Joyce Benner celebrates 100th birthday with Young at Heart seniors

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Group photo with Joyce Benner

On April 19, 2023, there was a celebrity in the house at The Young at Heart monthly meeting. One of the members, Joyce (Creamer) Benner turned 100 years old. She was born on March 4, 1923, and grew up in Waldoboro.

When asked what she could say about her life, Joyce answered and said that her childhood was good. I had a good mother and father and they were always there for me whenever I needed them. I have always loved my six children and I have had a good life. She also has too many grand, great- and great-great-grandchildren to count.

Joyce and her husband, Alfred, lived on the Greely Road, in Windsor, where they raised hereford cattle and sheep and at one time they even had a pet monkey. She worked in nursing homes and she was also very well known for picking crab meat. When asked if she had any hobbies, she said with a chuckle, “picking crab meat.” She also enjoyed hunting and playing Beano.

Joyce had this advice for young people today. Very seriously she said, “Mind your own business.”

God Bless this lovely Lady!

Young at Heart Senior Citizens meet once a month, usually the third Wed­nesday at the Coopers Mills Lions Club, at noon. The next meeting will be May 17 and after the fellowship lunch, they will be playing Beano. FMI call 445-4930.

Joyce Benner on the occasion of her 100th birthday on March 4, 1923, with the Young at Heart Seniors Citizens group. (contributed photo)

China planners approve adding storage vault to town office

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by Mary Grow

The three China Planning Board members at the April 25 meeting quickly, unanimously and with almost no discussion approved the Town of China’s application to add a storage vault to the town office building.

The application for a conditional use permit was prepared by Keith Whitaker of B. R. Smith Associates (BRSA), of Presque Isle. The addition will house a concrete vault for safe records storage, as required by state law. A 10-foot-long corridor will connect the addition to the south side of the existing building.

Whitaker said the addition will cause no significant changes. There will be no additional people; no new driveways or parking; no added exterior lights (one over the back door will come on only during power outages); no increased water or septic system usage; no additional run-off or other environmental impacts.

Board co-chairman James Wilkens commended the completeness and clarity of the application. The only condition attached to the approval is that a permit be obtained from the state fire marshal’s office; Whittaker said discussions have started.

In other business April 25, codes officer Nicholas French said he met with state Department of Transportation (MDOT) personnel to discuss two 15-year-old culverts under Lakeview Drive, near Fire Road 27, that are undersized and too smooth to stop silt draining into China Lake.

DOT intends to replace the culverts, French said. He does not know when.

With two board members absent, Wilkens postponed discussion of revisions to the Planning Board Ordinance and action under the town’s comprehensive plan to the May 9 meeting. He asked French to add the previously-discussed solar ordinance – a proposed new chapter in China’s Land Use Ordinance to regulate commercial solar development – to the agenda.

Also tentatively scheduled for the May 9 meeting is continued review of the proposed four-lot Killdeer Heights subdivision on Lakeview Drive and Mountain View Drive, if surveyor Adam Ellis has needed information in time (see the April 27 issue of The Town Line, pp. 2 and 3).

Wilkens invited residents to volunteer for China’s Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee. Current members, according to the town website, are Barbara Crosier, Randall Downer and Amber French. Others interested should contact the town office.

The May 9 planning board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., in the town office meeting room, according to the calendar on the town website.

Vassalboro town warrant in almost-final form for select board, attorney review

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by Mary Grow

By the April 27 Vassalboro select board meeting, Town Manager Aaron Miller had the warrant for the annual town meeting in almost-final form for board members’ review.

The group discussed questions about some articles. Miller asked board members to review the draft one more time; he said the town attorney will also review it.

The town meeting will, as in past years, be in two sections. The open meeting will be Monday evening, June 5, followed by written balloting Tuesday, June 13.

As of April 27, on June 13 voters will decide local elections; whether to reaffirm the school budget approved June 5; and whether to add a section governing commercial solar installations to the town’s Site Review Ordinance.

Select board members plan to sign the final warrant at their May 11 meeting.

In other business April 27, board members decided to sell by sealed bid a tax-acquired property on South Stanley Hill Road. They set the bid opening date for June 8, their first June meeting; Miller said the sale will be well advertised.

They awarded a bid to install five heat pumps in the former East Vassalboro schoolhouse to Impact Heat Pumps, in Oakland, at a price of $29,975. The building is owned by the town and serves as the Vassalboro Historical Society’s headquarters and museum.

