CHINA: Work begins on updating town’s subdivision ordinance

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by Mary Grow

China Planning Board members and Codes Officer Nicholas French began work on updating the town’s subdivision ordinance, which is Chapter 3 of the Land Development Code, at their Oct. 8 meeting.

Board Chairman Toni Wall said the subdivision ordinance has not been amended in years, as far as she knows. The copy on China’s website, under Ordinances, Policies and Orders, refers to two 1985 documents. Wall added that in her 14 years on the board, she has reviewed two subdivision applications.

French proposed two reasons for bringing the ordinance into the 21st century. With housing in short supply, he said, some of China’s large landowners might be thinking about developing residential subdivisions. And he recommends eliminating the current ordinance’s prohibition on cluster housing.

Cluster housing, also called open space subdivision, allows houses to be grouped on part of a piece of land, leaving the rest as public open space, providing buffers and recreational areas. French considers cluster housing compatible with China’s rural nature, and a more efficient use of space, since fewer streets and driveways are needed.

Board members used the Oct. 8 meeting to go through the ordinance, which is 28 pages long on China’s website, chinamaine.org. They proposed minor changes, like updating the references to 1985 documents; discussed wording that could be clarified; and planned areas to be reviewed more intensively.

The next China Planning Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday evening, Oct. 22.

CHINA – Five vie for three select board seats: five questions on Nov. 5 ballot

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by Mary Grow

China voters have a two-sided local ballot on Nov. 5, local elections on one side and five referendum questions on the other.

For elections, there is one contest on the ballot: five men are running for three seats on the select board, incumbents Blane Casey and Brent Chesley, and Edwin Bailey, Tod Detre and Thomas Rumpf. For more information, see the recording of the Oct. 9 candidates’ forum, available on the library’s Youtube channel; or the summary in the Oct. 17 issue of The Town Line, p. 2.

There is one other name on the ballot, Timothy Basham for re-election to the budget committee, unopposed.

For the Regional School Unit #18 board of directors, Melissa Cowing has declared herself a write-in candidate. As of Oct. 20, Town Clerk Angela Nelson was unaware of any other write-in candidates.

The referendum questions are as follows.

The first question asks if voters want to amend the town’s TIF (Tax Increment Financing District) Ordinance. Proposed changes would eliminate some originally-listed uses for TIF money that have been appropriated once or never; add funding for an extension of the causeway work at the head of China Lake’s east basin, the first local TIF project to be finished; and rearrange other allocations.

The second question proposes amendments to China’s Budget Committee Ordinance. The main substantive change would eliminate the districts from which four of the seven committee members are now elected, and eliminate elections in favor of appointment by the select board.

The third question asks voters to add a Development District map to the land use map. Wording describing the district is in Appendix A of the Land Development Code; if voters approve, the map will be added.

The fourth question asks approval of amendments to sections of the Land Development Code prepared primarily by planning board members. A copy of the ordinance, with changes in red, is on the town website, chinamaine.org, under Planning Board, under Officials, Boards & Committees.

Board chairman Toni Wall and codes officer Nicholas French have described almost all the changes as non-substantive, aimed at updating and clarifying the ordinance language, including incorporating revised state requirements.

One change shortens the ordinance, by eliminating a section on regulating timber harvesting in shoreland, resource protection and stream protection districts. With voter approval, regulatory authority will be transferred from town officials to the Maine Forest Service.

The final question, presented by citizens’ petition, asks approval of a 180-day moratorium on any new power lines through China. A response to the proposed north-south line to bring power from Aroostook County windmills to this area, the moratorium is intended to give local officials time to develop appropriate ordinances to regulate such development.

China’s Nov. 5 voting will be in the former portable building behind the town office, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Vehicle access will be from Alder Park Road, south of the town office complex; the driveway off Lakeview Drive will be closed for the day.

The China town office will be closed all day Nov. 5.

China transfer station manager: Things are going smoothly

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by Mary Grow

China Transfer Station Committee members held a short and cheerful meeting the morning of Oct. 8. Transfer station manager Thomas Maraggio and committee member Rachel Anderson, who volunteers at the free for the taking building, both said things are going smoothly.

