CHINA: Sheriff’s office to provide reports on patrol shifts

by Mary Grow

China selectmen dealt with a miscellaneous agenda at their July 6 meeting, including meeting a representative of the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Department. Staff Sergeant Frank Hatch described the type of reports town officials can expect under their contract for 10 hours a week of KSO service.

Hatch said whenever a deputy finishes a shift in China, the deputy will file a summary report. Hatch will review the report and forward it to the town office.

Selectmen were pleased with the first report they had received. Hatch said reports can be expanded if selectmen decide they want more information on some topics.

China Broadband Committee (CBC) Chairman Robert O’Connor attended the July 6 meeting virtually to explain the committee’s request for $10,000 from the selectmen’s contingency fund. The committee needs to contract for a survey of current broadband infrastructure, to get an accurate estimate of construction costs to upgrade and expand service.

CBC members hoped to have a firmer figure by mid-August. They plan to ask selectmen to propose to voters a Nov. 2 bond issue to cover the costs, with the amount of the bond to be based on survey results.

A grant application to the State of Maine to fund the survey was rejected. CBC members now plan to repay the $10,000 from the bond – which, selectmen pointed out, voters might not approve. Meanwhile, the committee has learned that the survey will probably take two months, instead of the one month they had hoped would be enough.

After discussing contingencies and possible other funding sources, including China’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) fund, selectmen postponed a decision to their July 19 meeting.

The selectmen voted unanimously to accept a $1,750 grant from New England Grassroots Environmental Fund to support the China for a Lifetime Committee’s early-November Community Build by Rockland-based WindowDressers, a non-profit organization that helps residents build insulating window inserts.

Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood said the point person on the WindowDressers visit is Christopher Hahn, chairman of the China for a Lifetime Committee. People seeking information can visit the committee website, https://chinaforalifetime.com, or email the committee at ChinaForALifetime@gmail.com.

The website says the WindowDressers program welcomes residents of China, Palermo, Vassalboro and Windsor.

By a further series of unanimous votes, Selectboard members:

— Appointed Brent Chesley and Stephen Greene as members of the Board of Appeals. Greene succeeds Virginia Davis, who was not reappointed in June; Chesley succeeds Jeffrey LaVerdiere, who resigned.
— Appointed David Ross to fill a vacancy on the Recreation Committee.
— Appointed Hapgood as Human Resources Director, correcting an omission when they made appointments for the current fiscal year.
— Approved a contract with Fowler’s Roofing, in Chelsea, to repair the roof of the barn near the town office for $1,800, with Hapgood to monitor any extra costs.
— Approved a Remote Participation Policy to govern procedures at Selectboard meetings done partly or entirely remotely.

The new policy is on the website, china.govoffice.com, alphabetically under “Ordinances, Policies and Orders.”

The next regular China selectmen’s meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 19.