One other bid was much higher than Impact’s. Another, board members said, was $420 lower, but with higher expected maintenance costs. Historical Society representative John Melrose offered other reasons to choose Impact, such as the owner’s recognition of the building’s historic status.

The Efficiency Maine program is expected to help fund the heat pumps. How much the state will contribute is not yet known. Melrose said a donor might help reduce the town’s share.

Board members discussed the fees Vassalboro charges for licenses and permits. Chairman Barbara Redmond suggested a public hearing if board members recommend increases, for example for marijuana growing.

The next regular Vassalboro select board meeting is scheduled for Thursday evening, May 11, in the town office meeting room.

Vassalboro Community School third quarter honor roll (2023)

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Vassalboro Community School (contributed photo)

High Honors:

Grade 3:

Freya Caison, Camden Desmond, Emma Freeman, Tucker Lizzotte, Evelyn Meyer, Sawyer Plossay, Oliver Sugden, Alivia Twitchell and Mayla Wilson.

Grade 4:

Hunter Brown, Kamdyn Couture, Cooper Grant, Sophia-Lynn Howard, Brooklyn Leach, Landon Lindquist, Simon Olson, Landon Quint, Willa Rafuse, Alexis Reed, Asher Smith and Robert Wade.

Grade 5:

Twila Cloutier, Xainte Cloutier, Samantha Craig, Mariah Estabrook, Riley Fletcher, Leah Hyden, Sarina Lacroix, Olivia Perry, Juliahna Rocque, Cassidy Rumba and Charles Stein.

Grade 6:

Basil Dillaway, Zoe Gaffney, Allyson Gilman, Cheyenne Lizzotte, Adrian Sousa, Grace Tobey and Ava Woods.

Grade 7:

Benjamin Allen, Zoey Demerchant, Drew Lindquist, Caleb Marden, Abigail Prickett and Judson Smith.

Grade 8:

Adalyn Glidden, Noah Pooler, and Bryson Stratton.

Honors:

Grade 3:

Titus Caruthers, Parker Estabrook, Marley Field, Norah French, Henry Gray, Olivia Hartford, Finn Malloy, Bryson McKay, Gage Nason, Gabriella Reynolds, Raegin Rodgers, Sawyer Weston, Haley Witham, and Alivia Woods.

Grade 4:

Ryder Austin, Alexander Bailey, Rylee Boucher, Braiden Crommett, Molly Dearborn, Liam Dowe, Chase Fay, Ashlynn Hamlin, Avery Hamlin, Tanner Hughes, Kendall Karlsson, Aria Lathrop, Jackson Robichaud, Keegan Robinson, and Christopher Santiago.

Grade 5:

Lukas Blais, Dawson Frazer, Aubrey Goforth, Chanse Hartford, Aubrey Judkins, Elliott Rafuse, Isaiah Smith, Haven Trainor, and Cameron Willett.

Grade 6:

Samuel Bechard, Bryleigh Burns, Baylee Fuchswanz, Savannah Judkins, Agatha Meyer, Jaelyn Moore and Weston Pappas.

Grade 7:

Juliet Boivin, Tristyn Brown, Ryleigh French, Katherine Maxwell, Paige Perry, Bentley Pooler, Hannah Tobey and Reid Willett.

Grade 8:

Owen Couture, Ryley Desmond, Peyton Dowe, Wyatt Ellis, Madison Field, Kylie Grant, Spencer Hughes, Jack Malcolm, Alexis Mitton, Kole Pratt, Grady Sounier, Kaleb Tolentino, Mackullen Tolentino and Autumn Willis.

Honorable Mention:

Grade 3:

Brayden Lang-Knights, Preston Richmond, Trenten Theobald, and Roman Wentworth

Grade 4:

Reese Chechowitz, Levi Demerchant, Ashton Derosby, Anthony Dyer, Elliot Stratton, Gabriel Tucker and William Vincent

Grade 5:

Kiara Apollo, Wyatt Devoe, Brandon Fortin, Camden Foster, Peter Giampietro, Lucian Kinrade, Isaac Leonard and Arianna Muzerolle.

Grade 6:

Emily Clark, Fury Frappier, Jack LaPierre, Mia McLean and Landen Theobald.

Grade 7:

Dominick Bickford, Gabriella Brundage, Drake Goodie, Cooper Lajoie, Trinity Pooler, Brooke Reny and Alana Wade.