The one major pending issue is the revised agreement between China and Palermo allowing Palermo residents to use China’s transfer station. It has been approved by China’s select board members, but in Palermo needs approval by town meeting voters.

Palermo officials have scheduled a public hearing and special town meeting for 6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 17, at Palermo Consolidated School, to act on the revised agreement. The Palermo website says copies of the agreement are posted under Transfer Station and are available at the town office.

China Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood said if Palermo residents reject the amended agreement, the November 2023 letter giving the required year’s notice to end the intertown arrangement will take effect on Nov. 13.

Maraggio reported the water filters designed to eliminate PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) from the facility’s water supply were installed, and the water no longer smells. The filters are to be inspected every six months and changed when needed, he said, with the length of their useful life depending on the amount of use.

Hapgood said China got 50 percent state reimbursement for the filters. She will find out whether the state contributes to inspection and replacement costs.

The pad for the new building by the gate where China residents can pick up buckets of winter sand is down, Maraggio said. When the building is finished, he intends to put signs on it explaining where different kinds of recyclables and trash go.

Committee chairman J. Christopher Baumann reported on plans to invite teachers to bring classes to tour the transfer station and learn about recycling.

Hapgood and committee members praised the Halloween decorations at the facility, and the flowers that have been planted. Maraggio said his wife is the flower-tender, assisted by a small annual grant from a Waterville garden organization.

Baumann expressed the committee’s thanks to all involved.

The next transfer station committee meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 12. The agenda is likely to include renewed discussion of the facility’s five-year plan, in preparation for 2024-25 budget planning.

China candidates’ night October 9, 2024

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Albert Church Brown Memorial Library in China Village (photo courtesy of library Facebook page)

by Mary Grow

(Read about the candidates’ opening statements here.)

Three candidates for the state legislature and six candidates for China town offices spoke to an audience of more than three dozen at the Oct. 9 candidates’ forum at the Albert Church Brown Memorial Library in China Village.

Speakers were:

— Five candidates for three seats on the select board, incumbents Blane Casey and Brent Chesley and Edwin Bailey, Tod Detre and Thomas Rumpf.
— Timothy Basham, unopposed for re-election to the budget committee; there are no candidates on the Nov. 5 local ballot for two other budget committee positions.
— Incumbent Katrina Smith and challenger Pamela Swift, both Palermo residents, vying for the Maine House District #62 seat (representing China, Hibberts Gore, Palermo, Somerville and Windsor).
— Raegan LaRochelle, of Augusta, seeking the District #15 Maine Senate seat (Augusta, Belgrade, China, Mount Vernon, Sidney, Vassalboro). Her opponent, Richard Bradstreet, was not present; moderator Janet Preston said a communications problem had prevented him from attending.

Preston asked all nine candidates the same questions, covering housing and ways to let elderly people remain in their homes; local emergency services; Delta Ambulance; public open spaces; and higher education.

Speakers agreed people should be able to stay in their houses as long as they want to. Suggested ways to help included keeping property taxes down (Bailey, Chesley); improving public transportation (Detre); community sharing, like China’s proposed dog park (Detre) and weekly Wednesday morning Senior Game Day (Rumpf); and improved broadband to promote on-line medical care (Detre).

Swift, Smith and LaRochelle summarized innovative housing programs in Palermo and Augusta.

On the topic of volunteer fire departments and rescue units, Smith, Swift and LaRochelle sounded the alarm on a pending OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulation that has the laudable aim of keeping volunteers safe, but in their opinions constitutes overregulation.

Swift said Palermo’s fire chief told the select board the rule, if implemented, would make Palermo’s fire trucks substandard and firefighters’ training and gear inadequate. The chief opined it would cost $2 million to bring the fire department to code.

Consensus among China town candidates was that fire and rescue personnel should be represented in any discussion of their needs. Suggestions for encouraging more volunteers included more publicity, especially social media (Rumpf), and approaching Erskine Academy students (Bailey).

Rumpf recommended standardizing equipment among the three fire departments. Casey advocated state payment for training. Detre suggested a town-hired funding coordinator might bring more financial support.

