China Recreation Committee sets rules for field uses

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Internet photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brendan-c/5722220187

by Mary Grow

Four of the five China Recreation Committee members met April 21 to talk about recreational field use and related topics.

They reviewed and expanded the requirements for using town-owned recreational fields near China schools and approved Thad Barber’s request for baseball and T-ball games during the month of May. They also agreed to subsidize the cost of field lights for Barber’s program, up to $750, for this one time.

Future requests to help with lighting costs will be considered, for in-town groups only, after committee members get updated information on Central Maine Power Company charges. Because of Covid, the lights haven’t been used in over a year, committee Chairman Martha Wentworth said.

Requirements and criteria for field use include:

• Proof of insurance;
• A fee for use by non-resident organizations that include non-resident participants;
• Priority in scheduling for China users;
• Fields to be left in original condition, with equipment and trash removed;
• No smoking in any form;
• No sitting on fences;
• No vehicles on the fields without town permission, except for emergency vehicles.

Committee members discussed needed work at the fields and agreed on measures to be taken as soon as possible, without interfering with baseball.

The recreation committee’s request for $31,400 for 2021-22 is included in Art. 5 in the June 8 town meeting warrant, with the subject Boards and Committees.

Wentworth plans to investigate scheduling a community movie night in August. Scott McCormac volunteered to talk with Thurston Park Committee members about possible joint projects.

The next China Recreation Committee meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 19.

China road committee discusses paving plans

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by Mary Grow

China Road Committee members, plus Town Manager Becky Hapgood and Selectman Wayne Chadwick, discussed 2021 paving plans at an April 23 meeting.

Committee Chairman and Public Works Manager Shawn Reed led the discussion. He explained that China should do about six miles of repaving every year to keep up with maintenance, although, he pointed out, some roads need more frequent work than others.

Last year, he said, concerns about the impact of coronavirus on the economy meant only about four miles were done. This year’s preliminary plan includes the postponed work plus four miles, to get back on schedule.

Reed proposed continuing work on Deer Hill Road and doing most of the roads in the South China Village area. He added Arnold Road off Windsor Road, which hasn’t been done in 15 years and is “pretty broke-down overall” and Meadow Wood Drive off Arnold Road. Focusing on one section of town at a time, so that equipment needs less moving around, should help control the cost, he said.

Committee members nominated several stretches of Dirigo Road as in bad condition. They concluded about a mile of the road should be repaved, without specifying which mile.

They have scheduled a road tour beginning at 8 a.m. Friday, May 7, to come to final decisions.

At the April 23 meeting, Reed did not know how much paving mix will cost per ton this summer. That figure will impact how much the town can afford to do.

As in past years, he intended to combine bids with Vassalboro; he hoped to have them out by the end of April. Having more miles to offer is likely to generate a lower price, he said.

Reed and Hapgood said the budget voters are asked to approve for paving for 2021-22, which will pay for summer 2021 work, totals $563,250. Of that amount, $45,000 is allocated for crack sealing, striping and patching.

Reed emphasized the value of sealing cracks, as a preservative between repavings, to keep water from freezing under and breaking up road surfaces. Lane Road and Weeks Mills Road are two he nominated for crack sealing this summer.

Weeks Mills Road was returned to town maintenance from the state. Reed said the part the state rebuilt is holding up well, the other mile and a half less well than he had hoped.

He would like a one-inch overlay on the entire two miles, but recommends delay because other roads need attention first.

Another issue committee members discussed was the chip seal resurfacing used last year on South and Deer Hill roads. Reed said it is rougher than asphalt paving, and after plowing there was more slush on the surface than on asphalt. But, he said, it is holding up, and overall he is “kinda pleased.”

Chadwick and committee member Dale Peabody said the chip seal should have been swept more than once, to make it easier for motorcyclists. The need to sweep loose material into ditches makes chip seal less desirable in some areas, Reed said.

Chadwick asked whether the chip seal had been hard on cutting edges on the snowplow. Joshua Crommett, committee member and public works employee, said not enough to make a difference between one plow and another.

All States Asphalt, of Richmond, is the only company offering chip seal, Reed said. He will continue using it on Deer Hill Road if committee members approve.

