China planners OK move for DC Customz

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by Mary Grow

China planning board members approved the only application on their July 11 agenda, allowing Denver Cullivan to move his metal fabricating business, DC Customz, to an existing commercial building at 70 Waterville Road.

Board members decided no public hearing is needed, because the business will be in a building that has been commercial for years and no exterior changes are planned.

They found the business meets all criteria in relevant town ordinances and approved it unanimously.

Board member Walter Bennett questioned Cullivan about noise and about waste disposal. Cullivan replied that welding and other metal work will be done inside the building, and there will be no contaminants.

The new business will use the existing horseshoe driveway, which provides generous access for emergency vehicles. Cullivan plans no new exterior lighting.

DC Customz is currently located on Level Hill Road, in Palermo. Cullivan’s application said he has been in business for four years and needs a larger space.

In other business July 11, board members postponed continued review of the proposed solar ordinance because co-chairman Toni Wall, the prime drafter of the document, was absent.

Co-chairman James Wilkens, with the agreement of the rest of the board, commended secretary Dawn Kilgore for her comprehensive minutes. Those present thanked retiring codes officer Nicholas French for his excellent service and wished him and his wife Amber good luck as they move out of state.

French said he is working on a document to guide his successor. He added that town office staff have his telephone number and he will continue to answer calls after his employment officially ends July 28.

Planning board members voted in June to skip a second July meeting. Their next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday evening, Aug. 8.

China select board signs in reappointed town officials

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by Mary Grow

China select board members had a short July 17 meeting, followed by a long signing session as they reappointed town officials and board and committee members for the fiscal year that began July 1.

The list of appointees began with town manager Rebecca Hapgood and included other officers and members of a dozen town committees. Some boards and committees have vacancies; anyone interested in serving on one is invited to look at the lists on the town website and apply there or contact the town office.

In other business, deputy clerk Jennifer Chamberlain, filling in while Hapgood was on vacation, presented reports from other town office staff.

Assessor Kelly Grotton reported that the legislature repealed the new-last-year senior citizens’ property tax relief program, because of its potential cost. In its place, legislators expanded eligibility for two other programs, the property tax fairness credit and the property tax deferral program, so that more taxpayers will qualify for one or both.

China residents over 65 do not need to request a new application for the expiring relief program, Grotton said. The program continues through 2023; those who enrolled last year should receive a 2023-24 tax bill no higher than the one they received for 2022-2023.

Summer intern Bailee Mallett said she is working to set up a China farmers’ market.

Town clerk Angela Nelson said nomination papers for local elective office will be available Monday, July 31. Signed papers are due back at the town office by Friday, Sept. 8, for candidates’ names to be on the Nov. 7 local ballot.

To be elected on Nov. 7 are:

  • Two members of the select board (Wayne Chadwick’s and Jeanne Marquis’ terms end);
  • Planning board members from district 1 (northwestern China; Michael Brown is the incumbent) and district 3 (southeastern China; Walter Bennett is the incumbent) and the alternate at large (Natale Tripodi is the incumbent); and
  • Budget committee members from district 1 (Kevin Maroon is the incumbent) and district 3 (Michael Sullivan is the incumbent) and the chairman (elected from the town at large; Thomas Rumpf is the incumbent).

The District 4 (southwestern China) planning board seat is vacant, and budget committee secretary Trishea Story (elected from the town at large) has resigned.

Director of Public Services Shawn Reed reported the new portable traffic lights have been used as the town crew repairs roads, and the roadside mowing is finished.

The next regular China select board meeting is scheduled for Monday evening, July 31. It will be preceded by a public discussion of the South China boat landing, starting at 5:30 p.m. in the town office meeting room.

Free community college extended two more years

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photo: Janet Mills, Facebook

Governor Mills signs budget funding free college scholarships for high school classes of 2024-25

Tuition-free community college in Maine was extended to two more graduating high school classes under the budget passed by the legislature and signed on July 11 by Governor Janet Mills.

The $15 million investment will allow students graduating from high school or its equivalent in 2024 and 2025 to attend any Maine community college without paying any tuition or mandatory fees – a value of more than $3,800 a year.

“Extending Free College to the classes of 2024 and 2025 tells today’s high school students that the State of Maine believes in them and is willing to invest in them and their future,” said Maine Community College System (MCCS) President David Daigler.

