Since the start of Rockport’s sewer system in the early 1990s, over half of its wastewater has gone to Camden for treatment (the rest goes to Rockland).  In 2020, the treatment agreement between the 2 towns expired.  Since then, we have been unable to reach an agreement with Camden that sets a fair rate for Rockport users and allows Rockport to expand its sewer system.  In fact, Camden asked Rockport in 2022 to leave their system and repeated that in court mediation in 2023.  

As a result, Rockport began looking into the feasibility of building our own treatment plant and in 2023 appointed a task force made up of engineers familiar with wastewater systems.  The task force carefully evaluated the technology options, locations, and economic modeling. In February, the task force presented an economically viable option for Rockport to build a treatment plant on a site at the hospital; the hospital is supportive of this plan. The task force work was presented at public meetings in March; this information is available on the town website: rockportmaine.gov/wrrf.   Many of the residents who attended those meetings expressed support for the project. 

 At our April 8 meeting, we voted to place the construction of this treatment plant and a sewer extension on Route 90 to the Route 17 intersection on the June ballot.  The estimated cost of this project is $33.7 million.  This estimate would be reduced by $2 million in grants that we already have and would be further reduced by an additional $2-$4 million in likely grants.  The Budget Committee unanimously recommended that voters approve this project. 

Importantly, sewer system costs, including this bond, are not part of Rockport’s town budget.  General taxpayers in Rockport will not pay for this bond, but they do vote on this bond; only sewer users and those on the sewer line will pay for this bond.  

Some residents asked us to delay this project to allow further time to negotiate with Camden, while other residents urged us to put this on the ballot now.  We voted to put this on the ballot because:

1. We have not been able to reach agreement with Camden on terms that will protect Rockport sewer users and allow future growth. 
2. Rockport’s sewer rates are among the highest in the state.  This project is the best opportunity for us to control those rates.  The economic modeling shows that by year 10, sewer rates will be lower than they currently are (average user savings of $200), and significantly lower than their projected increase if we don’t approve this project (average user savings of over $1000).
3. Delay will only cost more.  Our best opportunity for grant funding is this year. Federal grant opportunities are likely to be scaled back in 2025. Construction costs will increase if we delay.
4. This project will allow us to move forward with housing and other opportunities that are currently on hold because we don’t have the sewer availability or treatment capacity.  More housing and businesses will grow Rockport’s tax base, which is the best way to reduce taxes for all residents and create a vibrant future for Rockport.  
5. The new system will result in better water quality discharge into Penobscot Bay than from the older Camden and Rockland plants.  This clean discharge could be used as fresh non potable water, reducing pressure on the drinking water supply at Mirror Lake and supporting area wide climate resilience.

While our decision was focused on the sewer project (# 3 on the ballot), there is also a citizen petition on the ballot (#15) that asks Rockport to continue to negotiate with Camden.  As we said at the meeting, if a voter believes that Rockport should continue to negotiate with Camden, they can approve both Articles 3 and 15.  They are not mutually exclusive. If Article 3 is approved, the first year will be spent doing preliminary design work which would still allow time to negotiate with Camden under Article 15.  Either way, we believe that approving Article 3 would give us the best leverage in any further negotiation with Camden under Article 15. 

We understand that this is a complex and expensive project.  Please feel free to contact any of us with questions.  We are also planning additional public meetings and will be providing further information to our voters.

Rockport Select Board

Denise Munger, chair

Eric Boucher, vice-chair

Kimberlee Graffam

Michael Thompson