China TIF committee revisits allowable expenditures

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by Mary Grow

China Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee members spent the first hour of their Dec. 29 meeting re-discussing lists of allowable TIF expenditures they had voted on at their Dec. 17 meeting (see The Town Line, Dec. 31). Committee member Brent Chesley then reminded them of the two items left undecided Dec. 17, and they acted on those.

By state law, TIF money can be spent only for economic development. The term is broad enough to encompass, in China, measures that encourage businesses to relocate to town and to assist with business expansion; job creation programs; town activities that promote China as a business, recreational and tourist center; and protection of the environmental qualities that attract visitors.

China’s TIF is funded from taxes Central Maine Power Company pays on its north-south line through town and its South China substation.

The document committee members worked with is found on the town website, china.govoffice.com, in a pdf file named 2017 TIF First Amendment. The pdf is under the Tax Increment Financing Committee, which is under Boards and Committees. Committee members reviewed the items in boxes on pages 4 and 5, plus two new items discussed at the previous meeting.

They unanimously reaffirmed their Dec. 17 decisions to include both new items. The first, relating to fisheries, wildlife and water quality, was re-discussed at length and reworded to clarify what water bodies and activities it is intended to cover.

The second, allowing TIF funds to help with broadband service improvements, was re-included by a unanimous vote, after a short discussion about its relationship to other development programs.

After a discussion of correct terms for and possible rearrangements among economic development projects, committee members voted again, this time with three abstentions, to delete references to supporting a research laboratory on Fire Road 44 and to the non-existent economic development department, and to support other development projects and programs as listed, with minor rewording.

Chesley then reminded the others that the items deferred Dec. 17 were using TIF funds for matching funds for grants and to support projects outside China’s TIF district, specifically removal of dams in Vassalboro that prevent alewife migration into China Lake.

The first was approved 7-1 with Jamie Pitney opposed, because he considers it double-dipping. The second was approved unanimously.

The next two steps are to prepare and print an updated TIF document, referred to as the Second Amendment (because China’s 2015 TIF was amended for the first time in 2017), and to reallocate TIF funds among the revised categories.

Pitney volunteered to rewrite the recommendations to include the changes, with help from Chairman Tom Michaud and his wife Marie, who took notes in the absence of committee secretary Trishea Story.

Pitney moved that the committee ask selectmen’s approval to hire a Portland attorney who is an expert on TIFs to assist with the final document. Committee members approved, with Daniel Boivin and Michael “Mickey” Wing abstaining because they would like an hourly rate and an estimate of the hours needed before supporting the proposal.

At the beginning of the meeting, Michaud welcomed newly appointed committee member James “J.J.” Wentworth.

The next TIF Committee meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 14. Michaud plans to begin the process of allocating TIF money among the programs and projects.

The committee’s final document will be a recommendation to China selectmen. If they find it satisfactory, they will submit it to voters for approval or rejection.

China broadband members adopt two motions

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by Mary Grow

China Broadband Committee members unanimously adopted two motions on the agenda for their Dec. 16 meeting. Both required approval from China selectmen, who postponed action on the major one.

The major committee action was acceptance of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for expanded broadband service in China, prepared by consultants Mission Broadband. The 27-page RFP and supporting documents are posted under the Broadband Committee on the China website, china.govoffice.com.

The RFP, to be distributed as widely as possible, invites interested parties to propose ways to provide improved and expanded internet access. All technologies will be considered. One of the accompanying documents is a scoring matrix intended to help Mission Broadband personnel compare replies.

Consultants and committee members planned on selectmen’s approval Dec. 21 and distribution of the RFP Monday, Dec. 28. The deadline for submitting bids is 3:45 p.m., Jan. 31, 2021. They expect potential bidders to have questions and are allowing time for answers.

However, not all selectmen received the draft before the afternoon of Dec. 21. With so little time to review it, they postponed action to a special meeting scheduled for Dec. 28.

Broadband Committee members agreed that, if selectmen approved on Dec. 28, distribution Dec. 29 would give bidders adequate time.

Mark van Loan from Mission Broadband said assuming a proposal is recommended by the committee, put on the May 18 annual town business meeting agenda by the selectmen and approved by voters, work could begin by July 2021.