Grade 8:

Aliya Bourque, Madison Burns, Logan Chechowitz, Xavier Foss, Bailey Goforth, Mason Lagasse, Bryella Leighton, Olivia Hartford, Henry Olson, Josslyn Ouellette and Payton Thorndike.

Benjamin Reed achieves rank of Eagle Scout

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Eagle Scout Benjamin Reed. (photo by Chuck Mahaleris)

by Chuck Mahaleris

Delayed for two years due to Covid mandates, Vassalboro’s Benjamin Reed received his Eagle Scout rank during a ceremony on April 16, 2023, at the Vassalboro United Methodist Church.

Friends and family joined Scouts and leaders of Troop #410 to witness the presentation of scouting’s highest honor to Benjamin Delbert Reed.

Reed, who graduated from Erskine Academy, in South China, and now attends the University of Southern Maine, completed all requirements for the Eagle Scout rank in 2020 but was unable to be presented with the award due to Covid mandates. He was home from college on break for this ceremony,

Troop #410 Assistant Scoutmaster Christopher Santiago explained how challenging it is to receive the award. “Of any 100 youth who become scouts…will learn something from scouting. Almost all will develop a hobby that will last through their adult life,” Santiago said. “Many will serve in the military and in varying degrees profit from their scouting training. At least one will use the skill he or she has learned to save another person’s life, and many will credit it with saving their own.”

Santiago added, “Four of the 100 will reach the rank of Eagle and at least one will later say they value their Eagle Scout badge above their college degree. Many will find their future vocation through merit badge work and scouting contacts. Seventeen of the 100 youth will later become scout leaders and give leadership to thousands of other kids. Only one in four youth in America will become a Scout but it is interesting to know that of the leaders of this nation in business, religion, and politics, three out of four were Scouts.”

Scoutmaster Stephen Polley recognizing Cole Fortin and Nathan Polley. Cole attained the rank of Star Scout and Nathan reached Life Scout, the last step before Eagle. (photo by Chuck Mahaleris)

Scoutmaster Stephen Polley said, “When a youth joins scouting, there is within them something that we call Scout Spirit. The youth may not know that it exists, or know its meaning, but by following the trail to Eagle, the scout is enlightened. The spirit of scouting embodies the principles of the Scout Oath and the Scout Law. It becomes a shining beacon of inspiration. Alone, this light may seem feeble, but when multiplied by the more than 57 million youth and adult volunteers in Scouting around the world, it is powerful indeed.”

The award was pinned to his uniform by his mother, Jennifer Reed, and his father, Kevin Reed, presented him with his Eagle Scout certificate. “Becoming an Eagle Scout is not the end of the journey,” Kevin said. “It is the beginning. As an Eagle, you have far greater responsibilities than you had before.”

“Scouting has had a huge impact on my life, and through it I have learned more about myself than I would have had I never been in the program,” Eagle Scout Ben Reed said. “I’ve learned a lot about leadership skills and how to be an effective leader.”

Reed had served as patrol leader for the Ghost Recon Patrol and as the Troop’s Assistant Senior Patrol Leader and Chaplain’s Aide. “I learned very quickly that being a leader is not simply ordering others around, but instead it is being generous with your time, and delegating tasks and responsibilities to your peers.” He said, “I remember coming into this program being brought by my parents. I didn’t really know what I was doing at first but as the years went on I started thinking about what I was doing in scouting and who I am as a person.” He credited those he worked with in scouting with helping develop his confidence in life.

Troop #410 also presented the Star Rank to Cole Fortin and the Life Rank to Nathan Polley.

Vassalboro select board, town manager work on warrant for annual town meeting

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by Mary Grow

At their April 13 meeting, Vassalboro selectboard members and Town Manager Aaron Miller worked on the warrant for the June 5 and June 13 annual town meeting.

Select board members concurred with the budget committee’s recommendation on one of the three appropriations articles on which the two boards disagreed after the April 11 budget committee meeting (see the April 20 issue of The Town Line, p. 3).

The proposed expenditures on which the boards disagreed were for road paving, public safety and a donation to the China Region Lakes Alliance. In each case, the budget committee majority recommended a smaller appropriation.

Select board members agreed on reducing Road Foreman Eugene Field’s paving request from $541,500 to $453,300, the budget committee’s recommended amount.

