops and for putting meetings on line, as they’re conducted or as recordings or both.
  • Board members appointed as members of the recreation committee, for one-year terms: Kris Stewart, baseball commissioner; Ryan Reed, softball commissioner and secretary; Kevin Phanor, basketball commissioner; Melissa Olson, soccer commissioner; Vickie Limberger, fundraiser and senior events; and John Fortin and Marie Fortin, members at large. Miller plans a committee meeting soon.
  • A proposed discussion of future improvements at the transfer station was postponed, probably until after the transfer station task force headed by select board chairman Chris French meets on Sept. 14.

At their July 13 meeting, board members scheduled a public hearing on proposals to slow traffic through East Vassalboro (see again the July 20 issue of The Town Line, p. 3) for their Thursday, Sept. 7 meeting. They tentatively scheduled the transfer station discussion for their Sept. 21 meeting.

WINSLOW: CMP rep explains need to upgrade transmission lines

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by Jonathan Strieff

More than 30 residents gathered at the Winslow Public Library to attend the monthly town council meeting on Monday, August 14. After a roll call vote and approval of the minutes from the July meeting, the first order of business was to award the 2023 Spirit of America award to Wallace “Wally” LaFountain. LaFountain served as a teacher at Winslow High School throughout the 1950s and ‘60s before going to work for the Department of Education, in Augusta.

He was the longtime head coach of the Winslow High School football team and started the school’s wrestling program. He was a 1940s “all-decade” football star and received a bronze star for serving overseas during World War II. His receipt of the Spirit of America award was met with a standing ovation by all present.

Next, representative Ben Shepherd from Central Maine Power Co. addressed the council with a 10-minute presentation concerning the need to upgrade and possibly reroute a 23-mile long section of transmission lines running between Winslow and Augusta. Built in 1920, Section One, as this particular stretch of transmission line is called, connects two substations and provides service for more than 77,000 CMP customers in Winslow, Benton, Vassalboro, and Augusta.

A 2016 assessment identified numerous issues with the aging infrastructure, including insufficient working clearances for linemen, broken and otherwise compromised conductors and insulators, the lack of a static wire to protect the system from lightning strikes and more than 90 of the 632 utility poles along the route failing a basic visual inspection. After submitting to a Nonwire Alternative review with the Public Utilities Commission in 2019, the PUC certified the project to rebuild Section One out of public necessity in July 2022 and granted final approval to the project last month.

CMP has an additional environmental survey to complete by the end of the year and to decide if the rebuilt transmission line will follow the current route or a slightly shorter route along another existing right of way. Construction is expected to start in January 2025 and be in service by the end of that year.

The board unanimously voted to add Peter Newkirk to the planning board.

Following the Town Manager’s monthly report about several new municipal hirings and ongoing infrastructure projects, Second District councilor Dale Maclean, proposed an item not on the agenda to direct the town manager to launch an investigation into allegations that Third District council member Jerry Quirion violated Maine’s Open Meeting laws by discussing municipal business with a quorum of council members outside of official public meetings. The resolution passed with six in favor and one abstention.

During public comment, many residents expressed anger that commenting on the town’s Facebook page had been disabled. The post in question related to the appointment of police chief, Lenny McDaid, to a new role as Director of Public Safety, now including the fire department as well. Town manager Erica LaCroix explained the decision to remove the public comments from the website came on advice from counsel, when the comments crossed the line to defamation.

Several amendments to the town’s medical marijuana ordinances to also allow for the cultivation and sale of adult use recreational marijuana received second readings and were approved unanimously. Also approved unanimously was an authorization agreement with the city of Waterville for emergency service dispatch, as Waterville was recently recertified as Public Saftey Access Point or PSAP dispatch.

New business receiving first votes included renewing the town contract with the Humane Society Waterville Area for animal services and the appropriation of excess revenues to cover budget overruns, largely due to an increase in overtime pay to the fire department.

The restructuring of the fire and police departments under the shared Public Safety department was expected to save the town money, but so far this has not been the case. Another public saftey budget overage resulted from budgeting money to hire new personnel, and for the necessary equipment to outfit them.

One item of new business passed without a second reading was the appropriation of $16,940 to board up the windows of the old Winslow Junior High School.

China nomination papers available for November election

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by Mary Grow

China’s municipal elections for members of the select board, planning board and budget committee will be held Tuesday, Nov. 7. Nomination papers are now available at the town office; Friday, Sept. 8, is the deadline for returning signed papers to be on the local ballot.