The second motion on the Dec. 16 Broadband Committee agenda was to ask selectmen to choose one of their number to serve on the Broadband Committee. At the Dec. 21 selectmen’s meeting, Selectman Irene Belanger volunteered and was promptly accepted.

The next Broadband Committee meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 11.

Selectmen approve RFP

China selectmen unanimously approved the Broadband Committee’s RFP at their Dec. 28 meeting, after 10 minutes of clarifications. Board Chairman Ronald Breton wanted assurance the contract issued to a successful bidder would include financial incentives to finish the work completely and on time; and Selectman Wayne Chadwick wanted a guarantee of lower rates for broadband users, for at least the first few years, after an improved system was in place.

Broadband Committee Chairman Robert O’Connor said John Dougherty of MissionBroadband told him the organization’s standard recommended contracts include penalties for missing the final deadline and withholding of full payment until work is completed.

The question of guaranteed rates would now be part of discussions with bidders, O’Connor said.

CHINA: Proposed TIF revisions go to selectmen

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by Mary Grow

China Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee members continued review of the proposed Second Amendment to China’s TIF document at a Dec. 17 meeting, and planned to resume discussion the evening of Dec. 29. (See also The Town Line, Dec. 17, p. 1.)

The revisions they propose will be submitted to selectmen who, if they approve, will present them to voters.

The first decision Dec 17 was to advise deleting a very specific recommendation that a town-owned lot on Fire Road 44 become a site for a commercial laboratory or business related to water quality and fresh-water fisheries. All seven members voting agreed.

The next decision, on which Brent Chesley and Chairman Tom Michaud dissented, was to postpone to Dec. 29 further consideration of adding TIF funding for work done outside China’s TIF district to benefit in-town goals, specifically the Alewife Restoration Initiative (ARI) that is removing or adapting dams in Vassalboro to open China Lake to migrating alewives.

The third decision, again unanimous, was to retain funding for economic development programs, but to amend the wording to eliminate the reference to China’s non-existent Community and Development Economic Development Department.

By another unanimous decision, a group of goals in the current TIF document was left substantively unchanged. They include funding for town events like China Days, marketing the town to prospective businesses, providing job training, maintaining the revolving loan fund for town businesses and helping support recreational trails. The last item was slightly amended: it stills allows connections with neighboring towns but deletes an incomplete list of them.

Members were also unanimous in agreeing to postpone any decision on the section allowing TIF funds for local grant-matching until Town Manager Becky Hapgood, who is also TIF and Town Treasurer, gets more history on that use.

Two new proposed uses for TIF funds were added to the draft program.

One would let TIF money support fisheries and wildlife programs and water quality projects, including but not limited to LakeSmart (which helps lakefront property-owners control run-off), CBI (the courtesy boat inspection program designed to bar invasive plants) and other water-quality activities of the China Lake Association and the China Region Lakes Alliance. Jamie Pitney abstained on the vote.

The second new proposal would make all costs “associated with broadband development, expansion and improvement” eligible for TIF funding. It was approved for inclusion without discussion, with Michael “Mickey” Wing opposed.

The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 29, to continue reviewing the wording of the TIF document. It will be a virtual meeting.

China planners to prepare new solar ordinance

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by Mary Grow

When China Planning Board members met virtually Dec. 22 to begin discussion of a new solar ordinance, most of the members had received the template sent in November to Codes Officer Bill Butler only that afternoon. The delay, they surmised, was due to the Nov. 30 change-over in local codes officers, as Butler retired and Jaime Hanson succeeded him.

First, board members decided to postpone discussion until after a more thorough review. Then they began bringing up specific points that had attracted their attention as they skimmed the document. Three-quarters of an hour later, they concluded they had made a good start and adjourned until 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021.

The planning board has already approved three solar projects in China. Having found difficulties fitting the applications into existing ordinances’ wording and definitions, board members intend to prepare a new ordinance. At the Dec. 22 meeting they doubted it would be ready to go to voters before November 2021.

Kevin Corbett, Vice-President of Construction for SunRaise Investments, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, the company behind two of the China projects, said he and attorney Tom Federle, of Portland-based Federle Law, suggest Maine Audubon Society’s models as a basis for local ordinances. (Information is available on the Maine Audubon website, under the heading “Thoughtfully Sited Solar.”)