Field proposed paving seven short gravel roads in 2023-24. His reasons were that winter maintenance is easier on paved roads, and eliminating spring and summer repairs saves wear on Vassalboro’s elderly grader.

Budget committee members recommended voters decrease the requested appropriation by $88,200, eliminating the four gravel roads closest to the public works building (and therefore easiest for town equipment to access).

Select board members Chris French and Frederick “Rick” Denico, Jr., were doubtful about a reduction. French feared if hottop and related prices rise, Field might not be able to repave planned roads, never mind extend paving. Denico had talked with Field, repeated the road foreman’s reasons and added that he trusted Field to postpone gravel roads if he thinks next year is the wrong time.

Nonetheless, select board members unanimously agreed to advise voters to support the budget committee’s lower figure.

The issue with the public safety budget was Police Chief Mark Brown’s request to increase his hours from 15 to 20 a week. The select board’s proposed amount for his salary was $31,627, including five more hours a week, a 6.5 percent cost of living increase and a 2 percent step increase (as prescribed in the town’s salary schedule).

The budget committee majority’s recommendation was $22,371, intended to leave the weekly hours at 15.

The main reason Brown wanted an increase, select board chairman Barbara Redmond said, was because he works more than 15 hours a week. She cited one monthly report showing he worked 69 hours in four weeks.

During the boards’ discussions, people suggested two reasons for the overtime: Brown is doing more varied activities, assisting the codes officer and the public works crew and using his local knowledge for community service tasks; and once he starts helping at an incident, he can’t walk away just because he’s reached his time limit.

Select board members voted 2-1, with Redmond dissenting, to recommend voters approve the original select board figure that includes 20 hours a week. Brown’s salary is part of a total public safety budget, including the animal control officer, that selectmen recommend at $102, 128.

For the China Region Lakes Alliance, the organization requested $13,500, a $2,000 increase over the current year; the select board supported the request; and the budget committee majority recommended $7,500.

French pointed out that at the June 2022 town meeting, voters rejected the $9,000 recommended by the budget committee and the select board and approved $11,500. The select board unanimously recommended $13,500 for the CRLA in 2023-24.

Miller’s draft town meeting warrant is based on the 2022 warrant. He talked about articles he will delete, like the one funding property clean-up of the former church lot in North Vassalboro, and those he advises adding, like authorizing the town to accept tax pre-payments.

The manager plans to have a warrant ready for review at the April 27 select board meeting. The town meeting will be in two parts, the open town meeting Monday evening, June 5, and secret ballot voting Tuesday, June 13.

The final item discussed at the April 13 meeting was whether the town should try to buy land, formerly owned by the late Paul Morneau, abutting the transfer station property. Board members made no decision.

The main purpose would be to expand the transfer station. Discussion of access and the suitability of the 42-acre property included information from Melissa Olson, who lives near and is familiar with the Morneau land.

Denico repeated arguments in favor of relocating the transfer station to a sturdier road with three-phase power available. Planning board and budget committee member Douglas Phillips suggested the town could buy the Morneau lot for recreation, like walking trails.

In other business April 13, board members unanimously awarded waste hauling bids to the low bidders, Casella Waste Systems for bulky waste and cardboard and Bolster’s Rubbish Removal for MSW (municipal solid waste, the stuff that goes into the hopper).

They accepted two requests Phillips presented from the planning board:

  • They will appoint a second alternate planning board member — interested residents should contact the town office; and
  • They will add questions proposed by the planning board to the survey to be mailed with the tax bills in August.

They renewed Natanis Golf Course’s liquor license, commenting that since owner Robert Browne retired from the selectboard the vote is 3-0, instead of 2-0-1.

They discussed inconclusively issues related to electronics, including board members’ email service and Miller’s proposal to upgrade the town office telephone system. As they talked, in the background the answering machine in the main office recorded an incoming call – an antique piece of machinery, they agreed.

The next regular Vassalboro select board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Thursday, April 27, in the town office meeting room.

No contests on June 13 ballot

For the second year in a row Vassalboro voters will have no contests on the ballot at their June 13 elections.

Town Clerk Cathy Coyne said by the deadline for people to submit nomination papers to get their names on the ballot, David McCarthy, Jr., filed to succeed Barbara Redmond, who is retiring from the select board. Incumbents Erin “Libby” Loiko and Zachary Smith submitted signatures for re-election to the school board.

