On the November ballet, there will be a question about enacting a moratorium on new transmission lines in the Town of China. This is because there was recent attempt to run transmission lines through the town with what seemed like little notice or input from the residents of the town.

The proposed ordinance would put a temporary 180 day moratorium that could be renewed for another 180 days.

I am absolutely in support of the moratorium. It would give the town time to decide if we want a permanent ordinance and if we do, what should be in it.

As for a permanent ordinance, I am for regulations that would protect land owners and residents. However, I also do not want to overly impede progress. Any ordinance should prevent what we don't want while allowing what we do. If we feel transmission lines ruin views, then have an ordinance that would still allow buried lines.

August 26 Select Board Meeting Minutes and Stream Recording where the Moratorium was discussed. Skip to 18:00 for the power line moratorium discussion.

Recently the recreation committee proposed the creation of a dog park in the town. The committee had a quote from a local contractor that was within their budget.

At the Select Board meeting where this was proposed, there were a few residents who came to show their support of the park and how it was more than just for the dogs. They would use it as a community gathering place.

Several members of our Select Board immoderately attacked the idea as wasteful. I could see that the committee had done lot of work on the proposal only to have it dismissed with little to no consideration simply because it cost money.

Not only do I support the idea of a community dog park, I also feel our committee members ideas and proposals should be treated with more respect. The town is always struggling to find people to fill committee positions and I believe this kind of treatment is part of the reason why.

August 12th Meeting Minutes and Stream Recording where the dog park was discussed. Skip to 22:48 for the park discussion.

The town currently has a grant to build a new Secure Storage Building for records we are required by law to keep. We are at risk of loosing this grant because we need to have an agreement with a contractor by December 31st.

We had a proposal that was rejected by some members of the Select Board because the grant did not cover all of the costs of the proposal. So the town may loose a large sum of money because we weren't willing to spend a small amount of money.

August 26 Select Board Meeting Minutes and Stream Recording where the ARPA funds deadline was mentioned. Skip to 42:00 for the power line moratorium discussion. 46:20 is where the deadline is mentioned.

On the November ballot, there will be a question to change the Budget Committee from being elected to being nominated by the Select Board.

I feel I'm mostly against this as it will mean both the Planning Committee and the Budge Committee will be completely decided by just 5 people.

I understand the reasoning. The town is having a problem getting people to run for the positions in these committees. I am just afraid of concentrating too much control in too few people.