Board member Toni Wall volunteered to convert the Maine Audubon template into ordinance language. Chairman Randy Downer, who said he has attended some of Maine Audubon’s solar meetings, accepted her offer with appreciation.

The template refers to small-scale, medium-scale and large-scale solar developments. Planning board members debated whether the distinction is needed in China’s ordinance.

The document deals with both individual roof-top solar panels and land-based projects like the ones on Vassalboro Road, off Windsor Road and on Route 3. Board members considered when the board needed to be involved and when the codes officer could make decisions, and what new definitions would be needed and where they would fit in the existing Land Use Ordinance.

Another issue was whether and, if so, in what circumstances solar panels required buffers or setback requirements from neighboring properties. Yet another was what kinds and sizes of solar panels or developments should be allowed in the shoreland zone.

Further review was postponed until, as Downer put it, a “Chinafied” version is ready. Wall plans to distribute her preliminary draft by Jan. 5, 2021, for consideration at the Jan. 12 meeting.

Special selectmen’s meeting reviewed personnel policy

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by Mary Grow

The China selectmen’s special meeting Dec. 28 was called primarily to review Town Manager Becky Hapgood’s proposed changes in the town’s personnel policy.

The only other issue on the agenda was action on the Broadband Committee’s Request for Proposals for improved and expanded broadband service in town. Selectmen unanimously approved the document after 10 minutes’ discussion.

The new Maine Earned Paid Leave Law had to be added to the personnel policy by Jan. 1, 2021, its effective date, Hapgood explained.

According to information on the web from the state Department of Labor, the law requires employers with more than 10 employees to grant an hour of paid leave for each 40 hours worked, up to 40 hours a year.

All employees are covered. Their paid leave can be used for any purpose, with the stipulation that in a non-emergency situation, the employee is to give the employer as much notice as possible.

Selectmen considered among other things whether to combine paid leave with older forms of paid time off, like sick leave, bereavement leave and vacation time. They decided to incorporate it as Hapgood recommended for now and to revisit the issue within the next three months.

They also considered other parts of the policy, beginning with Wayne Chadwick’s question about the town matching the state schedule of days off, specifically around holidays.

“It costs money,” he said of paying employees when they have a holiday. When board Chairman Ronald Breton said there was no extra pay involved, Chadwick replied, “We’re not getting any work for the [regular] pay.”

He added that he did not want to take away holidays or cut anyone’s pay.

Hapgood said China has matched the state schedule for the last 15 or 20 years. Most other Maine towns do the same, she said. When Selectman Blane Casey said next year Christmas Eve will be on Friday and asked if the state would call the whole day a holiday, Hapgood declined to predict.

Casey offered another proposal to save money during discussion of dental and health insurance. China contributes to employee’ insurance costs, and pays a stipend to employees who choose not to take insurance through the town (often because they are covered by a spouse’s policy).

Casey proposed eliminating the stipend. “I’m looking at the tax value to people in town who don’t have any insurance at all,” he said.

The insurance question is also to be reviewed later, and so is a policy on weapons on town property.

The personnel policy is the selectmen’s responsibility; it does not require action by voters and can be adjusted as often as necessary.

Hapgood said China has 14 full-time employees. A majority joined the Dec. 28 virtual meeting. Breton did not allow them to speak, saying the special meeting did not make provision for public comment.

Proposed sale of Lakeview Drive parcel sparks renewed discussions

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by Mary Grow

China selectmen’s Dec. 7 split decision to ask voters to approve selling the former subdivision on the east side of Lakeview Drive (see The Town Line, Dec. 10) generated renewed and wide-ranging discussion at their Dec. 21 meeting.

The Dec. 21 meeting also saw what was probably a first-ever occurrence: board members considered not appointing someone who volunteered for a town committee. They hesitated not because of any objection to the volunteer, but for fear of overloading the committee.

The Lakeview Drive land, once part of Candlewood Camps, has been town-owned and unused for several years. On Dec. 7, board Chairman Ronald Breton and members Blane Casey and Wayne Chadwick voted to put selling it on the 2021 town meeting warrant. Board members Irene Belanger and Janet Preston were opposed.

Preston put the issue on the Dec. 7 agenda, with a proposal to develop a non-motorized trail system. She brought it up again Dec. 21, seconded during the public comment period by resident Lindsey Harwath and others.