“The scholarship means they won’t have to work multiple jobs while they study or take just one or two classes at a time because they can’t afford more. They’ll have time to focus on learning a trade or becoming a nurse or a police officer or a chef, or pursuing any of the hundreds of degrees or one-year certificates we offer. And they’ll graduate as the kind of skilled workers Maine desperately needs right now and for years into the future. It’s a bold move that benefits workers, employers, and the entire state of Maine,” Daigler said.

Following a proposal from Governor Mills, Maine launched the Free Community College program in April 2022 with a one-time state investment of $20 million, benefiting the pandemic-era high school graduates from 2020-2023. In the first year, 6,400 students attended community college tuition-free.

Earlier this year, some students told lawmakers what a difference the program made for them. Maya Eichorn, now a top student at York County Community College, said she wasn’t even considering college.

“One year ago … I was dropping out (of high school) to take the HiSET exam,” she said. “Today, I am a full-time college student with a 4.0. Without the Maine Free College program, I would be aimlessly moving through life.”

Tuition-free education at Maine’s community colleges is also available to current high school students through OnCourse, an early college program, and for anyone enrolled in most short-term workforce training programs. More information about the Free College Scholarship is available here.

LAKE LIFE TODAY: part 6: While planning for the Future

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by Elaine Philbrook

Lake Life Today is a series of articles that are hoped will inspire you to see how, by taking just a few steps, you can make a difference and help preserve the quality of water in our lakes for future generations.

These articles have been collected and organized by LakeSmart Director Elaine Philbrook, a member of China Region Lake Alliance (aka “the Alliance”) serving China Lake, Webber Pond, Three Mile Pond, and Three-Cornered Pond. The Alliance would like to thank our partners at Maine Lakes and Lakes Environmental Association (LEA) for information to support this article.

Berms

Last week’s article covered rain gardens and how they help “slow the flow” of rainwater by capturing and filtering that stormwater from roofs, driveways, downspouts, and other hard (impervious) surfaces. This week’s article on Best Management Practice (BMPs) features “berms” and how they are an effective BMP to prevent pollutants and excess nutrients from entering the lake from your yard.

Berms are vegetated mounds of earth with gradual sloping sides that “slow the flow” and soak up stormwater runoff. They run parallel to the shoreline with a 4:1 ratio (meaning that for every vertical foot, there will be four horizontal feet to create the proper slope). Berms are usually built on top of the existing “duff” (the accumulation of leaves, pine needles, etc., that have dropped below the trees). Depending on the area where a berm is located, or the height of the berm which is needed, some minimal groundwork may be required.

Here are the directions on how to build a simple berm:

(1) lay a bed of large stones to form the berm’s foundation.
(2) cover the stones with soil.
(3) cover the berm with mulch and pine needles.

Stormwater flowing beyond a berm should be directed into dense, permanent vegetated areas capable of absorbing the stormwater.

Adding plants to a berm increases its effectiveness. The best plants to use are native plants, including grasses and shrubs. The goal is to cover the entire berm with vegetation.

Note: Any project involving more than minor soil disturbance within 75 feet of the water requires a permit from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Local municipal permits may also be required depending on the distance from the water, and these distances may vary by municipality.

For more information on how to install a berm go to: dec.vermont.gov/sites/dec/files/documents/LakeWiseInfoSheet_FilterBerms.pdf

Also, a helpful site to find native plants can be found at Maine Audubon: https://mainenativeplants.org/

If you have any questions about what you can do to ensure the integrity of your valued lake or if you would like a free LakeSmart evaluation you can reach Elaine Philbrook by email at chinalakesmart@gmail.com and follow-up to read the next Townline Newspaper.

Live lightly on the land for the sake of the lake (LakeSmart).

Webber Pond Assn. president issues post meeting report (2023)

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Webber Pond.

Webber Pond Association president John Reuthe recently presented his anual report from the annual meeting, which provides information that people have been asking.

Update on removing filamentous algae: I took an old metal kitchen strainer out today to get some algae samples. It worked so well, that I tried using it to clean off algae clumps on the boat ramp and in the fish holding tank at the dam. It was easier and faster than I thought it would be with such a small tool, took 10-15 minutes to do both. The clumps really compressed as they were scooped. And it was easy to turn the strainer upside down and knock the algae out of it. Should be able to do a lot more with something bigger. Not a magic wand, but something worth trying.

