China Select Board names park trails, weighs TIF consultant and EMS concerns

The China Select Board held public hearings on the 2026-27 General Assistance ordinance and the November municipal ballot, then approved trail names, payroll and payable warrants, a new town website, and a liquor license for Nash's Cafe. The board also heard from Delta Ambulance about the regional EMS model and from a TIF consultant about rewriting the town's tax increment financing program.

Key points

• The board approved Trail 1 as the Nelson-Bingley Trail and Trail 2 as the Chamberlain Trail, along with two community-suggested names for the upper and lower ridge trails, all by 5-0 votes.
• The board voted to adopt Catalyst as the town's new website vendor, with yearly rather than up-front payment, after members said the current site is hard to use.
• Delta Ambulance representative Chris Mitchell told the board that Fairfield and Benton plan to leave the regional service as early as January 2027, which could mean reduced fleet capacity or higher rates for remaining towns.
• TIF consultant Reggie LaRochelle of LaRochelle Consulting described her work helping municipalities understand and rewrite tax increment financing programs, and the board discussed hiring a consultant paid from TIF funds.
• Sheldon Good Eye, who resigned from the municipal buildings committee, asked the board to consider a five-year plan for a new municipal building estimated at about $2.16 million.
• The board approved the General Assistance Maximum Appendices effective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, and a repeat liquor license for Nash's Cafe.

Next steps

• The town manager will work on a proposal from LaRochelle Consulting for the TIF committee to review at its October 26 meeting.
• The board will revisit the draft policy for naming buildings and trails, which members said needs clarification on criteria and documentation.
• Residents were encouraged to submit comments to Maine EMS when Fairfield's transport license application opens a 30-day public comment window.
• The board approved the posting of public hearing notices and set upcoming meetings for October 19, November 2, and November 16.

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