Town records say the lot is 45.3 acres and is valued at $64,600. Town Manager Becky Hapgood believes the town-owned land is just over 39 acres; almost six acres still belong with the land on the west side of Lakeview Drive.

Reasons for selling the land include adding its value to the tax rolls (as town-owned property, it pays no taxes) and eliminating any need for town maintenance or any possibility of town liability.

Preston presented figures from town records showing that as a single lot in private ownership, the land would bring each taxpayer about 30 cents a year in tax revenue. If the land were subdivided, and if the lots were comparable to those on nearby Tarybelu Lane, each China taxpayer would gain between $12 and $13 annually from private ownership.

She and Harwath pointed out that the previous owners gave the land to China because they could not sell the subdivision lots they had mapped out.

There was consensus that the prevalence of wetlands made it hard to site a road and house lots with space for wells and septic systems. The wetlands might be an attraction for a nonprofit organization or wildlife enthusiasts, resident Gina Hoang suggested.

Harwath has a poll on the town’s Facebook page asking about the selectmen’s decision. She said so far most who reply oppose selling the land, and said she found it “disheartening” that selectmen acted without consulting townspeople or other committees.

Selectman Chadwick preferred to get residents’ opinion through a vote at town meeting rather than a Facebook poll, though he and Preston agreed neither result would represent a numerical majority.

Selectman Casey believes the town is short of volunteers to maintain its existing recreational areas, Thurston Park in northeastern China and the town forest behind China Primary School. Harwath said China’s comprehensive plan has consistently called for more recreational space, and plan-related polls show a high level of support for the recommendation.

That comment led to a short review of ways the comprehensive plan is implemented, with resident Jamie Pitney remembering the now-inactive Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee. A revised plan currently awaits voter approval.

Preston and Harwath intend to continue working on plans and public information to support keeping the land for recreation. At this point selectmen have not changed their decision to ask town meeting voters to authorize a sale.

The briefly controversial appointment of James “J. J.” Wentworth as the 10th member of the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee was approved on a 4-1 vote. Casey, who voted no, emphasized that he has absolutely no problem with Wentworth; he was supporting the concern of committee Chairman Tom Michaud that 10 members are too many.

Selectmen and others agreed an oversized committee could become ineffective, and an even number can create difficulties when there is disagreement. However, Breton said, the TIF Committee has no policy limiting members.

Hapgood said on principle no volunteer should be discouraged, since there are seldom enough of them; and added that Wentworth, from southeastern China, would add geographic diversity. She further pointed out that it is unusual to have all members of a committee present at a meeting.

The selectmen’s solution was to appoint Wentworth and to recommend that committee members quickly prepare an appropriate policy covering membership and other issues. If the policy specifies no more than nine members, whoever resigns next will not be replaced, Michaud said.

Selectmen appointed Scott Rollins to the vacant District 4 Planning Board seat without debate.

In other business Dec. 21:

  • Selectmen unanimously authorized continuing the single-sheet newsletters from the town office twice a month for the next six months, at an estimated cost of $5,100 to be taken from the $55,000 contingency fund town meeting voters approved. Various alternatives were considered; board members concluded none would reach as many residents as the mailings do.
  • Selectmen postponed approval of the Request for Proposals for expanded broadband service, presented by the Broadband Committee, because not all board members had received a copy. The RFP will be on the agenda for a special Dec. 28 selectmen’s meeting. Broadband Committee members hope for approval that evening so they can publicize the RFP Dec. 29.

The Dec. 28 special meeting, to begin at 6:30 p.m. by Zoom, had already been scheduled to give board members more time to discuss Hapgood’s proposed updates to the town personnel policy.

The China selectmen’s January schedule includes a regular meeting Monday evening, Jan. 4; a special meeting Monday evening, Jan. 11; and a regular meeting Tuesday, Jan. 19 (postponed from the usual Monday because Jan. 18 is the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday and the town office will be closed).