Select board members are elected from the town at large. Some positions on the planning board and budget committee are filled by district. A map of China’s four districts is on the website china.govoffice.com, under the Planning Board subheading under the main heading Officials, Boards & Committees.

Positions to be filled this year are:

  • On the select board, two seats. Members whose terms end this year are board chairman Wayne Chadwick and Jeanne Marquis.
  • On the planning board, three seats: District One (northwestern China; Michael Brown is the incumbent); District Three (southeastern China; the incumbent, Walter Bennett, resigned this month and will not seek re-election); and alternate at large, elected from anywhere in town (Natale Tripodi is the incumbent).
  • On the budget committee, three seats: District One (northwestern China; Kevin Maroon is the incumbent); District Three (southeastern China; Michael Sullivan is the incumbent); and the chairman, elected from anywhere in town (Thomas Rumpf is the incumbent).

In addition to the positions for which candidates are needed for the Nov. 7 election, town officials are looking for volunteers to be appointed to fill vacant positions on the planning board and budget committee.

The District Four (southwestern China) planning board position has been vacant all year; an appointee would serve until the November 2024 local election. Because of Bennett’s resignation, the District Three seat is empty; that appointee’s term would run until Nov. 7, and he or she could run for election to a full two-year term, until November 2025.

Budget committee secretary Trishea Story resigned after this spring’s pre-town meeting deliberations. This position can be filled by a resident of any part of the town; an appointee would be expected to serve until the November 2024 election.

China broadband committee set to present request to select board

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by Mary Grow

China Broadband Committee (CBC) members held a short meeting Aug. 10, primarily to approve a request to select board members before that board’s Aug. 14 meeting.

CBC members’ focus is on applying for a state grant through the Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA) to extend and improve internet service to China residents. They are working through Direct Communications, an Idaho-based company that promotes rural broadband, and its local subsidiary, Unitel, of Unity, Maine.

The second round of applications is due in September. Having not been awarded funds in the previous round, CBC members hope to do better this time.

CBC chairman Robert O’Connor had drafted a letter supporting the application for select board members to sign. Committee members unanimously approved it. He also intended to ask people who signed supporting letters for the first application in the fall of 2022 to re-sign and re-date them.

O’Connor said Direct Communications will be the grant applicant, with China a proposed recipient. MCA procedures have changed, and the maps that supposedly show what areas need better service – or any service at all – have been made more detailed, he said.

Another CBC meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 17, in the portable building in the town office complex, to continue grant application planning.

China transfer committee discusses rude behavior at transfer station

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by Mary Grow

China transfer station committee members continued to discuss rude behavior by a few users of China’s transfer station at their Aug. 8 meeting.

Committee chairman Paul Lucas witnessed one instance. He was 30 yards away, but could plainly hear a man who was “yelling” at station manager Tom Maraggio.

“I couldn’t believe the way he was talking to you,” Lucas said.

Maraggio and the rest of the staff are required to enforce regulations that are set by the state, the Town of China and the agreement between China and Palermo under which Palermo residents use the China facility.

Maraggio said unpleasant incidents are uncommon. The majority, but not all, offenders are Palermo residents, and the blue bags they are required to buy are often a cause.

Ever since the China-Palermo agreement was signed in 2016, Palermo residents have been required to use the bags. They, like China residents, have an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag on their rearview mirrors.

The current contract calls for the price of the blue bags to be adjusted annually in January. As of January 2023, an on-line site says a roll of eight 15-gallon bags costs $12.80, a roll of five 30-gallon bags $14. Apparently some people have ignored the bag requirement and get upset when they are caught.

Palermo’s two representatives on the committee had no sympathy for people who take out their annoyance on transfer station personnel. Robert Kurek, who chairs the town select board, said if Maraggio can provide names, he will talk with offenders.

Incidents are recorded on the cameras at the transfer station. Committee members discussed ways of discouraging rude behavior.

A related problem is that China and Palermo residents alike let people from other towns use their RFID tags. Committee members have discussed requiring new tags with the vehicle license plate on them and an annual sticker.

No action has been recommended, because China Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood believes both towns’ residents should pay for a new tag and Kurek thinks Palermo residents should not. Kurek suggested China take the cost of Palermo’s tags from the annual fee Palermo pays China.

