The Vassalboro Business Association has announced that applications for its $500 VBA Scholarships are now available in most local high school guidance offices or by calling 207-314-2655 to have one mailed or emailed to you.
This scholarship is for Vassalboro residents who are pursing their two to four year post-secondary education. It values and honors community service. Scholarship applications must be received by the VBA by April 15, 2018.
source: http://www.vassalboro.net/
Vassalboro voters will make 2018-19 spending decisions and choose budget committee members at their annual town meeting, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 4, at Vassalboro Community School. Local elections and any other written-ballot items will be decided on Tuesday, June 12, with polls open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the town office.
Town Clerk Cathy Coyne announces nomination papers are available Monday, March 5, for the following positions: one three-year term on the board of selectmen (the late Philip Haines’ term, being filled by John Melrose, ends) and one three-year term on the school board (Jolene Clark Gamage’s term ends). Signed nomination papers must be returned to the town office by noon Friday, April 13, for candidates’ names to appear on the June 12 ballot.
source: http://www.vassalboro.net/
Vassalboro Budget Committee members used their March 1 organizational meeting for a preliminary, partial review of the proposed 2018-19 municipal budget developed by Town Manager Mary Sabins and town selectmen.
As the meeting ended, they tentatively scheduled future meetings for March 8, primarily to talk with town department heads (Road Foreman Eugene Field, Transfer Station Manager George Hamar, Police Chief Mark Brown, Fire Chief Eric Rowe or a representative, First Responders Chief Dan Mayotte); March 20 with the school board; and March 22 with representatives of three nonprofit organizations asking for town funds.
Likely topics for the March 8 discussion include new vehicles for the public works department and the police chief, a new roof for the Riverside fire station and mileage reimbursement for First Responders.
Sabins said Field is ready to buy a new truck while the one he drives has trade-in value; selectmen prefer to wait a year. The police cruiser raises the same question: replace it now, or wait until next year (and increase the 2018-19 maintenance budget). Firefighters want $25,000 for a metal roof on the Riverside station, including replacing the fairly new shingles on the addition so snow sliding off the metal won’t damage them. Titus said a complication is that the town does not own the building, though he said the fire department might consider turning over ownership. Budget committee member and firefighter Donald Breton said the department’s deed says if the department ceases to exist, the land reverts to the previous owner’s heirs, but he does not know whether any are still alive.
Sabins said the first responders answered more than 300 calls last year. They request $3,500 for mileage reimbursement (not for stipends). Newly-elected budget committee Chairman Rick Denico said he recently witnessed a traffic accident and was pleased at how quickly Vassalboro First Responders and firefighters reached the scene.
Budget committee members will probably not ask to hear from representatives of non-profit organizations and social service agencies that received funds for the current year and submitted written requests for 2018-19. They would like to meet on March 22 with people from 47 Daisies, The Town Line newspaper and the China Region Lakes Alliance.
According to its website, 47 Daisies is a community farm on Webber Pond Road offering naturally grown produce (the web site lists vegetables, berries and mushrooms) and flowers, educational programs and public access to the property. The organization asks for $2,500 in town support, its first request. (ep)
The Town Line has applied for town funds previously, but not for the last few years, so its request for $3,000 is being treated as new. The China Region Lakes Alliance is open for discussion because Sabins and selectmen recommend only one-third of the requested $15,000 and because at least one Vassalboro resident has expressed interest in talking with the budget committee.
Other points from the March 1 meeting:
source: http://www.vassalboro.net/
Two major Vassalboro boards meet simultaneously Tuesday evening, March 6.
The Vassalboro School Board has scheduled a public informational meeting on plans to dissolve AOS (Alternative Educational Structure) #92 for 7 p.m. at Vassalboro Community School. The meeting will be preceded by a two-hour supper meeting to discuss 2018-19 budget requests; the budget discussion is also open to the public. A week later, on March 13, Vassalboro, Waterville and Winslow voters will vote on dissolving the AOS. Vassalboro polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the town office.
The Vassalboro Planning Board meets at 7 p.m. March 6 in the town office. Its agenda lists four applications:
The Vassalboro Budget Committee was scheduled to meet March 6, but latest information from the town office is that the meeting has been canceled so budget committee members can attend the school board’s informational session.
The budget committee will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 8, in the town office meeting room, after that evening’s selectmen’s meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. The selectmen’s agenda includes a discussion with planning board members of proposed changes in Vassalboro’s building permit ordinance.
Andrew Browne, of Vassalboro, majoring in communication, was among 2,419 students at Coastal Carolina University, in Conway, South Carolina, who made the fall semester 2017 dean’s list.
To qualify for the dean’s list, freshmen must earn a 3.25 grade point average, and upperclassmen must earn a 3.5 grade point average. All students must be enrolled full time.