Vassalboro’s elections will be by written ballot Tuesday, June 13, with polls at the town office open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

May 2 planning board meeting canceled

The May 2 Vassalboro planning board meeting has been canceled, because, codes officer Robert Geaghan, Jr., said, there were no applications to be reviewed. The next regular board meeting will be Tuesday evening, June 6.

Planning board seeks alternate member

The Vassalboro planning board seeks a second alternate member, to be appointed by the select board in April or May. Interested residents should contact the town office.

Alternate members are expected to attend board meetings (normally held the first Tuesday of each month) and to participate in discussions. An alternate member votes only in the place of an absent regular member.

VASSALBORO: Members look at school calendar with no decisions

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Vassalboro Community School (contributed photo)

by Mary Grow

At a short April 11 meeting, Vassalboro School Board members talked about the 2023-24 school calendar, without making a final decision, and accepted two more staff changes.

The calendar issue was how to provide teaching staff with more professional days, time without students to work together, school-wide and in groups by grade or specialty, on the variety of educational issues they deal with.

The initial proposal was more early-release days, Thursdays when students are sent home at mid-day. This year has seen one early-release day most months; the draft new calendar proposes two.

Discussion suggested an alternative: full days when only teachers come in. Advantages include longer uninterrupted discussion time and, school board member Jessica Clark pointed out, days when buses wouldn’t have to run.

Board members and Principal Ira Michaud tried to figure which option would be less disruptive to parents’ schedules. Michaud proposed sending out a survey before a final decision is considered.

The staff changes were:

  • Appointing Sandra McCausland, of Vassalboro, new head cook at Vassalboro Community School (VCS). Superintendent Alan Pfeiffer said she substituted in the VCS kitchen last year.
  • Accepting the resignation of sixth-grade teacher Morgan Wellman, who will be moving out of state. Michaud praised her as an excellent teacher (and a VCS graduate, he added).

McCausland succeeds Mary Dumont. Michaud said Dumont will stay through the current school year, as will art teacher Susan Briggs; both women are retiring.

The next regular Vassalboro School Board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 16, at VCS.

Vassalboro budget committee recommends town voters approve 2023-24 budget

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by Mary Grow

At their April 11 meeting, Vassalboro Budget Committee members recommended town voters approve the 2023-24 school budget as presented by the school board. They also endorsed most of the municipal budget recommendations, differing from the select board on three issues.

Select Board Chair Barbara Redmond said select board members would consider the budget committee actions at their April 13 meeting, when they are scheduled to review the draft warrant for the June 5 town meeting. Her preference, she said, is for the two boards to agree.

The increase in the 2023-24 school budget over the current year’s is $145, 475.91, according to the figure presented at the meeting. Budget committee members supported it unanimously.

Superintendent Alan Pfeiffer thanked Budget Committee member Michael Poulin for attending school board meetings for the past two years so he would be informed about issues making up the budget.

Town Manager Aaron Miller said the proposed 2023-24 municipal budget had an increase of $54,472.

Budget Committee member Douglas Phillips raised a main issue early in the meeting: his goal is to keep the tax rate from rising. Miller said it is now 14.40 mils, or $14.40 for each $1,000 of property valuation.

To determine the new tax rate, committee members needed to know both proposed expenditures and expected revenues for 2023-24. Miller had assembled some revenue figures, but some are not yet available.

Notably missing, and not available for weeks, is the assessor’s report on how much Vassalboro’s property valuation has increased since last year. Normally, the select board sets the tax rate in August, after town meeting voters have approved expenditures and after the valuation is known.

Without complete revenue figures, as budget committee member Philip Landry pointed out, the committee members could only guess whether reductions were needed at all to hold the tax rate level. Nor could they be sure a lower figure, if accepted by voters, would be low enough to achieve Phillips’ goal.

By the end of the April 11 meeting, the two boards were in disagreement over the public safety budget – Police Chief Mark Brown asked for more hours, the select board approved, the budget committee majority disagreed; the budget for paving, specifically Road Foreman Eugene Field’s plan to pave short gravel roads; and the requested increase for the China Region Lakes Alliance.

At that point, estimates of the impact on tax bills ran from an increase of 30 cents to an increase of 70 cents for each $1,000 of valuation.

Topics discussed at length included proposed salary increases for town employees; expansion of the recreation program; and support of the Vassalboro Public Library.

