CHINA: Chadwick proposes solar panels at closed landfill

PFAS detected in area water supply

by Mary Grow

China select board chairman Wayne Chadwick suggested to his fellow board members at their Oct. 10 meeting the possibility of installing solar panels on the closed landfill at the Alder Park Road transfer station.

Palermo resident Troy Nelson proposed the idea, Chadwick said. He pointed out that the three-phase power to which a solar development would connect is already available at the transfer station.

Chadwick envisioned leasing the area to a solar developer; board member Janet Preston suggested a town-owned project.

Other board members, and town manager Rebecca Hapgood, agreed the idea is worth exploring, though they were concerned the footings for the panels would go deep enough to puncture the landfill cap. They talked of finding documentation on closing the landfill, and of other types of solar-panel ground mounts.

Hapgood reported less welcome news from the transfer station: late on Friday, Oct. 6, a state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) staffer told her testing had found PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in the station’s water supply, and in two private wells nearby.

Hapgood said the DEP plans to test more wells in the vicinity. The holiday weekend had delayed follow-up; board members postponed action for more information, including the extent of the contamination, whether the capped landfill is the cause and the cost of providing PFAS filters at the transfer station.

China residents presented two issues involving cooperation with adjoining towns.

Scott Pierz, executive director of the China Region Lakes Alliance (though he said he intends to resign the position soon), expressed concern about the unusually low level of China Lake.

According to a state DEP water level order, China Lake is supposed to be drawn down in the fall. The drawdown is intended to flush out algae after the lake has “turned over” – layers of deep cool water and warm surface water have mixed, so that nutrients from the bottom rise toward the surface. Pierz is concerned the drawdown is too early this year.

The Town of Vassalboro owns and controls the China Lake outlet dam. Pierz recommended establishing better communications between China and Vassalboro and perhaps seeking a role for China in dam management.

Jeanette Smith, chairman of the Thurston Park Committee, returned to the issue of access to the park, discussed at the Sept. 25 select board meeting (see the Sept. 28 issue of The Town Line, p. 2). Contrary to the report on that meeting, she said committee members would prefer the southern access to the park, if it can be made possible.

The Yorktown Road runs through the park, from Albion on the north to the Mann Road on the south. The road was discontinued many years ago, with a public right of way retained. However, the landowner on the south treats that end of Yorktown Road as his private driveway and does not want park visitors using it, Smith said.

From the north, a dirt road liable to washouts runs down a steep hill that Smith said is intimidating to some drivers. The hill is partly in Albion and partly in China, and Albion is not maintaining its section.

Smith said she attended the most recent Albion select board meeting to talk about the road and found board members “willing to work with China.” They offered to find out the legal status of their section of the road – one audience member thought it had been discontinued, Smith said – and to continue discussion.

Smith said there are now two bids for each of two Thurston Park projects, road repair and a storage building. Select board members postponed action, hoping for at least three bids to choose among.

In other business Oct. 10:

• Board members unanimously appointed Benjamin Weymouth to the comprehensive plan implementation committee. Hapgood said there are now three committee members; she would like seven.
• Board members unanimously appointed election workers and ballot clerks for the Nov. 7 election, and provided that pre-election hours for the registrar of voters and town clerk will be the usual town office hours. Absentee ballots for Nov. 7 are now available.
• Board member Jeanne Marquis shared a draft of a new town logo, which met with general approval from the rest of the board. When board members adopt the new logo, Hapgood intends to use it on municipal vehicles and on China T-shirts and China caps.
• Hapgood reported briefly on numerous violations of local land use ordinances. She encouraged all residents planning building or renovation projects to check with the town office to find out if a permit is needed, and if one is, to get it before beginning work and to read it carefully for limitations, inspection requirements and other follow-up actions.

Board members supported her recommendations, citing the need to protect China’s natural resources.

The next regular China select board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 23.