Committee members did not schedule another meeting after their road tour. They hope they will not need to meet again until fall, when they start considering the 2022-23 budget.

China planners postpone request for solar permit extension

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by Mary Grow

China Planning Board members postponed a request for a permit extension for SunRaise Investments’ planned Route 3 solar project to their May 11 meeting, before continuing their April 27 discussion of the proposed Solar Energy Systems Ordinance that will regulate such applications in the future.

Almost a year ago, at their May 19, 2020, meeting, planners unanimously approved the proposed solar farm on land leased from Daniel Ouellette on the south site of Route 3, west of the Dirigo Road intersection.

SunRaise Vice-President for Construction Kevin Corbett explained that construction work has not started because the company needs to complete arrangements with Central Maine Power Company. He feared the permit would expire before work started.

China’s Land Use Ordinance says permits expire a year from the date of issuance unless a “substantial start” on construction has been made. Once the “substantial start” is made, the permittee has 18 months to finish the project before the permit expires.

Corbett sees construction starting in late 2021 or early 2022. SunRaise still needs to finish plans and acquire equipment, he said.

Planning board members discussed whether work done already, like initiating discussions with CMP, counted as a start. Chairman Randall Downer postponed action in order to provide time for notice to neighboring landowners. The renewal request should be on the May 11 planning board agenda.

Corbett offered suggestions on China’s draft Solar Energy Systems Ordinance, including some identified as inserted by Portland law firm, Verrill Dana. Verrill Dana attorney, Scott Anderson, attended the virtual planning board meeting. Board members were surprised to learn that Verrill Dana had had access to the document they have edited on-line using SharePoint.

A major change would have exempted solar panels from the definition of “structure” in the China ordinance. Anderson and Corbett supported the change because the ordinance now says that in the rural area, “structures of all types shall not cover more than 20 percent of any lot.”

Corbett pointed out, and board members agreed, that solar panels, which allow water to drip onto the ground among them, are not the same as a building roof that concentrates run-off. However, Board member James Wilkens asked, would the change mean solar panels could cover 100 percent of a lot?

“That’s not what I want,” he said.

Downer said that in past reviews, China planners had defined solar panels as structures. Board members voted unanimously to delete the proposed amendment.

They also deleted a second amendment Verrill Dana suggested referencing state law. They intend to incorporate references from other parts of the China Land Use Ordinance.

At Downer’s suggestion, he and board member Toni Wall (appointed in absentia) will smooth out the draft ordinance before the May 11 meeting. Wilkens volunteered to help if Wall declines.

Board members currently plan to hold their May 11 meeting in person, at 6:30 p.m. in the former portable classroom behind the China town office. The meeting room can accommodate 17 people within Covid-19 restrictions, Downer said.

WINDSOR: Employee manual updated to include better explanation of PTO

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by The Town Line staff

At their March 30 meeting, Town Manager Theresa Haskell presented the board of selectmen a better explanation of Paid Time Off (PTO) and how it works. She also asked for the employee manual to be updated. The unanimously approved the update.

Haskell said the town received the final Workers’ Compensation Audit for 2020 and the town received a return premium adjustment of $1,603.

Road Supervisor Keith Hall reported many projects now underway in town. Work continues on the Reed Road, and it was hoped the sand would be put for this year. Concrete repair on the old garage next to the town office was quoted to be $5,700. According to MMA insurance, this work needs to be completed by June 30, 2021.

A resident has requested the removal of a rotten tree within the town’s right of way on the corner of Hunts Meadow Road and Rte. 17. Hall was not sure if it would be the state’s responsibility or the town. He reported there is $1,850 left in the tree removal budget line, but he had planned on using this on the Barton Road.

Transfer station figures show an increase of $1,026.70 from March of last year, and the figures were up $10,267 for the whole year.

Cemetery Sexton Joyce Perry reported a busy spring. Since January, there have been 21 deaths of Windsor residents. She also stated that gravel will be needed at Resthaven Cemetery before the cemetery is open. This had previously been approved.

Selectman Ronald F. Brann reported he heard on the news that all deaths under Covid, families can receive $9,000, up to $20,000, with multiple deaths. They may also be able to go back to the doctor and question the death certificate.

All members of the board of selectmen were present, and all motions presented to the board were unanimously approved.