In two separate votes, budget committee members unanimously supported the select board’s proposed salary increases and endorsed the 6.5% cost of living increase by a 9-1 vote. They recommended the proposed $65,898 recreation budget on an 8-2 vote and the library request for $71,000 on a 7-3 vote.

Early in the meeting, Redmond settled one issue quickly. Budget Committee member Frank Richards asked why Vassalboro is asked to pay Delta Ambulance more than $66,000 next year, after no fee in the past.

Redmond and the rest of the select board recommended the item after hearing that Delta gets no reimbursement for calls when the patient is not transported; that insurance payments have not kept up with costs; and that most other Maine ambulance services charge towns more than the $15 per person (according to the census) that Delta requests.

She told Richards if voters don’t approve the funding, “We won’t have coverage. If you call 911 you might get a First Responder from town, but you won’t get an ambulance.”

Vassalboro First Responders are not licensed to transport. Select board members said they asked about other towns’ ambulances, and no neighboring service wants to add Vassalboro.

“What choice do we have?” Richards conceded.

Budget committee members did not plan to meet again on the 2023-24 budget. Vassalboro select board meetings were scheduled for April 13 and April 27, with the town meeting warrant to be signed April 27.

Vassalboro school board gives preliminary OK to budget

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Vassalboro Community School (contributed photo)

by Mary Grow

Vassalboro School board members met earlier than usual April 6 to give preliminary approval to the 2023-24 school budget request, amended slightly from the draft they’d reviewed March 29 (see the April 6 issue of The Town Line, p. 2).

They then met with the Vassalboro Budget Committee to present the proposed school budget for that committee’s review.

The school board and the budget committee are scheduled to meet separately Tuesday, April 11, the school board at 6 p.m. at Vassalboro Community School (VCS) for its regular monthly meeting and the budget committee at 7 p.m. at the town office to consider its 2023-24 recommendations.

The revised school budget totals $9,027, 846.55, Superintendent Alan Pfeiffer reported. Of that amount, $145,475.81 is requested from local property taxes.

Pfeiffer distributed a sheet showing that fixed costs total almost 89 percent of the budget. These he defined as salaries and benefits, tuition, business services, the facilities director and fuel oil.

The superintendent, and during discussion with the budget committee Principal Ira Michaud, listed some of the reasons the proposed budget includes more people to assist students with individual problems and needs. They include residual effects of educational and social losses due to covid; many students being raised in single-parent homes or by grandparents; and effects of substance abuse (like a parent dying of a drug overdose, or a child permanently affected by being born to an addicted mother).

These issues are state-wide, not unique to Vassalboro, Pfeiffer said.

Michaud added to budget committee members that more Vassalboro students are being identified for extra help; staff are getting “better at figuring out students’ needs.”

Having the town’s Red Cross warming center for emergencies located at the school adds a small amount to the school budget, for maintenance and generator fuel, Pfeiffer added.

The school board’s discussion ended with Pfeiffer, Michaud and Assistant Principal Tabitha Brewer listing good things about VCS.

They included the school board approving collective bargaining agreements with salaries and benefits that keep VCS competitive in the area; the proposed social service staff additions; in-house curriculum planning for the coming school year; “a wonderful staff” (Michaud) who care enough about their students to spend extra time leading after-school programs; and a strong parent-teacher organization.

“It’s a lot of fun – we have fun every day,” Brewer said.

“We do,” Michaud agreed.

When school board and budget committee members met together, Pfeiffer expanded on some of the points made at the school board meeting.

The salary and benefits increases in six contracts range from three to six percent, he said.

The food service account, which was $180,000 in deficit in 2018, is currently $89,000 in the black. The 2023-24 budget does not include money to support the food service program.

Secondary tuition is up significantly. The figure is set by the state each December, based on secondary schools’ actual costs.

A year ago, Vassalboro’s budget did not foresee the 6.5 percent increase in December 2022. Pfeiffer hopes the two percent increase in the 2023-24 budget will cover what happens in December 2023.

“Tuition makes me the most nervous,” he told budget committee members.

Special education is another area of uncertainty, because if only one child needing extensive help moves to Vassalboro, costs rise significantly.

Budget committee members had questions on several topics, and Pfeiffer invited them to submit more before their April 11 meeting.