Most speakers disapproved of towns being responsible for funding ambulance service, recommending county (LaRochelle), state (Chesley, Rumpf, Smith) or federal (Chesley, emphasizing the inadequacy of Medicare support for ambulances, Rumpf) funding. Detre thought a cooperative service with neighboring towns worth exploring, Casey thought it unaffordable.

Moderator Preston asked for reactions to economic development research showing “investing in public open spaces” brings residents and businesses and increases the tax base, contrasted with reducing municipal spending; and specifically for opinions on the proposed China dog park.

Detre was the only defender of the dog park, seeing it as a place where people with a common interest could mingle. He recommended funding open space projects with grants or with China’s TIF (Tax Increment Financing) funds while they’re available, not from taxes.

Chesley disagreed about using TIF funds, which come from Central Maine Power Company’s local taxes and, unlike federal ARPA (American Relief Plan Act) money, need not be allocated promptly.

LaRochelle interjected that both men were right. TIF programs end after 30 years, with a short grace period to finish spending, she said. [China’s program ends in 2045 – editor’s note.]

Chesley, Casey, Rumpf and Bailey all think China has adequate open space, public and private. Detre regretted the lack of lake access for non-shorefront owners, except boat access.

Rumpf, president of China’s Four Seasons Club, said after voters rejected an opportunity to buy lake frontage [in November 2013 – editor’s note], the club offered reduced-price memberships allowing access to its China Lake beach. There were two takers.

The question about education brought support for community college, especially with the option to continue to the University of Maine system, from Democrats Swift and LaRochelle, but not from Republican Smith. On the local level, Detre (reminding people he is a University of Maine system employee) was in favor. Casey questioned education “on taxpayers’ backs”; Bailey agreed with Casey.

Casey, Chesley, Detre and Rumpf all supported trade schools, with variations. Rumpf and Basham both suggested incentives for graduates to stay – and work – in Maine; Smith said her son who finished training as a welder is having trouble finding a job.

Audience questions directed at the five select board candidates revealed that Casey, Chesley and Detre prefer written-ballot town meetings to open ones, because more voters express opinions to guide town officials. Bailey and Rumpf agreed open meetings bring few attendees; Bailey would be willing to try an open town meeting again.

Asked again about economic development as the meeting wound down, Detre supported it, including solar farms; Chesley endorsed small manufacturing; Rumpf cited the riders of Four Seasons Club trails who spend money at China businesses.

China’s Tuesday, Nov. 5, voting will be in the former portable building behind the town office, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Absentee ballots will be available at the town office through Thursday, Oct. 31.

CLARIFICATION

In the October 17, 2024, issue of The Town Line, on page 2, in the story about the candidates’ forum held at the Albert Church Brown Memorial Library, in China Village, the writer stated that Rep. Richard Bradstreet did not attend due to a “communication problem”.

Louisa Barnhart, President of the China Library Association, who organized the event, provided a clarification:

“Albert Church Brown Memorial Library recently held a candidate forum. We had excellent participation from candidates and the public. That is everyone but one. 

“Representative Richard Bradstreet, Republican candidate for State Senate, was inadvertently not invited.  This was not discovered until the night of the event, unfortunately. 

“On behalf of the trustees of ACBM Library, I’d like to extend our sincere apology for this mistake. Our library carefully writes non-partisan questions and welcomes all points of view. There were other Republicans participating.

“As an organization, we do not support or oppose particular campaigns or candidates in any way. As a 501(c)3, we take our duty to remain nonpolitical extremely seriously. 

“A mistake of this magnitude underscores our responsibility to carefully invite each candidate. We will be changing our procedures and carefully double checking invitation lists in the future.”

Forum at China library hears local candidates

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Albert Church Brown Memorial Library in China Village (photo courtesy of library Facebook page)

by Mary Grow

Candidates’ opening statements, summarized, in the order given.

Raegan LaRochelle, Augusta, Democratic candidate for state Senate District #15, is a Cony High School graduate with an MBA (Master of Business Administration) degree who works as an economic development consultant and owns a commercial cleaning business. She served on the Augusta City Council and is currently state Representative for House District #59 (part of Augusta).

LaRochelle’s Republican opponent, Richard Bradstreet of Vassalboro, was unable to attend the forum.