Original post: One thing that people could do to help control the filamentous algae is to physically remove algae clumps by netting or raking them from the pond surface. It is important to dispose of the algae mats away from the pond edge to prevent nutrients from reentering the pond as the algae decays. Physical removal is labor intensive and time consuming, but it’s something that we can all do to help the problem. It is also advantageous because it results in a removal of nutrients from the pond, which may help to prevent future algae growth. This also applies to pond weeds that gather on the shore when it is windy.

The WPA has removed additional boards from the dam to control water levels given all the rain, which is a mixed blessing. Rain is a clean source of water replacement, but it is also creating runoff, which contains phosphorus.

Long-term control of overabundant aquatic plants is best accomplished by reducing or redirecting nutrient sources from the pond. This can be done by reducing fertilizer applications near the pond, maintaining septic systems properly, redirecting nutrient-rich runoff away from the pond, and maintaining vegetative buffer strips around your pond. This is also something that we all can do.

WPA directors Jennifer Lacombe and Erika Bennett are available to help with this process through the voluntary LakeSmart program, which provides free analysis and advice, as well as some financial resources to address problem areas that allow nutrient runoff into Webber Pond. Participants are not required to follow the advice given.

Select board OKs PSAP agreement with Waterville

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by Mary Grow

At a very short special meeting June 30, the last day of the 2022-23 fiscal year, China select board members paid about $78,000 in end-of-year bills and approved a PSAP (Public Service Answering Point) agreement with the City of Waterville.

As planned, Waterville is picking up the job of answering emergency calls that had been handled by Somerset County, until county officials gave notice this spring they were discontinuing the service.

Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood said the cost is as anticipated. Select board members unanimously and without discussion authorized her to sign necessary documents.

The next regular China select board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 17.

China transfer committee updated on reopening of waste facility

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by Mary Grow

China transfer station committee members spent their July 11 meeting mostly on updates – the latest news locally and from the former trash-to-energy facility in Hampden to which China used to send waste and may again.

The news from Hampden is that the Municipal Review Committee, which represents China and 114 other Maine municipalities, has found a new owner for the facility.

Tom Maraggio, China’s transfer station manager, said the plant is expected to reopen in about a year and a half as an anaerobic digester that will produce methane gas from waste.

Palermo committee member Robert Kurek called the sale “moving in the right direction.”

Locally, Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood reviewed the contract that allows Albion residents to bring some of their waste items to China for disposal (see the June 29 issue of The Town Line, p. 3). Maraggio said he has issued 10 or so passes to Albion residents already.

The news from Hampden is that the Municipal Review Committee, which represents China and 114 other Maine municipalities, has found a new owner for the facility.

With a pass, which costs $5, an Albion resident may bring in some of the things not included in Albion’s curbside pick-up program. China collects fees on all Albion items; Hapgood said the fees are designed to cover staff time and disposal costs, and are higher than those charged China and Palermo residents. They can be adjusted without notice if China’s disposal costs go up.

The contract runs only through the end of 2023. It can be ended by either party on two weeks’ notice.

Hapgood is working on a new policy for China and Palermo residents that will add to the existing RFID (radio frequency identification) tags annual stickers with vehicle license plates numbers on them (see the June 15 issue of The Town Line, p. 3). The goal is to minimize illicit use of the station by people who borrow residents’ RFID tags or who keep their tags after they move out of town.

The draft policy would charge $10 for each new RFID tag, to cover costs of buying and distributing the tags. However, the contract between China and Palermo prohibits new fees for Palermo residents, so they would be exempt, an inequity Hapgood has not yet figured a way to avoid.

Maraggio said things are generally going well at the transfer station. The exception, which committee members discussed at length, is the misbehavior of a few users. Without naming names, they talked about people who disobeyed rules and were rude to staff members when caught, and those whose driving caused damage. Apparently many people have trouble driving in reverse.

Cameras at the facility are useful in tracking down offenders. Hapgood and Kurek both act as needed to remind their respective residents of their responsibilities, and Hapgood said the Kennebec Sheriff’s Office provides back-up when needed.

The next transfer station committee meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8.

China planners hear two applications for self-storage units

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by Mary Grow

China planning board members began their June 27 meeting with sequential public hearings on two applications for self-storage facilities on Route 3, from Chris Harris and Lucas Adams (see the June 22 issue of The Town Line, p. 3).

China codes officer Nicholas French had allowed half an hour per application. He was spot on: the hearings themselves took one and three minutes, respectively, and board members’ review of the criteria for approval brought the total time for each application to 25 minutes.

Both applications were approved unanimously with one condition: each applicant needs to submit to the town office a letter from the South China fire chief saying emergency access to the site is adequate.