Erskine Academy faces challenge of a year like no other

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Erskine Academy Headmaster Michael McQuarrie self-swabbing for the rapid antigen test onsite in the school nurse’s office. (photo courtesy of Erskine Academy)

by Jeanne Marquis

This month Erskine Academy began implementing the rapid antigen test in its arsenal in the fight against Covid-19. Headmaster Michael McQuarrie was the first to complete the testing process. The rapid antigen test is designed for persons exhibiting at least one of the most common symptoms or two less common symptoms of COVID-19. The procedure is voluntary and involves self-swabbing the lower portion of each nostril. The new rapid testing at school provides results in 15 minutes.

This capability provides increased safety for individual families and the general community with the immediate identification of COVID-19. With the knowledge provided by adequate testing, safety processes such as quarantine and contact tracing can begin immediately.

Since the beginning of the school year, 67 students/staff have been dismissed or unable to attend school due to COVID symptoms, most of which before COVID would not result in absences. Without being able to differentiate symptoms of COVID from other common illnesses, schools have had to exclude symptomatic students and staff, requiring them to remain home for up to 10 days while symptoms subsided or while awaiting a COVID test at an alternative location, which at times could take up to a week to return.

McQuarrie explains, “What became evident since the pandemic began is – our young people want to be in school. Erskine Academy is excited to be part of a big step forward in making that happen. This new testing process clears students and staff to return to the classroom much sooner, which comes as a ray of sunshine during what has been a school year like no other.”

Preparations for this year began last spring. Headmaster Michael McQuarrie and his staff knew the ’20-’21 academic year would be challenging. They would have to be prepared to adapt to the diverse needs of their students and be flexible to change when each virus outbreak would occur.

The planning for this year began last spring when our nation first faced the Covid-19 virus. Without any warning, instructors took their classes online for remote learning for the safety of students, staff and our local communities. The staff learned from each other, sharing tech advice, learning what worked and what obstacles remained. Most teachers’ summers were spent brainstorming and researching new technologies to better engage students in multiple mediums. It was clear the threat of Covid-19 would continue in the upcoming school year.

Headmaster McQuarrie moved the staff in-service development days to the front of the ’20-’21 school calendar for intensive workshop days, with both formal and informal training, to prepare for a year facing the pressures of the pandemic. Staff learned the Maine CDC (Center For Disease Control) sanitation requirements and how to simultaneously conduct class for in-class and remote learners within a hybrid structure.

McQuarrie speaks with high praise about his staff in rising to the challenge and credits four instructors for taking on lead roles, acting as resources for others: Holly Tripp, a science teacher; Mark Bailey, mathematics teacher; Ryan Nored, English teacher; David Currier, Social Studies teacher.

Mark Bailey describes the collaboration of this unique year, “Our department (math department) has always worked well with each other, but since last March we have taken that to another level with sharing successes as well as failures with each other. Finding new innovative ways to do the old standards. Many times a pop-in question to one of my colleagues can save us both hours of stumbling through a process. Many days I am mentally exhausted, but on the other hand I feel reinvigorated as a teacher. It is as if we are all first year teachers all over again.”

Ryan Nored explains the added dynamics this year presents. “Teachers are juggling their family and personal lives, more-than-full workloads, and daily experimentation with new technologies, apps, and methods. Our seven-hour classroom time is hectic and harried with new attendance and sanitation duties and our expanded role as parental figures. Our at-home personal time is even more full with extra correction and preparation needs. ”

Nored further explains how the success of this year is due to the strengths of the student body. “I would argue that we have the most hard-working, kind, empathetic and community-driven learners in Maine. To ask them to continue their classloads, family duties, jobs and extracurricular activities all while juggling learning through a new medium, is asking a lot. They have not only excelled, but have maintained their positive attitudes and senses of school-pride and spirit.”

When asked what he worried about this year besides the Covid-19 virus, Headmaster McQuarrie’s answer was “losing the human aspect of education with all the needed technology and sanitation.” McQuarrie says, “Education done well is a human enterprise.”

McQuarrie encouraged school clubs to continue by remote and the Student Council to find solutions to maintain the aspects that make high school memorable such as Spirit Week, stockings for the China Food Bank and their annual toy drive for Little Wanderers, in Waterville. As the community could tell by the holiday lights in December on the Erskine Academy campus, the human spirit thrives even during this tough year.

China TIF committee looks to re-allocate funds among projects

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by Mary Grow

China’s Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Committee members met virtually Dec. 1 and Dec. 8 to begin discussion of a proposed Amendment 2 to China’s TIF document. Progress was so slow that they scheduled another meeting for Dec. 15.

