China Village VFD fire chief, Joel Nelson. (photo by Eric W. Austin)

by Mary Grow

After the China select board’s Jan. 17 meeting, town manager Rebecca Hapgood reported that most of their decisions, as assessors and as select board members, involved individual property tax issues. Topics of town-wide importance were a potential new fire engine, on which no action was taken, and a committee appointment.

China Village volunteer fire department chief Joel Nelson told board members his department is working on a grant to help buy a new pumper truck, to replace a 32-year-old one.

Nelson noted that the 2021 town report showed the department’s reserve fund had more than $112,000 as of May 2021. He said the new truck would probably cost more than $550,000, based on a May 2022 quote.

Hapgood said select board members appointed James Hsiang a member of the Transfer Station Committee.

The next regular China select board meeting is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 30, at 6 p.m., half an hour earlier than usual for a joint meeting with budget committee.