China selectmen narrowly vote to sell Lakeview Drive parcel

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.