The Dec. 1 meeting was a budget workshop to consider reallocating funds among TIF projects. Committee members said the causeway project at the head of China Lake’s east basin is over budget, but no money has been spent from other accounts, like one to promote the town “as a business location” and one for job training.

On Dec. 8 committee members started discussing revising the list of projects, including adding new items eligible for TIF funding. Two proposed additions are expanded broadband service, made legal under revised state TIF regulations, and water quality.

Committee members can also recommend deleting project accounts.

The first item discussed Dec. 8 deals with improvements at the causeway at the north end of China Lake and the South China boat landing at the south end. The TIF plan estimates a $650,000 total cost for both. Pitney and Town Manager Becky Hapgood, who is treasurer for the town and for TIF, expect the causeway project alone to cost close to $1 million.

Committee Chairman Tom Michaud reported the project should be done within a week, weather permitting, except for paving that will be postponed to spring because paving plants have closed for the winter. The first phase involved building a new bridge across the head of the lake. The current phase includes installing sidewalks, more appropriate guardrails and shoreline riprap and improving the boat landing east of the bridge.

No money has been spent on the South China boat landing. Part of the Dec. 8 discussion was whether any should be, with non-committee-members Ronald Breton, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, and Scott Pierz, president of the China Lake Association (CLA) and China Region Lakes Alliance (CRLA), joining.

Breton and Pitney recommend deleting funding for the landing. The town owns only a 50-foot-wide roadway to the water and cannot acquire adjoining property; access is steep, with little or no room for maneuvering or parking vehicles; and the water is shallow for a good distance from the shore, they said.

Pierz said whether or not the landing is maintained, erosion control measures are urgently needed.

New TIF Committee member Michael “Mickey” Wing proposed a compromise, maintaining the area as a carry-in launch for canoes and kayaks.

The second, very specific, item on the current project list calls for using town property, and buying adjoining property if needed, on Fire Road 44 to develop a commercial site for either a “research/laboratory and/or facility developing products or services related to improving water quality and fisheries to inland waters.”

Fire Road 44 goes to the east shore of China Lake opposite Alder Park Road, just south of the town office complex. The TIF plan says the town owns the road; Pierz said the town discontinued the road, maintaining a public right of way. The plan further says town-owned land there is already used “for summer conservation programs performing water quality projects.”

This project is funded for $550,000 in the TIF document. Committee members agreed it should be either deleted or reworded more broadly, but postponed a decision on which alternative to recommend.

There was general agreement, too, on recommending that projects that promote water quality be made eligible for TIF funding. The Dec. 8 discussion focused on whether TIF money could and should be used to assist the CRLA with its Youth Conservation Corps run-off control work and its Courtesy Boat Inspection program, and to support the Alewife Restoration Project (ARI). ARI’s goal is to allow alewives access to China Lake by removing or modifying dams on Outlet Stream in Vassalboro.

One issue was whether TIF money should fund ongoing operations, like supporting a salary for the China Region Lakes Alliance director. If it did, Pitney asked, what would happen when the TIF ends in 2044?

Another issue was whether the Alewife Restoration Project (ARI) is a legitimate beneficiary. Not only is the work outside China’s boundaries, but, Pitney said, although the work has environmental benefits, its supporters do not guarantee China Lake water quality improvements.

The list of TIF-eligible projects under the current plan is on the town website, china.govoffice.com, under Tax Increment Finance Committee, sub-heading 2017 TIF First Amendment, pages 4 and 5.

Committee members still have to discuss projects under the heading of Community-Wide Municipal Investments. The larger ones are money for “The Town of China Community and Development Economic Development Department” ($55,000 a year); for events like China Days ($20,000 a year); for the revolving loan program for new and expanding businesses ($30,000 a year); for recreational trails “with significant potential to promote economic development” ($38,000 a year); and to provide matching funds for grants that help achieve TIF goals ($100,000 a year).

Committee members are also considering trying to add wording that would let China’s Board of Selectmen reassign funds from one project to another without voter approval. They do not know whether state officials would accept such a provision.

The TIF Committee will mee at 6 p.m.,Thurs., Dec. 17, to continue discussion of changes to China’s TIF document. The meeting will be virtual.