The next board of selectmen meeting was held on April 27.

CHINA: Broadband costs big unknown at this point

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by Mary Grow

After two more hours April 27 revising their explanatory document for China Community Broadband, China Broadband Committee (CBC) members presented it to the selectboard at a joint virtual meeting April 29.

The ensuing two-hour discussion focused on costs and on what service customers could expect.

Costs are a big unknown at this point, presenters said. The plan includes estimates, but they are only estimates, for two main reasons:

  • Costs for construction materials are likely to change, up or down or both, by the time work starts, and the amount of construction work – for example, the number of new poles needed – is unknown until contracts are signed.
  • The number of users who sign up for the new service, the “take rate,” determines monthly income, which needs to cover repayment of the proposed construction bond plus operating costs. CBC consultants have prepared scenarios based on different take rates without knowing which is closest to accurate.

Consultants Mark Van Loan and John Dougherty, of Mission Broadband, had three tables showing financial results with three different take rates, from 1,005 to 2,270 customers, resulting in three different fees per household, from around $85 per month to around $50 per month. These prices will vary with costs and with whether and by how much seasonal residents are billed differently from year-round residents.

Mark Ouellette, President of Machias-based Axiom Technologies, with whom CBC members are negotiating to provide service, said he usually gets high take rates as his company moves into new towns, including towns like China with existing providers.

In China, CBC members estimate that Spectrum Community Solutions serves about two-thirds of households; Consolidated Communications serves about 20 percent; and about five percent have no internet connection.

Another factor influencing costs to customers, CBC member Tod Detre said, is that the committee’s current plan is to offer only one level of service, which he calls gig over gig. The phrase means one gigabit per second can be uploaded to the net and one gigabit per second can be downloaded.

Selectman Wayne Chadwick doubted most people need that fast service. Detre agreed, and said the committee plan could be amended to offer as options lower service levels at lower monthly fees, if China residents prefer.

Assuming selectmen authorize CBC members to continue, a next step is to start a comprehensive community outreach program to determine how many households want what level of service.

Prompt sign-ups would provide useful information, but committee members and consultants realize that some residents will wait to see whether selectmen present the construction bond at the November 2 elections and voters approve it.

Service would be established if a minimum number of users sign up. Another issue concerning selectmen was whether people who sign up later would be charged a fee. Again, the answer is to be determined; one possibility would be to schedule future open enrollment windows during which fees could be lowered or eliminated because multiple houses would be connected while trucks and workers were in town.

Town Manager Becky Hapgood suggested selectmen discuss whether to continue to support the CBC’s work at their May 10 meeting. If they do support the committee, next steps include:

  • The community outreach program, envisioned as including email, social media, meetings, printed materials and probably other methods;
  • At the June 8 town business meeting, voter action on the Second Amendment to China’s Tax Increment Financing document, which adds broadband service to approvable TIF projects and provides funding to continue working with Mission Broadband;
  • Selectmen’s request for authorization to issue a bond and a Nov. 2 voter decision on the bond.

The amount of the bond is undetermined because construction costs are undetermined. Committee members suggest an “up to” figure – currently estimated at $6.5 million – so selectmen are not obligated to borrow more than is needed.

When Chadwick asked Ouellette why Axiom didn’t borrow the money, Ouellette replied that towns get a much lower interest rate than private companies.

The CBC plan would have Axiom build the fiber optic infrastructure, using a contractor, provide service, take care of billing and maintain the system. The town would own the system and could change providers should Axiom prove unsatisfactory.

A contract between Axiom and town officials, to be signed if the bond issue is approved and nothing has impaired the company’s relationship with the town, would spell out details selectmen asked about, like the contract length, construction schedule, how often Axiom would pay China its share of revenue and whether the local on-call repair person would work for Axiom or for China.

The CBC’s goal is to provide a town-owned broadband system offering all residents high-quality service that is easy to update as technology changes, at a price that will cover costs and, after the bond is paid off, generate extra revenue.

The document CBC members presented to selectmen April 29, titled “Community Broadband Project – Declaration of Intent” is posted under the Broadband Committee in the list of officials, boards and committee on the China website, www.china.govoffice.com.