The good news at the Aug. 8 meeting was a report from the Municipal Review Committee (MRC), the organization representing the towns that used the recycling facility in Hampden until it closed in May 2022.

Lucas shared copies of an email from MRC executive director Michael Carroll, who reported that Innovative, new owners of the facility, had conducted a small, successful demonstration in preparation for reopening. The demonstration used about 30 tons of solid waste from five towns near the facility.

No information is yet available on a reopening schedule. Meanwhile, China’s waste is landfilled in Norridgewock.

Committee member James Hsiang asked about promoting recycling. Maraggio replied that there is less reason to do so because prices for recycled materials are low. For many materials, shipping costs exceed revenue, to the point where recycling adds to, instead of reducing, disposal costs.

For example, he said, the price of recycled cardboard used to be $150 a ton; now it’s $40 a ton. China still recycles corrugated cardboard; he figures the town is breaking even, but not earning revenue.

Transfer station committee members scheduled their next meeting for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12.

China board finishes review of proposed town solar ordinance

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by Mary Grow

China Planning Board members finished review of the proposed town solar ordinance at their Aug. 8 meeting, so co-chairman Toni Wall could send it to select board members before that board’s Aug. 14 meeting.

Wall said she would also forward recommended amendments to the Planning Board Ordinance. Voters could be asked to approve or reject either or both amended documents in November, if select board members decide to put them on a local ballot.

Wall announced that District Four planning board member Walter Bennett has resigned, effective immediately. There are now two vacant seats, District Three (southeastern China) and District Four (southwestern China).

Any resident of either district, as shown on the district map under Planning Board (under Officials, Boards & Committees) on the website china.govoffice.com, may contact the town office to express interest in being appointed.

Planning board members approved two of the three permit applications on their Aug. 8 agenda. They found the third one unready for action.

Approved were:

  • Michael Brown’s application to reopen a general store in the 9 Main Street building, in China Village, that was for many years a general store under successive owners; and
  • Michelle Bourque’s application for the existing Busy Bee daycare associated with Grace Academy, at 363 Route 3, in South China, a primarily administrative change that required planning board action.

Brown is a planning board member. During review of his application, he moved out of his chair among board members, participated in discussion only to answer questions and did not vote.

He said he has an agreement to buy the former store building as soon as the present owner’s new house is ready. His preliminary plan is to run a butcher shop and delicatessen – not a convenience store, not a sit-down café, not immediately a pizza shop.

He will not sell gas, and the underground tanks have been removed. Proposed operating hours listed in his application are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. He plans to keep the residential quarters in the back (west) part of the building, with a separate entrance.

Bourque, Grace Academy’s executive director, explained that the daycare has been licensed through the academy as long as it served only home-schooled youngsters. She wants to add public-school students and therefore needs a Maine state license, which requires a local planning board permit.

The only physical change planned is probable future addition of a fence around the playground behind the building. Operating hours will be regulated by demand.

The permit might not be used, Bourque said. She has accepted a full-time kindergarten teaching position out of town, and will open in China only if she finds qualified people to do the day-to-day work. She is proceeding with the preliminaries anyway.

Planning board members decided neither application needed a public hearing, since neither proposal was new to its neighborhood. They found both projects met all town requirements and approved them unanimously.

The third application was from Valery Flannery, who said she and her husband are selling their 166 Weeks Mills Road property. On the 5.1-acre lot are their house and garage and a separate daycare building. The daycare closed June 2, she said.

Their real estate agent suggested the Flannerys get advance approval to subdivide the property, in case a potential buyer wanted to rent multiple housing units.

Sorry, board co-chairmen Wall and James Wilkens said, “we can’t do that: we need to approve a specific application for a specific plan, not a concept. Should future owners choose to subdivide, they would need to apply to the board.”

The next regular China Planning Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday evening, Sept. 12.

CHINA: Town appoints new codes officer; rec. committee member

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Discuss holding in-person town meetings, pre-pandemic

by Mary Grow

China select board members faced a long and varied agenda for their Aug. 14 meeting. They settled some items and postponed others for more discussion.

They unanimously approved the appointment of Zachary Gosselin, of China, as the new codes enforcement officer and health officer. Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood, who has been filling the codes enforcement position since Nicholas French left, expressed thanks to French for continuing to answer questions long-distance, and to others who have assisted her, especially deputy clerk Tammy Bailey.

Also appointed was Kevin Freeman as a member of the town recreation committee.