Harris’ units will be in what is currently an open field at 623 Route 3. Abutter Joann Austin asked about potential run-off onto her property; Harris anticipated no problem, but said if there were one, he would dig ditches to divert the water.

Adams’ abutter, Jordan Giroux, who lives on Horseback Road, had questions about buffers and visibility. Adams said he had cleared what he needed, leaving as much wooded buffer as he could on Giroux’s side of his lot; he and Giroux consulted amicably over maps in the application.

Harris and Adams both plan to have the facilities available all the time. Both are installing downward-pointing lighting to keep access safe without illuminating neighboring properties. Both said the contract each user signs will prohibit storing hazardous substances.

Planning board co-chairman James Wilkens reminded them of the 30-day window during which the approval can be appealed.

In other business, board members postponed continued discussion of the proposed solar ordinance until they have more time to review the current draft.

Co-chairman Toni Wall reported briefly on the discussion of planning board districts with select board members at that board’s June 20 meeting (see the June 29 issue of The Town Line, p.3). She and Wilkens agreed the discussion was “really good.” Wilkens is pleased that the two boards are working together, after disagreements earlier this year over the board of appeals ordinance.

Because of the July 4 holiday, the China planning board’s next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday evening, July 11. Board members agreed to meet only once in July and August, unless there are enough applications to require a second meeting. They scheduled the August meeting for Tuesday, Aug. 8.

French said he expects the July 11 agenda to include an application for an auto detailing shop in an existing building on China Road.

Albion couple visits coastal Maine botanical gardens

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Ron Pohlman, little guy on the left, stands next to one of the giant trolls. (contributed photo)

by Donnajean Pohlman

On a cool but sunny spring day in mid-May, my husband Ron and I took advantage of the “Admission to the Gardens Library Program”.

We have visited the Gardens a number of times over the years enjoying the unique eco-systems of the Maine coast area. The Gardens are truly a “living museum”, a wonderful way to learn about and enjoy the diverse flora of the area. We experienced all it had to offer – the gardens coming into bloom, the quiet walks on the woods trails, and discovering the “Giant Ad­ven­ture” – five humongous wood­en Trolls “hidden” throughout the woods. Their story is not be missed.

So back to the “Admission to the Gardens Library Pro­gram”. The program is one in which local libraries can participate allowing their town residents to reserve free admission passes during the May – October season. What a wonderful way to experience a part of Maine and enjoy a summer day out in nature. The Albion library made this opportunity available to Albion residents.

China select board again postpones decision on elected officials

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by Mary Grow

China select board members again postponed a decision on whether some town officials should be elected from geographic districts, after a discussion with two planning board members who attended the June 20 select board meeting.

The select board’s agenda included numerous other topics. Two were related to the transfer station: a suggested new system for monitoring entering vehicles and a proposed contract with Albion.

Board members also scheduled a July 31 public discussion of the South China boat landing; approved contracts for cemetery fence work and with Delta Ambulance; gifted the old generator the town office no longer uses; and agreed on off-schedule meetings for the end of the fiscal year and the Independence Day holiday.

The district election system dates from 1986, Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood believes. Ordinances say four members each of the planning board and budget committee are elected from four districts in town, mapped as northwest, northeast, southeast and southwest.

The six-member planning board has one member and one alternate elected from the town at large. The seven-member budget committee has one member plus the chair and the secretary who can live anywhere in town. All China voters vote for all members of both boards.

Hapgood questioned the usefulness of the districts at the June 5 select board meeting (see the June 15 issue of The Town Line, p. 3), sparking the first discussion.

When select board members and planning board co-chairmen Toni Wall and James Wilkens resumed the discussion June 20, an early point Hapgood made was that the planning board has had trouble getting members from some districts. Select board member Brent Chesley said after he lost his first bid for election to the select board, he tried to volunteer for the planning board and was turned down because he did not live in the district with the unfilled seat.

But, Wilkens said, assuming – as speakers did – that the purpose of districts is to spread board membership throughout the town, abolishing districts won’t solve the problem: the area that doesn’t have volunteers still won’t have them.

Three residents receive Spirit of America awards

Three China residents were honored with Spirit of America awards at the June 20 China select board meeting.

Ronald Breton, former select board member and chairman, former member and chairman of the planning board and member of other committees, was recognized for his many years of volunteering. Current select board member Janet Preston called Breton “very sincere and caring about the Town of China.”