Coastal Carolina University is a dynamic, public comprehensive liberal arts institution located in Conway, near the resort area of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
source: http://www.vassalboro.net/
Vassalboro selectmen meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, in the town office meeting room, with four major items on their agenda. Paul Vesel, Director of Business Development with Realterm Energy, is scheduled to attend to discuss converting the town’s streetlights to LED. Representatives of the Alewife Restoration Initiative (ARI) are to update board members on the proposed fishway at China Lake’s outlet dam and related matters. Department heads from the public safety, recreation, solid waste and First Responders will join selectmen to discuss 2018-19 budget requests. And board members will again discuss the increased tax bill for Vassalboro’s gravel pit in China.
The Town of Vassalboro will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, at the town office, to seek public comment on an application for a Community Development Block Grant to help the Vassalboro Sanitary District connect town sewers to the Winslow sewer system. Interested residents unable to attend the hearing may submit written comments to the town office up to the hearing time. Public comments received before and at the hearing will be submitted as part of the application for funds.
Vassalboro Codes Officer Richard Dolby reported that Vassalboro Planning Board members unanimously approved two applications on their Feb. 6 agenda and forwarded a revised Building Permit Ordinance to selectmen, with a request that the two boards discuss the document.
Receiving permits were Robert and Carla Dyason to expand a camp at 72 Branstrom Road on Three Mile Pond and James and Rachel Kilbride for their proposed re-use of the former St. Bridget’s church on Main Street in North Vassalboro.
The Dyasons’ expansion is limited to 92 square feet and the maximum roof height to 24 feet, Dolby wrote.
The Kilbrides propose using the former church as a community center and assembly place, with occasional subsidiary retail uses, like a farmers’ market or yard sales, according to information they gave the board.
Dolby said they have approval to light the existing sign. A parking lot light is to be shielded.
Discussion of proposed changes to the Building Permit Ordinance, drafted by Dolby, focused on setback requirements, the codes officer reported. Board members changed the proposed setback from property lines to 20 feet instead of 10 feet.
They talked about increasing the setback from road rights-of-way, which is now 25 feet, but realized the change would not work in what they called village areas. Since town ordinances do not include maps of village areas, they decided not to recommend the setback change.
source: http://www.vassalboro.net/
The Town of Vassalboro’s savings – its so-called unassigned or undesignated fund balance, once known as surplus, plus designated funds like cemetery trust funds – are unlikely to be affected as the United States stock market bounces up and down. Investment advisor Matt Weaver, of First Advisors, told selectmen at their Feb. 8 meeting that the town is conservatively invested, with no more than 25 percent in the stock market and the rest in more stable bonds (mostly short-term) and certificates of deposit.
Last year, Weaver said, Vassalboro gained 6.73 percent on its portfolio. He believes, and Town Manager Mary Sabins agreed, that in seven years with First Advisors the town has had a positive return every year. Weaver recommended and selectmen unanimously approved renewing the town’s investment policy, which sets safety of principal as the first goal, liquidity second and “a reasonable rate of return” third.
Most of the rest of the Feb. 8 meeting was devoted to other matters related to money. Board members approved with minor changes Sabins’ request for proposals for alewife harvesting. Proposals from harvesters interested in working in Vassalboro are due at the town office by 11 a.m. Friday, March 2.
Selectmen were not pleased to learn that taxes on Vassalboro’s gravel pit in China had risen from around $200 to around $1,500. Sabins had talked with Vassalboro’s and China’s assessors; selectmen asked her to find out from the Maine Municipal Association whether a municipality, like Vassalboro, is tax-exempt in another municipality. If it is not, they talked about appealing the increase.
Two Cemetery Committee members asked for and received approval to use most of the remaining money in the Cross Hill cemetery fund, acquired by the town with the cemetery, to hire an expert to repair Cross Hill cemetery stones. Jane Aiudi and Jody Kundreskas said interested people will be invited to watch and learn during the week the expert is in Vassalboro.
Board members and a resident talked about other residents who violate the honor system at the sand shed and take more than the two buckets of sand allowed. One person planning to get sand to make steps and sidewalks safer for elderly neighbors found there was none left.
Sabins gave selectmen the first draft of the proposed 2018-19 budget, triggering a series of meetings preparing for the annual town meeting on June 4 (with elections and any written-ballot items Tuesday, June 12). Selectmen were scheduled to hold an afternoon budget workshop Feb. 13. Their next meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, preceded by a 6 p.m. Kennebec County district caucus to choose a member of the county budget committee.
The Vassalboro Budget Committee’s first meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, March 1, in the town office.
In addition, a public hearing on the Vassalboro Sanitary District’s application for a Community Development Block Grant is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, at the town office. More information on the hearing and ways for interested residents to comment on the application is on the town’s website.