China meeting generates questions on town committees funding

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by Mary Grow

China selectmen held April 26 public hearings on two pieces of the June 8 town business meeting warrant, the amendment to the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Program that is Art. 16 and the warrant as a whole. While the first drew no public comments, several people zoomed in to discuss other articles.

Tiffany Glidden and Fred Glidden both had questions about the funding for town boards and committees in Art. 5.

To the general question about why voters should allocate $1,000 to most committees, Selectboard Chairman Ronald Breton and Town Manager Becky Hapgood replied that since committee members were volunteers, they should have opportunities for training, workshops and other related activities. Some boards also need to pay for secretarial services.

To the specific question about funding for a proposed building in the Town Forest behind China Primary School, they said the committee that oversees the forest requested it. At a selectboard meeting earlier in the year, Anita Smith and Elaine Philbrook described the building as partly for storage, mostly for a classroom for nature education for children and adults.

Fred Glidden suggested using the nearby school building instead, and Tiffany Glidden would have preferred the building funds as a separate article. She feared inclusion of the building money might lead voters to reject the entire article.

Should voters reject that or any other spending article for 2021-22, Art. 26 (if it is approved) provides one remedy, Hapgood said. Art. 26 says if any proposed 2021-22 expenditure article is not approved, the amount appropriated in the current fiscal year shall become the budget for next year.

If an expenditure is not approved, selectmen can call a new vote to fund the same purpose. But, Hapgood said, organizing a new vote takes more than two months, with public notice requirements, ballot printing and the rest of the preparations. With town meeting on June 8 and the new fiscal year beginning July 1, there is not time for a revote before money is needed.

Each Glidden also questioned an item in Art. 4, administration and related costs. Fred Glidden wanted to know about building maintenance and plans. Hapgood detailed some of the needed repairs in the town office complex and said that the planned addition to the town office building was to provide secure storage for documents the state requires towns to keep.

Tiffany Glidden asked why town employees are slated for a three percent raise when many private-sector employees have had wages or hours reduced or have lost jobs entirely. Selectmen gave her two replies. Wayne Chadwick and Blane Casey, both contractors, said finding and keeping employees is not easy at present – it took five months to fill a public works position, Hapgood interjected. Janet Preston added the selectmen’s intention to show appreciation to staff members.

Copies of the town business meeting warrant are in the 2020 town report, now available at the town office and many other public locations in town, and on the website, china.govoffice.com. The complete TIF Second Amendment is on the website and is posted with warrant copies in local post offices.

Voters will decide questions by written ballot, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the former portable classroom behind the town office. Absentee ballots will be available beginning May 10.

Breton expressed appreciation for the interest people showed at the hearing, but wished they had offered suggestions earlier, before it was too late to change the warrant. Selectmen started town meeting preparations last fall and discussed articles at most meetings in January and February; anyone can watch the meetings on line.

Breton invited more questions. Residents may submit them by email, telephone or mail for discussion at future selectmen’s meetings. The next two meetings are scheduled for 6:30 p.m., on Monday, May 10, and Monday, May 24.

The April 26 hearing was followed by a brief selectmen’s meeting, at which selectmen approved, after discussion, Hapgood’s request to take up to $10,000 from the selectmen’s discretionary fund to cover assessing costs, as needed. The manager explained that due to Covid-19, field work scheduled to be done and paid for in the 2019-20 fiscal year was postponed to July 2020, leaving too little money in the current 2020-21 budget to cover the remainder of this year’s work.

Vassalboro selectmen to hold public hearing on marijuana ordinance

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by Mary Grow

Vassalboro selectmen plan to hold a public hearing on the proposed Marijuana Business Ordinance at the beginning of their Thursday, April 29, meeting. The hearing and meeting begin at 6:30 p.m., in person, in the Vassalboro Community School gymnasium. Masks are required.

Voters will approve or reject the ordinance by written ballot on Tuesday, June 8. Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the town office.

Agenda items for the April 29 selectmen’s meeting that will follow the hearing include final approval of the warrant for the June 7 and 8 annual town meeting and review of bids to install a generator at the school big enough to make the building usable as an emergency shelter.

China Broadband Committee goal explained in document

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Provide reliable, high-speed broadband service to all China residents

by Mary Grow

China Broadband Committee (CBC) members spent most of a two-hour April 22 meeting wordsmithing the document they plan to share with selectmen on April 29, with assistance from consultants James Dougherty and Mark Van Loan, from Mission Broadband, and Selectboard Chairman Ronald Breton.

