At  the Jan. 6 meeting of the Rockport Budget Committee, I was encouraged by your efforts to get a grip on town finances, and particularly to hear support for more regional cooperation. As you pointed out, we share many services with our neighboring communities, particularly with Camden, with financial and logistical benefits for all. We used to share even more. Bill Freeman's attempts to discern the Town Manager's thoughts on regional cooperation was revealing.

Over the past few years, the Rockport Select Board's actions have skewed toward Rockport-only priorities, particularly with the (failed) attempt to build our own sewer system and the recent implementation of our own EMS.

I agree that the towns of Rockport and Camden should further cooperate, but I worry that it will be a doomed effort if led by the Select Boards. There is obvious antagonism between the two boards, as presently comprised, as evidenced by statements from members of both Boards over the past few years. 

Your Jan. 6 meeting offered a recent example, when our Rockport Select Board Chair commented, "You can make an agreement with anyone if you give them everything they want."  (You might also say one can't come to any agreement if we insist on everything we want.)

I have heard from select board members in two other neighboring towns, (not Camden), that Rockport is currently perceived as arrogant and aloof. I hope we can re-commit to open exchanges, respect for our differences, and a desire to build on our common ground.

Polarization is common lately (nationally), but never helpful.  I believe towns should elect Select people who share a genuine commitment to listen openly and work cooperatively with our neighbors.  "My way or the highway" attitudes prove not only expensive in small towns, but they isolate us from our neighbors, most of whom, I'm convinced, do not share the Boards' antipathy.  

For now, I hope a different approach to regional efforts can start from the bottom up, without initial Select Board involvement from either town.

It seems to me that a committed group of citizens from Camden and Rockport could flesh out the art of the possible and, if there is promise in the idea and advance support of townspeople in both towns, then decide how to proceed. Ideally, those more organic efforts would be met with encouragement and cooperation from both towns’ Select Boards.

In any case, those Boards ultimately would weigh in on any recommendations presented to them and could enact, modify, or reject as is the usual process.

Taylor Allen lives in Rockport