Katrina Smith, Palermo, Republican House District #62, incumbent and candidate, was born in Appleton, majored in sociology at Gordon College, in Massachusetts, and has worked in banking, education and real estate. She is finishing her first two-year term in the Maine House.

The program at the Albert Church Brown Memorial Library in China Village lasted more than two hours. It was followed by refreshments and informal discussion.

Pamela Swift, Palermo, Democratic candidate for House District #62, earned a bachelor’s degree in veterinary science before switching to human medicine. After 20 years as an obstetrician/gynecologist, she now raises sheep. She is serving her second term on the Palermo select board and volunteers in town organizations.

Timothy Basham, candidate for re-election to the China Budget Committee, is a self-employed arborist who wishes more residents would volunteer for town boards.

Tod Detre, candidate for China select board, is an Ohio native who has lived in China for 13 years and works in computer science in the University of Maine system. He believes select board members should do better at listening to town advisory boards and committees and at helping people.

Brent Chesley, China select board incumbent/candidate, is a native of Lincoln, Maine, and 20-year China resident. He studied engineering at the University of Maine and co-owns Wyman & Simpson, Inc., a Richmond-based construction company. He ran successfully for select board two years ago after a disagreement with a former China codes officer made him want to ensure all residents are treated fairly.

Edwin Bailey, China select board candidate, is a China native and graduate of Erskine Academy, in South China, and Thomas College, in Waterville. He worked as a truck driver and self-employed builder and ran a redemption center on Route 3 for 16 years, where “I learned to treat people fair.” He has served on the town planning board and is now on the building committee; if elected to the select board, his goals would be to learn, to cut taxes and to help people stay in their homes.

Thomas Rumpf, China select board candidate, was born in Poland Spring and has lived in China since 1988; he chairs the town Budget Committee. He worked as a welder for many years before switching to estimating steel construction; he has a business management degree. He opposes the proposed Budget Committee Ordinance amendment that would allow select board members to appoint that committee’s members (who are now elected); a main goal if elected to the select board would be to reverse the present order and have Budget Committee members review town budgets before, not after, select board members.

Blane Casey, China select board incumbent/candidate, came home to China after his birth at Waterville’s Thayer Hospital, in 1959, and has lived here ever since, except for a short time in Windsor. He and his wife built a residential construction business that expanded to commercial. His four years on the select board have been “an eye-opener”: if re-elected, his goal is to help families and the elderly with their financial struggles.

CAMPAIGN 2024: Candidates address issues concerning Maine voters (Part 1)

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EVENTS: Explore China’s transportation history at upcoming presentation

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Railroad owner Carson Peck and his party, on an inspection trip, around 1910 or so, in Windsor. (courtesy of the WW&F Museum)

by Eric W. Austin

The China Historical Society is pleased to invite the public to an engaging presentation on the history of the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington (WW&F) narrow gauge railway. This event, featuring local experts Bob Wallace and Phil Dow, from the Albion Historical Society, will take place next Thursday, October 17, at 7 p.m., at the China Baptist Church.

The presentation will offer a unique opportunity to explore the history of the narrow gauge railway that once played a vital role in connecting China to other towns in the region. Wallace will provide an in-depth look at the railway’s development and its significance to local communities, particularly the Weeks Mills station. In addition to the talk, attendees will be treated to a slideshow of historical photographs, offering a glimpse into the past and showcasing the railway’s impact on the area.

The WW&F railway, launched in the 1890s, was an essential transportation route for residents and businesses, ferrying people, produce, and goods between towns from Wiscasset to Windsor.

However, as automobiles and gasoline-powered trucks became more widespread in the mid-20th century, the narrow gauge railway could no longer compete, and it eventually ceased operations. While the tracks are no longer in use, the history of the railway continues to be an important part of the town’s heritage, offering a window into a time when the railroad was the lifeblood of rural Maine.

In addition to the historical insights provided by Bob Wallace, attendees will have the opportunity to see rare, archival photographs that capture the daily workings of the railway, including images of the Weeks Mills station and the railway’s trains.

The event is free and open to the public, although the China Historical Society encourages donations to support its ongoing work in preserving local history, and attendees are invited to consider joining the society as members. Annual membership dues are a modest $10, and these contributions help ensure that important stories like that of the WW&F railway continue to be shared with future generations.