The document is to explain what the CBC has been doing and what committee members would like the selectboard to do to further its goal.

The goal is to provide reliable, high-speed broadband service to all China residents at an affordable price. Committee members have been negotiating with Machias-based Axiom Technologies to achieve the goal.

Their proposal is that Axiom will oversee construction of a fiberoptic network in China that the town will own. Axiom will also, under contract, be the service provider for China residents, running the network and taking care of maintenance, repairs, billing and customer service.

Project construction costs are now estimated at between $4.25 million and $5.5 million, depending on how many houses are connected. How many houses are connected depends to a great extent on how many people sign up as customers.

Paying for the project comes in at least two parts – committee members hope three parts. They intend to ask selectmen to issue a 20-year bond to provide up-front money for construction; customers’ monthly fees will repay the bond and pay for Axiom’s services; and federal grants might cover up to 10% of the cost, depending on how the government authorizes money to be used.

Since their April 15 meeting, committee members had worked individually on a shared on-line document that they reviewed and clarified as they discussed it together, with Selectman Breton’s questions suggesting some of the changes.

They decided to meet again at 4 p.m., Tuesday, April 27, to make final adjustments. The time was chosen to avoid a China Planning Board meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. April 27. Breton said if the selectmen have the document Wednesday morning, April 28, they should be ready to talk about it by 7 p.m., Thursday, April 29.

VASSALBORO: Solar power, marijuana top planners’ agenda

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by Mary Grow

The Vassalboro Planning Board has a medical marijuana application and a solar power application on its May 4 agenda.

Mathew Williams and Renee Zohar Fischman have applied to re-open a former marijuana growing facility at 1776 North Belfast Avenue (Route 3). The previous business had a planning board permit, which cannot be transferred to new owners without the board’s approval.

Sebago Technics has applied to build a 4.29-megawatt solar array on a 29.9-acre parcel on the west side of Cemetery Street, not far north of the Matthews Avenue intersection. Cemetery Street parallels Outlet Stream from Gray Road north to Oak Grove Road, in North Vassalboro.

At the January planning board meeting, Michael Redding, of New England Solar Garden Corporation, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Owens McCullough, of Sebago Technics, of South Portland, made an introductory presentation.

Sebago Technics is a civil engineering and land development consultant firm that works with developers like Solar Garden. Solar Garden specializes in community solar development.

The May 4 virtual meeting begins at 7 p.m. Information on viewing it should be available under the online public meetings heading at www.vcsvikings.org.

China planners express frustration with virtual meetings

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by Mary Grow

China Planning Board members held a short virtual meeting April 13, at which they expressed their frustration with virtual meetings and, they hope, resolved one of the annoying issues.

The agenda called for continued discussion of the two draft ordinances board members are working on, a shoreland stabilization ordinance and a solar ordinance. The former is intended to describe what lakeshore residents can and cannot do to prevent erosion into the lake. The latter is to provide specific regulations for future solar developments, so board members won’t need to continue adapting other ordinance provisions.

The documents are on a site that members can theoretically share, but not everyone has been able to access it. Several are also unhappy with reading documents and changes on line; they want paper copies.

Codes Officer Jaime Hanson said he would immediately see about having copies made at the town office for board members to pick up.

This offer led to the next question, from board member Toni Wall: when can we go back to in-person meetings?

Hanson said he would ask the town manager.

With Scott Rollins, one of the two computer-savvy board members, absent, the four who were connected briefly discussed the shoreland stabilization ordinance, referring back to their March 23 meeting (see The Town Line, April 1, p. 3). Chairman Randall Downer again advocated reviewing Maine and New Hampshire documents that he thinks contain helpful ideas.

An important issue is where China Lake (and Three Mile Pond and other water bodies) get their water from – inflowing streams and their sources, direct rainfall and rainfall run-off, underwater springs. No one knew of a map of springs in China Lake.

Hanson reported issuing an increasing number of building and plumbing permits. China is seeing “a lot of real estate action, too,” he said.

The next regular China Planning Board member is scheduled for Tuesday evening, April 27, and is unlikely to be in person.