Select board members had planned to consider a November local ballot to present ordinances prepared by the planning board, a new solar ordinance and an amended planning board ordinance. However, Hapgood had not received the expected drafts for them to read.

Board members therefore postponed action to their Aug. 28 meeting. The ordinances will need review by the town attorney and approval by the select board to go to voters on Nov. 7; the deadline for warrant articles is Friday, Sept. 8.

Select board member Janet Preston reminded the others that they previously talked about asking voters whether they prefer the annual town business meeting in the spring to be an open meeting, as in pre-pandemic days, or a written ballot. She and Hapgood will discuss preparing an opinion survey for the polls Nov. 7.

Robert O’Connor, chairman of China’s broadband committee, gave select board members a letter supporting China’s application for a state grant to expand broadband access and asked them to sign it. They voted unanimously to do so.

O’Connor collected letters of support last fall, before an unsuccessful grant application, and is asking writers to re-sign and re-date them. The deadline for the next application is Sept. 14; awards are to be announced Nov. 17.

China residents who support China’s application for a grant in Cohort 2 of the Maine Connectivity Authority’s “Connect the Ready” program are invited to write letters addressed to China Broadband Committee and send them by email to bob@mainebob.com or by the postal service to Bob O’Connor, China Broadband Committee, 8 Great Oak Ln, South China ME 04358.

Another Aug. 14 select board decision was unanimous approval of the contract with Travis Mitchell for repairs and painting for the town office and associated buildings on Lakeview Drive, postponed from the July 31 board meeting (see the Aug. 3 issue of The Town Line, p. 3). Since the July 31 discussion, Hapgood and Mitchell had added more painting to the contract. Should other changes be needed, Hapgood and Mitchell said they and China Director of Public Services Shawn Reed will continue to work together.

Mitchell was the only bidder for the building repairs, and Hapgood said no one had submitted a bid to build the planned storage vault on the south side of the town office. She, select board members and building committee chairman Sheldon Goodine discussed reasons and options.

Reasons, they agreed, were mostly that local contractors have all the work they can handle, and this summer’s weather has not helped them keep to schedules. A lack of employees is another problem.

Board members will decide at their Aug. 28 meeting whether to seek bids for the foundation soon and the building early in 2023, or to postpone the whole project to 2023. They expect whenever the work is done, the cost will be higher than projected months ago.

Hapgood reported that China’s senior citizens’ fuel fund, which used federal ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds to help senior residents pay fuel bills, needs to be renewed if it is to continue. So far, she said, $36,500 has been spent; $38,500 is left.

Board members supported continuing the program. Hapgood will check with the town attorney to see whether they can renew it or whether voter approval is required.

The manager said the town needs to change its website company. Board members accepted her recommendation to change to A2Z Computing Services, in Oakland, Maine, which she said does the Town of Albion’s website, among others.

Summer intern Bailee Mallett and staff members have been working on a new town logo, Hapgood reported. Select board members chose their favorite from samples she shared; Mallett will continue refining the logo.

In other business, select board member Jeanne Marquis said she attended a Palermo select board meeting at which residents discussed ways to minimize effects of, or perhaps block, the proposed LS power line, planned to bring wind-generated electricity from northern Maine to Coopers Mills. One suggestion, she said, was a town vote on a power line moratorium.

One of two proposed routes for the line would go through Albion, China and Palermo. Information is not yet available on when a final route will be chosen.

Board members took no action. As board chairman Wayne Chadwick pointed out, the issue is two-sided and complicated: people don’t want power lines cutting through their back fields and woods, but they do want power, especially renewable energy.

Kennebec County Sheriff’s deputy Ivano Stefanizzi repeated his usual warnings – beware of scams of all sorts, and don’t speed unless you want a ticket – and added another: don’t leave your car unlocked in the driveway, especially with the keys in it. Several cars have been stolen locally in recent days, he said.

China Lake Association vice president Eric Lind reported that the Maine Department of Environmental Protection has conditionally approved the association’s application for a 319 grant (named for the authorizing section of the federal Clean Water Act) to help improve China Lake’s water quality. He commended Hapgood for writing a supporting letter saying the local match would be in kind, not in money, and praised Bruce Fitzgerald for heading up projects.

The next regular China select board meeting is scheduled for Monday evening, Aug. 28. Hapgood hopes the agenda will include, in addition to questions postponed from the Aug. 14 meeting, the commitment of 2023-24 local taxes.