The China Historical Society’s Narrow Gauge Railway Presentation will be held on Thursday, October 17, at 7 p.m., at the China Baptist Church, at the north end of the lake. Whether you’re a history enthusiast or simply curious about the role the railway played in shaping the town’s development, this event promises to be an informative and engaging look into a fascinating chapter in China’s past.

Attend the presentation to meet other members of the community who are passionate about preserving and sharing China’s rich heritage, and for more information about upcoming events, follow the China Historical Society Facebook page.

China select board approves concept plan for new vault

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by Mary Grow

China select board members approved a concept plan for the new storage vault they’ve discussed for three years, and will have an engineer’s plan prepared as soon as possible.

Building committee chairman Sheldon Goodine presented the plan at the board’s Oct. 7 meeting, after he outlined it for the board on Sept. 23. The vault will be in a new room added on the south side of the town office building, close to the east end.

Goodine said the room would be 26-by-28-feet. Adding it would cover two windows in what is currently deputy clerk and assistant to the assessor Kelly Grotton’s office, and would require a corridor to a second east-end door.

Select board chairman Wayne Chadwick queried the price. Glad you asked, Goodine replied: about $80,000 less than the original plan, which he said would have cost around $267,500.

At the 2023 and 2024 town business meetings, China voters appropriated more than $255,000 from federal ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds for the vault.

Board members voted unanimously to ask Keith Whitaker, the engineer from Presque Isle based B. R. Smith Associates who has been working on the project, to convert the concept plan to an engineered plan. With that plan, they will decide whether to seek bids from contractors for the whole project or to act as the main contractor and seek bids for specific tasks.

The vault will provide storage space for paper records that the state requires municipal offices to keep forever. Whitaker said in earlier discussions that it needs to be all concrete, with temperature and humidity controls.

Another ongoing town project is relocating the ice rink from the school grounds to the town-owned lot south of the town office, on the north side of the intersection of Lakeview Drive and Alder Park Road. Town Manager Rebecc Hapgood said she, recreation committee chairman Martha Wentworth and Director of Public Services Shawn Reed inspected the lot recently and tentatively sited the rink, minimizing tree-cutting.

Hapgood revived another topic: in May 2023, after board and public discussion, select board members unanimously agreed to join the Community Resilience Project (CRP), a state program administered in this area by the Kennebec Valley Council of Governments.

Hapgood summarized progress on China’s seven chosen projects. The first, minimizing erosion at the South China boat landing, has been started, but work is delayed until spring by the unavailability of concrete planks.

The Thurston Park Committee has been working on improvements in Thurston Park, and town office staff are investigating digitizing town records. Board member Janet Preston has been looking for sites for electric vehicle charging stations.

Adding sidewalks in China Village appears prohibitively expensive. So far little has been done toward installing solar panels on the school forest building or improving public transportation.

Select board members appointed Melissa Cowing, one of China’s representatives on the Regional School Unit #18 board of directors. She will serve until the Nov. 5 election, succeeding T. James Bachinski, who has resigned. At the election, she is a declared write-in candidate for a full term on the board.

Hapgood asked board members’ opinions on Delta Ambulance’s offering member towns a discount if they pay their 2024-25 accounts in advance. Voters at the June town business meeting approved $110,200 as part of the public safety budget, based on Delta’s bill of $25 per resident. The manager estimated paying by the Nov. 1 deadline would save China about $5,500.

Hapgood said if Delta’s board of directors has a contingency plan in case the organization’s funding situation becomes unmanageable, she would recommend the pre-payment. She hopes to have more information before the next select board meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21.

CHINA: William Lankist turns 90

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William Lankist, of China

William Lankist, of China, was honored on the occasion of his 90th birthday, at his home, recently. William was born on September 29, 1934, in Guilford, the oldest son of William and Hilda Lankist. He was educated in Guilford schools. He had three brothers, and is the sole survivor. He has been a resident of China for over 20 years, where he resides with his partner, Ruth Fuller.

Family and friends, especially his daughter, Tammy Bailey, attended from Guilford, Sidney, Albion and Unity, and William received a special telephone call from a nephew, Edward Lankist, who resides in Florida.

William did small engine repairs for most of his life.