CHINA -- Selectmen voted unanimously to oppose the Nov. 3 ballot proposal to reduce excise taxes.

They also forwarded a letter to their attorney from Carrol White, who proposed paying for the chipping and removal of his fallen-down barn in China Village.

At Monday evening's meeting, Town Manager Daniel L'Heureux said reducing excise taxes on vehicles newer than six years old and eliminating them for three years on hybrids and other fuel-efficient vehicles would cost China about $265,000 in revenue.

China uses excise tax revenue entirely to fund local road work. L'Heureux does not think reducing road maintenance is a good idea, given the number of residents who work out of town and the miles school buses travel.

Making up for the lost excise taxes would require a property tax increase of about 60 cents for each $1,000 of valuation, he said.

L'Heureux said only about 20 percent of China residents drive vehicles newer than six years old.

The unanimous resolution expresses selectmen's "grave concern" about the impact of the citizen-initiated ballot question and commits them to inform residents of potential negative effects.

Board members also briefly discussed Question 4 -- the so-called TABOR II -- but took no action.

Also Monday, Carrol White, of Neck Road, presented a three-sentence draft agreement under which the remains of his fallen-down barn in China Village would be chipped and removed, at his expense, the next time the town-hired chipper is at the transfer station.

Selectmen and White agreed in principle on the plan in July, after months of negotiations, but White refused to sign any of the longer draft agreements selectmen presented.

The town has now filed suit against him, asking a Kennebec County Superior Court judge to order him to remove the debris and, if he does not, to allow the town to remove it and bill White.

Because of the pending suit, selectmen took no action on White's draft beyond indicating they will refer it to the town attorney.

In addition to the seven statewide questions, town voters will elect local officials and approve or reject three local referendum questions.

China's Nov. 3 voting will be 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Town Office; absentee ballots are now available.

Selectmen also held a public hearing Monday on the three referenda: a proposed new ordinance prohibiting obscenity, amendments to shoreland zoning regulations to conform to state guidelines, and an updated floodplain management ordinance.

Also Monday, representatives of the Weeks Mills Volunteer Fire Department explained a proposed agreement to formalize an unwritten mutual aid arrangement with Somerville.