China select board moves through light agenda

by Mary Grow

China select board members had a light agenda for their final 2025 meeting, held Monday evening, Dec. 29, and even with a lively discussion of chairman Brent Chesley’s added topic, headed home before rain-slicked roads turned icy.

Deputy Jacob Poulin, from the Kennebec Sheriff’s Office, said there had been traffic accidents all day, despite fewer people speeding than usual.

Agenda items included paying the usual bills and discussing Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood’s reports and updates. Board members took two actions:

— They confirmed that the annual town business meeting in June 2026, will again be by written ballot, not an open town meeting. Hapgood has tentatively scheduled the first discussion of the 2026-27 budget with budget committee members for Monday evening, Feb. 2.
— They appointed Christopher Hahn a member of China’s TIF (Tax Increment Financing) Committee. The committee still has two or three vacant seats.

Chesley said since the Transfer Station Committee’s Dec. 9 discussion of considering a pay-as-you-throw plan (PAYT; also called PPB, for pay-per-bag, or PPT, for pay-per-throw; see the Dec. 11 issue of The Town Line, p. 2) for China was publicized, he has received only negative comments. Does the select board want the committee to continue investigating? he asked.

Board members said no. On a 4-1 vote, with Natasha Littlefield opposed because of inadequate information, they approved Edwin Bailey’s motion to direct the transfer station committee to abandon the idea.

Bailey said most residents who have spoken to him oppose PAYT. Board members considered who would benefit from a change – seasonal residents who use the facility only a few months each year, while their taxes support it year-round – and who would lose – people with lots of trash.

Littlefield said without a study, they have no definite information on potential financial effects.

Thomas Rumpf said because something is in the newspaper does not mean it will happen. He urged people to attend meetings and be fully informed instead of “running with incomplete information.”

Former select board chairman Wayne Chadwick commented from the audience that in other towns with PAYT programs, more people get dumpsters.

Hapgood said three more residents, including Chadwick, have volunteered for the newly-created Emergency Services Assessment Committee (see the Dec. 4, 2025, issue of The Town Line, p. 2, and the Jan. 1, 2026, issue, p. 2). If all three are appointed, the committee will have nine members; Hapgood foresees a total of 11 or 13.

Paul Froman, a consultant on emergency services from southern Maine, is scheduled to attend the select board’s Jan. 12, 2026, meeting, Hapgood said.

Paul Froman, a consultant on emergency services from southern Maine, is scheduled to attend the select board’s Jan. 12, 2026, meeting, Hapgood said.

Hapgood was unable to provide a scheduled update on Rent.Fun, the company the town paid for the kayak rental station near the causeway at the head of China Lake’s east basin. She said recreation committee chairman Martha Wentworth had not yet connected with anyone at the Michigan-based company.

The manager said nominations for the Spirit of America award should be submitted to the town office by March 31, for discussion at the April 6 select board meeting. Nomination forms are on the town website, chinamaine.org. The award honors volunteers, individuals or groups.

Hapgood said she is trying to provide more information on China’s Facebook page, as well as on the website.

The select board’s January, 2026, meetings are currently scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 12, and Monday, Jan. 26, in the town office meeting room.