The China Planning Board will meet at 6:30 p.m., Tues., Dec. 22. The meeting, rescheduled from Dec. 8 to technology limitations, will be virtual.

Background on China’s Tax Increment Financing Program

China’s original TIF document was approved at the March 21, 2015, town business meeting, with funding to come from taxes on Central Maine Power Company’s north-south transmission line through China. Amendment 1 was approved two years later. It extended the TIF from 30 to 40 years and added taxes on the CMP substation in South China as a second revenue source.

Revenues come in as CMP pays taxes over the years, so the total amount appropriated for a category is not available immediately. New committee member Jamie Pitney pointed out that funding varies slightly from year to year as the tax rate changes, and would decline drastically if, for example, CMP discontinued the power line.

Any TIF Committee recommendations to change the TIF program are made to selectmen, who decide whether to present them to voters and hold a public hearing if they do so decide. To take effect, changes need voter approval, perhaps at the planned May 18 town business meeting, and acceptance by the state Department of Economic and Community Development.

China selectmen narrowly vote to sell Lakeview Drive parcel

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by Mary Grow

NOTE: Due to Covid-19 restrictions, attendance at China selectmen’s meetings is limited to board members and the town manager; everyone else participates or views remotely. Unfortunately, the audio at the Dec. 7 meeting was so poor that much of the conversation was inaudible. The following story is therefore incomplete.

Board member Irene Belanger, participating remotely, also had difficulty hearing the discussion.

The meeting was recorded and the tape is available. To review it, go to the Town of China website, china.govoffice.com; click on Live Stream at the bottom left of the page; under PREVIOUS EVENTS on the right of the new screen, click on DECEMBER; and click on the name and date of the meeting.

At their Dec. 7 meeting, China selectmen voted 3-2 to sell the land opposite the former Candlewood Camps, on the east side of Lakeview Drive, and directed Town Manager Becky Hapgood to get in touch with a realtor.

The land was given to the town four years ago. Hapgood said voters accepted the property unconditionally; nothing about the acquisition prohibits selling it.

The question of use of the parcel was on the agenda because board member Janet Preston proposed developing trails on it for hiking and other non-motorized uses. Board Chairman Ronald Breton said with Thurston Park and the town forest behind China Primary School, the town has enough recreational land. Selling the lot would put it back on the tax roll, he said.

When the vote was taken after discussion, Breton and Selectmen Wayne Chadwick and Blane Casey voted to sell the property. Selectmen Preston and Irene Belanger were opposed.

The other main topic Dec. 7 was Chadwick’s request to consider changing town office and transfer station hours. He believes having the office open more than one Saturday morning a month would be a convenience to residents.

Hapgood said the main problem is staffing. Breton advised postponing a decision, and no action was taken.

Selectmen also talked briefly about the proposed addition to the town office building, to provide expanded secure storage space for town records.

Public Works Director Shawn Reed’s report included a reminder to residents not to park vehicles along roads before or during snowstorms and not to plow snow from their driveways into roadways after snowstorms.

Jaime Hanson, China’s new (since Nov. 30) Codes Enforcement Officer, participating remotely, told board members he has started issuing permits and inspecting properties, including three alleged to be in violation of town ordinances.

Hapgood issued another reminder of town office and transfer station holiday hours. For Christmas, both close at noon Thursday, Dec. 24 and remain closed Dec. 25; the transfer station but not the town office will be open Saturday, Dec. 26, with regular hours, 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For New Year’s, both close at noon Thursday, Dec. 31 and remain closed all day Jan. 1, 2021; both will be open Saturday, Jan. 2, the town office from 8 to 11 a.m. (because it is the first Saturday of the month) and the transfer station from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The next regular China selectmen’s meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 21.

Making spirits bright

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Contributed photo

In years past, Erskine Academy, in South China, has held an annual “Wish List Drive” for the Home for Little Wanderers, in Waterville. This year, because of their cohorts’ schedules and social distancing, the student council felt it would be best to make a monetary donation. Once again, the students and faculty proved that by many giving just a little, they are able to make a donation that will serve hundreds of children. Many thanks to all the students and staff members who donated to this event. Because of them, Erskine is “making spirits bright” in 2020.