Frederick “Rick” Fischer was commended by board member Blane Casey for his conscientious care of Memorial Park, in South China. Casey estimated Fischer had volunteered his time and labor mowing and trimming the grounds and shrubs around the monument for 30 years.

Trishea Story was recognized by Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood for her many years as an election worker for the town, as well as her membership on town committees.

The half-hour discussion canvassed other possibilities, including changing district boundaries and allowing temporary appointments from out of district. Wall volunteered to draft possible ordinance revisions as a basis for continued discussion.

The first transfer station issue was the proposed revised identification system, involving the current RFID (radio frequency identification) tags plus annual stickers on the tags, with vehicle license plate numbers on them (see again the June 15 issue of The Town Line, p. 3).

Hapgood said she is still trying to resolve one point that generated much discussion: the plan as proposed calls for charging China residents $10 for a RFID tag (she said the town pays about $7 to buy each tag, and invests staff time), but under the contract that lets Palermo use China’s transfer station, Palermo residents cannot be charged new fees.

The Town of Palermo makes an annual payment to China, and Palermo residents pay for colored bags for their mixed waste.

Transfer station committee members (there are two Palermo representatives on the eight-person committee) will continue discussion, Hapgood said, aiming for a system accepted as equitable.

A proposed contract to let Albion residents bring to China waste that is excluded from their curbside collection – metal, demolition debris, televisions, refrigerators and the like – was not controversial. The contract Michael Gardner, chairman of Albion’s select board, and Hapgood negotiated sets fees for each category that Hapgood said will cover China’s handling and disposal costs and provide a small profit.

Albion residents will need a pass, so a China transfer station staff member can collect the fees. Hapgood does not expect enough Albion waste to increase volume noticeably.

The contract is intended as an experiment, Hapgood said. It extends only to the end of 2023, and can be terminated on two weeks’ notice.

Select board members approved it unanimously.

Select board member Janet Preston reported on the survey of ways to use a community resilience grant, if the town were to get one. Of 274 respondents, 190 ranked addressing erosion and pollution at the South China boat landing a worthwhile project – the most popular of the seven projects offered, Preston said.

Select board members scheduled a public meeting to talk about options for the landing for 5:30 p.m. Monday, July 31, before that evening’s select board meeting.

Margot Crosman, who lives next to the landing, zoomed in to the board meeting to applaud plans for a public meeting. She said a group called the South China Neighbors Association is organizing around the topic, and pointed out that the landing is used by swimmers as well as by people launching boats.

Select board members made two more unanimous decisions:

  • They accepted a contract with Delta Ambulance service, at the fee previously discussed and included in the 2023-24 budget, for a year’s ambulance service. Hapgood said town attorney Amanda Meader had reviewed the contract.
  • They accepted the lower of two bids for cemetery fence repairs, from Triple P Fence Company, of Augusta. The bid is $11,205, with $400 to be added if Triple P personnel have to remove old fences because China’s public works crew have no time. Hapgood said the cemeteries to get new fences this year are Lakeview, China Village Extension and Stanley Hill.

The decision to donate the unneeded old generator to the building in the China School Forest was on a 4-1 vote, with Chesley dissenting. Board chairman Wayne Chadwick agreed that a generator is a less costly option than running electricity to the building, but was concerned about future costs. He nonetheless voted for the gift.

The next two China select board meetings are scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday, June 30, to approve any final FY 2023-24 payments; and 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 5, to avoid the holiday weekend and let select board members get to work the day after the holiday. The preliminary agenda for the July 5 meeting includes only payment of necessary bills.

The China town office will close at noon Friday, June 30. All town departments will be closed all day Tuesday, July 4. A regular select board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 17.

Poll results

Results of the poll asking China voters to rank projects that might be funded with community resilience grants were as follows, according to Janet Preston, the town’s representative to the Kennebec Valley Council of Governments.

Respondents were asked to choose three top priorities. Of 274 people who answered the survey, 190 checked addressing erosion and pollution at the South China board landing. Next most favored was providing transportation for senior citizens, with 133 votes, followed by improving and expanding Thurston Park (109); digitizing town records (101); building sidewalks on Main Street in China Village (92); adding solar panels on municipal buildings (83); and providing electric vehicle charging stations (37). Sixteen other ideas were written in.

Preston told the rest of the select board at the June 20 board meeting that this information lets her complete an application to become one of KVCOG’s community resilience partners. After KVCOG accepts the application, the town will become eligible to apply for grants.