Pfeiffer and Michaud said:

  • Bus maintenance costs are up by $10,000 even though Vassalboro’s fleet is comparatively new, because labor and materials costs have risen. The proposed budget includes no new buses, nor does it include a third van, a proposal discussed at the school board’s March 7 special budget workshop (see the March 16 issue of The Town Line, pp. 8-9).
  • Federal CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act funding is supporting several staff members, who know their jobs will disappear when CARES money goes away, unless Vassalboro voters approve taking over funding.
  • School officials work cooperatively with the Vassalboro Public Library and with the Vassalboro recreation program, sharing the gymnasium and sometimes sharing program costs with the library and the parent-teacher organization (as for the April 4 presentations by Mr. Drew and His Animals, Too).

The joint meeting ended with distribution of printed copies of the March 2023 VCS newsletter, also available at public places in town and on-line on the vcsvikings website under the “News” heading.

Vassalboro planners approve one application, in part; discuss four other items

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by Mary Grow

With only one application on their agenda, and the proposed – and long-discussed – solar ordinance forwarded to the select board, Vassalboro Planning Board members had time to consider broader issues at their April 4 meeting.

The application was from Duane Ellis, seeking to expand his building at 27 Birch Point Road, on Webber Pond. He asked to enlarge the building footprint by no more than 30 percent, on the side away from the water; and to raise part of the roof by three feet.

Planning board members unanimously approved the first part of the application.

They were unable to authorize raising the roof, because Vassalboro’s Shoreland Zoning Ordinance sets height limits in the shoreland and Ellis’s building already exceeds them. Board members advised Ellis that he can apply to the Vassalboro Board of Appeals for a variance from the height limit.

Ellis praised the helpful state Department of Environmental Protection staff member with whom he had discussed other issues on his lot.

Planning board member Douglas Phillips asked his colleagues to consider four issues: a possible new ordinance, effects of a new state law and two procedural planning board documents.

First, he asked, given the water quality problems in Webber Pond, should board members consider asking voters to adopt a Phosphorus Control Ordinance, like the one China has had since 1993?

Part of the discussion of procedures at the April 4 Vassalboro Planning Board meeting covered the timing of submission of applications. Board members agreed that anyone wanting to be on a planning board agenda must submit an application to codes officer Robert Geaghan at least two weeks in advance.

Any application to be considered at the board’s May 2 meeting should be on Geaghan’s desk by Tuesday, April 18, at the latest.

The rationale is two-fold: Geaghan can review the application in time to distribute the agenda to board members by April 25, to give them a week to consider it; and he can forward the agenda to Vassalboro’s webmaster in time to get it on the website a week before the meeting.

(A copy of the China ordinance, chapter four of the town’s Land Use Ordinance, is on the website china.govoffice.org, under the heading Ordinances, Policies and Orders.)

A reason to consider such an ordinance is that Vassalboro still has undeveloped land around water bodies; requiring management of run-off should mean new development would not worsen water quality. But, board chairman Virginia Brackett asked, would it do enough good to matter?

Brackett suggested board members start with a review of Vassalboro’s strategic plan, adopted 17 years ago this June, instead of considering ordinances individually.

Phillips said he will ask Town Manager Aaron Miller if the opinion survey to be mailed out this summer with tax bills could include questions from the planning board – like whether residents would like a phosphorus control ordinance — if members choose to develop some.

Phillips’ second issue, on which board alternate member Dan Bradstreet (Waterville’s codes enforcement officer) had information, was the recent state law allowing more than one dwelling unit on a single-family lot. Designed to help alleviate the affordable housing shortage, Bradstreet said it is now in the rule-making stage, and is to take effect in July.

Right now, he said, “nobody knows what to do.” The law is complex, confusing and in places self-contradictory; the relationship to lot size and plumbing code requirements is unclear; even Maine Municipal Association attorneys with whom he talked “can’t agree on the meaning.”

Phillips had been reviewing old planning board documents and had questions about two. He recommended that board members review application forms to make sure they are complete. And he asked about a document called planning board rules of order.

Brackett commented that her copy of the rules is “so old it’s typewritten.”

In the past, planning board members served five-year terms, instead of the present two years; and at some point there were two alternate members, instead of one.

Board members thought two-year terms all right, but agreed to ask the select board to appoint a second alternate member. Their goal is to have one more resident well informed about board responsibilities and history.

Brackett thinks Vassalboro is in a minority of Maine municipalities whose planning board members are appointed rather than elected. She and Phillips approve of appointed members. They said election risks a complete membership turnover and a lack of consistency.

The next regular Vassalboro Planning Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday evening, May 2.